Wifey wants the floor insulated

frankenyoter

frankenyoter

No Rain, No Rainbow
Joined
Mar 17, 2009
Location
DARK CITY
We have hardwood floors and the wife wants the floor insulated. I can easily install from beneath. I am thinking of doing the non fiberglass type of bat insulation. I know that generally speaking the paper side of the bat is toward the living space. If I put the insulation side toward the living space the basement will be a little more friendly to be in and be nice an easy to staple to the floor joist.

Am I missing something or is it no big deal to leave the paper side away from the living space?
 
Cant she just kneel on a pillow for 3 minutes instead?

Sorry, I got nothing.
 
The paper is allegedly a vapor barrier. In reality, it offers a very little benefit, and it definitely doesn't have anything to do with the insulating value.

From a proper building science standpoint, the vapor barrier should go on the warm side of the wall/floor. In this part of the country, that's generally the outside, although there's a good argument the other way when you're talking about a floor over a crawl space or basement. Although, if you take another step back, you probably shouldn't be having that debate at all, since the proper way to do it is to insulate at the building perimeter (exterior crawl space/basement walls) and not use any thermal insulation within the building envelope.
 
use laced wire or wire hanger supports instead of staples. That is much faster and is made for hanging the insulation without staples.
 
IIRC technically fire code says you aren't supposed to have the paper facing downward exposed, it's a fire hazard b/c that stuff is highly flammable.
Agree w/ Rob, you can buy a box of like 100 hangars for $10 or something, very cheap and easy to install. Just use those and unfaced insulation.
 
LOl that's awesome!

I think it's a little gay that your mind was on me whilst you were at the fair with all those hot ladies walking around. :eek:


Seriously, you made me laugh. I love fair season, in the spring of the year I still get the need to travel.
 
Jeff B said:
LOl that's awesome!

I think it's a little gay that your mind was on me whilst you were at the fair with all those hot ladies walking around. :eek:


Seriously, you made me laugh. I love fair season, in the spring of the year I still get the need to travel.
Click to expand...

Strates showes..Travels by train. The insult guy in the dunking booth...he had us cracking up. He was harsh. Had a Mic. and loud speakers barking insults. Told a guy wearing skinny jeans to ''do that trick again..the one where you turn side ways and disapear'' Should have seen the red faces that guy was causing. He was racking up though. He told me, My wife was so hot, and my kids so cute, That he couldnt think of a thing to bust me on...He'd just bark at the fat nerd behind me...and sure enough, I turned around and there was a large nerdy looking woman standing there...I was embarrassed for her..lol

OP...sorry Jeff the x-carney hi jacked your thread...please carry on.:)
 
I have set up with Jimmy Strates shows before. Many moons ago.. I guarantee, if I was in that dunking booth you would have been called out there froto.;) He was being nice because your wifey is cute & you have a good looking family. A lot of the old school guys will not embarrass the man of the family in front of the wife & kids. it's in the carny bible..


Sorry OP, I am done now..
 
If you have a basement the insulation will help with sound but not the temp of the floor. The hardwood is the same temp as the rest of the house. Think of 2 chairs sitting outside in the winter, one wood and one metal. When you sit down which is colder? They are the same but the metal draws heat away faster. The answer is to heat the floor itself or buy the wife some fuzzy slippers.
 
GotWood said:
If you have a basement the insulation will help with sound but not the temp of the floor.
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If it's over unheated space, that's a distinction without a difference. But you're right to some extent -- the joists themselves become thermal bridges, pulling heat down out of the floor system above. That's why the proper way to do it is to insulate the exterior wall, put down a low-perm vapor barrier, and provide a small amount of conditioned air to the crawl space or basement to help with stagnant air and moisture accumulation.
 
farmboy said:
Everyone knows that architects dont know anything about practicle building solutions, Shawn! :flipoff2:
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Quoted because I can only like it once.
 
My house was done the "correct" way.... paper up against the floor. I think k j would put paper down. Small pieces of insulation are constantly falling. Its aggravating as hell......

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk now Free
 
shawn said:
If it's over unheated space, that's a distinction without a difference. But you're right to some extent -- the joists themselves become thermal bridges, pulling heat down out of the floor system above. That's why the proper way to do it is to insulate the exterior wall, put down a low-perm vapor barrier, and provide a small amount of conditioned air to the crawl space or basement to help with stagnant air and moisture accumulation.
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I would assume that the basement is heated/cooled as is the rest of the house. If on a crawl space or non-controlled basement then the insulation is a must.

When it comes to "code" that is a whole different game. Sometimes the system gets in the way of common sense. My favorite example is caulking around the toilet as is required. If the Damn thing leaks I want to see it, not let it work its way between the floors.
 
You are the man; in your house your word is law. If the matter comes up again, I would advise this reply: "I want a unicorn that shits ice cream; let's see who gets lucky first."
 
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