cold concrete floor

stinky_5000

Hi, can anyone suggest a cheap and easy way to insulate a cold concrete floor in a living room, at the moment it just has carpet directly on it and at some point when i have enough money i want to either get new carpet or woodstyle tiles or something...?? not sure yet..

but untill then is there a cheap way to make it a bit warmer??

Thanks

dampdaveski

Hi Stinky,
you can get foil backed underlay designed for laminate floors laid over concrete, you could try this underneath your underlay.
You might have problems with doors sticking though as your carpet will be a bit higher.
Hope this helps
DD

wallbash

but untill then is there a cheap way to make it a bit warmer??

Yes , but comes with a price

Professional way , dig up concrete , install insulating boards relaying concrete , then its screed coat , or its a underfloor heating system ... all too expensive for you.

So thicker underlay ?
Could you just drop expanded polystyrene ( eps ) onto concrete , cover with hard board , relay carpet . Would increase hight of floor by a 'lot' problems with doors
Would be a real bodge :eek: but it would certainly help a lot and VERY cheap.

Depends on how desperate you are??

underlay_guru

dampdaveski wrote: »

you can get foil backed underlay designed for laminate floors laid over concrete, you could try this underneath your underlay.

Hi there,

Firstly, a foil-backed foam laminate underlay would offer virtually no heat insulation - the foil on them is simply a clever gimmick to give a cheap underlay the appearance of a higher specification product

Secondly, if it is only for a temporary fix, I would recommend laying a cheap carpet underlay such as Novostrat Graphite. Although this cheap underlay will not increase bounciness under the carpet by a big degree, and will be flattenned within a year or so, it will at least form some sort of barrier between the pile of the carpet and the cold concrete subfloor in that period of time.

Google 'Novostrat Graphite' for the online suppliers of this product. Expect to pay around 90p per square metre + delivery costs.

SailorSam

I think a good underlay, or when i did laminate flooring got, not the foil but sheets of green polystyrene about quarter inch thick.
Look as well for any draughts around the skirting boards and get silicone sealer.

babybrands

We used a thick insulating foam, underfloor heating and laminate floor.

The insulation worked great, though not so keen on the underfloor heating.

We got the stuff from ebay, the isulation and laminate wasnt so expensive if willing to lay yourself.

ormus

http://www.carpet-underlay-shop.co.uk/fibre-board-7mm-96sqm-pack-31-p.asp

fibre board underlay. about 1.00 per mettre. you can also buy it at any wickes/BQ etc...

dampdaveski

underlay_guru wrote: »

Hi there,

Firstly, a foil-backed foam laminate underlay would offer virtually no heat insulation - the foil on them is simply a clever gimmick to give a cheap underlay the appearance of a higher specification product

Secondly, if it is only for a temporary fix, I would recommend laying a cheap carpet underlay such as Novostrat Graphite. Although this cheap underlay will not increase bounciness under the carpet by a big degree, and will be flattenned within a year or so, it will at least form some sort of barrier between the pile of the carpet and the cold concrete subfloor in that period of time.

Google 'Novostrat Graphite' for the online suppliers of this product. Expect to pay around 90p per square metre + delivery costs.

I stand corrected by the guru of underlay
thank you for letting us know

PasturesNew

Get some good slippers. £2.99.

I was given a pair of fake crocs recently, about the same price from a cheapo shop .... I've been wearing these as slippers and finding them brilliant around/outside the house. They keep my feet lovely and toasty.

underlay_guru

dampdaveski wrote: »

I stand corrected by the guru of underlay
thank you for letting us know

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like a pedantic idiot

dampdaveski

Underlay,
I wasn't being sarcastic, you obviously know a lot more about it than me and you gave sound advice.:grouphug:
More of the same is on the prescription

DD