Click vinyl - Which thermal insulation?

Hello everyone,

we are currently in the process of choosing our flooring. At the moment, we are leaning towards click vinyl.

I am just wondering if there is a covering that actually keeps the cold away a bit? I do not have underfloor heating (gas radiators). In addition, we have a 120 cm "high" crawl space. Now I am wondering if the feet will get too cold once the click vinyl is laid?!

The previous owner had various runners/carpets etc... And I never walked barefoot in the house. So I don’t know how it behaves.

Or would it make more sense, in case of cold feet, to insulate the ceiling of the crawl space?

I know... very theoretical... but the question just popped into my head...

Use an impact sound insulation made of cork. At least it insulates a bit

Thank you for the note.

The click vinyl we have in mind already has an integrated cork layer. Let's see if that is okay.

Do you think the existing crawl space (not heated and with small windows) rather promotes cold? I mean, on one hand, no cold comes directly from the "ground slab" to our floor. On the other hand, it is generally cool down in the basement.

Hello "Farilo". The problem of wanting to solve with a floor covering is and remains unsatisfactory! Your idea to install thermal insulation on the cold side is correct. Even if working in a crawl space is unpleasant, this approach is still the technically correct one. What happens with a floor covering? Well, through cork inserts etc., the thermal resistance is ultimately increased. The coldness of the substrate takes heat from the (bare) soles of the feet more slowly, which is perceived as "warm feet". The smaller the temperature difference (with thermal insulation on the cellar ceiling), the more pleasant it is mentally perceived, since the entire surface of the floor acts as a cold area for cooling. So taking the route via an appropriate floor covering is something to appease and downplay, but it is not a real solution, because the corpus delicti (the thermal bridge of the floor) is not eliminated! --------------------- Regards: KlaRa

Hello "Farilo". The problem with trying to solve it with a floor covering is and remains unsatisfactory! Your idea to install insulation on the cold side is correct. Even if it is unpleasant to work in a crawl space, this approach is still the technically correct one. What happens with a floor covering? Well, through cork inserts etc., the thermal resistance is ultimately increased. The coldness of the subfloor withdraws heat from the (bare) sole of the foot more slowly, which is perceived as "foot warm". The smaller the temperature difference (with insulation on the basement ceiling), the more pleasant it is mentally perceived, since the entire floor surface acts as a cold area for cooling. So, using an appropriate floor covering is something to appease and downplay, but it is not a real solution because the corpus delicti (the thermal bridge of the floor) is not eliminated! --------------------- Regards: KlaRa

Ok. So I should insulate the ceiling of the crawl space, which is at least 1.10 m "high". Ok. Is there a general solution for this? That is, an insulation product suitable for this? Or is this again a jungle of its own?

Yes, this will be a "jungle" again. Because first of all, due to the type of ceiling construction, its thickness, and whether with or without steel reinforcement, it must be calculated what thickness the insulation must have in order to work at all. The requirements of the Energy Saving Ordinance in the current edition must be strictly adhered to here when carrying out renovations! Then there is the question of the type of ceiling surface, whether curved, solid or crumbling, with recesses or smooth, to be clarified. Because large-format panel material could not be attached to curved vaulted ceilings. Ultimately, the question of the vapor barrier is still outstanding. So that later the basement does not become a dripstone cave when the moisture from the warm living area condenses in the cross-section of the ceiling and flows downward. We find: this is not a topic for the DIYer. Calculations and planning must be done here, otherwise the money spent on the non-functioning construction is just as lost as the time invested in implementation!!
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Regards: KlaRa