Concrete Floor Edge Insulation

Converting existing unheated basements garages and storage areas into habitable rooms is a popular way of increasing living space without constructing an extension.

Concrete floor edge insulation.

Upgrading concrete slab floors. Where the heating is likely to be turned on and off such as in new build domestic properties and a faster thermal response is required the floating floor arrangement of insulation above the slab can be more appropriate. The sides of the concrete slab also referred to as the perimeter wall is often forgotten or not considered at all with respect to the thermal envelope. Such spaces typically have a sound level concrete slab floor but lack sufficient floor insulation to achieve the thermal performance targets for new habitable rooms.

The option to add exterior perimeter edge insulation to floor slabs is particularly pertinent for the rebuild of christchurch. The edge of the concrete floor slab is usually uninsulated. Insulation below the slab suits continuous low level heating gradually warming the thermal mass of the concrete and sustaining it at a consistent temperature. These floor slabs may contain more concrete and steel and the ground underneath the slabs is compacted to a higher density which increases potential heat loss from the slab.