Using thicker underlay below the carpet is also an effective way to stop the draughts and insulate the floorboards. The most effective way to stop draughts coming up through the floorboards is unfortunately also the most costly and time consuming.
Full Answer
What are draughty floorboards and why are they bad?
Draughty floorboards are a common issue in a lot of period homes with original floors. They add a lot of character as space, but come with the possibility of gaps that can allow draughts up and into the room, especially if you are dealing with floorboards on an upper level of your house.
What is the best way to cover draughty gaps between floorboards?
If you are on a small budget, then the traditional technique of papier-mâché may be the best option. However, while this provides a cheap and effective solution and covers the potentially draughty gaps in between the floorboards, it does take a lot more time than shop-bought fixes.
How do I Stop my floorboards from creaking?
'If this is the case, you can re-secure the floorboards with adhesive or additional nails as mentioned above. To prevent the problem from recurring, apply a sealing compound,' he suggests. 'While examining your flooring it's important to check for poorly supported joists. If the joists are incorrectly sized, they may need replacing entirely.'
How do you fix a squeaky hardwood floor?
In order to rectify a squeaky wooden flooring, Paul Bangs recommends screwing in a 50mm screw alongside the present nails. This extra fixing will help to hold the board in place. Alternatively, you can take out the nails (use pincers or a claw hammer) and screw the board back down using the existing nail holes.
What type of floor do I have?
Most floors in the UK are either solid (concrete) or suspended (usually timber floorboards). Solid floors don’t really tend to have draught issues associated with them, but suspended timber floors are definitely worth tackling.
How do I draught-proof floorboards?
The gaps in between stripped floorboards may add up to the size of a small window; therefore draught-proofing your floor is essential and can shed pounds from your energy bill, paying for itself in less than 12 months.
How do I draught-proof stripped floorboards?
There are many products that fill the gaps between the floorboards, helping to prevent draughts. These come in the form of tube-like rolls (such as DraughtEx) that are easily pushed into the spaces between floorboards, assuming that the correct and accurate diameters have previously been taken into account.
How do I draught-proof floorboards under a carpet?
A carpet fitted over your floorboards helps reduce draughts; however there are further steps you can take if you are searching for optimal draught-proofing. If you are on a small budget, then the traditional technique of papier-mâché may be the best option.
How do I draught-proof the skirting board?
Even with successfully draught-proofed floorboards, you may still lose heat through the skirting board area. In order to maximise efficiency you can draught-proof this area using wooden beadings, which can be applied to skirting boards where they meet the floor.
How to Find Draughts for Draught Proofing?
Finding draughts is usually a twostep process. The obvious sources, like letter boxes, rattle-y sash windows, wooden doors that have shrunk over time and even redundant air bricks, will present themselves readily. Your local DIY store will have shelves of appropriate materials to fix these — as will many online sources.
Ventilation Vs Draughts: What's the Difference?
The difference between draughts and ventilation is one of control. Draughts are uncontrolled, while ventilation is ours to switch on and off at will. Home ventilation in the form of extractor fans and cooker hoods will ensure that condensation is properly dealt with, at source.
1. Draught Proofing Doors
Fit draught proofing strips between the door and the frame, often a brush to the bottom and rubber strips either screwed or glued to the frame.
2. Add Brush or Rubber Strips to Windows
Brush strips that are fixed to sliding sash windows and rubber strips for casement windows are both effective.
3. Consider Secondary Glazing to Draught Proof Windows
In the case of sash windows with glazing bars, there can be too many gaps to deal with individually and consideration could be given to secondary glazing — an effective draught proofing solution that also significantly reduces heat loss.
4. Draught Proofing Skirting Boards and Floorboards
All cracks and gaps in skirting boards and frame-to-wall joints can be treated with decorator’s caulk or silicone. Standard silicone will dry and shrink over time allowing the draught to return. Specific airtight silicone overcomes this problem, though it is more expensive.
5. Add Insulation Under Floorboards
A better option for draughty floors would be, where possible, to install insulation below the floorboards. Ideally, use a semi-rigid material like Knauf Dritherm or Rockwool RW3 for insulating floors — there are also a number of natural insulation options.
Boorad
We recently bought an old victorian house with high ceilings and big bay windows. The missus was keen to rip up the carpet and sand the old floorboards down. A few of my friends had done this and warned me of the draught that they constantly experienced from under the floor and the rooms were alwasy cold.
loftus75
Your experience is probably the same as many others that have watched TV programs that suggest this, not only can it cause drafts but it wis likely to increase the dust one finds in the room.
Boorad
Thanks for the advice. I am new to the wood flooring idea, i have seen laminate and know you can get 'real' wood flooring aswell. You mention thermal underlay? is that something i can get from the likes of B&Q?
Porker
I would go with the slab insulation fitted between the boards. My uncle has just replaced his boards with oak and put the insulation in. Looks great and no draughts.
Boorad
apologies for lack of knowledge but does T&G stand for 'tongue and groove'?
masona
apologies for lack of knowledge but does T&G stand for 'tongue and groove'?
DavidH
It seems a shame to rip up and replace the flooring if its in good nick and has a nice aged look. You will inevitably loose a few if you pull the whole lot up no matter how careful you are.
