Timber Frame Floor Insulation
Timber frame floors are typically insulated with polystyrene boards or sheet insulation made from glasswool fibreglass wool polyester wool polyester mix and mineral wool.
Timber frame floor insulation. However the reduced mass of the wall means that insulation materials need to provide a higher level of acoustic performance to compensate. Insulation should not be installed until the structural timber frame is below 20 moisture content and the building is weather tight as wet insulation can retain moisture. Here two layers of rigid kingspan thermawall insulation are separated by breathable membrane and osb plywood sheathing. Timber frame construction is once again increasing in popularity with its many benefits including flexible design sustainability and speed of construction.
Depending on u value requirements there may be additional insulation required this might be placed outside the sheathing board i e. A polished timber floor looks warm and inviting but looks can be deceiving. Within the external wall cavity or internally on the warm side of the studwork. Timber frame systems come with a layer of oriented strand board or plywood fixed to the external face of the studs along with a breather membrane.
If you ve got a suspended timber floor which is not insulated it can contribute to as much as 20 of heat loss during winter. In a timber framed wall insulation is typically installed between the studs this insulation can be pir or glass mineral wool gmw. The insulation boards should be restrained in accordance with the timber frame manufacturer s guidance. For information about performance durability and environmental properties of each material see our insulation materials factsheet pdf and the materials section of this site.
Most australian homes have ceiling insulation and new homes now also include wall insulation which is installed at the time of construction. Concrete slab floors are typically insulated with polystyrene board. All ground floor constructions unless very large commercial floors will require some insulation to be included within the floor zone to comply with building regulation requirements. Using a 140mm timber stud selected for frame rigidity with 60mm pir insulation between the studs and 60mm pir as an insulation wrap around the outside you can attain a u value of 0 16 w m2k.
Whilst many homes in australia now have insulation in their roofs and walls if your home is built suspended off the ground this could be the unknown area where heat is leaking out of your home in winter and entering it in summer. Bradford optimo is the ultimate in underfloor insulation for suspended timber floors keeping homes warmer and reducing energy costs through winter. If closed panel timber frame is specified additional care must be taken to protect the panels from exposure to moisture during construction with moisture content checks carried out before full closure. From breather membranes to plasterboard insulation superstore has the right material for your timber frame building.
Timber frame walls generally provide better levels of thermal insulation performance than masonry walls of comparable thickness.