Considerations for Flooring Insulation Upgrades During Renovations
An aspect of your home that you may overlook during remodeling and renovations is insulation. You know you will need roofing insulation and wall insulation, but you may overlook your flooring insulation. Flooring insulation is an aspect of the home that isn't often discussed. Before you move forward with any plans for your flooring, here are a few key points to consider regarding your floor insulation.
Heating and cooling needs
When you begin looking at the types of insulation you can use in your flooring renovation, you should start with your heating and cooling needs. This means considering your normal energy usage during the hottest and coldest months of the year in your area. It also means considering the issues you are currently having with heating and cooling where your insulation is concerned.
For example, if you live in an area where the seasonal temperatures can be extreme, you want insulation that can durably hold up to both. Keep in mind, heat rises, which means your insulation needs to be durable enough to reduce or even stop the heat from entering the floor of your home. It also needs to be durable enough to withstand high levels of cold to prevent heat from escaping the home in the winter months.
Moisture concerns
Moisture is an important issue for many homeowners. Any type of standing moisture can cause wood damage, wood rot, and havoc for your climate and energy efficiency. You may think having a moisture barrier between your base flooring and your carpet or hardwood is enough. The truth is, this does help, but you need to consider upgrading your insulation as well.
Having insulation will create a barrier. The barrier the insulation creates helps reduce the chances of vapour. If vapour permeates your floors it can form excess moisture depending on the differences in temperatures between your subfloor and the crawlspace area of the flooring. The insulation will also help to reduce the chance of drafts that can meet with a change in temperature and cause moisture issues.
Respiratory considerations
You may not think of personal health or respiratory conditions when you think of insulation choices. The truth is if anyone in your household has respiratory issues such as asthma, the type of insulation material you use can be vital.
You should also consider the amount of dust and particles that can be released by the material over time. This consideration should be factored in not only during insulation removals and installation but also during the life of the insulation. Remember, some insulation can get into airways and ductwork which means it can reach your daily breathable air.
If you need insulation that will reduce respiratory issues and offer you the quality and durability you need throughout the year, the most common option is polyester insulation. This insulation does not release fibers during or after installation.
When you are ready to begin the installation of your floor insulation, contact Insulation Removals. We will discuss the particulars of your current insulation, how to best remove that insulation, and the placement of your new insulation. We can also answer questions you have about your specific needs and if roofing and wall insulation are also a consideration for upgrades during your renovations.
