Solid Floor Insulation Grants Available Under GBIS

The UK government’s free insulation grants are changing people’s lives. Under the Great British Insulation Scheme, you may be eligible for a hundred percent free solid floor insulation for your home. This is an amazing opportunity for you to get your solid floor insulated without spending a penny. What’s more, unlike your standard loft insulation, floor insulation is quite different. So, if you buy the material from your wallet, it will cost you a lot.

Consequently, the best option is getting solid floor insulation done through GBIS. A lot of people are benefitting from free solid floor insulation grants. Now, if your combined household income is under £31,000, or you receive certain benefits like Pension Credit or Universal Credit, the grant covers the entire cost for solid floor insulation.

Apply for the government grant for solid floor insulation today. Gather your EPC and benefit statements. Berks Insulation is here to promptly proceed with your application. If you qualify, we will insulate your solid floor by ensuring quality work.

Flooring and Thermal Efficiency in Homes

The majority of homes from the 1950s onward kept constructing strong concrete ground floors. Moreover, if we go back a bit, we’ll find timber floors in older houses. These also show off solid tiles in kitchens or entrances. Warmth often disappears through floors. As long as you don’t carpet floor well, you’ll feel chilly. Further, new homes that have concrete ‘beam & block’ floors, need good insulation, especially if it was cut during construction.

Overall solid floors don’t make you feel warm especially when there are long winters. On top of that, about 15% of a home’s heat escapes through solid floors. Moreover, cold drafts add fuel to the fire and worsen the situation.

Ground Temperatures and Heat Loss

The ground underneath is warmer. The chilly outdoor air can’t affect it deeply. Because of the potential to hold some warmth, the ground can maintain a stable temperature across the year. You can feel the difference if you dig in cold weather. What’s more a ground source heat pump can leverage this idea. It taps into the warmth below. However, heat loss through solid floors is substantial. It is in fact more than what slips through single-glazed windows. As a result, you appreciate the benefits of double glazing.

Upper floors, on the other hand, being timber, waste your insulation. It is because they’re not part of the thermal envelope. However, some properties, like certain flats, have concrete floors on higher levels. Also balconies, with concrete slabs jut from the wall. Consequently, they act as ‘heat sinks,’ moving warmth in and out.

How to Insulate the Solid Floor

No doubt, the first steps are quite obvious. The difficulty is in modifying the fixtures and joinery for the raised floor. Accurate planning is essential. You will also need to replace door thresholds and skirting boards. For a new “floating” floor, lay insulating boards on the surface now. Generally, an insulation layer is placed behind a damp-proof membrane. However, it won’t be in older homes where breathability is important.

Lastly, apply your preferred finish—tiles, laminate, or wood floorboards—on top.

Well, to accommodate the thicker floor, trim the architraves. Next, cut the bottom of each door. For plenty of headroom, you might need to raise the top of the frame. You may also feel the need to move the lintel. Moreover, reduced headroom could be an issue in spaces like basements.

Problems with Staircases

The main obstacle frequently arises near the bottom of the step. Furthermore, modern building codes require that the lowest step equal the others. Raising the floor at the bottom of the stairs to match the bottom step is one way to address this. This will become a new “landing,” about one meter long and the width of the stairs. So it will create a wider platform.

You can connect this landing to the freshly insulated floor around it. So hire an expert if the thought of moving flooring seems overwhelming. They will do the lifting, caulking, and reinstalling of the boards. Next, you can determine the expenses by the size and intricacy of your board. Consequently, make sure your builder replaces concrete flooring with insulation. Also, keep in mind that regulations mandate insulation when rebuilding a floor.

Solid floor insulation material

For solid floors, install stiff insulating foam either above or below the concrete. If the concrete is on top, it can retain heat and keep the space warm at night. In the morning, the room warms up more quickly if the insulation is above.

First, insulate the solid floor by laying stiff insulation on the original floor. Do it even if you don’t replace it. Secondly, to raise the floor level, place chipboard flooring on top of it. Now, shorten doors to allow for insulation. Finally, modify the skirting boards and move a few electrical outlets.

Types of Floor Insulation

The material of fiberglass insulation is tiny glass fibers.
Properties: Outstanding heat efficiency. manageable and light in weight.
Installed as loose fill, rolls, or batts.
Cellulose Insulation: Composed of fire-retardant-treated cardboard or recycled paper.
Properties: Good insulation against heat. Eco-friendly, made of recyclable materials. Use spraying or blowing to install.
Mineral wool insulation is made of mineral fibers, such as slag and rock wool.
Floor Insulation Types: Fiberglass Insulation Features: Good insulation against noise and heat. It is resistant to fire. Available in rolls, batts, or loose fill.

Insulation via Multi Foils

Material: Foam, wadding, or layers of reflective aluminum foil.
Features: Slim design that fits well in small areas. Ecologically favorable. Rolls are available; no PPE is required for installation.
Insulation with Spray Foam: Material: Most commonly polyisocyanurate or polyurethane.
Features: Provides airtight insulation by expanding to close gaps. Excellent thermal performance. Excellent for confined spaces.
Options for Underfloor Insulation: Consider climate, usage of space, installation technique, and cost. Observe the building codes in your area.

EcoTec Foam for Floors

EcoTec Floor-Foam is the answer if you are unable to reach the underside of your floor. Or if you do not wish to remove your floorboards. It stops cold air from seeping through concrete and wooden floors. As a result, it stops condensation, and draughts, and reduces noise. Furthermore, floor-foam works because it is made of 4mm high-density polyester foam. It also contains aluminum foil that is reflective on both sides.

Options for Floor Insulation: For rooms where rising cold air affects energy efficiency, floor foam is a good option. It works well above and below grade, even over cold spaces like garages. So proceed with laminate flooring, wood, underlay, and carpets. Place a thin layer of plywood on top of the floor foam to provide strong support beneath the vinyl flooring.

YBS SuperQuilt

SuperQuilt floor insulation has Building Control certification from the BDA and BBA. It is frequently used in wood flooring and over concrete. Moreover, it is deal for a range of building control projects. These projects include retrofits, additions, and new construction. The best multifoil insulation with EN certification is YBS SuperQuilt. Completely sealed and taped, it acts as a vapor control barrier. What’s more, it keeps moisture and condensation out. Next, it lowers the chance of mold growth.

It is suitable for concrete floors as well as suspended wood floors. So when securing timber floors, recess them 50 mm into the joists. And then use saddle clips or staples. So install SuperQuilt on concrete flooring and place timber battens on top.

How Much can You Save on Floor Insulation?

Are you concerned about your finances? To beat the cold, you might turn up the heater if your home doesn’t have insulated flooring. But, the floor remains cold, and your energy costs increase.

An effective floor insulation system can save you up to £200–£250 yearly. Moreover, it can save 7 cubic meters of natural gas per square meter. So, an insulated floor cuts energy use, creating a cosier living space. But if you’re in free solid insulation grants, you will be even in a better financial position. It is because the government grant for solid floor insulation can save your entire costs. So if you haven’t yet applied for these grants, apply today.

Solid insulation advantages

Savings on costs: Aim to save about £80 (£85 in NI).
Reduce Draughts: Cut down on the amount of cold air that seeps through.
Enhanced Warmth: Make your house cozier by increasing its warmth.
Energy Efficiency: Lower heating expenses by contributing to total energy efficiency.
Environmental Impact: Reduced energy use results in a smaller carbon footprint.
Comfort Enhancement: Provide a more cozy and warm living space.
Health Benefits: Keeping interior temperatures comfortable will enhance well-being.
Home Value: Enhanced energy efficiency has the potential to raise the value of a property.
Quick Payback: Lower energy costs will result in a speedy return on investment.
Regulatory Compliance: Follow building codes and insulation standards.

How to Apply for the Government Grant for Solid Floor Insulation?

You may be eligible for free solid floor insulation grants if your house is in Council Tax bands A-E (Scotland/Wales) or A-D (England. But your EPC rating should be between D and G. So always check your EPC and Council Tax band before applying. You may also qualify if you live in housing association premises, own property, or rent it privately. But if you’re a tenant, you should seek permission from your landlord.

In the low-income group, eligibility requires means-tested benefits. Means-tested benefits consider income savings and expenses. They assist with living costs, such as income-based housing support. In the general group, homeowners may share costs for expensive measures.

Qualifying Benefits for GBIS

To be eligible for government grant for floor insulation, you must have any of the following benefits:

Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Income Support (IS)
Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (PCGC)
Working Tax Credit (WTC)
Child Tax Credit (CTC)
Universal Credit (UC)
Housing Benefit
Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC)
Child Benefit (subject to income caps and composition considerations)

Income Eligibility for free solid floor insulation grants

When applying for government grant for floor insulation (GBIS), household income is a crucial factor. Eligibility is confirmed if your gross annual income is below £31,000. Owned homes must have a SAP band of D-G. Rented homes should be D-G, including F and G if exempt from MEES. This income threshold applies universally. It encompasses all property sizes, types, and regions. Moreover, it considers all income sources, including both means-tested and non-means-tested benefits.

Conclusion

Floor insulation is imperative for any home. It makes your home warm and protected. Moreover, insulation increases the market value of a property. Often insulating solid floors is expensive. But if you own or rent a property, you may be eligible for insulation grants. These grants under GBIS can save you lots of money. You may get a hundred percent free floor insulation. So apply through Berks Insulation, the government partner.