Insulation Between Floors in the UK: Pros, Cons & Costs

Installing insulation between floors can be crucial for many homes, especially ones where heat and noise insulation can be an issue. Sometimes up to a quarter of a home’s heating can be lost through bad flooring. If you want to know more about materials, processes, and what insulation between floors is best for your home, keep reading.

However, if you want to insulate your home, you should consider hiring an insulation expert. A proper installer can give you great prices and great service. Finding one can be quite a chore, often taking days with no real indication of what quality they offer. Luckily, we offer a better way, with our network of personally vetted experts.

All you have to do is fill out a 30-second form and we’ll do the rest. Click the button below to receive up to 3 free, non-binding quotes from trusted installers in your area.

Many people often wonder, “Can you put insulation between floors?”. Yes, but it depends on the type of floor, what materials you use, and what the rules might be in your area or building.

In-between floors can be insulated in two main ways. It can be done by placing insulation material between the floorboards and tiles, or by placing insulation directly on top of the floor or ceiling of the floor under. The former applies to projects where the floor can be removed, such as applying underfloor insulation for wooden (suspended timber) floors, while the latter is preferable for solid floor insulation that may be difficult to replace, like concrete.

To properly insulate between floors, there are a few differences compared to the standard insulation procedures. One consideration is ensuring sound transfer is not an issue as most intermediate floors connect to another room or someone else’s property. This may also require insulation to be added from both your floor and the ceiling of the floor below.

This process could take place by insulating the in-between floor of the same house, or even separate homes. As one would expect, planning construction around someone else’s property can come with some extra considerations and permissions.

Applying between-floor insulation materials, you can adequately decrease heat loss, noise, and your carbon footprint. However, this can also vary depending on the insulation you utilise, since some have better characteristics than others. Mineral wool is potentially the best for noise reduction while polystyrene and polyurethane can be best for their thermal properties.

So, should there be insulation between floors? While it’s not an absolute necessity, intermediate floor insulation can bring many benefits. For older properties, this can be especially crucial as a bad ceiling can lose up to 25% of their heating in winter. Similarly, insulation can also keep the home colder in the winter season as it keeps homes at even temperatures.

Insulating between floors can be especially worth it if you are capable of getting a grant. Many insulation grants like the ECO4 or the Great British Insulation Scheme can help pay for partial or full installation.

Additionally, intermediate floor insulation allows you to improve the walls between you and your neighbour’s home. This can make homes more comfortable, especially in apartment buildings with thin boundaries between properties.

Here are the main pros and cons of insulation between floors in the UK:

Pros:

Cons:

These cons can be avoided by hiring a professional insulation installer.

These costs are market averages and estimates. Get a local installer to QUOTE now!

Determining what kind of insulation between floors is best for your home depends on numerous factors:

Homeowners also have to keep their homes above a certain level of energy performance. Most buildings need to be above an F or G band energy performance certificate. Consequently, the average price for insulation to get to a minimum E rating is about £3,500 (although grants can help pay for this).

Building regulations are a consideration for the average home, especially depending on the type of home. The current insulation regulations in the UK stipulate that the type of construction and the housing element being insulated must match certain requirements for u-values.

Other regulations might be dependent on the area where you live. Building codes can depend on your home and the building you live in, so be sure to check with the relevant authorities.

Insulation can help with energy bills, lower carbon emissions, and decrease noise transmission across rooms. If these features are something you need, then intermediate insulation will be great for you. For determining what insulation to use between floors, you will need to examine your energy needs, heating, the type of floor you have, and what material suits your needs.

Putting insulation in a ceiling between floors can help reduce noise to and from the residents above one’s home. This can also be beneficial for decreasing your energy bills and carbon footprint. If the costs seem high for your budget, insulation grants can help pay for the installation and cover a majority of the costs depending on if you meet the income threshold.

Another way to ensure lower costs is to find a reliable installer. A local installer can be cheaper but finding a good one can often take days of research and price comparisons. However, we offer a far quicker way to obtain prices with no obligation to pay.

Instead of spending endless days scouring the web and scheduling phone calls with installers, fill out our simple 30-second form and we’ll provide you with up to 3 free, non-binding quotes from trusted installers in our area. Click the button below to find the best floor insulation.