Underfloor Insulation

In new dwellings rigid insulation boards are usually installed below the concrete floors to comply with current building regulations. Many of the original Burlingham properties have suspended timber floors which rest on honeycomb brick sleeper walls. To maximise the energy efficiency of your property you should consider insulating your floors. This is best achieved by removing the floor boards and installing rigid insulation between the floor joists. Permeable insulation, such as sheep’s wool, hemp fibre, cellulose or wood fibre board, often works well with old buildings. However non-breathable forms of insulation should not be discounted when adequate ventilation beneath the floor can be achieved. Depending on the type of insulation used, some form of retention system may need to be attached to the floor joists.

Care must be taken to ensure that nothing is done to impede subfloor ventilation (for example, by blocking air vents) thereby promoting dry rot and timber decay.