Insulating hardwood floor is 'great move'
A reader of KansasCity.com has asked about the best way to avoid cold air travelling through a hardwood floor from the basement, making the room cooler.
Concerned about heating bills being very high, the unnamed question-poser explained that they noticed light from their apartment showing through cracks in their hardwood flooring, adding that they would like to insulate it to prevent cold basement air from getting in.
Gene Austin, of the McClatchy-Tribune New Service, explained that if there are visible cracks in the floor, they ought to be sealed from underneath with caulk or foam sealer.
He continued: "This should reduce any cold-air infiltration from the basement and is more practical than attempting to insulate the entire basement ceiling, which usually contains a maze of ducts or pipes from a central heater, water-heater pipes, electrical wiring, and bridging to help strengthen the joists."
Many basements are also cold because they are damp, Mr Austin added, concluding that a dehumidifier can help dry things out and improve the temperature.
Anna-Marie DeSouza, the editor of Build It magazine, recently claimed that environmental awareness and sustainable lifestyles need to be responded to with better insulation, which will also form a central focus of changes to building regulations this month.