A suspended ground floor is one of the leading causes of heat loss within older homes. But there is a way to prevent energy loss and keep out the cold.
Suspended floor insulation can help to ensure a room retains heat and is energy efficient. Read on to find out all about our applications - and everything else you need to know.
A typical raised floor in most older buildings is made of timber, where more modern buildings would have a concrete floor design. With the floor raised above the ground surface, the crawl space left below often causes more energy loss than a modern building.
Suspended floor insulation is the answer. Installed in between the wooden beams or against the underside of a concrete floor over a crawlspace, it can reduce heat loss to almost zero and increase energy efficiency through innovative use of sustainable materials.
Costs and savings will vary depending on desired performance level. High thermal performance will cost more but the financial benefits over time will always outweigh the initial extra costs.
The main driver for installing suspended timber floor insulation will be to improve thermal performance. A locally available U-value calculator can help determine the insulation type and thickness required.
Older buildings use suspended timber floors to avoid decay over time, but this can lead to significant heat loss. ROCKWOOL insulation uses the power of stone1 to maximise a building’s energy efficiency and retain heat for the lifetime of a building2.
Even with concrete ground floors, there’s still the need to reduce heat loss to ensure a building is energy efficient. Help your projects achieve these goals more easily with the simple installation of ROCKWOOL insulation.
Our stone wool traps heat and prevents cold air getting in from beneath the insulation, so warm air can circulate within the building. This helps to maintain temperatures throughout the building and to reduce energy bills. In hot climates the reverse effect can be observed.
ROCKWOOL suspended floor insulation products are also:
When installing from above, suspended timber floor insulation can be placed on a suspended netting. Using the natural friction fitting of the lightweight slabs will ensure tight placement – avoiding air leaks.
When installing from below, insulation can be pushed against the existing floor boarding. Placing some lathing or netting underneath will help keep products in place.
With a concrete floor, insulation slabs can be glued or mechanically fixed against the underside of the floor.
Key tips:
Until about the mid-20th century, ground floors in houses were built on timber joists which nestled above an underground airspace. When energy efficiency became more vital, these older properties were identified as a problem area.
We pursue our goals of sustainability and energy efficiency by manufacturing suspended floor insulation products made from sustainable materials – namely earth’s most abundant building material: stone.
With our innovative heat-saving solutions, we can help you to develop buildings that use less energy and afford tenants lower heating bills.
We provide Environment Product Declarations (EPDs) in more than 20 markets for many of our products.
Read more about our sustainability values.
Many countries implement schemes to help communities improve energy efficiency in their homes3. You may be eligible for help on your project.
