GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

r value of plastic composite wood flooring

mncjoe | Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on

Just installed a plastic composite wood like floor w/cushion backing in cabin. What is the r value of the flooring?

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

  1. Expert Member
    BILL WICHERS | | #1

    This depends on the thickness of the flooring, and the material it's made from. Only the manufacturer can really specify this with any accuracy. If I were to guess, I'd guess around R0.5 to R1 per inch, which is probably a bit on the conservative side. This would mean a typical 1/2" thick floor plank would probably be about R0.25 to R0.5 -- not much.

    The cushioned backing is usually a type of foam, and will add a little R value too. The backing is usually very thin though, around 1/16" to 1/8" or so, and is typically somewhere in the R0.25 to R0.75 range, depending on the specific material used and the thickness.

    Basically it's unlikely the entire assembly of plank plus pad is much more than R1 total, if that. Finish flooring materials alone don't typically add much R value to a floor.

    Bill

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |