Pick your panel. Plan your install. Warm feet underneath.
Rigid-board underfloor insulation for new builds and existing Aussie homes. Use the decision tool below, see the spec table that doesn’t dodge the R-value question, and walk away knowing exactly what to buy.
Four questions.
One recommendation.
Tell us what state your house is, what type of floor you have and whether there are exposed cables underneath. We’ll recommend the right EXPOL panel, accessories and next steps. No email capture – just a clear plan.
Which state is the house in?
New build or existing floor?
Who is doing the install?
Are there cables in the floor cavity?
Your recommendation will appear here
Which state is the house in?
Victoria
New South Wales / ACT
South Australia
Tasmania
Two ways in. Same end result.
EXPOL can be installed in two simple ways: retrofitted beneath an existing floor or fitted from above before flooring is laid in a new build.
Retrofit, from below.
For finished houses on stumps, bearers and joists. You crawl in, work upwards, and the floorboards never get touched.
01
Measure the joist spacing
Crawl-space tape measure between joist centres. The number tells you which Expol panel width you need – 410mm, 470mm or 560mm.
02
Push-fit Z Clips into each cavity
Two clips per panel, one near each end. They wedge between the joists with no nails, no screws, no drilling. Tool-free.
03
Slide the panel up behind the clips
Concertina-cut edges compress up to 20mm so the panel grips the joist for a snug fit. Move on to the next bay.
04
WireGuard any exposed cables
If cables run across the cavity, lay WireGuard between the cable and the panel. AS/NZS 3000 sorted.
Install before the floor.
For new builds, extensions, granny flats and tiny homes. Joists in place, floor not down yet, you’re working from above.
01
Sit Joist Saddles on the joists
Drop a saddle over the top of each joist, sitting astride it. Works on timber and steel joists. Spaced to match panel length.
02
Lay panels into the bays from above
Drop the rigid panel into each cavity. The saddle catches it and holds it in place. No straps, no staples, no sag.
03
Lay WireGuard across any cables
Same rule as retrofit – cable contact gets a WireGuard barrier between cable and panel.
04
Lay your floor over the top
Particleboard, plywood, structural ply, T&G – whatever the engineer’s drawn. Insulation is done. Move to the next trade.
R-value matters. Keeping it matters more.
Compare EXPOL rigid underfloor insulation with typical soft batts across thermal performance, durability, installation and long-term reliability to choose the right solution for your home.
Every insulation product displays a rated R-value. The performance achieved under standard test conditions. But lasting comfort depends on how well that insulation performs once installed. Soft insulation can lose effectiveness if it sags, shifts or leaves gaps. EXPOL’s rigid panels are designed to retain their shape and stay firmly in place, helping maintain reliable thermal performance year after year.
|
Expol White
RIGID EPS · DIY
|
Expol Black
GRAPHITE EPS · DIY
|
Soft batt
GLASSWOOL / POLYESTER (TYPICAL)
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Rated R-value (on the bag) | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.5–2.5 |
| In-service R-value (10+ years) | 1.4 — held | 1.8 — held | Lower – varies with sag & settle |
| Sags or settles over time | No – rigid board | No – rigid board | Yes – the trade-off of soft fibres |
| Holds shape after disturbance | Yes | Yes | No – needs re-fitting |
| Friendly to rodents | No | No | Often nests in it |
| Tools to install | None | None | Knife, staples or strapping |
| Material | Rigid EPS | Graphite-infused EPS | Glasswool or polyester fibre |
| Warranty | 50 years | 50 years | Varies – typically covers product, not R-value |
You're in Victoria, NSW, ACT, or Tasmania. White is the default - rigid performance at the price point that lets you do the whole house in one go.
The panel most Australian homes pick.
You're in VIC / SA/ NSW / ACT and want the highest in-service R-value Expol makes - graphite EPS gives you 30% more thermal efficiency in the same panel thickness.
The premium upgrade.
Panel, clip, saddle, cable cover. Done.
Insulation isn’t one product, it’s a small kit. The panel is the heat-stopper. Z Clips and Joist Saddles are how you mount it without tools. WireGuard protects your cables.
Joist Saddles
Sit astride the joist, hold the panel from above. Works on timber and steel joists. Drop the panel in, lay the floor over the top. Standard kit on a new build.
Z Clips
Push-fit between joists from underneath. No nails, no screws, no drilling. The whole reason a retrofit job is a weekend without time-consuming strappings.
WireGuard
Waxed-paper barrier between the panel and any electrical cable in the cavity. Required where Expol meets exposed cable.
50 yr
Backed for half a century – because rigid EPS doesn’t change shape over time.
1984
Manufactured in Australia by The Foamex Group. Local product, local supply, local warranty.
BCA
Meets Australian Building Code requirements for thermal insulation in raised-floor construction.
240 +
Bunnings, Mitre 10, Home Timber & Hardware, plus independent specialists.
Three ways to take the next step.
The decision tool gave you a recommendation. The comparison gave you the why. These three are what you actually do next — get the count, get the panels, watch the install.
Run the calcs
Floor area in, joist spacing in, pack count out. Stops you over-ordering and stops you running short on the day. About thirty seconds.
Find a stockist.
Postcode in, your nearest Bunnings, Mitre 10 or independent comes back. VIC and SA can also order online for delivery.
Watch the install.
The 90-second install video shows the whole job from below, including the Z Clip technique that catches most first-timers out.