What Is Suspended Floor Insulation

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.

What is suspended floor insulation.

Installing any amount of insulation will warm the floorboards and go a long way towards eliminating draughts. Insulating a suspended timber floor can eliminate floor draughts and reduce heat loss through the fabric of the floor at the same time. 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. Suspended timber floors located above an unheated space where the insulation is installed below the floorboards or timber decking.

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. It is advisable to seek professional advice and you must use an approved installer. Suspended timber floors consist of floorboards nailed to joists often carried on sleeper walls of brick. Detailing for suspended ground floor for west yorkshire victorian mid terrace house.

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. It is important that the underside of a suspended floor is ventilated to avoid the build up of moisture. How to insulate suspended timber floors there are a few ways to insulate a suspended floor but the best most breathable way is to hang insulation under the floorboards. 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.

They are needed to help ventilate the space under your floor and stop your floorboards rotting. Do not block up air bricks in your walls. A suspended timber floor tends to be cold and draughty because of the air circulating beneath it. This insulates the floor but still allows some air to circulate preventing the timber from getting damp and rotting.

Floors are constructed in two ways either suspended or solid.