For effective energy efficiency, insulation is one of the most important aspects of any home construction or renovation project. The inclusion of insulation to the roof space and walls during construction is standard practice for most projects but insulating the subfloor area is often overlooked for both new homes, renovated homes, and DIY projects. And this can lead to cold, draughty, and uncomfortable spaces.
In short, insulation creates a barrier to heat gain and loss in ceilings, roofs, floors, and walls. It is a cost-effective and practical way to keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer. It can also help reduce condensation, which decreases the chances of dampness, which can cause mould to form.
The added benefit of underfloor insulation is that it is typically cost-effective to buy, light in weight for easy handling, and relatively easy to install. In fact, it is so easy to handle and install that underfloor insulation has become a popular DIY building and renovation project.
Benefits of home insulation
Some of the many benefits of insulation in your home are:
- keeps your house cooler in summer and warmer in winter;
- reduces your energy consumption;
- reduces your heating and cooling bill; and
- provides comfort all year round.
Subfloors are often overlooked for insulation
Many modern Australian homes are built on concrete slabs, meaning they do not require subfloor insulation. But some new homes and many older homes feature a suspended floor with subfloor space beneath.
Without insulation beneath the floorboards, thermal bridging will create a direct link to the external temperature beneath the floor and outside the home. This can lead to discomfort for the occupants and require excess heating or cooling energy within the home.
While carpets and rugs provide some insulation, they do a poor job. And if these are your only forms of floor insulation, you will still need to heat your draughty home in winter and cool it in summer.
The best time to install subfloor insulation is during construction or renovation, but it can also be done at any time by a professional installer, or competent DIY homeowners.
While not an obvious feature of a new or renovated home, underfloor insulation can still make a noticeable difference. And by specifying subfloor insulation, architects, designers and builders can add a little luxury, comfort and energy savings for their clients.
Why choose underfloor insulation?
Timber floors installed on beams and joists, particularly those resting on stumps, lose a great deal of heat through their floor, inflating heating bills and wasting energy. The further the floor is away from the ground, the more heat it will lose, as the coldest air around your house is found underneath it. So, putting an insulating barrier between that and the floor surface not only significantly increases the comfort of your home, but will also save you money.
By installing a product like Expol Underfloor Insulation, you’ll not only prevent any cold air from leaking through cracks and gaps, but you will also muffle noise, and prevent indoor heat from leaking out through the floor.
If it’s done right, you will likely only ever have to insulate your floor once during its lifetime, making it a very cost-effective home modification that adds value to your home.
What are the benefits of underfloor insulation products like Expol?
Insulation helps keep the internal temperature of a home stable by maintaining the flooring at the internal ambient temperature, rather than letting it be influenced by the temperature outside your home. There are five key benefits to underfloor insulation.
Thermal efficiency
You will be able to retain desirable temperatures all year round organically, without needing to resort to the costly use of heaters and coolers.
Reduce your reliance on artificial air
The less artificially heated or artificially cooled air in your home, the better it is for your family’s health. This means that maintaining comfortable temperatures in your home naturally is not only good for your wallet, but also good for the health of your family.
Cheaper energy bills
Obviously if you use your heating and cooling appliances less, your energy bills will decrease. This will translate into more money in your pocket and assist in recouping the cost of installing your underfloor insulation.
Contribute to a healthier planet
Using less gas and electricity means you’ll also help preserve our planet’s vitally important natural resources. By fitting quality underfloor insulation products, such as Expol, and lessening how much you use your artificial heating and cooling devices, you will be contributing to a more sustainable planet.
Preventing cold air from entering through the floor
Cracks and holes in floorboards allow cold air to creep in through the floor, making a home colder in winter. Installing underfloor insulation creates a layer between external temperatures and your floorboards, which prevents air from creeping up through your floors and into your home.
Is underfloor insulation your next DIY project?
Underfloor insulation may not be the first DIY project that comes to mind when looking at ways to add value to your home. But if you’re a DIY builder or renovator, it is a great way to make your home more comfortable and less costly year-round. And the best part is, it’s cost-effective and easy to install.
Trusted for more than 20 years, Expol Underfloor Insulation is easy to install, available in four convenient joist widths (560mm, 470mm, 410mm, 360mm), and a popular option for DIY underfloor insulation projects.
For more information and to find your closest stockist visit Expol Underfloor Insulation.