Many people wonder about the pros and cons of insulation between floors. They want warmer rooms and improved energy efficiency, so they think about whether adding insulation between their floors is good. Well, the answer depends on you.
Check out the pros and cons of installing insulation between one floor and another. That way, you can decide whether to go with your guts to give insulation between floors or just let it be without any insulation.
Is There Insulation Between Floors?
Can you insulate between floors? If you wonder whether there is between-floor insulation, the answer is yes—there is! After all, this is pretty popular, although not every house plans to insulate its floors in between.
Read also: How to Insulate a Shed Floor
What is the use of this insulation? The answer is pretty basic. You heard the name insulation, and that’s what it does to insulate rooms. This is considered one of the best ways to prevent heat loss from room to room, enhancing energy efficiency.
It also serves as sound insulation, reducing noise transfer between different levels of your home, which is particularly beneficial in multi-story buildings.
Despite being said as one of the most effective ways to prevent heat loss, it doesn’t mean you should insulate your floors. According to some sources, most heat loss happens through the roof. That makes floor-through heat loss accounts for only 10-20% of the heat loss occurring in your house.
Though the number is pretty low, you can always insulate your floors in between after consulting a professional.
Should You Insulate Between Floors?
Again, the answer is this one: it depends on your situation. If you think your house often loses heat relatively quickly, you may consider insulating your floors. This would be excellent, especially if you are facing a cold winter and your house is affected pretty much.
In addition, you can insulate your floors in between if your budget is well-prepared. Adding insulation may cost you a fortune, especially if you are adding insulation to an already-built house.
If this happens, you (along with a professional) will need to reevaluate your house structure to decide what’s best for your house. After all, adding insulation is an optional choice—and consulting with a professional will help you save money if your house doesn’t need it.
Read also: How to Insulate a Concrete Floor Properly
To help you decide, we have summarized the pros and cons of insulating between floors in the explanation below.
Pros and Cons of Insulation Between Floors
How will floor insulation affect your house? Before you decide to insulate your house, you can read the pros and cons of insulating floors in between below.
Table of Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Warmer rooms | Risk of insulation getting wet |
| Saves space | Difficult to install in established buildings |
| Reduces moisture on floors | Installation process can be messy |
| Prevents pipes from freezing | |
| Serves as a moisture barrier |
Pros:
- You have a warmer room
If your house is two stories, adding insulation between the basement and first floor will make your room much warmer. Hence, you will be ready for the winter.
- You can also save the space
If the heater makes your room look narrow, insulation can help you avoid this. Moreover, the insulation is hidden (between the floors). That said, your room will look more spacious with insulation.
- Less moisture on your floor
Heat cannot pass with the insulation installed. This means you will also have less moisture trapped on the floor.
Cons:
- You may risk having the insulation wet
This may be caused by leaking pipes connecting one room to another. If your insulation gets wet due to a leakage, it may be prone to mold.
- Difficult to install
Insulation installation will be more difficult if it is done in an already-established building. This is because you need to redo the building to install it.
In addition, installing floor insulation, especially between your floor joists, has many benefits for your home. However, there are some cons to installing floor insulation that you should be aware of before deciding to take on this home improvement project.
The biggest con of floor insulation is the installation process. If you are only insulating your ground floor, this won’t be a major problem, but if you want to insulate between every floor, the process will be messier and more intrusive.
Hopefully, this article will help you decide on the best house option.
