Insulated Timber Floor Construction

A suspended timber floor tends to be cold and draughty because of the air circulating beneath it.

Insulated timber floor construction.

If you want to insulate a floor assembly by leaving the joist bays empty and installing rigid foam on the underside of the joists here are a few things to keep in mind. This insulation is placed between the floor joists. Fiber insulation is like putting an extra layer of clothing under a floor. The effect is a greater sense of comfort and that in turn allows the homeowner to turn the thermostat down.

Installing any amount of insulation will warm the floorboards and go a long way towards eliminating draughts. According to the 2012 irc the minimum r value for floor assemblies is r 13 in zones 1 and 2 r 19 in zones 3 and 4 r 30 in zones 5 and 6 and r 38 in zones 7 and 9. Explore our designs for a look at how we integrate hand crafted timbers with structural insulated panels sips to air seal and insulate your walls and roof. Since 1990 when a modern timber floor is constructed insulation is required by the building regulations.

We combine timeless aesthetics with the industry s most energy efficient enclosure system to create your functional beauty a comfortable architecturally distinct sustainable home. When it comes to the energy performance of timber frame and masonry building systems there are some key design differences between the two. If the insulation is soft insulation it can be suspended on netting fixed between the joists whereas rigid insulation can be sat on battens nailed to the side of the joists. It acts as a thermal barrier to the heat that escapes from the wooden floor.