About Frost Barrier(s)
* Depending on the Climate, Location, Structure or Project, one might also consider the environmental necessity, labor, time, health factor, cost sustainability of installing a Frost and/or Termite Barrier(s) during the building or construction process. Would each of these processes add to the long term sustainability?
Frost Barriers
Basic preventative steps added during the construction process; such as, First Step is building the structure on a deep foundation wall that rest on a footer that is well below frost level. While the next step, Frost Protected Walls for those who live in extremely cold climates is to install an insulative wrap that is placed around the outside of the foundation to protect it from the cold and ice as Adobe, Cement, Stone,... and Materials of the like tend to suffer damage due to frost heave.
* I do suggest that one makes sure that water can not accumulate on top of that layer of insulation or much like the Moisture Barrier mentioned above, it could just make matters worse. This can be done by installing the layer of insulation at an angle at which any moisture from above can drain off of it.
I personally, do not want every ceiling or wall in any building or structure to be covered in drywall. How boring? Drywall is also very susceptible to moisture and mold though it does not burn easily; which makes it perfect around fireplaces, furnaces and stoves,... and not so perfect around sinks, tubs, toilets, or water features...
Frost Barriers
Basic preventative steps added during the construction process; such as, First Step is building the structure on a deep foundation wall that rest on a footer that is well below frost level. While the next step, Frost Protected Walls for those who live in extremely cold climates is to install an insulative wrap that is placed around the outside of the foundation to protect it from the cold and ice as Adobe, Cement, Stone,... and Materials of the like tend to suffer damage due to frost heave.
- Frost Heave
Frost heave tends to happen three times a year in most cold climates. As the outside temperature falls and the water in the soil begins to freeze, ice in the soil accumulates in a structure of it's own called an ice lens, additional groundwater is drawn to the developing ice lens through capillary action. As the ice lens grows, and because water expands as it freezes, the expanding ice has the ability to push with great force on the surrounding soil of underground structures such as building foundations; which can be shoved upward and damaged by the action of the ice. Damage to foundations can also occur when ice in the soil adheres to or penetrates the foundation wall itself, allowing the frost to exert an even stronger upward force on the wall.
- Frost-Protected Wall
The purpose of a frost-protected wall or Frost Barrier is to prevent the soil surrounding a building's foundation from freezing by utilizing the heat that radiates from the building or structure itself to warm the soil. This is done by applying a layer of rigid foam insulation vertically to the outside of the foundation wall, and another layer of rigid insulation horizontally under the soil at the base of the foundation wall. This is done so that the layers of insulation direct the warmth from the heated building or structure downward into the soil and keep it there so that the soil does not freeze.
- Unheated Frost-Protected Wall
The traditional frost-protected wall relies on the warmth radiated by a heated building and/or foundation, but it will not protect an unheated building or structure. The alternative design to help protect even an unheated building or structure; is to lay a horizontal layer of insulation under the building's or structure's entire foundation that extends outward from the foundation. There is no vertical insulation. That layer of insulation should rest on a layer of gravel. This method takes advantage of the temperature of deeper layers of earth beneath, which shall remain between 40 and 50 degrees year-round; the warmth of the soil is then stored and radiated upward, preventing the upper layers of soil from freezing is the theory.
* I do suggest that one makes sure that water can not accumulate on top of that layer of insulation or much like the Moisture Barrier mentioned above, it could just make matters worse. This can be done by installing the layer of insulation at an angle at which any moisture from above can drain off of it.
- Interior Frost Wall
An interior frost wall is an insulated wall that is framed inside against a brick, concrete, stone,... basement wall to prevent frost from forming on the inside. To meet most standards the wall is framed using 2x4 studs between a top and bottom, with framing installed 3/4 inch from the concrete wall to allow for airflow behind it. Insulation is then installed between the studs, and a moisture/vapor barrier is stapled over the insulation. The wall is then commonly finished with drywall.
I personally, do not want every ceiling or wall in any building or structure to be covered in drywall. How boring? Drywall is also very susceptible to moisture and mold though it does not burn easily; which makes it perfect around fireplaces, furnaces and stoves,... and not so perfect around sinks, tubs, toilets, or water features...