Underfloor Insulation

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mattwnz

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#494795 18-Jul-2011 15:23

Only around 10-15 % of heat is lost through the floor. If you have a thick underlay and carpet, the advantages of underfloor insulation may not be cost effective. I would suggest a vapur barrier in your subfloor to stop damp, and possibly installing foil under the floor joists. Foil does reflect some heat back and reduces breezes. Underfloor insulation installers will always try to sell you insulation, becuase thats how they make money. Good ceiling and wall insulation is the most important, as is double/triple glazing.

Jaxson

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#494802 18-Jul-2011 15:27

Yeah but don't forget you don't walk on the walls or ceilings though.

If you have younger children who hangout down near the floor, or areas without carpet etc then it can improve your quality of life/enjoyment of the space.

Regs

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Snowflake

#494843 18-Jul-2011 16:06

Jaxson: Yeah but don't forget you don't walk on the walls or ceilings though.

If you have younger children who hangout down near the floor, or areas without carpet etc then it can improve your quality of life/enjoyment of the space.

+1

And if you have wooden floors, then i consider it a must have. cold feet = cold rest of your body (or at least makes you think you're cold).

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Nety

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#494844 18-Jul-2011 16:07

We installed underfloor insulation in the form of Pollypalace bats. I did around a third myself and by then was willing to pay damn near anything to get someone else to do the rest. It is a HORRIBLE job.
We have some bare wooden floors and you can certainly notice that they are a lot warmer to stand on especially with bare feet. How much difference it makes over all I am not sure. We also replaced the wooden inserts in our windows with aluminum double glazed units which has definitely made a huge difference both in warmth and cutting down outside noise.
Cost of the bats was around 1k for 120m2 and then paid $500 to have two thirds installed. 4k sounds very high. Although I was not particularly happy with job done by the installers and had to correct some bits. In one place there was a cable running a third of the length of the house which had the bats resting against it!!

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Jaxson

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#494854 18-Jul-2011 16:17

Yeah as above, many of these products are simply hell to install. Paying someone else is worth it, but they won't have the motivation to do a stunning job. (I mean how many companies revisit your house with a thermal camera to inspect/audit/confirm their work prior to you paying them?!)

4k does sound very expensive for just underfloor insulation, but then we don't know the full requirements/specifics that only a site inspection would reveal. For that amount of money though I'd shop around. Quotes don't cost you anything.

mattwnz

20147 posts

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#494869 18-Jul-2011 16:37

Jaxson: Yeah but don't forget you don't walk on the walls or ceilings though.

If you have younger children who hangout down near the floor, or areas without carpet etc then it can improve your quality of life/enjoyment of the space.

If you have exposed timber floors, yes it is good. Another consideration is installing underfloor heating coils in the subfloor, and insulation under that, which gives a warm floor under your feet in nomrally cold timber floors.

weesinx

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#494972 18-Jul-2011 20:19

Hi again,
I didn`t realise I would get such a great response. Thanks to all those that have replied.
I had another fellow turn up today to give a quote. Uses same product as original quote and also a cheaper product about half price.
But no comparison between the quality of the products. Huge difference in my opinion.If I am going to proceed which I think I will will go for the better quality especially as 1/3 subsiised.
I think the second quote will be cheaper by about $500 but will wait and see.
I do not like the fact both firms want 1/2 before they start. If they go bust in the meantime I am down the gurgler. I`ll try and negotiate out of that if I can. Too many people get caught out by paying in advance.
First time I have used this forum. Will do so again because good opinions expressed.

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mattwnz

20147 posts

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#494974 18-Jul-2011 20:24

weesinx: Hi again,
I didn`t realise I would get such a great response. Thanks to all those that have replied.
I had another fellow turn up today to give a quote. Uses same product as original quote and also a cheaper product about half price.
But no comparison between the quality of the products. Huge difference in my opinion.If I am going to proceed which I think I will will go for the better quality especially as 1/3 subsiised.
I think the second quote will be cheaper by about $500 but will wait and see.
I do not like the fact both firms want 1/2 before they start. If they go bust in the meantime I am down the gurgler. I`ll try and negotiate out of that if I can. Too many people get caught out by paying in advance.
First time I have used this forum. Will do so again because good opinions expressed.

You could pay it into an escrow account, which they should accept.

Basher

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#495029 18-Jul-2011 21:44

Get them to give you a quote just to install, you can always source and pay for the product yourself and get them to install, paying them the labour charge when they have finished.

I (or the bank) have 100 year old old house, most in wooden floorboards, i have done about half myself with expol type product, but really would advise against it, especially if access is easy for cats etc. Its a real pain of a job especially on your own. Definately feel the difference on your feet.

The reason i have used expol type stuff, is that before i had the foil, but need to borer treat the sub floor every 10 years, when i pulled it down for the borer guy to do his work, i got a face full of borer dust every metre or so, and the foil was unusable after yanked away from the thousands of staples they have used.

I think many have started to ask for money in advance for a number of reasons, one might be that every tom,dick etc, has started installing as its not brain surgery, and without a established business cash flow is usually tight. But good look to em as its not a very nice job.

Regs

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Snowflake

#495036 18-Jul-2011 22:04

not sure if these guys operate in the south island, but i used them and thought their installers did a good job. had the ceiling topped up as well as the underfloor done with the 'cocoon' product - the one with he highest R rating.

http://www.underfloor.co.nz/

They sell insulation to DIY'ers and have videos howing how to install on their site, but you cant get the govt EECA subsidies if you go DIY, and by taking the subsidy (if eligable) you basically get a free install, and no damage to your back :)

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garyasta

75 posts

Master Geek

#495204 19-Jul-2011 11:58

December 2009 we had our place insulated under the government subsidised insulating scheme.

Although you are only looking at getting the sub-floor done, you should raise your comfort level by doing so.

The product we used was a recycled plastic milk bottle product (looks like grey fibreglass)and the sub-floor was of a denser product that appears to be slightly wider than the space between the beams but has been forced to fit quite well. Prior to this we had sisalation reflective foil. Since installing the "plastic-glass", the floors seem to be slightly warmer.

Although retro-insulation in the walls sounds good (using an expanding polystyrene), I have heard that as time goes by, spaces between the product and the studs, etc, do occur.

Contact through your local environmental centre should get a list of suitable installers and an indication of the cost of the product and what the subsidy is.

The cost of the subsidised insulating usually covers the roof space as well as the subfloor, and in some instances assists with hot water cylinder blankets and polythene sheeting on the ground. Heat-pumps are sometimes part of the deal as well. In our case we were replacing some of the walls and we installed this fibreglass-type product when we replaced the exterior cladding.

AS we had no roof space, we got the iron lifted and then insulated accordingly.

As far as which product to use, the building codes are laid down and state the insulating value that has to be adhered to when installing insulation.

The bottom line -if you can afford it, get the sub-floor done.

Jaxson

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#495223 19-Jul-2011 12:30

garyasta: the building codes are laid down and state the insulating value that has to be adhered to when installing insulation.

Just like to add that the codes specify the 'minimum' insulating value that has to be adhered to.

Regs

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Snowflake

#495469 19-Jul-2011 22:03

Jaxson:
garyasta: the building codes are laid down and state the insulating value that has to be adhered to when installing insulation.

Just like to add that the codes specify the 'minimum' insulating value that has to be adhered to.

yes, and thankfully the minimum has recently been raised. For maximum comfort, go with the maximum R rating. it will probably only work out to a few $ difference at install time, but could save a bit in heating (or cooling) costs later

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