ᐅ Insulation of the ground floor slab / underfloor heating if applicable
Created on: 18 Feb 2021 13:42
W
Winniefred
Hello!
We plan to insulate the ground floor floor this autumn. We have a house from 1921 with a vaulted cellar that is not insulated. Insulating the cellar ceiling is not an option, so we want to insulate the floor. We have been living here for 3.5 years and in winter it feels too cold underfoot, plus it’s also a building regulation requirement. We will start with the living room this year and then do the rest gradually. The cellar remains at a constant 14°C (57°F), but we want to address this to save even more on heating costs (the rest of the house is well insulated and our heating energy consumption is low).
We want to insulate as effectively as possible since we are putting in the effort anyway. The current structure is: laminate flooring, old linoleum, probably OSB underneath, floorboards, wooden beams in slag. All of that will be completely removed. I like the Fermacell floor system—it seems lightweight and suitable for DIY. The rough ceiling would need to be primed, then a bonded screed applied, followed by a rigid insulation board and then the dry screed panels. After that, I imagine a nice cork parquet or something similar.
Has anyone had experience with this setup? Or with bonded screeds in general? Are there other ideas for floor insulation that can be done as a DIY project?
We currently only have a gas heating system. Underfloor heating in the living room would be nice but is not essential. The existing radiator heats the living room perfectly well at the moment.
Looking forward to your input!
We plan to insulate the ground floor floor this autumn. We have a house from 1921 with a vaulted cellar that is not insulated. Insulating the cellar ceiling is not an option, so we want to insulate the floor. We have been living here for 3.5 years and in winter it feels too cold underfoot, plus it’s also a building regulation requirement. We will start with the living room this year and then do the rest gradually. The cellar remains at a constant 14°C (57°F), but we want to address this to save even more on heating costs (the rest of the house is well insulated and our heating energy consumption is low).
We want to insulate as effectively as possible since we are putting in the effort anyway. The current structure is: laminate flooring, old linoleum, probably OSB underneath, floorboards, wooden beams in slag. All of that will be completely removed. I like the Fermacell floor system—it seems lightweight and suitable for DIY. The rough ceiling would need to be primed, then a bonded screed applied, followed by a rigid insulation board and then the dry screed panels. After that, I imagine a nice cork parquet or something similar.
Has anyone had experience with this setup? Or with bonded screeds in general? Are there other ideas for floor insulation that can be done as a DIY project?
We currently only have a gas heating system. Underfloor heating in the living room would be nice but is not essential. The existing radiator heats the living room perfectly well at the moment.
Looking forward to your input!
Winniefred22 Feb 2021 16:02The beams at the neighbors’ place were only resting on the slag, with no support on the exterior walls. And even if that were the case, using a bonded loose fill plus dry screed panels would still provide an even bearing. When I hear that the neighbors even had liquid screed installed, and that was decades ago, then apparently it’s not an issue. But yes, we will definitely have it calculated; we have an architect specializing in historic preservation in our circle of friends who will review everything beforehand.
In any case, before the actual work begins, we will open up a few square meters to take a look underneath and get a clear picture. The neighbors also have the original building plans with exact details of what was installed. That could be very helpful as well.
I’ve written to the heating technician to see if he can take a look while he’s here for the whole-house water filter. I’ll listen to what he has to say.
In any case, before the actual work begins, we will open up a few square meters to take a look underneath and get a clear picture. The neighbors also have the original building plans with exact details of what was installed. That could be very helpful as well.
I’ve written to the heating technician to see if he can take a look while he’s here for the whole-house water filter. I’ll listen to what he has to say.