When Should You Use Concrete Floor Insulation?

Concrete floor insulation can make a big difference in your home. Whether you have a finished basement that you're furnishing or you are just tired of feeling the drafts creeping in through the access door to the garage, there are times when insulating the concrete floor can be very helpful.

Excessive chill in a garage or basement is definitely an indication that you should consider concrete floor insulation. The basic criteria for making such a determination are comfort in the garage as well as comfort throughout the house. While most of us consider the concrete floor unadjustable and permanent, there are ways to add insulation without tearing up the entire floor.

Moisture can be a big problem when it comes to basements and garages and is often the single greatest deterrent to adding any kind of insulation to the floor. You want the room to be as low in moisture as possible. Too much moisture will actually take a toll on the insulation job and you'll find that you have to repeat the process within a few years. There are ways to help dry out a garage or basement to make sure that when you follow through with the insulation there is much less moisture in the area. Do this before you start the insulation project.

Is the floor smooth? It is even? Are there any large scrapes, holes, divots, or cracks? Sometimes you have to take the time to repair the floor before you can move onto your intended project. Smooth, even floors are essential to making the insulation stick and keeping the house warm for a lifetime. Repair kits are generally inexpensive and can be well worth the effort. Grinding can take care of some of the issues provided that the floor isn't excessively slanted.

In order to add concrete floor insulation you are going to add a subfloor. This gives you an area in between the concrete and the flooring to insert the insulation. Since you can't very well insulate the concrete from the inside, subflooring works the best. Plan ahead. If you think you're going to add carpeting to increase the attractiveness of the overall finished project, be sure to consider that in all of your measurements. If you're going to add a floating hardwood floor on top you will still need the subfloor and proper measurements.

You should also double check building regulations . Most basements and garages are required to have a minimum of 7 feet and 6 inches in between the top of the flooring and the bottom of the ceiling. The subfloor and the carpeting of the floating floor that you choose to use on top of the subflooring can suck up much of the required space between the floor and ceiling, especially if you're not prepared.

Once you know that you will be able to finish the job on time and within code regulations then you can start the process of building the secondary floor and getting ready to finish off the flooring altogether. Concrete floor insulation will allow the room to be a much more comfortable place to be while simultaneously increasing the comfort throughout the whole house.