DIY Builds
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Should you insulate under joists?

For most heritage properties, the most effective and appropriate way to insulate a suspended floor and improve its airtightness is to retrofit insulation beneath the floorboards, between the supporting joists (figure 2).

ecologicalbuildingsystems.com - A Best Practice Approach To Insulating Suspended Timber Floors
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I would like to upgrade my suspended timber floor insulation as part of the government Green Homes Grant. How do I go about doing this?

Regarding the Green Homes Grant scheme, as we understand it, this is only available via approved TrustMark installers who are registered to carry out work under the government scheme. At this stage, we believe there are a limited number of registered installers, but hopefully more will be added in time. To qualify for the grant, any materials would have to be purchased and installed via a registered installer. More details of registered TrustMark installers can be accessed via this link.

Can I install the system described in the blog myself?

This depends on the experience and tools available to you. Follow this guide for more detailed instructions. The most crucial element is to be conscious of all the intricate details and to execute the details with care. Often the best installations are in fact by homeowners who have taken time to install materials correctly. Of course, appropriate health and safety measures must be taken.

Can you recommend a local installer?

As a product supplier only, we don’t get involved with installation or work directly with installers of suspended timber floor insulation. However, if you are able to find a local joiner/builder that you’d like to work with, we’d be more than happy to confirm the details with them if that would help?

How do I know what size and thickness of Thermo Hemp Combi Jute insulation I require?

Thermo Jute is available in two different widths, either 375mm for joist centres that are around 400mm apart or 575mm for joist centres that are around 600mm apart. Thermo Hemp Combi Jute is available in different thicknesses. Standard thickness that we stock include 60mm, 100mm and 140mm in 370mm wide and 40mm, 60mm, 100mm in 580mm wide. We’re able to use a combination of these thickness to make up the total thickness required. The thickness of the insulation required is normally determined by the height of the floor joists, so if the height of the floor joist is 160mm, then we would recommend using 160mm of Thermo Hemp Combi Jute insulation to fully-fill the void. The total thickness could be a combination of 100mm and 60mm thicknesses on top of each other. For details on the other natural fibre insulations we supply, please refer to our Flexible Insulation category page.

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What is the best way to insulate a wooden floor?

Timber floors can be insulated by lifting the floorboards and laying mineral wool insulation supported by netting between the joists.

energysavingtrust.org.uk - Floor insulation information and advice - Energy Saving Trust

Many homes – especially newer ones – will have a ground floor made of solid concrete. This can be insulated when it needs to be replaced, or can have rigid insulation laid on top. Older homes are most likely to have suspended timber floors. If you have air bricks or ventilation bricks on the outside wall(s) of your house that are below floor level, you probably have a suspended timber floor. Do NOT block up air bricks in your walls. They are needed to help ventilate the space under your floor and stop your floorboards rotting. If you have a basement or cellar beneath your house that you can get into safely, take a look down there to see what type of floor you have. If the floor is a suspended wooden floor, you will probably be able to see wooden joists and the undersides of the floorboards. If you don’t have access to the space underneath your house, you will need to lift a corner of the carpet and underlay to have a look. Timber floors can be insulated by lifting the floorboards and laying mineral wool insulation supported by netting between the joists. Insulating under the floorboards on the ground floor could save you about £110 (£90 in NI) a year in an average property, or up to £180 (£145 in NI) if you live in a detached house. Alternatively, a recent innovation involves a robot applying spray foam insulation to the underside of the floorboards, which would avoid the need to take them up altogether.

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