Simple, sturdy thermal break?

[switchgear12470]

Most of the energy going to heating my garage will be lost through the slab, which is a considerable energy sink up here in Zone 6. I was thinking that some sort of floor covering that has a slight air gap could offer a small thermal break and insulating value. Something like the DMX floor underlayment.

It would need to be sturdy enough to drive/park cars on, and flat enough to not catch sawdust and debris. Has anyone come across something like this?

 

[Fav Onefour]

It seems hard to imagine that product doing enough to be worth the hassle.
How is the insulation in your walls and attic?

 

[mm08822]

Is the garage built yet?

 

[switchgear12470]

It seems hard to imagine that product doing enough to be worth the hassle.
How is the insulation in your walls and attic?

R49 in ceiling, R15 in walls

Is the garage built yet?

Yes

 

[duneslider]

Nothing thin is going to do anything to help this...

At this point not worth doing anything.

 

[Denwood]

You could use 2” high density XPS, steel grid and another 2” of concrete. Did this for a commercial retrofit, zone 7A. That worked well for us and drove pallet jacks loaded up over it routinely. The XPS we used was not high density and we had zero issues. We also installed radiant in the 2” overpour.

Garage overhead doors and seals are also low hanging fruit. See this thread I posted a few years back with data: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...g-from-your-wallet.414538/page-2#post-8965200

 

[benwah]

Have you poured the floor yet?

 

[mike93lx]

Most of the energy going to heating my garage will be lost through the slab, which is a considerable energy sink up here in Zone 6. I was thinking that some sort of floor covering that has a slight air gap could offer a small thermal break and insulating value. Something like the DMX floor underlayment.

It would need to be sturdy enough to drive/park cars on, and flat enough to not catch sawdust and debris. Has anyone come across something like this?

Most of the energy will not be lost through the slab. Heat rises.

Adding a thin layer on top of the floor is a waste. What insulation do you have on the exterior and is any extending down below grade? Adding that could be worth it