As a homeowner, you may know a little bit about insulation and what it does. You probably even know that your attic and walls should be insulated. But what about the floors? Keep reading to learn more about installing insulation under your flooring.
Importance of Underfloor Insulation
Energy efficiency and quality underfloor insulation go hand in hand. When your floors aren’t properly insulated, it can allow heat to escape, leading to higher utility bills for your home.
Retrofit insulation can help address this issue by adding adequate underfloor insulation to your existing property. Insulating your underfloor spaces ensures that you have a thermal barrier to prevent unwanted heat loss in winter and heat gain during summer.
Underfloor insulation also has a direct impact on the overall comfort of your home. Insulating your floors keeps them warmer and more comfortable to walk on during the winter, and it helps make your living area cozier and more inviting.
It can also reduce the moisture and humidity levels in your home, which is especially beneficial for areas like Washington, DC, that can get humid and damp in the summer.
Should I Insulate Under My Floor?
It’s a good question, and one we often hear. Floors above cold spaces — like vented crawl spaces and unheated garages — should be insulated, but don’t forget about under the flooring. This will help ensure maximum energy efficiency for your home.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, it’s ideal to insulate:
- Slab floors built directly on the ground
- Foundation walls of unvented crawl spaces (as an alternative to floor insulation)
An insulated slab is easy to heat, and placing the mass of the slab in your house’s thermal envelope helps keep interior temperatures comfortable. Most slab insulation is done during home construction.
While insulating a slab in an existing home can be more expensive and a bit more invasive, it’s possible to dig around the perimeter of the house and install insulation, typically foam board.
Insulating the exterior edge of a slab can reduce heating bills by 10% to 20% in many homes. Foam-in-place insulation can also be blown under floors to help insulate and reduce air leakage.
It’s a good idea to install an air barrier — caulk, foam sealant, etc. — to help prevent cold air in the garage from “short-circuiting” the insulation under the subfloor as well.
Get an Insulation Inspection with Accurate Insulation
The best way to ensure your floors are properly insulated is through a comprehensive insulation inspection. At Accurate Insulation, our team will thoroughly assess your property to identify any areas where insulation may be lacking or improperly installed.
We’ll address any deficiencies we find, retrofitting your property with the underfloor insulation it needs to remain energy-efficient and comfortable all year.
Schedule your insulation inspection or request underfloor insulation installation in Washington, DC, by calling 301-358-6411 today.
Underfloor Insulation in Maryland & DC
If you’re in the Washington, DC, metro area, call the team at Accurate Insulation. We install floor and underfloor insulation and have experience with new construction and retrofit projects of all kinds. Contact us to learn more.
