How to insulate 12″ OC floor?
EvanDavis
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
Hello Folks – building a shop with 12″ OC floors (for large equipment loads). Anyone have suggestions on how to insulate the floor?
Thanks!
Replies
Over a crawl?
Calvin - over a full basement. Besides hand cutting batts, not sure what will fit between 12" OC floor joists.
Evan,
Is this to insulate for temperature or sound control?
Sorry, should have asked this above as well.
Hi Calvin,
It is for temperature. I live in CT.
-Cut 24" batts in half is probably most cost effective. Make a jig/batt holder to cut the batts evenly and quickly.
- Spray foam
Dustindawind - I was hoping to not have to cut insulation but maybe that is my only option!
Cutting insulation is no big deal. Just flatten it with a board and cut it with a utility knife.
It might make sense to insulate the basement walls instead of the floor above. Just a suggestion.
The basement is a walk-out basement so I wasn't planning on having a weather tight double doors. But you bring up a good point about insulating the basement walls instead of the shop floor.
I’ll ask another question.
I’m assuming you’re going to sheet the bottom of the joists with something…..drywall or plywood or?
You do have the option of doing the lower sheeting, loose fill or blown in, then floor it above. Treat your floor as you’d treat your attic.
Close or way off base?
Calvin - I was planning on keeping the bottom of the joists open like a traditional unfinished basement.
Couple thoughts.
No matter what you decide, there are good reasons to seal up the basement, including walk-out doors, the basement wall/floor above interface, rim joists and any penetrations.
This is likely going to be easier than sealing up the floor. During the heating season, any leaks will be aided by thermal pressure differences, which will pull air from the basement.
One more thing to consider is use of an insulation containing mesh and blown insulation to fill between the floor joists.
I still suspect that insulating the basement walls would likely end up less expensive and have better performance. The actual result will depend on other factors, including the overall design, and how much of the basement wall is above ground.