What Is Suspended Floor Insulation

Installing any amount of insulation will warm the floorboards and go a long way towards eliminating draughts.

What is suspended floor insulation.

Suspended timber floor with floorboards removed for most heritage properties the most effective and appropriate way to insulate a suspended floor and improve its airtightness is to retrofit insulation beneath the floorboards between the supporting joists figure 2. Detailing for suspended ground floor for west yorkshire victorian mid terrace house. Suspended timber floors consist of floorboards nailed to joists often carried on sleeper walls of brick. It is important that the underside of a suspended floor is ventilated to avoid the build up of moisture.

If you have air bricks or ventilation bricks on the outside wall s of your house that are below floor level you probably have a suspended timber floor. Ideally a fibrous insulation such as mineral wool or sheep s wool performs best between timber because it will take up thermal movement and cut down air movement around the insulation. This insulates the floor but still allows some air to circulate preventing the timber from getting damp and rotting. Suspended timber floors located above an unheated space where the insulation is installed below the floorboards or timber decking.

Insulating a suspended timber floor. Floors are constructed in two ways either suspended or solid. From a thermal comfort perspective it does appear that feet are particularly sensitive to colder temperatures so addressing floor draughts can help improve comfort levels. Insulating a suspended timber floor can eliminate floor draughts and reduce heat loss through the fabric of the floor at the same time.

The effect is a greater sense of comfort and that in turn allows the homeowner to turn the thermostat down. Floor insulation for a suspended floor adding insulation to a suspended wooden floor is an effective way to reduce the heat loss of your home especially if you have already installed loft and wall insulation. Do not block up air bricks in your walls. They are needed to help ventilate the space under your floor and stop your floorboards rotting.

Suspended timber floors all ground floor constructions unless very large commercial floors will require some insulation to be included within the floor zone to comply with building regulation requirements.