For some time now, I've been wrestling with the problem of how to improve the insulation for our suspended timber floors and I'm no nearer to an answer now than when I started. It would be great if anyone could offer some advice or examples that might help me choose what to do. I've given details below of the existing arrangement and what I've been considering.

Existing floor arrangement. Our house dates from around 1910, but it must have been old fashioned even when it was built. It has solid walls, air brick everywhere etc. The ground floors are suspended 100mm joists at 400mm centres with T & G floorboards. The joists are supported on brick wallswith a DPC layer. There is a 400mm crawl space between the underside of the joists and the oversight concrete. There is no insulation of any sort. The joists support wiring for the sockets and the central heating pipes.

What I've considered.

1. Insulating the floor. I've had a go at insulating from beneath with mineral wool, but it's just not practical. The only way of installing insulation to achieve the U value desired would be to lift the boards and install from above. This led me to contemplate underfloor heating (especially as all of the rads and pipes could do with replacing).

2. Underfloor heating. The 100mm joists seem too kinny to support U/H pipes with adequate insulation and notching for the pipes. I've been considering replacing the timber joists with concrete beam and polystyrene infill panels with a structural screed above. I've also considered installing a solid floor, but I worry it could cuase rising damp in the external walls (the DPC is virtually non existant and I think it is only the below floor ventilation that keeps the walls dry at present).

So what I want is a relatively simple, cheap way to insulate the floors and provide underfloor heating - is this too much to ask?

Posted By: BenodaleI've also considered installing a solid floor, but I worry it could cuase rising damp in the external walls (the DPC is virtually non existant and I think it is only the below floor ventilation that keeps the walls dry at present).

Our place was build around 1770 and we replaced the rotten timber floors with a new dpm, insulation and concrete floor, into which we cast the under floor heating pipes. We've never had a problem with damp in the walls

Thanks everyone, that has given me some food for thought!