The Definitive Guide To Underfloor Insulation

Underfloor insulation can provide many benefits to your home and is a compulsory requirement in newly built homes, as per the revisions made to the Building Code of Australia. It’s not, however, compulsory to have underfloor insulation in older homes. But if you’re looking at retrofitting an older home with underfloor insulation, it can be a tricky job. That’s why in today’s blog, we’ll be going through the ins and outs of underfloor insulation, including where to buy underfloor insulation in Melbourne, and how to install it.

What are its benefits?

Just like with wall and ceiling insulation, underfloor insulation has great thermal properties and will help keep your home cool during warmer weather, and warm during the cooler weather. In fact, you can save up to 45% on heating and cooling costs if you have underfloor insulation installed. This is due to the fact that even if your floor is completely sealed, air can still escape. This will become particularly noticeable in winter if you walk around barefoot. Sealing cracks in the floor will be an improvement but not a complete fix.

The reason insulation is so efficient is because it’s actually a poor conductor of heat. Without insulation, if it’s cold outside, the chilly air will rise through the floor and offset the heat stored in the floor. But if you have underfloor insulation, it acts as a barrier between the air outside and the floor – allowing your floor to retain its heat and leaving it at a more comfortable temperature for you to walk on. Up to 20% of heat can be lost in winter if you do not have underfloor insulation installed – so it’s worth having it retrofitted if your home doesn’t have it already.

 

Selecting right R-Value

When it comes to underfloor insulation in Melbourne, selecting the correct R-value is key. Remember, the higher the R-value, the better the product is at insulating – but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need to fork out for the highest rated insulation product. Each house is different and having an energy assessment performed on your home is a good idea so you can get an idea on how best to insulate it.

 

Installing underfloor insulation

Installing underfloor insulation when you’re building a house can be a relatively easy task. First off, lay down strapping underneath the joists. Three straps should be sufficient – 10cm from each end of the batt and a strap down the middle. Staple them to the wood so the batts can sit on them. Take the batts you’ve ordered and fit them into the joists before you install the floor.

Cut the batts to size if need be so they can fit between the joists correctly and ensure that it’s a snug fit.