Although double glazing and UPVC window seals are a great way to draught-proof your home, seals can become compressed or wear away over time, reducing their effectiveness at keeping out the cold. We’ve just had the second warmest September since records began in the UK, and October has been pretty mild too. But don’t be fooled, it’s going to get colder, so now is a great time to draught-proof your home. We’ve compiled a few tips to make this easier. When you've just got in and shrugged off your heated gilet, the last thing you want is to have to sit in a chilly room. This hard-wearing fabric design from John Lewis will not only keep out the draughts under your internal doors, but it also offers a neutral and modern look that won’t look out of place in a stylish living space.

Draughtex Floorboard Skirting Board Insulation Floor Gap Draughtex Floorboard Skirting Board Insulation Floor Gap

Alterations and additions to listed buildings require listed building consent from your local planning authority. There are some rooms where you should leave plenty of ventilation. These are rooms containing open fires or flues where not enough air flow could cause a dangerous build-up of gases. Rooms that are prone to condensation, like bathrooms and utility rooms, need ventilation so excess moisture can escape. Get a professional opinion if you need advice on this. What can you do to draught-proof your home? You could also hang a pair of thermal curtains, which will make a big difference, particularly if your front door opens straight into your living area. Cold may also come in through gaps around the edges of your door so you may need to fill them with foam or a seal, or also consider purchasing a letterbox draught excluder too. Finally, if you really want to go all out, you can get a keyhole cover such as this STORMGUARD one. These are metal discs designed to drop over the hole and keep out the cold. The very nature of wooden floors amplifies the problem. Changes in temperature and humidity cause your floorboards to expand and contract – and with them the gaps. Throughout the winter your central heating will be running and keeping the house warm and dry, keeping your floorboards free of moisture. During this time the floorboards will be at their smallest, meaning that the gaps between them will be at their largest. This, in turn, means more draughts and higher heating bills through the coldest months of the year. A flexible sealSome reviewers did note that the strips did not hold on garage or external doors though, so it’s best to keep them for indoor use. A metal disc cover for your keyhole is essential. Measure your letterbox and install a flap or brush, too. DraughtEx is the best material for draught proofing floorboards because its flexible properties allow it to compress and expand with the natural movement of the floorboard gap meaning it doesnt fall out over time. It can also be compressed into floor gaps much smaller than its original profile, enabling you to fill even the smallest of gaps in floorboards. After searching locally and online, I found that none of the existing solutions were up to the job. The DIY options were messy and time-consuming, and the commercial products used permanent adhesives or sealants. Inspired, I started developing StopGap until I created a product good enough for my own home. DraughtEx is a proven floorboard gap filler which is designed to reduce cold draughts created by the gaps between your floorboards and improve the comfort and energy efficiency of your home. The sealant is designed to mimic the natural shadows between floorboards and allows you to fill your floorboard gaps without comprimising the overall look and finish of your floor.

draught-proofing - Energy Saving Trust A helpful guide to draught-proofing - Energy Saving Trust

Reviewers were keen to note that, despite its novelty design, this draught excluder was incredibly well made with high-quality fabric that is very effective at keeping out the cold. Skirting boards often have a gap between them and the floor which can create cold draughts and lead to chilly and uncomfortable rooms and increased heating bills during the winter months. Did you know that in a 12ft x 12ft room the gaps in floorboards create a draught that is equivalent to leaving a small window open! This can result in significant heat loss, uncomfortable rooms and unnecessarily high heating and energy costs during the winter months.This will largely depend on the type of draught excluder you’re using. Fabric excluders don’t require any fitting unless you want to hook it to your door, in which case you’ll need to hammer in a couple of nails to attach it. Some of the strip options come pre-glued, whilst others will need screwing onto the door. Can you paint over your draught excluder? Featured on one of More4's property seasons, Sarah Beeny used DraughtEx to show viewers how to seal gaps in original wood floorboards. She explained that filling wooden floorboards with DraughtEx is an effective and cost efficient way to eliminate cold draughts created by the gaps in your floor. Ventilation is especially important for kitchens and bathrooms. Any rooms with open fires and flues must be adequately ventilated.

draught-proof stripped wooden floors? What is the best way to draught-proof stripped wooden floors?

It’s worth noting that you will need to screw this to your door, although the screw heads will be concealed once installation is complete. Although it does come in different sizes, you may also need to cut it down to size – so be prepared to get your tool kit out. There are plenty of products available to help you draught-proof your home. Many are reasonably priced too, making it a cheap and very worthwhile endeavour. The main types are: All homes need some ventilation but the difference between ventilation and draughts is that ventilation is a flow of air that is controlled. Draughts are gusts of cold air where you don’t want them. Cold air flowing in from either the outside, or an unheated area of the house will cause you to feel cold and turn your heating up. This in turn costs you more money and is bad for the environment. Where do the draughts come from? Silicone fillers work well for small gaps around pipes. Fill more significant gaps with expanding polyurethane foam. We have more information about insulating tanks, pipes and radiators.If you live in a property without a hallway, you could experience a significant draught coming from your letterbox, bringing cold air right into your front room. The Magflap Letterbox Draught Excluder can keep out the cold and reduce noise, while the magnets allow your postie to still deliver your mail with ease. DraughtEx Standard has a profile of 8mm and is suitable for skirting board gaps between 2 and 7mm - More Information.