If you live in a period home with original wood flooring you may know how draughty these gaps can be, but you might still be surprised to know just how much heat is being lost through the spaces between your floorboards. As draughty as an open window As well as sealing the gaps between floorboards in a suspended floor, StopGap will also seal gaps under skirting boards and around windows and doors that aren’t used. Maybe you have doors or windows that you only use in the summer – fit StopGap in the Autumn and just take it out when the weather warms and store it carefully for next time. What wonderful things can I expect to happen once I’ve draught-proofed? In an average sized room there are up to 50 metres of floorboards. This means up to 100 metres of gaps, which can be as wide as 8mm. Add all these tiny gaps together and you could find that the spaces between your floorboards add up to the size of an open window. Even in carpeted rooms, the gaps underneath the skirting boards can add up to a significant heat loss.

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

Its flexible properties allow DraughtEx to be applied to a wide range of gaps that will be completely sealed. The filler can also be used to seal gaps between floorboards and skirting boards. DraughtEx comes supplied with a free applicator and comes in 3 sizes, thin for gaps of 3mm or less, standard for gaps of 2 – 7mm, and large for gaps of 6-11mm. I created StopGap to fill a gap in the market when I found my newly redecorated Edwardian home was colder and draughtier than before. When I realised it was all down to the cold air coming from the gaps in the floorboards I thought finding an effective filler would be easy, but I was wrong. Have you done it yet? It’s time to draught-proof your home Posted on Friday 14th October 2016 by Bettie

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For narrow gaps stretch the seal: When dealing with narrow gaps don’t try to force the sealant in by pressing hard with the applicator tool. Instead stretch the strip as you push it into the gap – once in place it expands to fill the gap. Two sizes of DraughtEx are available, one for gaps with widths of 2mm-8mm, and one for 6mm-12mm gaps. Controlled ventilation will reduce condensation, maintain a healthy atmosphere and prevent damp and mould growth by letting in air where it is needed. Draughts, however, let in too much air in the wrong place at the wrong time, making draught proofing the cheapest and most effective way to save energy, and money, especially in older buildings How to Draught Proof Your Home 1. Draught Proofing Doors 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? A well-fitting draught excluder is the easiest and cheapest way to stop draughts coming through your doors.

Floorboard Gap Filler DraughtEx - Floorboard Gap Filler

We took into account what reviewers were saying regarding value for money, effectiveness and whether or not they were easy to install. About the author Portability - Does the draught excluder remain permanently installed once fitted, or does this need to be removed e.g. chimney or fabric door draught excluders? If portable, how easy is it to move around and is it likely to become cumbersome when moving around inside the home? Foam or rubber draught excluders - Ideal for sealing gaps between windows, doors and floorboards, these foam or rubber strips are easy to install, even in small gaps, to prevent warm air from escaping or cool air from creeping in. 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.

From investing in the best electric blanket to pre-warming beds with a hot water bottle, many of us are looking for cost-effective solutions to stay warm this winter without cranking up the central heating. With energy bills remaining high, when you do turn up the thermostat, the last thing you need is for all that precious heat to escape. Fitting the best draught excluders throughout your house can keep your home warmer and prevent cold air from getting in through doors, chimneys, windows and even the gaps in your floorboards.

Cutting out draughts from older homes - Energy Saving Trust Cutting out draughts from older homes - Energy Saving Trust

In my house, we even had some draughts coming in beneath windowsills. Should I draught-proof every room? 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. The right draught excluder for you will depend on your needs - specifically the source of your draught and the type of heat loss you are experiencing. Here are some things to consider when making your choice: STOP THE PRESS! StopGap was chosen once again by The Guardian as one of the best ways to protect your home from the cold. Letterbox draught excluder - These are fitted inside your letter box to prevent draughts whilst maintaining relatively easy access for your postie.Areas to focus on are floor boards, skirting boards, where window and door frames meet the wall and the ceiling-to-wall junctions. The less obvious areas are keyholes, kitchen cupboards (where pipes are likely to penetrate walls), loft hatches and downlights. Mark every draught source and visit your DIY shed, or go online, and look for suitable remedial products. Believe it or not, your problem will not be unique — every possible draught has been considered and appropriate products produced. Where to Buy Draught Proofing Supplies Nothing will give you a better sense of whether something is worth buying and is cost-effective than an honest, unbiased review from a real parent. That’s why our first port of call is always the Mumsnet forums where we trawl the Talk boards to seek out recommendations and top tips from the Mumsnet community. Expert opinions Never remove original floorboards in exchange for a new floor. It could devalue your house and ruin the integrity of a Period Property. Don’t be put off restoring an original wood floor by the prospect of cold rooms, high heating bills and constant draughts; with StopGap you can experience the joys of real wood floors with none of the downsides.

Floorboard gaps - Seal them with StopGap Floorboard gaps - Seal them with StopGap

Draughtex Floor and skirting board filler is a proven floorboard gap filler, designed to eliminate the cold draughts and improve the comfort and energy efficiency of your home. The good news is that StopGap is flexible and adapts to changes in the temperature and humidity of your home, keeping the draughts at bay all year round. The unique shape means that the floorboard gaps remain completely sealed, whether it’s a humid summer or a dry winter. When you feel a draught coming from under the door you use a draught excluder. When there’s a cold breeze coming through an open window, you close it. Using StopGap to stop the cold air coming through the gaps in your draughty floorboards is the obvious next step. Ventilation is especially important for kitchens and bathrooms. Any rooms with open fires and flues must be adequately ventilated.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: Gaps in between floorboards create cold draughts which lead to chilly rooms, discomfort during the winter months and increased heating bills. Floorboard gaps also allow insect infestation. 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. Easy to install with the free applicator, DraughtEx requires no adhesives and compliments the overall finish of your floorboards. The specially formulated colour “Shadow” has been designed to mimic the natural shadows created between floorboards and is almost invisible to the naked eye.