heat/insulate concrete slab on grade in New England
I have a concrete slab on grade (24′ by 28′). The slab is not insulated. I live in NH. I have hot water baseboard heat. I don’t want the expense of putting in a radiant floor that requires me to update my 1989 boiler. Any recommendations? The floor is freezing in the winter. Currently it is covered with 3/4″ plywood and 1/2″ oak floor.
Replies
Only Recourse...
... I can contemplate then is trenching around your slab's perimeter so you can add some kind of insulation between the outside and what's next to / underneath your slab right now.
Objective is to slow heat loss from slab; without ripping up that oak & plywood, you're left with doing something to the other (hidden) side.
What's the soil like around your place? Any porch / sidewalk / deck / driveway limit getting right up to your slab? Any / all of which would reduce the effectiveness of what you could accomplish out there.
Carpet. The padding and carpet will provide some insualtion value and it can reduce heat loss through your body via conduction due to the fact that fibers reduce surface contact.