ᐅ Attic floor panels for insulating living spaces? Loose fill insulation for thermal protection
Created on: 20 Nov 2012 07:36
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ZvonkoI am considering a floor solution using attic panels:
Room: Ground floor, with a basement, previously used as storage, 70 m² (750 sq ft).
Current floor construction: Original terrazzo floor, on top of that wooden pallets, then screwed down 18 mm (0.7 inch) thick panels, 250 x 150 cm (8.2 x 4.9 ft), probably something like multiplex plywood (film-faced plywood? – in any case made of multiple layers, must have been very expensive...).
Now the space will be converted into a living area. Due to the cavity under the panels, the floor is clearly unusable in its current form; it makes a loud hollow sound with every step.
I am looking for the simplest, most cost-effective solution that I can do myself. Initially, I thought about filling the cavity with loose insulation, but now I think the following would be better for sound insulation:
I would like to keep the actually great panels. Instead of pallets underneath: a vapor barrier, extruded polystyrene (Styrodur), then some kind of cheap panel material (which one?), and then screw the panels on top of that.
Alternatively, could I use standard attic panels (110 + 10 mm / 4.3 + 0.4 inch, 100 x 60 cm / 3.3 x 2 ft)? That would be faster to install, possibly cheaper, and the existing panels would probably be safe to screw onto (right?), and due to their rigidity, would certainly improve the floor’s load-bearing capacity to a normal residential level. Or not?
I am somewhat confident that my setup might be possible based on the description from a manufacturer of attic panels:
“By installing an additional gypsum fiberboard, the load-bearing capacity of the attic panels is increased to residential standards, with an added build-up height of only 10 mm (0.4 inch). On this floor structure, all common floor coverings such as carpet, tile, or laminate can be applied.”
According to the manufacturer, attic panels with an additional 10 mm (0.4 inch) gypsum fiberboard allow a uniform load of 2 kN/m² (42 lb/sq ft) and a point load (on a diameter of 50 mm / 2 inch) of 2 kN (450 lbf). This practically corresponds to the load capacity achieved by dry screed panels for use class 1 = residential spaces up to doctor’s offices.
In my case, instead of the gypsum fiberboard, the existing multiplex plywood would be used, which is certainly much more load-bearing than gypsum fiberboard (and also twice as thick).
As I am inexperienced, I appreciate any comments, tips, and advice. Thanks in advance!
Room: Ground floor, with a basement, previously used as storage, 70 m² (750 sq ft).
Current floor construction: Original terrazzo floor, on top of that wooden pallets, then screwed down 18 mm (0.7 inch) thick panels, 250 x 150 cm (8.2 x 4.9 ft), probably something like multiplex plywood (film-faced plywood? – in any case made of multiple layers, must have been very expensive...).
Now the space will be converted into a living area. Due to the cavity under the panels, the floor is clearly unusable in its current form; it makes a loud hollow sound with every step.
I am looking for the simplest, most cost-effective solution that I can do myself. Initially, I thought about filling the cavity with loose insulation, but now I think the following would be better for sound insulation:
I would like to keep the actually great panels. Instead of pallets underneath: a vapor barrier, extruded polystyrene (Styrodur), then some kind of cheap panel material (which one?), and then screw the panels on top of that.
Alternatively, could I use standard attic panels (110 + 10 mm / 4.3 + 0.4 inch, 100 x 60 cm / 3.3 x 2 ft)? That would be faster to install, possibly cheaper, and the existing panels would probably be safe to screw onto (right?), and due to their rigidity, would certainly improve the floor’s load-bearing capacity to a normal residential level. Or not?
I am somewhat confident that my setup might be possible based on the description from a manufacturer of attic panels:
“By installing an additional gypsum fiberboard, the load-bearing capacity of the attic panels is increased to residential standards, with an added build-up height of only 10 mm (0.4 inch). On this floor structure, all common floor coverings such as carpet, tile, or laminate can be applied.”
According to the manufacturer, attic panels with an additional 10 mm (0.4 inch) gypsum fiberboard allow a uniform load of 2 kN/m² (42 lb/sq ft) and a point load (on a diameter of 50 mm / 2 inch) of 2 kN (450 lbf). This practically corresponds to the load capacity achieved by dry screed panels for use class 1 = residential spaces up to doctor’s offices.
In my case, instead of the gypsum fiberboard, the existing multiplex plywood would be used, which is certainly much more load-bearing than gypsum fiberboard (and also twice as thick).
As I am inexperienced, I appreciate any comments, tips, and advice. Thanks in advance!
There is not much I can say about your construction method, but unlike thermal insulation, sound insulation usually requires heavier materials.
The question is, how much sound insulation do you really need?
Zvonko schrieb:
I am looking for the simplest, most cost-effective solution that I can do myself. Initially, I thought about filling with loose-fill insulation, but now I believe that for soundproofing, the following would be more ideal:
The question is, how much sound insulation do you really need?
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