How do I prevent draught in my home?
It can be expensive to keep a home warm, especially during the colder months. That’s why more and more people are investing in keeping their homes efficient. But it’s important to prevent heat from escaping your home as well. And, if you take a bit of time to think about and choose the right products, you can achieve a look that is both practical and in keeping with the aesthetic of your property. Here are our recommendations on some areas that you can focus on to prevent draughts in your home without compromising on your design goals.
Energy-efficient timber windows
Upgrading your timber windows can be one of the best ways to prevent draughts in your home.
Modern timber window frames look great and are very energy efficient, even when compared to uPVC windows. They have excellent thermo-efficiency, due to timber’s natural ability to contain heat and modern techniques mean that you can have multiple layers of glazing without compromising on the look of the windows. This is great news if you own a period property where you need planning permission to renovate or replace your timber windows.
If you currently have old sash windows installed in your home that have deteriorated and are letting in a draught, then you may be tempted to carry out small repairs on them. Whilst repairing timber sash windows can temporarily solve the problem, it will only be a matter of time before they deteriorate again, especially if the integrity of the wood has been compromised. Our advice would be to explore options for repairing and replacing your timber sash windows. We can help you explore some of the options available and decide which is the best investment for you; or, if you haven't settled on the right design yet, our timber window gallery is a great place to get a little inspiration and start your planning. Just scroll to the bottom of our timber window product page to take a look at our full portfolio of work.
Should I replace my timber door?
Having a draught-proof door is one of the most effective ways in keeping the draught out of your property. You can make a few minor changes without needing a specialist tradesperson. These include adding draught strips, a more efficient letterbox flap and buying a charming traditional fabric draught excluder. You can also add a curtain, this can make a small improvement especially if you’re losing heat due to single glazing on your timber door. However, it does mean that you will lose a lot of natural light, so this is perhaps only a temporary solution to your draught problem.
If you’ve exhausted all avenues with your draughty doors, then it might be time to consider a replacement and for us, nothing beats the premium look and feel of timber. And improvements in modern glazing mean that you can let as much natural light into a space without losing heat.
We have decades of experience supplying internal and external timber doors in a huge range of styles including front doors, bi-fold doors, french doors and more. We also specialise in bespoke sizing, unique builds and period properties so if you’re working on a showstopping renovation, do take a look at our timber door portfolio.
Should I cover my timber floorboards?
Traditional hardwood floorboards are truly stunning. But they come with a price, and many people will take the time to renovate their existing floorboards only to encounter problems further down the line. The truth is that they can be very draughty and will likely need you to take floorboards back up to install insulation. They can also fade, scratch or splinter and to make them completely draught-proof, you may find yourself needing to add small timber strips, excess sawdust and linseed putty in the gaps before thoroughly sealing.
If this feels like a huge investment of time and money, then luckily there have been some significant improvements in the look and feel of flooring over the past decade. In fact, installing engineered or solid timber flooring is a great way to add warmth to your property and defend against the draught. As well as being a great insulator, this style of flooring is extremely durable and resistant to everyday wear and tear and helps to add style to any property. We think that this makes engineered or timber flooring an absolute must-have. And, as it can be fitted in a vast range of sizes and styles such as herringbone, it makes the job of covering your traditional floorboards so much more bearable.
We are experts when it comes to windows, doors and floors and want to help ensure that all of our customers have air-tight houses this Autumn and Winter. Explore our wide range of high-quality windows, doors and floors or call us today on 01159 872339 to talk to one of our team.
Timber Windows
