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ANDREW FOSTER
Posted: 06 September 2022 10:53:11(UTC)
#193

Joined: 23/07/2019(UTC)
Posts: 8,126

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Toadfish;237517 wrote:
countrymum;237414 wrote:
Toadfish;237412 wrote:

I did look at that Bulldog and the draft excluders on their website for the door, now to find something for the skirting boards!

Forgive me if I've got the wrong end of the stick - is the issue with skirtings that they don't align with the floor so there are gaps?

It wouldn't be aesthetic, but would a pair of tights filled with rice (or equivalent packing material) laid across the skirtings stop the draughts - like a DIY sausage dog draught excluder?


I haven't investigated properly but the carpet, which is probably as old as my dad, doesn't fit close tight to the skirting board, there is a gap which you can feel air rushing up through. The floor is also suspended which in itself, I'm led to believe, leads to draughty houses. So either the wooden flooring under the carpet isn't tight enough to block out the draught or its the carpet, I suspect both. Thanks for the suggestion, more investigation needed... I had thought about getting a company in to look at the room and give me some proper suggestions but I imagine it would be extremely expensive. We live in a conservation area so we can't add cladding to the outside, the only viable option would be to build a 'room within a room' and add insulation that way....quite an effort for one room



Look for external air bricks, and block them up. As for gaps, get a mastic gun and caulking and fill everything in that leaks.

However, reopen air bricks next summer to avoid wood rotting...
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2 users thanked ANDREW FOSTER for this post.
Toadfish on 06/09/2022(UTC), Tim D on 06/09/2022(UTC)
Tug Boat
Posted: 06 September 2022 11:03:57(UTC)
#228

Joined: 16/12/2014(UTC)
Posts: 2,022

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Tom 123;237455 wrote:
Can any of the techies please advise on where you can buy LED G4 bulbs that are similar in size to halogens?

LEDed the whole house but all G4 LED bulbs are way bigger than halogens. Take the cooker hood. 4 downlights, burn your fingers if you touch them. Eat energy. But so tight fittings that LEDs won't fit inside. Driven me crazy trying to replace.



There’s a problem replacing halogen with LED, I just replaced the last four.

The LEDs use 12v DC and the halogens use 12v AC. You will almost certainly have to replace the drivers too. This is not difficult if you can locate them. You can get drivers for about three quid.

I ran LEDs with the AC transformers for a few years. They sometimes didn’t come on or flickered or came on half power.
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1 user thanked Tug Boat for this post.
Tim D on 06/09/2022(UTC)
Tim D
Posted: 06 September 2022 13:54:09(UTC)
#194

Joined: 07/06/2017(UTC)
Posts: 8,883

Thanks: 33209 times
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Toadfish;237517 wrote:
I haven't investigated properly but the carpet, which is probably as old as my dad, doesn't fit close tight to the skirting board, there is a gap which you can feel air rushing up through. The floor is also suspended which in itself, I'm led to believe, leads to draughty houses. So either the wooden flooring under the carpet isn't tight enough to block out the draught or its the carpet, I suspect both.


Retrofitting underfloor insulation is a thing.

Some more info at e.g
https://www.ecologicalbu...suspended-timber-floors
https://www.eco-home-ess...erfloor-insulation.html
and
https://www.gov.uk/gover...er-floors-best-practice

It may not be necessary to take the floor up, if there's enough space to crawl around underneath.
https://www.eco-home-ess.../insulating-floors.html

Some neighbours invested in some (possibly with the support of some grant money, back when the govt was contributing to such things? And also managed without lifting the floorboards)... however they then claimed they could not notice any difference from it! I suspect the approach taken - I think mineral wool with no membrane - suffers from the "wind washing" mentioned in the first link above.
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1 user thanked Tim D for this post.
Toadfish on 08/09/2022(UTC)
ANDREW FOSTER
Posted: 06 September 2022 16:32:56(UTC)
#195

Joined: 23/07/2019(UTC)
Posts: 8,126

Thanks: 11371 times
Was thanked: 18238 time(s) in 5983 post(s)
Tim D;237543 wrote:


Retrofitting underfloor insulation is a thing.

Some more info at e.g
https://www.ecologicalbu...suspended-timber-floors
https://www.eco-home-ess...erfloor-insulation.html
and
https://www.gov.uk/gover...er-floors-best-practice

It may not be necessary to take the floor up, if there's enough space to crawl around underneath.
https://www.eco-home-ess.../insulating-floors.html

Some neighbours invested in some (possibly with the support of some grant money, back when the govt was contributing to such things? And also managed without lifting the floorboards)... however they then claimed they could not notice any difference from it! I suspect the approach taken - I think mineral wool with no membrane - suffers from the "wind washing" mentioned in the first link above.


If you have carpet down and the underlay is closed cell (windproof) then adding insulation below the floorboards is going to make negligible difference. It's the gaps around the edges where skirting board meets floorboards that can allow cold air in. Just replacement skirting boards properly seated is a whole lot easier job....

Pre-primed MDF skirting board is the best stuff there is for this.
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dominic tugal
Posted: 07 September 2022 11:44:03(UTC)
#222

Joined: 18/08/2020(UTC)
Posts: 100
Tom 123;237453 wrote:
Only pouring kettle 1/4 full.


I've take to filling a 1 ltr flask from the kettle every morning, usually lasts the whole day unless one of the kids decides to make pasta...
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OmegaMale
Posted: 07 September 2022 16:48:10(UTC)
#197

Joined: 02/07/2020(UTC)
Posts: 535

Thanks: 899 times
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Toadfish;237517 wrote:
countrymum;237414 wrote:
Toadfish;237412 wrote:

I did look at that Bulldog and the draft excluders on their website for the door, now to find something for the skirting boards!

Forgive me if I've got the wrong end of the stick - is the issue with skirtings that they don't align with the floor so there are gaps?

It wouldn't be aesthetic, but would a pair of tights filled with rice (or equivalent packing material) laid across the skirtings stop the draughts - like a DIY sausage dog draught excluder?


I haven't investigated properly but the carpet, which is probably as old as my dad, doesn't fit close tight to the skirting board, there is a gap which you can feel air rushing up through. The floor is also suspended which in itself, I'm led to believe, leads to draughty houses. So either the wooden flooring under the carpet isn't tight enough to block out the draught or its the carpet, I suspect both. Thanks for the suggestion, more investigation needed... I had thought about getting a company in to look at the room and give me some proper suggestions but I imagine it would be extremely expensive. We live in a conservation area so we can't add cladding to the outside, the only viable option would be to build a 'room within a room' and add insulation that way....quite an effort for one room


B&Q (and no doubt many others) sell rolls of self-adhesive draught excluder. Without removing the strip protecting the adhesive, these can be slid under skirting boards to fill the gap. Surprisingly easy and effective and dirt cheap so pays for itself in short time.

OM
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2 users thanked OmegaMale for this post.
Lindisfarne on 07/09/2022(UTC), Toadfish on 08/09/2022(UTC)
Easyrider
Posted: 08 September 2022 11:43:08(UTC)
#231

Joined: 09/11/2020(UTC)
Posts: 1,951
Putin seems to have the EU by the short curlies.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62822368
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Keith Cobby
Posted: 08 September 2022 11:52:37(UTC)
#232

Joined: 07/03/2012(UTC)
Posts: 5,064

Thanks: 5967 times
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Liz has found the magic money tree, everyone can fill their kettles and have another cup of tea (other hot beverages are available).
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3 users thanked Keith Cobby for this post.
Raj K on 08/09/2022(UTC), Jesse M on 08/09/2022(UTC), NoMoreKickingCans on 08/09/2022(UTC)
NoMoreKickingCans
Posted: 08 September 2022 12:29:19(UTC)
#233

Joined: 26/02/2012(UTC)
Posts: 4,470
Just another £100Bn is it, to add to the £400Bn wasted on Covid. This time it (or something) is needed. I hear they are negotiating with the energy companies to give them a long term high fixed rate energy deal in return for restricting energy rates now.

In the end someone has to pay for it. Presumably the energy companies will come out on the best side of any deal, and taxpayers will have to pay the bills anyway - just over 10 years rather than 1 or 2. Nothing like paying on the never-never.

Is there an investing opportunity here ?
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Bulldog Drummond
Posted: 08 September 2022 12:37:28(UTC)
#234

Joined: 03/10/2017(UTC)
Posts: 6,253

Thanks: 2935 times
Was thanked: 11838 time(s) in 4405 post(s)
I wonder whether the alternative was considered of providing everyone in the UK with a free thick jersey, pair of long johns, thermal socks, mittens, and balaclava helmet. I reckon that would have cost about £30 per person if bought in bulk, total cost under £200 million.
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6 users thanked Bulldog Drummond for this post.
Julianw on 08/09/2022(UTC), SF100 on 08/09/2022(UTC), ANDREW FOSTER on 08/09/2022(UTC), Tim D on 08/09/2022(UTC), Chris1986 on 08/09/2022(UTC), Easyrider on 12/09/2022(UTC)
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