Fix Cold, Drafty Floors in Springfield, MA
Challenge
Some homes or additions are designed with floors that have the outside air under them. Other times, a home or addition was originally used as a summer home or "three season room", and was converted to all season heated space later. When the outside air flows under a floor, it feels very cold and uncomfortable in the winter - especially with ceramic tile, linoleum, or laminate floors. Since the floor is the surface of the room we are in contact with the most, it's very important to fix, in order to be comfortable. There are two issues - air leakage through the floor, and conductive heat loss through the floor, because heat moves from more to less through solid materials. Even if there is fiberglass batt insulation in the floor, because it sags down away from the sub floor, the same outside air gets over it ("thermal bypass") rendering it useless. Mold on the floor joists and sub floor is also a concern. Results - cold floors, drafts, uncomfortable rooms, greater overall home air leakage rate, and higher energy bills.
Solution
Any batt insulation in the floor is removed. Then, expanding foam insulation is sprayed to the bottom of the floor using special equipment. the foam fills all voids, gaps, and odd-shaped cavities - even around pipes, wires, and cross bridging. Unlike fiberglass, foam insulation stops air flow through the floor which is critical to get the results you want. The R-value is far superior to fiberglass insulation and has integrity with no gaps or air flowing through it. Spray foam is not completely flat and thicknesses will vary. Spray foam will also make a quieter less hollow sounding floor. (Need at least 36" under the floor to spray foam). Results - much warmer floors, less drafts, more comfortable rooms, quieter home, and lower energy bills.
