There are multiple types of insulation for wooden floors, which will be chosen based on various factors that we will explore. To carry out insulation work, call on professionals who have the tools, technique, and expertise in installing insulation to ensure its long-term effectiveness.
Before starting the installation of a wooden floor or even during floor renovation, with or without underfloor heating, it’s also necessary to consider floor insulation, which should improve the thermal insulation of a room, as well as limit the propagation of various noises from one room to another.
Methods of insulating a wooden floor
Depending on the type of wooden floor and its accessibility, it’s possible to insulate it from above or below.
– Insulating a floating wooden floor is essential and an integral part of its installation. With this type of flooring, a vapor barrier is generally favored, accompanied by an insulating layer such as fiber board or polyethylene foam.
– Insulation of a nailed wooden floor is done between the joists using roll insulation or granular insulation.
– Insulation from above the floor may require that the original floor be covered with insulation and therefore hidden if it is not removable. It also implies that the new floor will be higher than the old one, and that doors and thresholds will need to be raised. If the original floor is removable, as is the case with most parquet floors, it’s possible to place the insulation between the joists, in the space between the subfloor and the finished floor.
– Face-to-face insulation or insulation from below is only possible if the underside of the floor is accessible. In this case, the insulation can be placed between the joists.
The different types of insulation
The most common insulators are mineral wools, plant or animal-based insulators, polystyrene, and thin insulators, but here’s a summary of their properties and characteristics:
– Mineral wools such as glass wool and rock wool made from recycled glass or silica are effective sound and thermal insulators. They also have the advantages of being recyclable, inexpensive, resistant, and non-flammable when used with a vapor barrier. However, they are contraindicated in cases of high humidity in a building.
– Plant and animal-based insulators such as cotton wool, feathers, or hemp are, of course, ecological materials, harmless to health and the environment, which are also very efficient and durable. Their only weakness is their poor sound insulation compared to other insulators.
– Thin insulation is of low thickness and therefore very light, despite being composed of several layers of aluminum, foam, wadding, or felt assembled together. Its properties include impermeability to water vapor, longevity, and reflectivity which prevent heat loss.
– Polystyrene, formed from crude oil, has high mechanical resistance and great lightness, but it must be accompanied by a non-combustible material such as plaster due to its high weakness against fire. Its other weakness is its low durability over time.
Insulation solutions for your wooden floor ensure your comfort, help you save energy, and thus reduce your electricity bills. To achieve this, you need to choose the right type of thermal and sound insulation, as well as protection against moisture, according to the characteristics of your floor and the building on which it is installed.
