Suspended floor insulation
About
Suspended floors are where finished floorboards are laid over joists (beams that run underneath the floorboards) which are raised from the ground. This type of floor construction allows air to circulate and helps to prevent damp.
Benefits
- The insulation maintains your home at a more consistent temperature; making your home feel warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer
- Pay less on your heating bills.
Key considerations
- Repair work needed: Any existing damp issues should be dealt with before installing insulation.
- Materials: Either rigid insulation boards held in place by battens or matting (or blanket insulation) held in place by nets can be used.
- Ventilation: Care should be taken to ensure that air bricks are not blocked when installing insulation as this can result in insufficient ventilation leading to damp issues.
- Permissions: While planning permission is not usually required, the insulation installed may be required to meet building regulations. Your installer should know about this but if in doubt, check this with your local authority.
- Installation process: Insulating a floor can either be done from below if there is access from a basement or cellar, or from above by removing the floorboards. Insulating from below is easier and therefore advisable. In both cases, insulation is added between the joists either as rigid insulation boards held in place by battens or as matting held in place by nets. If the insulation is added from above, the battens or nets will need to be in place first.
Further information
- Case studies:
- Perthshire (UK)
- Useful information:
- National Insulation Association (NIA): Trade Association with list of approved installers
- The Energy Saving Trust: More information on floor insulation.