15 best floor insulation
For better comfort and reduction of heat loss in heated living quarters, one of the most effective means is floor insulation. Depending on its device (wooden or concrete screed), various types of insulation can be used. This work can be carried out not only in private houses - in multi-apartment residential buildings, underfloor heating on the ground floor is very rare, and cutting off the cold basement with an effective insulator is often the only solution to the problem.
Our review presents the best types of insulation available on the domestic building materials market. When compiling the rating, the operational properties of the material, the opinions of professional builders, as well as the positive experience of the owners who insulated their home using one of the methods presented were taken into account.
The best mineral floor insulation
5 Slag wool
The most budgetary material for insulating wooden floors, both in non-residential premises and in a private house, is one of the varieties of mineral insulation - slag wool. Despite the fact that this insulation is not the most popular among those on the market, it has a number of advantages: low price, resistance to fire, the highest thermal conductivity in the class, ease of use, etc. Floor insulation using slag wool is rarely used for subsequent pouring of concrete screeds. After cutting off the material with waterproofing, which is very important, given the ability of the insulation to absorb moisture, they directly lay the wooden floor covering.
Since the main raw material for the manufacture of slag wool is waste from the metallurgical industry, you should be more careful when choosing a manufacturer - the absence of harmful impurities in the composition is the main selection criterion. You should also use elementary safety measures during the installation of slag insulation. It is enough to use construction goggles and a regular respirator to protect the respiratory tract and eyes from the ingress of microfibers of this material.
4 Foam glass
The foam glass insulation, which appeared back in the 30s of the last century, is still widely used in the implementation of repair and construction work related to the preservation of heat indoors. The basis of this insulation is silicate glass mixed with a gas-generating material, which, under the influence of high temperatures, foams the mass and significantly increases it in size. On the market, foam glass is presented in a wide variety of forms, in the form of crushed stone, sand, granules, blocks or plates. For floor insulation, granulated foam glass is more popular.
The material has the longest service life, which is more than a hundred years. This insulation is not subject to combustion, moisture absorption, microorganisms, etc. When carrying out insulation work with foam glass, a large percentage of shrinkage should be taken into account, reaching in some cases 25-30%. This insulation can be used both under a concrete screed and under any floor covering. If the height of the room allows, insulation can be carried out using foam glass blocks, the use of which is more effective when cutting off the floor of the first floor from the basement. The only drawback of this material is its high cost.
3 Glass wool
One of the main conditions for a comfortable stay in a wooden volume is a warm floor. For its thermal insulation, they use a heater known for a long time on the building materials market - glass wool. It is a mixture of glass waste, dolomite and limestone, which provides the material with a low cost.It is successfully used not only for warming floors on logs, but also for attics, roofs, ceilings, water pipes, etc. The only thing that should be taken into account when insulating a house with this material is the high ability of glass wool to absorb moisture. To preserve its best thermal insulation properties, a high-quality waterproofing and vapor barrier of the layer should be provided.
With one of the lowest thermal conductivity values, glass wool prevents heat loss, which is the main prerequisite for a comfortable room temperature. Also, this material has a high fire safety class, as it is resistant to fire. Glass wool demonstrates the best resistance to deformation, due to its high elasticity, this insulation takes on its original shape after any mechanical impact. The only drawback is that it is inappropriate to use it to insulate the floors of the first floors under a screed.
2 Basalt wool
Probably one of the most popular materials for insulation, roofs, facades and floors on the ground floors of apartment buildings is basalt wool. This insulation is obtained by blowing molten volcanic rock (basalt), forming the resulting fibrous mass into rolls or mats. The composition, distinguished by its special strength, is not subject to deformation, due to which it retains its original shape throughout the entire service life, which, judging by the assurances of the manufacturers, is at least 50 years. Due to the fact that this insulation is lightweight, it does not bear any load on the foundation, while providing excellent thermal insulation and absorption of acoustic waves.
When insulating a floor with a heating function, this insulation will be the best choice, as it has the highest resistance to critical temperatures, withstanding up to 1500 ° C. At the same time, this material is absolutely safe for humans, and a slight release of phenol is possible only under heating conditions up to 700 ° C, which is, in principle, impossible under normal conditions. Basalt insulation is not damaged by pests and fungi, has the best water-repellent properties and is easy to install.
1 Expanded clay
Since the best thermal insulation properties of clay have been known for a very long time, accordingly, building material based on this natural component is deservedly popular when it comes to insulating a house. An environmentally friendly composition, completely free from harmful impurities, is formed in the form of porous, practically weightless granules. The use of this insulation is economically justified when it is necessary to raise the floor, when it is required to fill in a screed level of a decent height. Expanded clay in this case minimizes the consumption of concrete mix. Also, this lightweight material will be the best choice for floor insulation in old houses, where wooden floors are not able to withstand heavy loads.
An additional advantage of the presented insulation is better moisture and frost resistance. Also, expanded clay is not subject to corrosion and mold, due to which it has the longest service life and is not prone to destruction. The screed made with the use of this insulation guarantees not only a warm floor, but also normalizes the indoor microclimate.
The best polymer floor insulation
5 Polyvinyl chloride (vinyl plastic)
The small thickness makes this material one of the most popular for insulating the first floors of apartment buildings from a cold basement. It has high rigidity, is resistant to ultraviolet and high temperatures, and is completely impervious to moisture. When insulating the floor under a concrete screed, you can use sheets with a thickness of 1 to 4 cm, which are best glued together using polyvinyl chloride-based compounds. This method of laying will provide the most effective protection against moisture and prevent thermal energy leaks.
At the same time, this material does not burn at all (at 200 ° C it is charred and decomposed), and its thermal conductivity coefficient is only 0.00044 W / m * K, which makes this material one of the most effective for arranging a warm floor. Viniplast, moreover, is quite compact and does not lead to a significant decrease in the internal volume of the premises.
4 Penoizol-liquid foam
This insulation is a type of carbamide foam and has a number of characteristics that determine its advantage over more expensive insulating material. For reasons, using it under a concrete screed will not work. The purpose of the material is to fill the voids of frame structures, and penoizol seems to be the most profitable solution for insulating a wooden floor.
It is not attractive to rodents, is not flammable, and without access to sunlight and air, it is capable of long-term operation, the period of which is measured in tens of years (The warranty period for insulation is 30 years). It is also possible to use a ready-made sheet of foam insulation - in this case, the weak point of the insulation will be the seams, which will have to be blown out with polyurethane foam to minimize heat loss.
3 Expanded polystyrene (foam)
When the question arises about floor insulation in a private house or apartment on the ground floor, many prefer such an affordable and easy-to-install material like expanded polystyrene. The process of creating this insulation is very simple and consists in solidification of air-filled cells obtained by foaming polystyrene. On the market, this thermal insulation material is presented in various forms and types: from loose granules to the most common foam boards, which differ in size and density. For insulation of a house or floor under a screed, extruded polystyrene foam will be the best choice. Although it is more expensive, it also has increased strength and improved insulation characteristics.
The main advantage of the presented insulation is one of the lowest thermal conductivity coefficients, which is even lower than the indicators of mineral wool and can reach 0.028 - 0.03 W / m * K. This confirms the best thermal insulation properties of expanded polystyrene. Since this material is subject to negative environmental influences, it must be protected from mechanical and ultraviolet effects. In the case of floor insulation, such a role is played by the concrete screed, which also minimizes the risks of fire and the release of harmful gases.
2 Polyurethane foam
The modern high-tech method of insulating houses with the help of polyurethane foam is gaining more and more popularity. This insulation is absolutely not subject to the destructive effects of the ultraviolet spectrum, moisture and any natural phenomena. Thermal insulation of the floor with this material, which is based on polyurethanes enriched with inert gases, is the most highly effective. The filling of voids is carried out with special equipment by spraying, which allows you to adjust the required layer thickness. One of the main advantages of this insulation method is the absence of joints and seams, which guarantees the best tightness.
Due to the fact that polyurethane foam has the lowest coefficient of thermal conductivity, a layer of 100 mm is sufficient for maximum heat retention in the room. Given the best environmental friendliness and high durability (up to 60 years), the choice in favor of this floor insulation is obvious. An additional advantage of this material is the speed of work - it will take specialists one day to insulate an area of 200-300 m².
1 Foamed polyethylene foil base
Foamed polyethylene is a thin cellular material obtained on the basis of numerous experiments with polymers, which has the best characteristics of a thermal insulation material, many times reinforced by aluminum foil. This insulation is the most popular when choosing a material for installing a warm floor on the first floor. It will cut off the cold that rises from the basement, and thanks to its reflective properties, it will not allow heat loss from the room. At the same time, laying this insulation under the screed will practically not affect the height of the room, since its thickness is within 3-10 mm.
This modern material demonstrates excellent water-repellent properties and better resistance to any temperature fluctuations, due to which some types of this insulation are used in the construction of gas stations, saunas and other facilities. The sound-absorbing properties of polyethylene foam and safety parameters also speak in favor of choosing this insulation. It is not subject to fires and does not emit harmful substances at all. Since the decomposition period of polyethylene reaches 200 years, this material has the longest service life.
The best wood-shaving floor insulation
5 Plywood
This multilayer material can also be used for floor insulation. Sufficiently strong sheet plywood is laid on a concrete screed or on top of a wooden flooring. In the latter case, its use is greatly simplified - it is enough to tighten the sheet with self-tapping screws. It can also be used to insulate the first floors, however, before laying on concrete, it is better to pre-waterproof the base.
A significant disadvantage of this material for providing a warm floor is its high susceptibility to moisture and low resistance to fire. At the same time, the latter indicator is much higher than ordinary wood, so it practically does not affect the choice. Nevertheless, this material is easy to work with, and it is often used as a heater, since plywood has a good thermal conductivity coefficient. Its level is, on average, from 0.110 to 0.175 W / m * K, depending on the raw materials used and humidity.
4 OSB
This sheet material is perfect for insulation. It can be applied to both concrete screed and old wooden floors. In addition, it perfectly levels the surface and makes it completely ready for covering with linoleum or other flooring. The thickness of the sheet can vary from 0.9 to 2.2 cm, which allows you to choose the most optimal layer in terms of price and characteristics.
The use of OSB boards for arranging a warm floor, especially on the first floors of apartment buildings, is one of the most practical - the layer is laid without dismantling the screed, which significantly reduces the cost of work. At the same time, the material is environmentally friendly, can be painted, and is resistant to moisture. The thermal conductivity of the insulation depends on its thickness and is fully comparable with wooden structures.
3 Cellulose wool (ecowool)
Cellulose insulation, which is based on recycled materials, is environmentally friendly, and one of the most effective among modern thermal insulation materials. Thanks to its unique structure, best performance and availability, ecowool is gaining more and more popularity among heaters on the market. Although the spraying of cellulose wadding must be carried out by a specialist using a blow gun, these costs are offset by the highest quality and most reliable insulation layer.
The thermal conductivity of this insulation is 0.037—0.042 W / m * K, which guarantees maximum heat retention in a room where the floor is insulated with cellulose wool. The optimal balance of microclimatic parameters inside the premises provides the ability of ecowool to regulate moisture exchange.Among other things, this material demonstrates the best sound absorption performance up to 63 dB. Since the material is a non-flammable product, it can be safely used for floor insulation, even in a wooden house.
2 Sawdust
The use of sawdust in the arrangement of a private house is a long-known and time-tested method of floor and floor insulation. The effectiveness of this method largely depends on the type of wood and the selected fraction of wood waste. For better thermal insulation, experts recommend using a mixture of shavings and trash, due to which all voids will be filled as tightly as possible and the percentage of shrinkage will be minimized. You should be very careful when choosing this material, since impurities, insufficient drying or low-quality raw materials are unacceptable.
Floor insulation using sawdust can be carried out in various ways, one of which involves backfilling dry sawdust followed by a wooden floor. It is also possible to carry out high-quality thermal insulation of the floor by pouring a concrete screed with the direct addition of shavings to it. Today on the market there are various types of heaters, which are based on sawdust, but at the same time they differ in improved characteristics and are distinguished by ease of use, as well as less negative impact of various factors. The most common derivatives are wood pellets with the addition of an antiseptic or concrete-sawdust blocks.
1 chipboard
Compressed sawdust, produced in the form of slabs, is widely used in repair and construction work. Laying chipboard on top of a concrete screed or wooden floor performs two functions at once - levels the surface and provides thermal insulation. This insulation has the highest strength and biological resistance. At the same time, chipboard is considered a combustible material and belongs to the 4th class of fire safety, like wood. When performing work on the thermal insulation of a house using this insulation, one should take into account its susceptibility to destruction under the influence of moisture.
Despite the fact that this material is relatively safe for humans, some features should be taken into account when choosing it. So, an insulation plate from class E 0.5 has the lowest indicator for the content of harmful substances, and sheets from class E 2 are not recommended for indoor use. The simplicity of installation work using chipboard, together with the invariability of shapes under the influence of various factors, as well as an affordable price, largely determine the choice in favor of this insulation for the floor.
