Stapling Insulation: The Expert’s Advice on Technique & Tools

Strapping. Gluing. Friction-Fitting. Nailing. Wiring … Here’s why you’ll only ever find us stapling insulation under your floor.

Stapling insulation is the best way to ensure your underfloor insulation withstands the test of time. While other bulk insulations like fibreglass has loose fibres that won’t hold a staple, our polyester insulation’s strong, heat-bonded fibres are perfect.

Stapling secures the insulation forever, holding it firmly against the floorboards so it can do what it does best. Stapling also holds the insulation in place to prevent rodents from nesting underneath.

We only recommend stapling insulation because we want you to get the best value for your time and money. You don’t want the sad and saggy plastic strapping disaster in this picture to happen to you!

What kind of staplers should I use and how many staples?

When stapling insulation under a floor, there are few things you need to know to ensure your safety and the quality of your job.

It is absolutely crucial that you only use electric staplers when working under your floor. Electric staplers are double insulated, which means you can’t be electrocuted if you accidentally staple a wire under the floor.

ALWAYS use an RCD
When using a staple gun that plugs into a power source, we recommend working with a portable Residual Current Device (RCD) which is an effective add-on safety switch. It cuts the power supply instantly in the instance of an electrical fault of any kind.

 

Our Preferred Powered Stapler
ecoMaster has used tons of staplers and staples over the years.  The stapler that our installers LOVE is the Proline stapler. This is available on our webstore and we can deliver them straight to your home.

Before switching to the Proline, the teams used the Ozito 8-14mm Staple Nail Gun, which is available in popular hardware stores. In our experience, these staplers work best with Arrow 10mm T50 Staples loading half a clip at a time.

Battery-Operated Cordless Staple Gun
Some people prefer to use a cordless stapler because they don’t have to deal with the cord while working under the floor. In this instance, we recommend the Bosch PTKn 3.6LI Stapler which is also available in leading hardware stores.
The staples that work the best are the TacWise 53/8mm 5/16″ Staples.

WARNING: Remember to leave your power on, even though your stapler is cordless. We’ll tell you more about why it’s safer to leave the power connected below.

Old-fashioned Metal Staple Gun
Never use ordinary metal staple guns when stapling insulation under a floor. These are not insulated and there is a very serious risk of electrocution. This is because the metal stapler is highly conductive and nothing will stop that electricity travelling to your body.

 

How many staples should I use?

For best results, choose 10mm galvanised staples.  10mm will be sufficient to penetrate even the hardest of hardwood timbers.
Allow 600 to 900 staples per PACK of insulation.  We use Arrow 10mm T5000 staples available on our webstore.

So, why not just turn off the power? There’s a really good reason why we always leave the power on.

Why it’s safer to leave the power on

Believe it or not, leaving the power connected while you’re insulating a crawl space is the safest thing you can do. Here are two good reasons why:

1. Having lights fitted under your floor helps you work with ease. The better you can see, the less likely you are to interfere with any wiring, pipes, or ducts you have underneath your home.
   
2. Your power supply will tell you straight away if you accidentally staple a wire under the floor. Leaving the power connected means that if you hit a wire, the power will be cut off which is a signal for you to call an electrician to repair it. Doing this will prevent unexpected electrical issues when you finish working, which may result in a serious fire hazard.

And remember, your double-insulated stapler, your portable RCD, and your home’s safety switch will keep you safe from electrocution if you do hit a live wire.

We wish you all the best as you install your polyester underfloor insulation!