Where insulation cannot be installed from below say above a jetty insulating above a suspended timber floor prevents damage to floorboards caused by lifting them.
Suspended timber floor insulation detail.
Best practice for insulating a suspended timber floor part 2.
At the turn of the 18th century when construction techniques moved from boarded floors installed directly on the ground to suspended timber floors over a ventilated chamber the innovation solved a significant problem.
This is a floor where the timber floorboards are attached to floor joists and the insulation suspended on timber battens between the joists.
There are a variety of options for the material used in suspended timber floor insulation.
In this blog post we aim to provide a simple practical guide to the best practice methods for fitting insulation boards such as kingspan kooltherm k103 floorboard into a suspended timber floor.
5 2 suspended ground floors this chapter gives guidance on meeting the technical requirements for suspended ground floors including those constructed from.
Suspended timber floors located above an unheated space where the insulation is installed below the floorboards or timber decking timber floors situated above an unheated integral garage.
A disadvantage can be an unacceptable raising of the floor level necessitating step ups or alterations to details at door openings electrical sockets etc.
The building detail is for illustrative purposes only.
Materials for suspended timber floor insulation.
The floor would typically be finished from above with a vapour control layer vcl if required and a suitable timber floor deck.
Previously floor timbers had been prone to damp and rot thanks to their direct contact with the moist ground.
The main elements during construction of the suspended timber floor are loading of joists positioning of joists the spacing of joists evenly spaced joists and sizes of joists.
Some support may be needed for the insulation timber straps timber battens or netting can all be utilised to help keep the insulation in place.
While knauf insulation offer various insulation products into suspended ground floor applications we would emphasise that site specific conditions should always be considered on a case by case basis and any generic product recommendations must always be subject to an onsite evaluation.
The answer to this problem can also be found in our project about stopping creaking floors and stairs.