What is the best underfloor insulation type for radiant floor heat?
Hi I am planning to retrofit our 1960s 3bed semi here in Ireland. We have a suspended timber floor and I intend to lay electric underfloor heating under laminate flooring. Can you help me choose the best type of insulation (both underlay and overlay of the electric heating system). My main concerns and fire and offgassing. (ie; which insulation will not give off toxic gasses especially as it is heated by the underfloor heating system?).
Many thanks indeed
D
If you are planning do retrofit an existing home with radiant infloor heating we can probably help you out but we’d need more info first - what is below, a crawl space or a full basement? And is it heated or unheated below? And is it insulated below? We aren’t too familiar with existing building practices in Ireland unfortunately so we just need to get up to speed with what you already have.
There are many ways to go about radiant heat, and if you are considering insulating the floor I’m guessing you are planning to keep it cooler down there but we just need to confirm.
Some of the material choices we may recommend for green home building in Canada and the US would not necessarily be available there is another thing, but best I can do would be tell you how we’d do it in Canada, and no doubt yours is a warmer climate so if it works here it will work there.
Spray from between the floor joists (or timbers I guess in your case) would work well, here we have access to spray foam with less harmful blowing agents that are also less toxic for occupants. How wide are the spaces between joists? Is batt insulation even an option, and can you easily access it from below? Sorry – I realize you came looking for answers and all you have are questions! Let us know and I’m sure we can help.