Discussion
1930's house, suspended timber planked floor, air-bricks from sub-floor space to outside.
Fitted L-shaped kitchen (two outside walls), base units, integrated appliances, plinths, laminate planks to the floor... but they do not go all the way to the walls under the base cupboards.
With the wind in a certain direction, the result is a 'howling gale' coming through around eg the washing machine & dishwasher... presumably through the airbricks and up through the gaps in the uncovered floorboards.
So what's the best medium to cover the bare floorboards to block off the gaps? ...bearing in mind the many legs etc in the way. Carpet? Underlay? Some sort of hi-tech membrane? Or squirt expanding foam into every gap?
Fitted L-shaped kitchen (two outside walls), base units, integrated appliances, plinths, laminate planks to the floor... but they do not go all the way to the walls under the base cupboards.
With the wind in a certain direction, the result is a 'howling gale' coming through around eg the washing machine & dishwasher... presumably through the airbricks and up through the gaps in the uncovered floorboards.
So what's the best medium to cover the bare floorboards to block off the gaps? ...bearing in mind the many legs etc in the way. Carpet? Underlay? Some sort of hi-tech membrane? Or squirt expanding foam into every gap?
Edited by TwinKam on Wednesday 30th October 14:59
Do you not just want these -
https://tradefixdirect.com/p/timloc-external-cowl-...
Had similar on previous home where we removed some greenery that had clearly been shielding the wind. Wasn't so much the draft that bothered us but the annoying whistle that created.
https://tradefixdirect.com/p/timloc-external-cowl-...
Had similar on previous home where we removed some greenery that had clearly been shielding the wind. Wasn't so much the draft that bothered us but the annoying whistle that created.
Sounds as if you have two elements to consider, stopping the worst of the draught and also whether you want to try and cover the bare boards to stop what's probably quite significant heat loss to the room?
For just the former as well as cowls on the air bricks you might contemplate whether putting something around the appliances to create a seal might do enough? For example, you can buy foam strips designed to be inserted between skirting boards and floorboards which then expand to fill the gap and halt draughts. If you have gaps between the appliance and the units these could be closed off with these foam strips set back in the gap etc.
Trying to cover the bare floor under the kitchen units is going to be a bit of a task. The first thought would be if the unit feet are the type where the foot has a thread then at least you can reach to the rear ones and wind them off the ground so that something could be slid in to cover the floor and then have the feet screwed back down in place? For example, strips of vinyl, vinyl squares or some edpm?
For just the former as well as cowls on the air bricks you might contemplate whether putting something around the appliances to create a seal might do enough? For example, you can buy foam strips designed to be inserted between skirting boards and floorboards which then expand to fill the gap and halt draughts. If you have gaps between the appliance and the units these could be closed off with these foam strips set back in the gap etc.
Trying to cover the bare floor under the kitchen units is going to be a bit of a task. The first thought would be if the unit feet are the type where the foot has a thread then at least you can reach to the rear ones and wind them off the ground so that something could be slid in to cover the floor and then have the feet screwed back down in place? For example, strips of vinyl, vinyl squares or some edpm?
(Your last para) ...this is what I envisaged doing, yes, but was unsure of what material to use. It would have to be done in sections, very difficult to do in one strip.
Tempted to loose lay some heavy rubber-type
underlay, just to see what difference it makes... or maybe vinyl/carpet tiles, stuck down with contact adhesive
Tempted to loose lay some heavy rubber-type
underlay, just to see what difference it makes... or maybe vinyl/carpet tiles, stuck down with contact adhesive
TwinKam said:
(Your last para) ...this is what I envisaged doing, yes, but was unsure of what material to use. It would have to be done in sections, very difficult to do in one strip.
Tempted to loose lay some heavy rubber-type
underlay, just to see what difference it makes... or maybe vinyl/carpet tiles, stuck down with contact adhesive
Yup. Not a simple task. Tempted to loose lay some heavy rubber-type
underlay, just to see what difference it makes... or maybe vinyl/carpet tiles, stuck down with contact adhesive
I wonder if the simplest 'bodge' might be 1.5mm edpm rubber? It has the weight to stay put and the flexibility to cut pieces, roll them and get them in place to roll back out. You may not need to glue it down as it's pretty heavy.
ade73 said:
Loft insulation. 
Came here to post the same thing - that's exactly what I used to stop the drafts under the kitchen units (before I put 75mm Kingspan under the floor between the joists to try and improve the heat retention and stop the drafts for good).The loft insulation has all been removed now but it did a pretty good job for a few years
We have two cats... and have had to extract lucky mice (that escaped their death-games) from behind the plinths before. I am not minded to upgrade the refugee camp by providing them with 15 TOG duvets, so it will be either rubber or vinyl sheeting going down.
Thanks to all for your suggestions.
Thanks to all for your suggestions.
TwinKam said:
We have two cats... and have had to extract lucky mice (that escaped their death-games) from behind the plinths before. I am not minded to upgrade the refugee camp by providing them with 15 TOG duvets,
That is totally understandable (said as a habitual cat owner currently "On a Break") Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff