Underfloor Insulation
What is Underfloor Insulation?
At least 10 percent of the heat loss in any living space is through the floor/ground. Floor insulation is an effective and simple way to keep your home warm during cold seasons and reduce the electricity bills. The use of underfloor insulation reduces heat loss through the floor to a great extent and keeps your living space warmer for a longer duration. Whether you have a concrete floor or a wooden suspended floor, improving the insulation of your floor could help you save hundreds of pounds every year.
Before going further about underfloor insulation, the type of floor you have must be determined. There are 2 ways to do so;
If your place has a cellar or basement then some wooden joists must be visible to you and from below you might be able to see the undersides of the floorboards. If so, your place has a suspended timber floor. You are likely to have the same type of floor if you have ventilation bricks below the floor level outside your house.
If the underneath of the floor is not accessible to you, you will have to lift the carpet from a corner and underlay.
How does it work?
With underfloor insulation, you are not just kept warm during the winter, but your place stays cool during the summer. Underfloor insulation does not work by trapping heat, instead, it reduces the loss of heat. This results in a controlled airflow, where warm air doesn’t get in during the summer and cold air doesn’t get in during the wintertime.
Your home can be thought of like a thermos flask, with underfloor insulation. It keeps the cool air cool and warm air warm. Just as a thermos flask controls the temperature of what’s inside it, your floor insulation gives more control over your home’s airflow.
In underfloor insulation, a thermal barrier is provided in the room under the floor and the outside environment. This is very important as the common materials used for flooring such as ceramic tiles, timber floorboards, laminate, etc. have very poor insulating properties.
Types of Underfloor Insulation
INSULATION BOARDS
Expanded polystyrene sheets also known as ESP sheets are one of the best materials that can provide good insulation. They are very easy to install and have a high insulating value. This insulating material must be installed on an even ground which is why priming the surface before installation is very important. The insulation boards must also possess resistance to pressure so that the floor won’t collapse or crack.
MINERAL WOOL
Mineral wool insulation is a great option for insulating floors due to its excellent thermal and acoustic properties. It is sustainable eco-friendly material, however, not always possible to install under all floors and will require a home survey to determine if it’s an option.
EARTHWOOL
Earthwool insulation, a type of mineral wool made from recycled glass, is an excellent choice for floor insulation due to its thermal, acoustic, and environmental benefits. Our partner installers use Knauf Earthwool material specifically.
SHEEPS WOOL
British sheep’s wool insulation is an excellent choice for floor insulation, offering a range of benefits that make it a sustainable and highly effective premium option. Our partner installers use ThermaFleece sheep’s wool which was created and is still supplied in the UK, in Yorkshire by a local farmer.
INSULATING SCREED
Insulating screed is made of combining materials like cement and other insulating materials. These insulating materials usually comprise polystyrene granules with a diameter of 0.1 to 0.25 inches. Insulating screed is usually combined with other materials to offer more insulation and for sealing the floor perfectly.
Underfloor insulation often required that your flooring is lifted up insulated and laid back in place if you don’t have a latch with crawl space underneath.
Our installers will only ever proceed if they can assure minimal upheaval and full restoration of your floor space.
Benefits of Underfloor Insulation
Underfloor insulation is all about good results and making smart choices for a building project or home. Here is why you should install new floor insulation:
Floor insulation helps you to prevent heat loss through the floors
Though insulation won’t make your home floors feel warmer, as it’s the job of radiant heat to do so, with insulation less warm air will escape out through the floor, keeping your room warm for a longer time.
Insulation will keep you cool during hot climates
We all know that hot air rises. Insulation helps you to put a barrier between the floor and the ground beneath you, helping you to maintain a comfortable environment inside your home.
Drafts can be dramatically reduced by Insulation
This is a factor to notice for homes built above the ground or have a crawlspace. Insulation helps to fill potential air holes and keep the air from outside from entering your interior space
An effective moisture barrier is created between your floor and the outside world
Floors of your homes, especially hardwood floors are highly susceptible to moisture levels. Adding a layer of underfloor insulation can help to prevent your floorboards from staining your wood or warping
Insulation can help to avoid the freezing of pipes on very cold winter nights and days
Insulation can provide extra protection to the plumbing below your floor, from extreme cold weather and add to its durability
Floor insulation – a great improvement in spaces like a basement or garage
While installing full insulation to your place will be more effective, just adding floor insulation can help you save a lot and not bring a dent in your bank account.
Underfloor Insulation Cost in Scotland
The cost of underfloor insulation is dependant on the size of the surface area that needs to be insulated.
The price of the underfloor insulation will also vary depending on the type of the floor.
Floor insulation costs will pay for itself over the years, you should notice the cost of your energy bills dropping shortly after your underfloor insulation is installed.
To arrive at an accurate final cost, please get in touch to arrange a free home survey.
Underfloor Insulation Installers Scotland
Underfloor insulation is a very simple and effective way in which you can make your place more energy efficient. It allows you to reduce your energy bills and less heat is lost from your property, providing a more comfortable environment inside your home.
So if you are in need of underfloor insulation, we have trusted approved installers and companies who can get the job done for you. All the underfloor insulation installers we work with are fully approved and have demonstrated strong customer satisfaction.
Customer Testimonials
Floor Insulation Quote
If you are in need of underfloor insulation all you need is to do completed the short contact form below.
One or our partner installers will be in touch within 48 hours to provide arrange a no obligation underfloor insulation survey at your home.
Knauf Mineral Wool And Earthwool
Optimum thermal performance.
Slows heat transfer.
Eco-friendly, sustainable product.
Sound insulation benefits.
Creates dry, comfortable conditions.
Fire protection.
(PIR) Rigid Insulation Boards
Thin, light, durable.
Reduced humidity.
Hassle free installation.
No maintenance requirements.
Ideal for certain angles.
Clean and tidy.
ThermaFleece Sheeps Wool Insulation
Over 20 years of research and development.
Best heat retention insulation.
Natural, sustainable product.
Comes from British farms.
Acoustic benefits.
INSULATION SERVICES WE OFFER
ScotTherm either directly installs or can provide quotes via our partner installers for every type of insulation measure there is.
We strictly don’t use spray foam insulation on domestic properties.
Loft Insulation
Read more on about the loft insulation and government grants available in Scotland.
External Wall Insulation (ewi)
Click the link above for more information on our external wall insulation services.
Internal Wall Insulation
Internal wall insulation with government grants also available.
Cavity Wall Insulation
Click the link above for more information on cavity wall insulation and the government grants available for it.
Underfloor Insulation
Read more on our underfloor and suspended floor insulation solutions.
Roof Insulation
Click the link above for more information on our roof and loft insulation services.
INSULATION SERVICES WE OFFER
ScotTherm either directly installs or can provide quotes via our partner installers for every type of insulation measure there is.
We strictly don’t use spray foam insulation on domestic properties.