Ground floor insulation and draught stopping

It is sometimes possible to add insulation to a ground floor — it’s easiest and most cost-effective for timber floors. There must be enough ventilation, both to avoid condensation that can harm under-floor timber and to keep a supply of fresh air to fires and boilers.

If there are draughts around your feet, get a sealant gun — seal around skirting boards and between floor boards.

Avoid losing heat to the ground:

• If you take up the floorboards, fit insulation to the depth of the floor joists, supported on netting — keep the insulation clear of any wall vents.
   

• If you install an in-floor heating system, lay insulation beneath the heating coil.
   

• If you have a solid ground floor relaid, rigid insulation can be added under the concrete slab or planks — the floor will have to be dug deeper if you don’t want to alter the height of the floor, door openings, and stairs.

Insulating a timber floor

Ask an architect about wall and ground floor insulation:

www.arb.org.uk

www.rias.org.uk

0131 229 7545

The National Insulation Association gives advice on all types of insulation:

www.nationalinsulation
association.org.uk

If there’s a boiler, gas fire, or oil fire in the room make sure there’s a vent to let fresh air into the room.