It is important to be aware that not every
home requires the same levels of underfloor insulation, nor does every home
need as much improvement as the other. Understanding your home and its’ requirements
are vital, and underfloor insulation installers can help assess your flooring
to find out which method is right for you to reduce your heat loss. Some older
homes have what is called a suspended floor. By its name, this means the floor
is partially suspended off of the foundation, and as a result there is a cavity
laying underneath the floorboards. Cold air can pass through this space, and
warm air can escape. By insulating this space, however, you can reduce this
happening and as a result save on your energy bills. More modern homes have
begun to include polystyrene underfloor insulation under concrete floors.
Concrete floors themselves are a great way to reduce heat escaping from your
home coupled with extra flooring on top, including a rug or thick carpet for a
little extra insulation. The polystyrene helps to eliminate heat loss problems,
keeping you warm and well insulated.
Insulating
a timber floor
Solid insulation boards, or rolls of
mineral fiber similar to those used to insulate lofts can be fitted between the
flooring joists. If your floor is above an unheated cellar or basement you will
need to fit the insulation tightly between the joists and secure in place with
netting if required. Plasterboard should then be fixed to the ceiling of the
basement to provide fire resistance. If your floor is not accessible from
below, your floorboards will need to be taken up in order to fit the
insulation. You can reduce draughts by sealing the gaps between the floorboards
and along the skirting, or alternatively you can fix hardboard or chipboard
over the top of them. It's important to ensure that the new insulation does not
block any ventilation openings like air bricks.
Insulating
a concrete floor
If a floor is being replaced, this is a
perfect opportunity to improve the standard of insulation. In fact, where this
is the case, upgrading your floor insulation is required in order to comply
with building regulations. Insulation can be added over the existing concrete
slab or underneath a new one. Where insulation is placed above the slab, the
rooms will warm up more quickly when the heating is switched on. High
performance rigid insulation boards are often the best materials to insulate an
existing concrete slab floor, as they provide the best thermal performance at any
given thickness. Keeping the thickness of your insulation to a minimum will
reduce the likelihood of having to make costly alterations to door openings,
stairs and other fixtures as a result of the increase in floor height.
The main reason for laying underfloor
insulation in your home is to reduce the chances of cold drafts and maintain a
warm, cozy temperature in your home. Through your floor, you can lose up to 15-20
percent of your heat, so it is important to consider investing in underfloor
insulation. What is great about it is that it is one of the cheapest ways to
improve your energy usage, and if you have a wooden floor, providing the proper
underfloor insulation can improve on your EPC report, creating a more welcoming
sign to potential buyers or tenants to your property that they will be able to
feel comfortable and warm when winter draws in. Saving money is another benefit
of underfloor insulation. Along with being cheap to install, the improvements
to your insulation mean more heat stays in your home, and for this you will
consume less energy and have savings on your yearly energy bills.
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