Floor Insulation

What is Floor Insulation?

Floor Insulation sits directly under or on top of your floorboards on the ground level of your home. It can also be used to seal any draught gaps which may be between skirting boards and your floors.

Usually it is installed when putting a new floor in place. Most floors can also easily be re-fitted with these materials, so it's never too late to add them! Our collection of floor insulation is available in a range of thicknesses, widths, lengths and density. This helps you to choose the right product for your project.

The type you will need will be dependent on the type of floor you have currently. There are two types of floor;

• A Suspended Floor (wooden floor) 
• Solid Floor (concrete) 

To meet the needs of both types of floor there are two types of insulation. The ‘Solid Floor’ type would be laid on top of your existing floor and then finished off by your chosen option such as carpet or floor board. The other option is a 'Suspended’ type.

If you don't have a cellar or a basement then you can lift the floorboards and place one of our many specialist products underneath. If you do have a cellar or basement then you can still complete this option. You will need to hold the suspended insulation in place with netting. Cover any pre-existing holes in your floor perhaps created by cables or old pipes to ensure heat is not lost here.

If laying it simply on top of your floor it may be essential to adjust the bottom of your door. This is because your flooring will now be slightly higher. You can complete this by taking off your door and shaving the measurement off which you require.

Foam board insulation is a great method for laying over a floor. Prior placing your foam boards lay a damp-proof membrane to protect your floor from moisture penetration.

If you are using an underfloor insulation option, then use a sand product first followed by a damp-proof membrane on the top. Then the insulation can be laid, and the new concrete poured on top finished off by your chosen or existing layer of carpet. It is imprtant to note that, similar to wall insulation, floor insulation can be both Foil Insulation, and Insulation Boards. This can help add to the ease of installation for you.

How Do I Identify my Floor Type?

Most houses in the UK that were built before 1930 have suspended timber flooring and floorboards. If you have air bricks outside your property, then this is a good indication. Otherwise you can also just lift your carpet to identify if your flooring underneath is floorboards.

If you are not able to follow this method to identify your under flooring then if you have a basement you can look up to see if you have wooden joists and floorboards.

If your house was built after 1930 then the likelihood is, you will have solid floor. If you have carpet you can double check this by lifting up a corner of your carpet.

You will find that suspended wooden flooring loses more heat than a solid floor, but both will lose a certain percentage of heat and therefore using insulation on both types of floor will have significant advantages.

We even have an array of options with noise reduction elements. These unique floor insulation products are popular for use in apartments and flats. This is to help eliminate noise. This acoustic floor insulation is easy to handle, minimises thermal bridging too and sold in a variety of thicknesses. Matching your requirements will be simple.

Importance

Energy efficient homes are starting to become the norm for both new builds and older properties. Homes lose more energy through the floor and ceilings than through external walls so it's clear to see why it has become so important.

The level of heat loss through the floor can vary in each home. It depends on the floor structure and number of floors. Nevertheless most home owners will appreciate a home that doesn't cost a lot to run. By adding floor insulation boards, you can reduce your energy bills by up to 20%.

Insulation of your floors ensures optimum system efficiency when combined with one of our Underfloor Heating Systems allowing you to obtain maximum efficiency from your combined products.

Choosing

There are four types of material used:

• Blanket 
• Rock Mineral Wool 
• Foam Board 
• Rigid Board 

Insulation of floors not only regulates the quantity of heat circulating in the home, it also controls heat loss moisture issues. Some of our floor insulation products have a combination of elements. They target a combination of your concerns in one product.

PIR board is 'foil faced' on both sides. The foil provides thermal resistance to any floor that does not have any ventilation.

So, the choice of one-sided foil or double-sided foil boards will determine the level of warmth you would like.

If you are looking for a simple and cost-effective product our Polystyrene Sheets are great. This option will help to separate floor noise as well as minimise heat loss.

All of our manufacturers of this provide high-performance products. They are durable and of the highest quality. You can be sure you are ordering the best when you order from Building Supplies Online.

They are available at competitive prices and with UK nationwide delivery.

If you require any advice or have any questions feel free to either give us a call, send us an e-mail or join us on live chat where we will of course be happy to help.

Once you have made your decision why not browse our Floor Insulation Accessories. These include

• Insulation Saws 
• Foil Tape 
• Insulation clips