DRICORE Insul-Armor is the most premium subfloor. With an R-value of 4.1, DRICORE Insul-Armor provides one of the highest R-values in the market, meaning maximum warmth and comfort for your family.
Carpet, particularly wool and shag varieties, provides the best R-values among all standard flooring choices.
The ideal R-Value for underfloor insulation depends on the climate of your location and the design of your home. Typically we recommend a minimum of R2. 0 and an upgrade to R2.
That's why, for most projects, we typically recommend the Plushwalk 12mm Carpet Underlay. This is the best thermal carpet underlay to date. It boasts an exceptionally high TOG rating of 3.5 and benefits from a 12mm thick, memory foam construction. It will make a huge difference to the temperature of the room.
Rubber is one of the best choices for underlayment because it is super versatile. It protects your floor from mold and mildew and protects your ears from hollow sounding floors. In fact, it is one of the most sound absorbing and insulating underlayments out there.
Our top choice overall is the Smartwool Classic Thermal Merino 1/4 Zip. It's 100% Merino wool, super soft and warm, and has a front zip to help release or retain heat as needed.
Thermablok® Aerogel is a revolutionary advancement in thermal technology offering the thinnest insulation available to prevent thermal and cold bridging. Classed as a Super Insulation, Aerogel has the highest insulation value of any known material with the lowest thermal conductivity value of any solid (0.015W/mK).
In addition to the STC and IIC ratings, some underlayments may also have a thermal rating, or R-value. This refers to the underlayment's ability to conduct heat. The higher an R-value is, the less heat will move through it.
Vacuum insulated panels have the highest R-value, approximately R-45 (in U.S. units) per inch; aerogel has the next highest R-value (about R-10 to R-30 per inch), followed by polyurethane (PUR) and phenolic foam insulations with R-7 per inch.
Will QuietWalk underlayment help with cold floors? QuietWalk will absolutely help with that. It has an R-value of 0.58, which adds thermal insulation and keeps your floors from feeling as cold to the touch.
Polyisocyanurate: Known as polyiso for short, polyisocyanurate foam has the highest R-value per inch (R-6.5 to R-6.8) of any rigid insulation. This type of rigid foam usually comes with a reflective foil facing on both sides, so it can also serve as a radiant barrier.
With an R-value between 3.6 and 4.2 per inch, cork offers one of the best insulation efficiencies available, surpassing many traditional materials. Conclusion: Cork is not just a practical insulation choice; it is a step towards more sustainable living.
DRICORE R+ contains all the benefits of the DRICORE Subfloor panel, but with 2x the insulating strength. Designed with a layer of extruded polystyrene foam (XPS), DRICORE R+ delivers an R-value of 2.7.
DuPont™ Tyvek® ThermaWrap™ R5. 0 offers the air and water management benefits of all DuPont™ Tyvek® weather barriers with an R-value of 5.0. Compared to other exterior insulation products, the unique structure of Tyvek® ThermaWrap™ R5.
Both OSB and plywood are great materials for a subfloor, but in our books, there's one winner. Plywood is simply a much better product from different perspectives, from water-resistance to durability.
DRICORE Insul-Armor is the most premium subfloor. With an R-value of 4.1, DRICORE Insul-Armor provides one of the highest R-values in the market, meaning maximum warmth and comfort for your family.
Basement flooring options that provide the best insulation include: cork, EVA foam, PVC, and plastic. With numerous suitable options manufactured using a variety of these materials, there is an option or flooring package for every price point.
The optimal R-value for most homes is 30, but you can go as high as 38 if you live in a tropical climate. Anything higher than 38 indicates an over-insulated space. While you might think that too much insulation can't be bad, there are some significant consequences to consider.
Polyiso is the top rigid insulation performer at R-6 per inch and closed-cell spray foam is the top performer for non-rigid insulation at R-7 per inch.
It is quite common to aim for a U-value of 0.18 when insulating both domestic and non-domestic floors. A common approach to achieve this low U-value is by using a generous layer of Rigid PIR Insulation.
Best Base layer for Extreme Cold: Smartwool Classic Thermal
The Smartwool Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer is our winner for best base layer for extreme cold.
Silk isn't just about luxury—it's nature's perfect insulator, offering exceptional warmth while maintaining breathability.
As a basic fibre polypropylene is the best insulator. The fibres have very low density and transfer moisture away from skin well. Merino is next best insulator due to crimp in fibres and fibre type. It also tends to be the most comfortable due to moisture absorption which helps regulate the wearers temperature.