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.
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.
Carpet, particularly wool and shag varieties, provides the best R-values among all standard flooring choices.
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.
Underlayment that features ice and water shielding is the best bet for cold, snowy environments. Typically, these are peel and stick varieties of synthetic underlayment—just like Epilay's Plystik Plus, which features Ice Dam protection.
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.
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.
For underfloor insulation, moisture resistance and compressive strength are crucial. Extruded polystyrene (XPS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) are excellent choices. They are durable, moisture-resistant, and provide high R-values. Reflective foil insulation can also be effective, especially in reducing radiant heat.
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.
Installed under a laminate flooring, this makes the perfect combination in eliminating that hollow sound you get with other underlayment types. You can install it safely over a radiant heat system, although you have to keep in mind that it has an R-value of 6.6 per sq. inch.
Rubber is a strong material that many prefer for underlayment. It is a popular choice due to its properties like cushioning, sound absorption and moisture resistance.
Pergo FloorMate has an R-Value of 0.59, helping to maintain the desired temperature in your room. See the next page for an explanation of these terms. R-VALUE The capacity of an insulating material to resist heat flow. The higher the r-value, the greater the insulating power.
Aerogel insulation offers the highest R-value of any insulating material at less weight and thickness—ideal for construction, refineries, pipelines, and thin-gap thermal barriers.
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.
What Is a Good R-value for Flooring? The R-value of an insulation product tells you how well it resists heat flow. So a product with a higher value will have greater thermal properties than a product with a lower R-value. For underfloor insulation, we recommend choosing quality products with an R-value of at least R2.
Due to the location of a radiator, heat naturally rises between the floor and ceiling. This way, your room remains warm. Insulating the underside of the ground floor will prevent heat loss to the spaces below, such as a crawl space.
By far the best insulation material for suspended floors is fibrous material in rolls, such as sheep's wool or mineral wool, as it takes up space between the joists, filling any gaps. In older homes, where timbers have moved or warped, it may have to be wrapped in a membrane to prevent wind-washing.
With that being said, most underlayments are 2-3mm thick, but are sometimes thicker for carpet or to smooth out an uneven subfloor. It's often advertised that 6mm underlayment offers double the sound absorption as 3mm underlayment.
Eco Cork Foam's polyethylene and granulated cork blend delivers the perfect balance of comfort and insulation, achieving thermal insulation rated to an R-value of 0.48.
Impact Sound Transmission
The difference is significant. Each of these floors and floor covering types have an IIC rating, typically falling somewhere between 25 and 85+. Higher numbers signify better noise reduction.
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.
Silk isn't just about luxury—it's nature's perfect insulator, offering exceptional warmth while maintaining breathability.
Fleece fabric
The best fabric for a winter jacket is the Fleece. Fleece is a synthetic fabric that is popular for its warmth and softness. It's lightweight, breathable, and quick-drying, making it ideal for outdoor clothing. Fleece is also easy to care for and can be machine washed.