Floorshield Case Study

Summary

Homeowners in a traditional Queenslander style home faced cold floors and high energy bills due to the thermal inefficiency of their house. To address these challenges and create a comfortable living environment year-round, Earthwool® FloorShield was installed.

Featuring a wind-wash barrier, TwinTech® smooth finish, and enhanced moisture resistance, FloorShield proved effective in delivering improved thermal comfort and energy efficiency, while being easy to install. The eco-friendly attributes of the product also aligned with the sustainability goals of the homeowners and will continue to provide additional long-term benefits.

What was the Challenge?

Located in the breezy Bayside of Brisbane, a traditional Queenslander style home regularly experienced thermal inefficiency and uncomfortable floor temperatures. Due to a lack of existing insulation, cold air would seep through the floorboards, leaving the homeowners in discomfort and having to spend a lot on heating to stay warm. Improving home comfort and reducing energy consumption were the key goals of the project. However, finding a product that was easy to install, cost effective, and aligned with the sustainability goals of the homeowners was also an important consideration.

What was the solution?

The decision was made to install Earthwool® FloorShield underfloor batt, as it possessed many attributes that would enhance the thermal performance of the house and address the challenges at hand. Earthwool® FloorShield is made with up to 80 per cent recycled glass and manufactured from durable silicone-coated fibres and incorporates an ECOSE® glass veil, which acts as a wind-wash barrier. This barrier is crucial in preventing air movement under the floor, ensuring that the insulation performs at its rated R-value and provides a consistent thermal barrier.
Durability of the insulation is ensured through DriTherm® Technology, which offers enhanced moisture resistance.

Earthwool® FloorShield also utilises ECOSE® Technology, a unique plant-based binder with no added formaldehyde, acrylic dyes, or colours, and is certified by DECLARE as being red-list free, meaning it does not contain any ingredients considered harmful to health.
The installation process benefited from the product’s TwinTech® Technology, which provides a smooth finish on both sides of the batt. The soft and easy-to-handle nature of the insulation product, the friction fit design, and the compression packaging that maximized coverage per pack, additionally made the DIY install simple.

What was the Result?

Following the installation of Earthwool® FloorShield, the benefits of the product have become evident. The cold floors that once left the homeowners shivering through winters have been eliminated, and they have noticed significant improvement in the overall thermal comfort and energy efficiency of the house. The insulation’s wind-wash barrier and high thermal performance has also helped stabilize the indoor temperature, resulting in the home staying cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, while reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling.
An additional benefit of FloorShield comes through its strong sound-absorbing properties, delivering a quieter living space.

With sustainability being a key focus for the homeowners, Earthwool® FloorShield also has key environmentally-friendly attributes, which include using recycled materials, the absence of formaldehyde, and GreenTag Level A Certification, making it a suitable choice.
Overall, the installation of FloorShield has solved the immediate problem facing the homeowners by eliminating cold floors and will continue to provide additional benefits in energy savings and home comfort long into the future.