Underfloor Insulation

A comprehensive guide to underfloor insulation

Home insulation DIY projects often focus on exterior walls, ceilings, and other parts of the house, but one part of the house
that can easily get overlooked in insulation projects is the flooring.
When looking to insulate your home to make it more comfortable and economical year-round, while also adding value to the
property, it pays not to overlook underfloor insulation and to address how the space under your floors is affecting the comfort
of your home.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover all you need to know about underfloor insulation. This guide will explain what it is,
how it works and why it’s effective, as well as the most popular types of underfloor insulation in Australia, how to install it, how
it adds long-term value to your home, and where you can buy it. We will also discuss what type of homes would benefit the
most from having underfloor insulation.

What is underfloor insulation? Does underfloor insulation actually make a

The concept of addressing and managing the flow of heat
difference?
through the flooring in homes is not new. In fact, the idea can be Underfloor insulation can be one of those investments that
traced all the way back to Korea circa 5,000 BC and the use of homeowners may be tempted to question the relevance of.
the Ondol system. Once installed, it typically sits out of sight – meaning it’s also out
of mind – and the benefits it delivers may not be immediately
Like other forms of insulation, underfloor insulation provides an
apparent.
effective barrier to the flow of heat through suspended timber
sub-floors and helps reduce your reliance on heaters in winter However, underfloor insulation, when installed correctly and
and air-conditioners in summer. Such artificial heating and when quality underfloor insulation products with high R-values
cooling methods add to your electricity bill while contributing to are used, certainly makes a difference. You’ll notice a return on
greenhouse gas emissions. your investment in underfloor insulation in the form of a home
that’s naturally more comfortable year-round (less heat loss in
Homeowners may overlook the underside of their floors as an
winter, less heat gain in summer), reduced electricity bills, and
area where heat can enter or exit their homes. So while you may
added value to your home.
have sufficiently insulated parts of your home, such as the walls
and ceilings, you will still be losing significant heat – or gaining It’s also worth noting that even if the rest of your home is
significant heat when you least want it – if your suspended insulated properly, without underfloor insulation your floors will
timber sub-floor isn’t supported with underfloor insulation. still be letting in air draughts and allowing heat to leak out. And
Either way, it is costing you money by increasing your reliance underfloor insulation can also provide acoustic advantages
on heating and cooling systems in your home. for your home by dampening the sound of footsteps on your
wooden floors. Along with wall and roof insulation, underfloor
insulation also helps reduce the transfer of noises from outside
to inside your home and vice versa.
The various
types of underfloor
insulation
There are four main types of underfloor
insulation products. Each one uses different
kinds of materials and slightly different
methods to deliver underfloor insulation for
your home, and each one also comes with
its own installation method.

Foilboard Insulation Glasswool Underfloor Polyester Rolls Expanded Polystyrene

A rigid insulation panel Insulation Batts Polyester rolls are a type of (EPS) Foam panels
featuring a fire retardant Glasswool batts feature bulk insulation that traps Arguably the most popular
expanded polystyrene core millions and millions of tiny billions of little air pockets choice for underfloor
covered with an aluminium air pockets to effectively slow within their structure to slow insulation, expanded
layer of foil on both sides. down the flow of heat. Made down and break up the heat polystyrene rigid foam boards
With a fire retardant expanded from recycled glass materials path. Made from recycled are a cost-effective and energy
polystyrene core, foil board and a cost-effective choice, plastic materials and typically efficient underfloor insulation
provides a thermal break and Glasswool insulation products pre-cut to fit new and existing solution to effectively make
vapour barrier for thermal are pre-cut to fit between the timber joist floors, polyester your home more comfortable
performance and moisture joists of timber floors and rolls are available in a range of all year round. Certain EPS
resistance. can be strapped or stapled in thicknesses and R-values. foam board products are
place. uniquely designed to be easy
to install, making them perfect
solutions for DIYers looking to
add value to their home.
How underfloor insulation
adds value to your home

Installing underfloor insulation can add long-term

value to your home by making it a more cost-
effective, efficient, and comfortable place to live.
Here are five ways quality underfloor insulation
adds value to your home.

Reduce drafts: Pipe protection:

By creating a barrier that wind cannot pass through, underfloor For those living in the colder parts of Australia in homes with
insulation helps eliminate drafts in homes that are raised above piping beneath their wooden floor, underfloor insulation provides
the ground. an additional level of protection when the water in the pipes
reaches freezing temperature. This can cause the pipes to crack,
Prevent heat loss: if not completely burst.
Insulation reduces temperature change, meaning less energy
Make summers manageable:
is needed to maintain your preferred temperature inside your
home. Not just for winter, underfloor insulation also helps to control
the temperature inside your house during the warmer months –
Reduce unwanted moisture: without relying so much on your air conditioner.
Wood floors are particularly vulnerable to moisture. By installing
underfloor insulation you will be creating a ‘vapour barrier’ that
prevents moisture from gathering on the underside of your
raised wooden floor, which over time may cause the floor to
warp or become stained.
Does your home really need underfloor insulation?

As effective as underfloor insulation is, it’s important to note that underfloor insulation is not always required. It all depends on the age of
your home, the specific flooring conditions of your home and, to a lesser extent, where your home is located.

So it’s worth first determining if your flooring is eligible for underfloor insulation before investing your time and money into it. If you know
the flooring materials and method used in constructing your home, then you should know whether or not your home is a candidate for
underfloor insulation. If you’re not quite sure, it might pay to consult a professional underfloor insulation expert.

Your home may not be a candidate for underfloor insulation if:

• it’s built on a solid concrete base (not including houses built on suspended concrete slabs).
• there’s the presence of chemical-based spray for insects.
• asbestos is present.
• the home is non-compliant to wiring rules (AS/NZS 3000:2018).
Underfloor insulation as a
DIY project
One of the great things about underfloor insulation
being light in weight is that it can be very simple to
install in your home. In fact, depending on what type
of underfloor insulation product you choose, it can
be so easy that you can do it yourself as DIY project.

One such example is expanded polystyrene foam While some underfloor insulation products require professional
panel products. Installing this type of underfloor installation, on the whole underfloor insulation doesn’t typically
insulation product is simply a matter of: require an extensive or overly strenuous installation process,
which makes it a favourable option for DIY enthusiasts. If you’re
• Measuring the distance between your joists.
planning in installing your new underfloor insulation as a DIY
• Cutting the panel to size if required. project, it’s worth choosing a product that is non-toxic, such as
• Sliding the panel between the joists and pushing it so it’s rigid expanded polystyrene boards. They do not release small
nestled flush with the floorboards to ensure there are no air fragments that can get trapped in airways, and they do not irritate
gaps. the skin.

• Fixing supplied fittings in place at the panel’s corners.

How effective
is underfloor
insulation?
Whether your floorboards are exposed
or have carpet or another material laid on
top of them, quality underfloor insulation
is still necessary for minimising heat
loss and maintaining a desirable internal
temperature year-round.
Just like other forms of home insulation,
underfloor insulation works in a simple yet
highly effective way. Underfloor insulation
helps keep your home cool in summer
and warmer in winter by creating a barrier
that shields your home from air that flows
up through your floorboards and into your
home.
If you have no insulation at all under your
floor, then you may be surprised about
how much change you’ll feel with the
help of underfloor insulation. Even using
a minimum R-value underfloor insulation
product will actively reduce the transfer
of heat.
But when using a high R-value underfloor
insulation product coupled with the
correct installation method, you’ll benefit
greatly from investing in underfloor
insulation for your home.
The cost of underfloor
insulation

Compared to other methods and materials for insulating

your home, underfloor insulation is an affordable
solution, particularly when done as a DIY project.

The cost of your underfloor insulation will depend on the following variables:

• The size of the floor area you wish to • The type of material and R-value you • Whether you will require labour to
insulate. choose for your underfloor insulation. install or whether you do this yourself.

Some underfloor insulation providers have an insulation calculator on their website that can help you determine the materials cost for
your underfloor insulation project.

Where to buy Underfloor insulation products can be found at most hardware stores, such as
Bunnings, Home Timber & Hardware, and Mitre 10. In some cases, underfloor
underfloor insulation? insulation can also be ordered direct from the supplier.
 Where to buy
underfloor
insulation?
Underfloor insulation products can
be found at most hardware stores,
such as Bunnings, Home Timber
& Hardware, and Mitre 10. In some
cases, underfloor insulation can also
be ordered direct from the supplier.

Trusted for more than 20 years, Expol Underfloor Insulation is the ideal rigid board for insulating
under timber floors. It 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 tips on underfloor insulation, visit expolinsulation.com.au. To discuss your
underfloor insulation project call the experts 1300 AU FOAM or email [email protected]