How do I insulate suspended floors?

Insulating suspended floors can help eliminate draughts, reduce energy loss and prevent damp and dry rot. Find out what you need to know with our expert guide

- TIM PULLEN

Insulating suspended floors has emerged as a modern solution that addresses recurring problems for homeowners of older properties: namely, preventing draughts, helping to keep a home significantly warmer and prevent energy loss, all while maintaining the integrity of timber suspended floors.

Insulating floors can prove difficult in some instances. However, as well as helping to draughtproof your home, it will also reduce the risk of any rot or damp-related problems with the flooring, which if left unchecked could lead to major issues.

Our guide highlights the importance of insulating suspended floors and explains the steps you can take to keep your timbers in tip-top condition.

SUSPENDED FLOORS EXPLAINED

Suspended timber floors were first introduced in the early 18th century. Before this time, it was common practice to place joists and boards directly on the ground. This eventually led to floors suffering from damp and dry rot.

When people finally realised what was causing the problem, their solution was to raise the floors up off the ground, thereby allowing the free movement of air and much better ventilation, which helped protect the timbers.

This was a great idea, so far as it went, but a drawback was that the ventilation below the floor soon began to leak through the boards, causing draughts in the room above. At that time, though, most houses were heated with coal fires, which require a lot of air for good combustion, so draughts were considered a small price to pay.

At the time, insulation was also largely unheard of, and almost as much heat escaped through the floor as through the walls. Nowadays, we all know how important it is to insulate our walls, but it is an equally good idea to insulate and draughtproof the floors, too.

ENERGY SAVINGS