With energy prices seeming to only go in one direction, the argument for conserving energy has never been so strong. There are plenty of ways that you can help keep your house cosy, even when it’s sub-zero temperatures outside, but one great way is by insulating your wood floor. How you tackle this project will depend on whether or not you’re fitting a new wood floor or if you’re renovating an old floor.
Old wood flooring
One big source of energy loss in old wood flooring is the passage of draughts and cold air through the floor that cause your room temperatures to tumble. So, even at a very basic level, just filling gaps will make a difference. There are various ways you can do this. You can either tap the boards so they move close together and then fix them in place or you can fill the gaps. Filling the gaps can be done with wood filler or with a clear resin that’s mixed with sawdust that’s the same colour as your floor. Either of these tasks is easy to do on a DIY basis, but you need to take your time and be patient. Another simple way of improving draughts emanating from old wood floors is to block gaps in skirting boards in the same way.
If you’re renovating an old wood floor, there are several things you need to think about when it comes to insulating your floor. The first is what lies under your floor. If your wood floor is laid on beams, then one solution would be to lift the old floor and to place either chip board underneath, together with a suitable insulating underlay or to place mineral wool insulating material between the beams before re laying your floor. Or, if you have access to the beams from underneath, eg. from a cellar, this job will become much easier because you won’t need to lift the floor. Both of these actions will make significant inroads into reducing both heat loss and to preventing noise.
If your old wood floor is laid over concrete, you need to decide if you should retain the old concrete or if you should replace it. If you are retaining it, then you could lay a rigid form of insulation on top but this will impact on things like door openings, stairs and other fixtures because of the space it will consume. If this is an issue, then you need to select the very thinnest form of insulation that will have the maximum effect. On the other hand, if you plan to replace the concrete entirely then you will have the option to insulate both above and below the new concrete layer. This form of insulation is normally considered more effective than a surface insulation because it enables the concrete to absorb and retain the heat.
Needless to say, if you’re lifting an old wood floor to insulate underneath, this is a great time to think about introducing under floor heating to your energy saving equation and maybe even replacing the floor itself.
New wood flooring
If you are planning to fit new wood flooring it is important to use an appropriate underlay for your project. Not only will the right underlay provide you with a better laying and walking surface for your new floor as well as helping resist moisture, it will help reduce noise pollution and provide thermal insulation.
In a similar way to duvets, wood flooring underlay comes with a Tog rating. Depending on the make up, thickness and density of the underlay you choose, you should be able to reduce your heating bills by up to 15%. In other words, the higher the tog rating you choose for your underlay, the higher the insulation properties will be (just like a duvet). However, it is important if you have under floor heating that you choose the right underlay to go with your heating, so you don’t inadvertently make it less effective. In general terms a tog rating of 0.5 or less will allow the heat to pass without any problem.
If you’re thinking of insulating your wood floor and have questions, why not get in touch? We have a team of experts on hand who can advise you and point you in the right direction as well as a great range of underlay options in stock and ready for delivery.
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FAQ
1. How can I conserve energy with my old wood flooring?
One of the main sources of energy loss in old wood flooring is through the passage of drafts and cold air. This can be mitigated by either moving the boards closer together and fixing them in place or by filling in the gaps with wood filler or a clear resin mixed with sawdust.
2. What should I consider when renovating an old wood floor for insulation purposes?
When renovating, consider what lies beneath your floor. If the floor is laid on beams, consider lifting the floor to place an insulating underlay or mineral wool insulating material between the beams. If the floor is laid over concrete, you can either retain the old concrete and lay a rigid form of insulation on top or replace the concrete entirely and insulate both above and below the new layer.
3. What is an opportune time to introduce underfloor heating?
If you’re lifting an old wood floor to insulate underneath, it’s a great time to consider introducing underfloor heating to your energy-saving equation.
4. What should I consider when installing new wood flooring for insulation purposes?
When installing new wood flooring, it’s important to use an appropriate underlay for your project. The right underlay provides a better laying and walking surface, helps resist moisture, reduces noise pollution, and provides thermal insulation.
5. What is the significance of the Tog rating in wood flooring underlay?
The Tog rating in wood flooring underlay is similar to that in duvets – the higher the Tog rating, the better the insulation properties. However, if you have underfloor heating, it’s important to choose an underlay with a Tog rating of 0.5 or less to allow the heat to pass without any problem.