How to insulate a concrete floor in a private house – the choice of materials and the method of installing insulation

A private home’s concrete floor needs to be insulated in order to guarantee comfort and energy efficiency. Even though they are strong and long-lasting, concrete floors can get very chilly, especially in the winter. Maintaining a warm and comfortable atmosphere, cutting heating expenses, and averting moisture problems that can result in mold and mildew are all made possible by proper insulation.

Selecting the appropriate materials to insulate your concrete floor can have a big impact. There are various choices, each with a unique set of advantages. Knowing the characteristics and uses of various materials, such as rigid foam boards, spray foam, and insulating underlays, will enable you to choose one that best fits your needs and price range.

Achieving optimal results requires careful consideration of the installation process. Understanding the fundamental procedures will help you guarantee the work is done correctly whether you choose to hire a professional or take on the task yourself. This include cleaning the concrete, choosing and putting in the insulation, and completing the floor with the kind of flooring of your choice.

This post will explain the various options for insulating concrete floors and walk you through the installation procedure. By the time you’re done, you’ll know exactly how to insulate your concrete floor, which will improve the temperature, comfort, and energy efficiency of your house.

What you should know about concrete floors and some insulation methods

Condensation on the concrete floor’s surface results from the temperature differential between the ground and first floors, which is another major disadvantage of concrete floors that can be avoided by insulating the building. As a result, the living area becomes more humid, which has all the negative effects of dampness, creating a conducive environment for the growth of mold and fungus, and interfering with the microclimatic indicators of the entire residential building.

Features of concrete floors

It is important to become familiar with the features of the concrete floor that will be insulated before making an insulation selection. Notwithstanding the aforementioned drawbacks, a concrete floor has the following advantages.

  • Concrete forms a strong and durable base (it is not for nothing that it is used for the construction of foundations and other load-bearing structures).
  • The material is environmentally friendly for humans and the environment, due to the use of components of natural origin.
  • Concrete is a hygienic material, due to its dense structure, into which bacteria and microorganisms cannot penetrate.
  • The concrete surface does not contribute to the accumulation of static electricity, therefore it does not attract dust. This is relevant for concrete floors that are not subject to further finishing.
  • Concrete is a non-combustible material.
  • Concrete is resistant to moisture and chemical reagents.

It won’t be unnecessary to mention that fixing a concrete floor’s surface is simple.

Conditions and method of insulating concrete floors

Given the wide range of insulating materials available from modern manufacturers, the question of how to insulate a concrete floor in a private home arises.

You should consider the following factors when choosing insulation:

  • Type of building – a private house, a summer house or an apartment;
  • Location of the structure in the house – interfloor overlap, the floor of the first floor on a ground surface or a ceiling above the basement space;
  • Insulation method – materials or a device for a warm floor system (electric, water or infrared);
  • The method of carrying out the work is in the joists or in the screed;
  • Acceptable price of the material.

There are two essentially distinct approaches for installing the insulation:

  • The dry method, which is the installation of insulation using logs, is relevant when the concrete floor in a private house has already been installed;

  • The "wet" method involves laying insulation material under the screed during the installation of the concrete floor.

Crucial! In the event that the method of insulating the floor from the basement side is selected, the basement and foundation must also be constructed with high-quality thermal insulation at the same time.

If certain skills are needed for the "wet" method of laying, you can do the insulation yourself for a private home on logs. You can use insulation in rolls or slabs. Afterwards, this insulation technique includes putting in a finishing floor covering over planks or chipboard flooring.

Types of materials used for insulation

Variety Advantages
Mineral wool (Ecowool)

  1. Can be produced in the form of slabs or roll materials;
  2. Has fire resistance;
  3. Vapor permeable.

Crucial! needs extra waterproofing because moisture causes it to lose its ability to act as a thermal insulator.

  • Moisture-resistant;
  • Do not burn;
  • High thermal insulation properties.

  • Moisture-resistant;
  • Have zero vapor permeability;
  • Can be combined with other types of insulation materials.

Crucial! are made of flammable material.

  • Moisture-resistant;
  • Can withstand exposure to direct fire;
  • The highest degree of thermal insulation properties.

The "wet" method of installing insulation is appropriate for bathrooms and kitchens, which have high relative humidity levels. The thermal insulation material that is monolithically embedded in the screed will endure a long time and be dependable moisture-protected. Underfloor heating is installed using this technique.

It is not possible to lay rolls or other low-density materials in a screed. For high-density slabs, foam plastic, polystyrene foam, or basalt wool can be used. You can also use expanded clay, which is a very porous, loose substance with very little weight.

Insulation with mineral wool

The base needs to be cleaned and dried before covering the concrete floor in the house with fibrous insulation. Depressions are sealed and irregularities eliminated. The concrete floor must be covered with a vapor barrier material, the joints of which can be sealed with tape.

Crucial! The space between the logs is used to determine the slabs’ width. It is not acceptable for there to be spaces between the insulation and the logs. Based on the height of the logs, the slab height is chosen.

To guard against condensation and damage to the insulation, a second layer of hydro- and vapor barrier is placed on top of the slabs.

After installing a subfloor made of chipboard panels or boards fastened to the joists, a finishing decorative covering such as laminate or linoleum is installed. These substances will provide more heat insulation.

Insulation from the basement side

The thickness of the insulated floor structure causes the room’s height to always decrease when thermal insulation is installed on joists in a concrete floor. Insulation can be done from the basement side of a private home if there is a space beneath each room on the first floor.

  • The joists are installed and the insulation is laid using a special adhesive;
  • The insulation is covered with polyethylene;
  • Plywood sheets are attached to the joists.

Enhancing comfort and energy efficiency in a private home requires insulating concrete floors. Selecting appropriate materials and installation techniques can have a big impact. With the help of this article, you can choose appropriate insulation materials—like mineral wool or foam boards—and install them efficiently, keeping your energy costs down and your concrete floors toasty.

Insulation with polystyrene

The easiest way to insulate a concrete floor is with this technique. Although polystyrene foam insulation is frequently used in highly humid rooms, it is important to keep in mind that some moisture will still be absorbed by the material. Waterproofing is therefore required.

Insulation in the screed

This material has enough density to use this laying method.

  • First, prepare a concrete base – fill in the unevenness, level the surface. If there are many unevennesses, then cover the floor surface with a thin layer of sand.

  • Insulation is laid on top, as tightly as possible. Some manufacturers produce polystyrene boards with gaps for better adhesion of products to each other and to create a smooth monolithic coating.

  • Preliminary, at the bottom of the wall, along the perimeter of the room, a damper tape is laid, ensuring free expansion of the screed without its deformation;
  • A waterproofing material in the form of high-density polyethylene film is laid on top of the insulation, overlapping. This is done to prevent direct contact of the screed with the surface of the insulation;
  • Lay the reinforcement;
  • Pour the screed.

The resulting base can be finished with any material, such as ceramic tiles or laminate.

This article’s video will demonstrate how to insulate a concrete floor in a home:

Insulation in logs

Prior to using this insulation technique, level and clean the concrete floor’s surface.

Next, carry out the following series of steps:

  • Lay the logs taking into account the width of the insulation, while slightly reducing this distance so that the slabs fit tightly.

  • The logs should exceed the insulation by 50 mm in height to ensure natural ventilation.

  • Preliminarily, a waterproofing layer of thick polyethylene film is laid on the floor surface – its edges should overlap the previous layer by 10 cm. The joints are fixed with tape.

  • Lay polystyrene slabs.
  • Place a vapor barrier material on top. It is possible to use penofol, the joints of which should be glued using foil tape.
  • Lay an intermediate base in the form of chipboard slabs, on top of which a clean floor is mounted.

Insulation with foam plastic

Foam plastic is a waterproof material with a slight weight. Laying can be done in a screed or in logs, just like with polystyrene slabs.

Sprayed materials

Professionals should install sprayed materials insulation on concrete floors in homes.

This method’s main technique is spraying an insulating porous material onto the floor surface while under pressure using specialized equipment. Because of the material’s capacity to expand, the end product is a monolithic, long-lasting layer of insulation.

Crucial! With this insulation method, there is no need for surface leveling or sealing of irregularities because the foamed polystyrene expands when it comes into contact with oxygen and fills in all of the microcracks and depressions in the concrete surface.

The following order is followed when completing the application process:

  • Oil and gasoline stains and debris are removed from the concrete surface. The surface is treated with a primer;
  • The logs are attached to the concrete using metal corners and self-tapping screws. The step of the logs is determined based on the method of fastening the top coating;
  • Considering the material"s ability to expand, it is sprayed, not reaching the upper edge of the logs by 1/3 of their height;

Crucial! It is necessary to wait a day for the polyurethane foam to expand once more and undergo its final expansion before applying the top coating. If this condition is not met, the foamyzone may extend past the lag’s boundaries, potentially deforming the flooring.

The rough panel covering, or slabs, are fastened to the joists following the drying process, and subsequently the finishing material.

Insulation with expanded clay and sawdust

You can use expanded clay granules as insulation in the screed and in the spaces between the joists. The steps are the same as when using fibrous insulation to insulate the floor.

This is an inexpensive insulation technique that is insufficiently thermally efficient to provide a residential area’s concrete floor with high-quality insulation. The material must be made thicker in order to enhance these properties. Because of this, this insulation technique is only appropriate for rooms that are tall enough to allow for the installation of joists that are supported by brick pillars.

The image displays an expanded clay method of floor insulation.

The easiest and least expensive way to insulate a concrete floor is with sawdust. Sawdust can be used alone or in a mixture of sawdust, water, gypsum, and lime to be used as a screed. This mixture is layered with waterproofing material and inserted between the logs.

Material Installation Method
Polystyrene Foam Place panels on a leveled floor, seal joints with foam, and cover with a vapor barrier before laying the flooring.
Mineral Wool Install a wooden frame, fit mineral wool between the beams, and cover with a vapor barrier and floorboards.
Polyurethane Foam Spray foam directly onto the concrete surface, ensuring an even layer, then cover with a protective coating and flooring.
Foil-Faced Insulation Roll out the insulation with the foil side facing up, tape the seams, and cover with a layer of plywood or OSB boards.

In a private home, insulating a concrete floor is an easy procedure that can yield big benefits for comfort and energy economy. You can guarantee a warmer, more energy-efficient home by selecting the appropriate materials and carrying out the installation procedures according to plan.

There are several affordable, high-quality insulation options, such as spray foam, fiberglass batts, and rigid foam boards. Every one of them has advantages, such as high R-value—a measurement of a material’s resistance to heat flow—and ease of installation. The appropriate material to use will depend on your needs, your budget, and the climate where you live.

Preparing the floor, installing a vapor barrier, adding the insulation, and finally covering it with a subfloor are the typical steps in the installation process. This method gives your flooring a stable, insulated surface while assisting in the prevention of moisture problems.

You’ll benefit from a more comfortable living environment and possibly lower energy costs if you take the time and make the necessary investments to properly insulate your concrete floor. Your home’s general efficiency and coziness can be greatly enhanced by making this easy upgrade.

Video on the topic

4. Thickness of underfloor heating insulation. Types of thermal insulation. Underfloor heating from A to Z.

Error in floor insulation in the house. Vapor barrier for the floor.

Insulation of concrete floors

Insulation of the floor of the house on the logs | Instructions

I insulated the floor in my house cheaply and practically (with penoplex under the screed)

How to reliably, simply and inexpensively insulate the floor in your house

Insulating the floor with extruded polystyrene foam // FORUMHOUSE

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Anna Vasilieva

Journalist with a technical education, specializing in construction topics. I can explain complex technical topics in simple and accessible language.

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