A few insulation questions

[roripori]

I live in an Edwardian semi detached house which is 2 brick solid wall, wooden suspended flooring with cavity/airbrick underneath.

I've decided to hold off wall insulation, as it seems to be a lot more complex than is made out, especially given the bad press PIR board is currently getting (in promoting damp issues).

One main issue at ground level is cold air coming up through the floorboards, you can literally feel it coming through!.

Given that air is supposed to circulate under the floorboards, is it ok to either put carpet over it OR another layer of floorboards?

P.s. there was carpet there for a long time before I moved in and no sign of rot.

 

[mardinor]

That cold air coming through is what others with modern air-tight housers have to install a PIV to create. It's bringing in oxygenated fresh air and stopping condensation and mould.
Airflow is to be enjoyed and celebrated! Hopefully you have an unblocked chimney and some nice gappy single glazing too. Very healthy.

But if it's too uncomfortable, you could add a large rug or (if you must) a full carpet, but I'd use felt underlay to keep it breathable.

 

[paulc]

Whilst ventilation is important in any house, being able to control it helps to save energy. Unabated cold draughts is bad for keeping the heat in and can seriously impact on quality of life.
Had big gaps in some of the floorboards in my lounge where BG had used (I assume) a pickaxe to lift floorboards and lay in a gas pipe. Could never keep the room warm.. Sealed the gap between skirting & floor, and then covered the entire area with woodfibre boards (as sold for laminate underlay). Put down a carpet and fitted a stove (which limits air going up the chimney) , and it is nice and warm in there during the winter months.

 

[roripori]

Thanks, I prefer the second response Carpet it is!

 

[Lacan07]

Carpet is perfectly fine if your air bricks are fully functional, and as mardinor says keep the underlay breathable.

Its not like your planning to insulate beneath the floor / between the joists which to me would raise issues.

 

[lizziecupcakes]

That cold air coming through is what others with modern air-tight housers have to install a PIV to create. It's bringing in oxygenated fresh air and stopping condensation and mould.
Airflow is to be enjoyed and celebrated! Hopefully you have an unblocked chimney and some nice gappy single glazing too. Very healthy.

But if it's too uncomfortable, you could add a large rug or (if you must) a full carpet, but I'd use felt underlay to keep it breathable.

I agree with this.

OP, i have a house that sounds exactly like yours! In fact, are you talking about my house?

Regarding the floorboards, mine are draughty and i’ ok with that as i’ll be restoring them (if i can!). Draught is air flow, which is basically ventilation. And this is good for old properties.

I haven’t experienced a winter in my house yet but i am hoping i will be ok. I rented a flat in a converted grade II listed mansion a few ago and the landlord had sealed it up so so much that there was minimal air flow and it trapped all the heat in. Great for a cold winter, but awful for the flay. There was so much condensation on the windows, walls and just everywhere including the wood frames which were peeling their paint.

We literally kept the windows open a tiny bit 24/7 which basically was the only preventative solution. Air flow is good.

I agree with experimenting with big thick rugs, insulation in the roof, maybe add anti-draught measures for door gaps just to minimise it. It’s all about balance

 

[malcolm]

Those of us with concrete floors still have plenty of ventilation without any wind blowing up from the floors.

Blocking the draft ought to be fairly straightforward. If you have a good draft blowing underneath the floor you can get away with a lot of stuff. Any moisture will tend to go from the warm room and condense under the floor and then get blown away by the wind underfloor. Worth using breathable underlay and carpet to block the draft and allow the underfloor to dry out the interior of the house.