Step into warmth with floor insulation
How much can you save with floor insulation?
According to the Energy Saving Trust, installing insulation under your floorboards could save you up to £85 a year if you live in an average property, and up to £145 if you live in a semi-detached house.
What type of floor do you have?
Suspended timber floors
Many older properties in the UK have suspended floors, where there’s a gap underneath the floorboards meant to improve ventilation and avoid damp. However, this space can mean your home is draughty and worse at keeping heat in. Suspended floors are usually made of timber.
Insulating suspended floors
If you just want to preventt draughts, you can buy a tube of sealant at a DIY store and easily seal up the gaps between your floors and skirting boards. Properly insulating your floors will require a bit more effort, but is still possible to do yourself without hiring a professional.
If you have access to a basement or cellar, it should be relatively simple to insulate the floor from underneath. First, check the joists are in good condition and aren’t wet. If everything looks good, apply mineral wool insulation underneath the floor boards and between the joists. Make sure you don’t block any air bricks, as these are important for ensuring some level of ventilation and preventing your floorboards from rotting.
You can attach plasterboard to the undersides of the joints - for fire resistance - and add extra insulation underneath. When you’re reassembling the floorboards, close up any gaps with sealant.
If you don’t have access to a basement or cellar, this will make things slightly more difficult and disruptive, as you’ll need to lift up the floorboards to apply the insulation.
Hiring a professional
If you want to leave it to an expert or are just short on time, you can also hire a specialist to take on the process of installing your floor insulation. Look for someone who’s a member of the National Insulation Association.
Solid Floors
If you live in a new home, you’re more likely to have a solid floor made of concrete. These types of floors don’t have a gap underneath, so they don't lose heat at the same rate as a suspended floor. However, you can still get the benefit of extra warmth by adding a layer of rigid insulation on top of the original floor, then applying chipboard flooring over that. Keep in mind that since this will raise the height of the floor, you’ll need to adjust any doors, skirting boards, and electrical sockets that are in the way.
However, if you’re refurbishing your house or it’s just time to replace your floors, your builder can also add insulation. They’ll do so by adding rigid insulation foam either above or below the concrete. Below the concrete will help the room stay warmer at night, while above will mean the room becomes warmer faster in the morning.
Following building regulations
You’ll need to abide by local building regulations when you’re installing floor insulation - if you’re hiring a professional, they should take care of this for you. In England or Wales, the regulations mean you’ll typically need to install at least 70mm of foam insulation, or 150mm of mineral wool. If in doubt, speak to your local Building Control Office or Building Standards Department.
Heatio can help you achieve a more warm and comfortable home and cheaper energy bills. Join the waitlist for Heatio Flexx and get ready to learn more about implementing floor insulation in your home and how we can help you.
