All project content written and produced by Mike Edwards, founder of DIY Doctor and industry expert in building technology. These are typically older houses with floors situated above empty space. Proper installation is the difference between maximum savings and not seeing much of a difference. If your extension is fairly small, it might be worth considering barrowing it in yourself, as it is mixed. 
If youd like any more information regarding our services, please get in touch. A U-value of o.2W/m2k is possible to achieve for most semi-detached properties using around 100mm of air-based insulation and perseverance. However if you live in an older property that was constructed when insulation wasnt necessarily a requirement the quickest and in most cases cheapest solution is to lay an insulated floating floor over the existing slab. 
insulate insulating finish homeconstructionimprovement subfloor construction vidalondon renovating ceilings livingroomremodel providentdecor The strips should be pushed down into the gap so that its fully filled all the way around the room. 
Mass Foam Systems are the UKs No.1 Icynene spray foam insulation company. Incorrect curing can lead to chemical attacks and freeze-thaw both of which will impact the appearance and structural integrity of the completed concrete. However, the increase in floor height might trigger a lot of other changes like doors and shelving. For timber flooring use at least 18mm tongue and groove chipboard (preferably 22mm if possible) and ensure all tongues and grooves are glued using epoxy timber glue. To do this you will need to get in the appropriate plumbing and electrical trades. With the expansion gap filled one of the final jobs is then to refit the skirting boards as these will then hide the expansion gap. If youre looking to install insulation boards, this is also covered in this step. Once your chosen floor finish has been laid with the required expansion gap, the gap itself then needs filling with cork expansion strips. The first job is to get any radiators, sockets or other fixings raised up from their existing locations by at least the increase in height of the new floor. heating underfloor concrete floor mesh wire flooring insulation floors systems heat batten wooden thermal sub We love feedback on our DIY tutorials it helps us to make them the best they possibly can be so if you have any comments you would like to share with us, click the button below and let us know. These insulation slabs are built-in inches below the concrete surface. If this is done correctly, the curing will promote good concrete mixture development. The final job is then to refit any doors or the like that had to be removed. Once the slab and screed have both fully cured you can then lay your chosen floor covering on top to finish. Once fully cleared and levelled the solid insulation sheets are then laid across the floor area, but before you do fully sweep and vacuum the floor area to prevent any particles puncturing the foil covering of the insulation as this helps to act as a damp control barrier. This is a significant amount for a section of the house that might get overlooked when it comes to installing insulation. If the above solution of removing the existing slab and laying a new one is totally out of the question due to cost and inconvenience then the next solution is to insulate over the top of the existing concrete slab. You may already be aware of roofing or cavity wall insulation, but what about your floor? 
Rugs and carpeting: Simplest and quickest temporary solution. For all your concrete flooring inquiries, our team are here to help. By putting in a polythene membrane am I going to make the space below the joists really moist?
expol polystyrene If youd prefer not to do this, you may want to consider having your concrete poured direct from the lorry. Your floor covering (if you choose to have one), can be floorboards or tiles, depending on your preference. The next step is laying the damp-proof membrane down. 
This means that any damp, rot, or damage of any kind in the floor needs to be taken care of. It is a common misconception that plugging all the gaps in a wooden floor is enough to prevent heat loss. With uninsulated concrete floors, insulation is possible either when the floor is being replaced or via a rigid insulation layer on top. Any requirements by your local construction authority are sure to be enforced throughout the project. Stapleford Abbotts
If you go down this route, you would pull the slab up and then excavate the ground underneath. Essentially this will be a sum total of the depth of insulation plus the depth of floor covering (either 18 or 22mm chipboard, 25mm ply or 40 50mm screed) plus the dpc membrane. floor insulation garage conversion insulate concrete insulating conversions carpet vidalondon flooring under Would it be better to install a vapour permeable membrane below the new hardboard floor and have an air brick ventilating the joists underneath? Concrete floors have a reputation for being cold, and it's true that concrete has a lower insulating value than most other building materials. A laboratory is a place which must conform to rigorous hygiene standards. This rigid insulation over concrete is highly effective. attached from underneath wrapping up and over the joists is an option, but care should be taken with careful present wrapping at the junction with the wall plate. The dilemma I have is how best to insulate my living room floor. 
bubble radon methane customer You must way at least three to four days for it to cure to ensure the temperature and moisture conditions in your concrete are satisfactory. I was wondering if I would need a polythene membrane over the concrete (I dont know if there is a damp proof membrane built into the concrete floor) and would the joists need an air flow around them to prevent them rotting? Youd need to put in a damp proof membrane and then at least 100mm of polyurethane underfloor insulation, topped with a concrete slab. With the former, high-performance insulation boards are the way to go. 
If you do not want to go down this route and you also dont want to put in air bricks, you have to be very careful. Draught-proofing: Filling any gaps in your wooden floor using sealant or caulking. Unit 4
In the majority of cases a timber floor is probably preferable as its cheaper and easier to lay from a DIY perspective, however if you do choose a screed then see our project linked to above on how to lay this. All information is provided in good faith. concrete floor acoustic 27c 23c a1 code brand 27mm 1040 Keep up to date with our DIY projects, tips and latest deals, DIY Doctor Ltd 2022 All Rights Reserved. Take a look at our project on ground floor slabs to see the complete picture of ground floor slab construction and where to place the under slab insulation if the opinion of your architect, or your choice, is to place it below the concrete slab.Slab insulation. Spray foam is a combination of liquid chemicals that react and eventually solidify into a thick layer. 
Phenolic foam is a popular choice to get around this issue, as its able to achieve strong levels of insulation for less depth. Assuming hardcore has been used, the next step is sand blinding, (you will need building sand for this step). Remember these will need to be trimmed up by the amount that the floor level has now increased so that they will open over the new floating floor. There are several ways that this can be done: The first is to construct a timber frame and insulate within the frame, only in this case you would need to lay a damp proof membrane between the concrete slab and the timber to prevent damp damage. Also a 10mm expansion gap needs to be left around the perimeter of the floor. However there is one drawback to this method in that you will be raising the existing floor level by at least 70mm or so and this will ultimately mean radiators, sockets and other fixings may first need to be raised up by at least the increase in floor height, which in itself can be costly! A space-saving solution, though more expensive, is to use vacuum panels, which has a far better insulating value for the thickness and so would minimise issues regarding door thresholds etc. insulation perlite underfloor sound floors schundler The target U value for a concrete ground floor slab is 0.22 and these days the insulation must be provided around the edge of the floor slab as well. The insulating capability of a given material is indicated with a number called an R-value; the higher the R-value of a material, the more resistant it is to the transfer of heat from one side of the material to the other. Unit 43 South Hampshire Industrial Park concrete radiant floor insulation heating heated floors rigid under heat slab between flooring building stalling geothermal materials energy construction homes With all the joints taped up you can then lay your chosen floor finish over the top e.g. For this reason, gaps should not be covered up. 
This is quite the undertaking and it may be best if floor renovations were on the agenda anyway. While installing underfloor insulation for timber and concrete floors are different procedures, one thing holds true: the efficiency of the installation is key. The DPM (Damp Proof Membrane) is laid under the insulation on top of a soft blinding to ensure it is not punctured. concrete underlayments multifamily acousti If there is no access to the void between the floor, the floorboards will have to be removed. 
Advice on filters for MVHR heat recovery ventilation, Airtightness product information & price list, Products and support for energy efficient homes and buildings, Next generation of green leaders graduate with a little help from Green Building Store, Mill building office radical retrofit: Heating & ventilation. There are arguments for and against both, but if you are to use an under floor heating method of some kind the insulation is often placed on top of the floor slab, under the screed. With all the gaps and spaces that are found in floors, spray foam insulation offers a compelling solution to heat loss. 
