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Thread ID: 110354	2010-06-13 10:03:00	Did you get under floor insulation in your home?	Strommer (42)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1109830	2010-06-13 23:30:00	Thanks for the replies to my question - especially the ones that are :thumbs: relevant. :rolleyes: I have now decided to go ahead with the underfloor insulation. We have a quote using Novafloor polyester R = 1.4, with a wool product R = 1.9 as an option. Expol does not have a licensed installer in our region and I have been told that Expol is not fireproof or environmentally safe. OK guys, we can trash this comment but I know what wainuitech means by his comment. "Frigoric" is not scientific but it does feel like cold comes up through the floor. "Frigoric" is short for 'FRIGging cOld straight fRom the AntarctIC'	Poppa John (284)
1109831	2010-06-13 23:34:00	'We no longer got that black layer that used to develop on the carpet" Would that be the black carpet-layer?	Richard (739)
1109832	2010-06-14 01:49:00	"Frigoric" is short for 'FRIGging cOld straight fRom the AntarctIC' There was heaps and heaps of frigoric around Upper Hutt first thing this morning, in fact it was frigin' frigorific Collapsed on floor when I read this a while ago.... www.newton.dep.anl.gov perhaps they are teaching that in NZ too, as well as California, judging by some of the posts :thumbs:	Terry Porritt (14)
1109833	2010-06-14 02:10:00	Thats on the to do list within the next few months. I know someone who has had it done last year, and the difference was really noticeable afterward, stops the coldness from coming up through the floor Expol (http://www.expol.co.nz/) is what was used, we are going to do the same. Looked into the govt subsidy - problem being, they wont let you install it yourself, they say you have to use a certified contractor to install it :mad:. BUt doesn't cold air fall, and warm air rise. I believe only about 5% of heat is lost through the floor, so even though the floor may feel warmer to the feet, there is little cost advantage. Putting down carpet with an underlay would be about the same benefit.	robbyp (2751)
1109834	2010-06-14 02:22:00	BUt doesn't cold air fall, and warm air rise. I believe only about 5% of heat is lost through the floor, so even though the floor may feel warmer to the feet, there is little cost advantage. Putting down carpet with an underlay would be about the same benefit. yep cold air falls, but when you have a howling wind and its blowing up from under a house its still cool. Carpet may be a good idea, but not in a kitchen, or bathroom. Sometimes when its real windy and its coming from the right direction, you can still feel air coming up from under the house, even through the carpet. Our front lounge has some sort if installation under the floor (it's an extension) and its noticeably warmer than the rest of the house. Edited: just regarding the saftey side of things, from the expol site FAQ: What happens to Expol Under floor insulation in a fire? Expol Under floor insulation is flame retardant and will not support a fire Does Expol Under floor insulation give off any toxic fumes? The level of toxicity of Expol Under floor insulation in a fire is no greater than that of burning timber.	wainuitech (129)
1109835	2010-06-14 03:00:00	I hate to put a dampner on the enthusiasm for polystyrene insulation, but a Google search confirms the notion that the danger of using this in homes-or work places- is overwhelmingly ignored or downplayed. In my view in a major house or workplace fire no chemical fire retardents or barriers would ever prevent the risk of horrific consequences to health or life, though they might slow things down just a little. If you have it or plan to get it and are unfortunate enough to have a major fire, leave the building immediately and do not breath any of the smoke from the fire. I am a research technician with some experience in biochemistry and toxic chemicals and do not have nor will I ever have polystyrene wrapped around my house, even though it is a brilliant insulator. Having said that, some of the plastics used in household furnishings are pretty nasty too, but adding large quantities of polystyrene is just making a bad situation much worse. The quote below comes from: www.healthyhouseinstitute.com and illustrates how the real risk is commonly understated by implying that with the correct precautions it can be made safe "Polyurethane is flammable and must be separated from the living space by drywall or plaster. It burns rapidly and releases carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, and hydrogen cyanide. Hydrogen cyanide is lethal (it is used in gas chambers), but so much carbon monoxide is released in a fire that it is of more concern. A group of firemen exposed to isocyanates reported numerous neurological symptoms such as euphoria, headache, difficulty concentrating, poor memory, and confusion." Just read wainui's post above re the reassurances from Expol . Ask them for their data source to backup this statement	brig (1359)
1109836	2010-06-14 04:18:00	All the details regarding safety, whats what etc is on their site, you only have to look. Depends on how far you want to go -- Being in a room full of smokers can considered dangerous as well -- Mind you-- so does running out in front of a bus :p	wainuitech (129)
1109837	2010-06-14 04:35:00	There is mention of the posionous gas risk from polystyrene insulation in the event of fire. But have you also considered you do store 10 litres of petrol in your Lounge/Bedrooms already:eek: We had the roof and underfloor insulated as part of a free insulation package they were doing in our region. The roofing made a differance however the jury is still out on how much differance it has made to the floor although I have noticed less damp. Proper window insulation and double galzing would be a good step and so would wall insulation towards the perfect warm house. Only snag is with walls it is harder to do than the roof or underfloor. There is a way of doing the walls easier than complete regibing but it involves drilling holes in every stud outside and filling the voids with polystyrene balls. ahhh but thats not safe apparently. Any house fire emits toxic smoke little bit more wont hurt and how often do you plan to burn your house down???	coldfront (15814)
1109838	2010-06-14 05:40:00	There is mention of the posionous gas risk from polystyrene insulation in the event of fire. But have you also considered you do store 10 litres of petrol in your Lounge/Bedrooms already:eek: We had the roof and underfloor insulated as part of a free insulation package they were doing in our region. The roofing made a differance however the jury is still out on how much differance it has made to the floor although I have noticed less damp. Proper window insulation and double galzing would be a good step and so would wall insulation towards the perfect warm house. Only snag is with walls it is harder to do than the roof or underfloor. There is a way of doing the walls easier than complete regibing but it involves drilling holes in every stud outside and filling the voids with polystyrene balls. ahhh but thats not safe apparently. Any house fire emits toxic smoke little bit more wont hurt and how often do you plan to burn your house down??? When I was re-wallpapering a bedroom, I cut 75mm dia holes through the Gib on the outside south wall, using a hole saw, at the top corner of each dwang/stud space, and filled the spaces with polystyrene beads (like they put in bean gags) from Pararubber. Then plastered the Gib discs back in place. That wall has never shown signs of damp behing furniture since. It is a very easy thing to do, and much better than having hundreds of holes drilled from the outside through weatherboard.	Terry Porritt (14)
1109839	2010-06-14 05:48:00	When I was re-wallpapering a bedroom, I cut 75mm dia holes through the Gib on the outside south wall, using a hole saw, at the top corner of each dwang/stud space, and filled the spaces with polystyrene beads (like they put in bean gags) from Pararubber. Then plastered the Gib discs back in place. That wall has never shown signs of damp behing furniture since. It is a very easy thing to do, and much better than having hundreds of holes drilled from the outside through weatherboard. I stand corrected an even better way of doing it. I currently have an excuse to do this to a couple of walls with thanks to you I now have a source of beads.	coldfront (15814)
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