Ground Floor Insulation – Common Misconceptions

There are a ground floor insulation of different materials on the market for ground floor insulation and it can often be as easy to identify products by their colour or visual appearance than by knowledge of their performance. In this article, Rob Firman, Technical and Specification Manager at Polyfoam XPS highlights some common misconceptions regarding the specification and installation of ground floor insulation and offers guidance on what to look out for.

Traditionally solid ground floors in newer buildings have been insulated using a layer of rigid foam insulation on top of the concrete slab which is then covered with chipboard and then the chosen floor covering. This can be a great option for refurbishment projects as it is relatively quick and simple to install. However, it is important to remember that insulating a solid floor will raise it so any existing damp or rot should be repaired before any further work is carried out.

Ground Floor Insulation: Key Considerations and Methods

It has been found that the energy savings resulting from insulating a solid floor are only marginal when compared to a well-insulated wall or roof and as such it is generally best to consider reducing heating bills by focusing on insulating other elements of the building first. It may still be worth insulating a solid floor though if it can be cost-effectively achieved with minimal disruption. Alternatively, it may be more beneficial to consider blown or injected foam insulation which can be installed easily without any need to cut through the floor.