What is the easiest and most inexpensive way to insulate floor joists?
Related Discussions
How to get rid of mice?
We seem to have some unwelcome Mickeys and Minnies in our house. What is the best way to get rid of them?
How to remove popcorn ceiling with asbestos?
I want to remove my popcorn ceiling, but it has asbestos in it. How do I go about this safely?
How to caulk baseboard gaps?
How do I fill gaps at baseboard, should I caulk? If so, does anyone know how to caulk baseboards?
How to fix squeaky hardwood floors?
How do I fix squeaky hardwood floors?
Tile backsplash when there is existing countertop backsplash
We are thinking about how to add a backsplash to our kitchen. Unfortunately when we had our countertops installed we ordered a small backsplash that comes part way up... See more
Contractor mis-cut the floor when he put in the toilet
Hello, Our contractor didn't "measure twice, cut once" when he put in our toilet. Check out the photo. I'd appreciate any suggestions on a fix or a way to hide this m... See more
It's not that cold air is getting in through the floor, but rather that upstairs heat is being transferred down through the floor to the cooler basement. Insulating the floor joists above the basement is the best long-term solution to heat transference. An R-13 fiberglass roll insulation (15" x 32') will cost you roughly $20-$25 per roll. Rigid foam-core insulation only has an R-3 to R-5 rating and will cost $13-$20, but covers a 4'x8' area, so less effective but less costly. The rigid foam-core will go up like a ceiling in the basement.
You can instead add an area rug or wall to wall carpeting (both should have padding for comfort and carpet longevity) to insulate against the cold floor. Check this link for more complete information on fiber types: http://www.carpetbuyershandbook.com/carpet-basics/construction-fibers/pile-fibers.php
Easiest is to have someone else do it. It is not the most inexpensive way so you have to choose.
https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-insulate-under-floors-in-a-basement-or-crawlspace/
The loose fibreglass insulation is okay to use but I would cover it with at least a 4 mil or 6 mil plastic stapled to the floor joists.
I recently insulated the floor joists in my living room and kitchen with fiberglass batts from the crawl space. Two days on my back in a three foot crawl space putting up fiberglass insulation. The floors are much warmer and no cold air from the crawl space. If the basement ceiling is open just get fiberglass insulation in rolls and fill the floor joists. Get insulation the same thickness as the depth of the joists.