Jump to content

Floating floor & draughts


MikeH

Recommended Posts

The floor in our property is block & beam, with 2 layers of insulation board on top.  Above this is a floating floor of T&G chipboard. The floor finish is solid wood flooring screwed to the floating floor.
The difficulty we’re having is draughts from under the skirting board.  In addition to radiators we use a log burner for heating, the downside of which is that the log burner draws cold air effectively making the draughts at floor level worse.
I’ve tried using both silicone sealant and expanding foam tape to seal the gaps below the skirting boards but because a floating floor moves these haven’t proved effective.
Has anyone else had this issue or have thoughts on how I can approach this?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for replying ProDave,

We have a Morso S10 stove and I'm not sure it can be adapted to take outside air but I'll follow up with Morso as that would help considerably.

 

We built our house in 2008, opting for block & beam on the recommendation of the main contractor to help us keep within budget. It's a decision I've regretted many times since then!

 

I've been reading Kingspan guidance on installing a floating floor and they recommend "strips of cork or polyethylene foam to act as a compressible filler" around the edges of the T&G chipboard and as we don't have that in place, I'm wondering how much that is contributing to the problem

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would strip the skirting boards off and use a decent low expansion foam under the bottom edge of the plasterboard to fill the gap between floor and wall. I expect it is air coming down the back of the plasterboard (dot and dab ..?) as much as from below the floor so get that closed off. 
 

The S10 can take external air and isn’t expensive - £110 here

 

https://www.thestovesite.co.uk/prod/Accessories/Morso-Outside-Air-Kit-1.htm

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good advice, thank you PeterW,

 

The plasterboard was put on with dot & dab and as I suspect I'll need to remove the skirting boards to deal with the floor, it makes sense to fill any gap from behind the plasterboard at the same time. 

£110 for the external air was a lot less than I was expecting, pleased with that

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Wozza,

 

59 minutes ago, wozza said:

Who supplied the stove and did they not recommend an external air supply?

 

Stove supplied and installed by the Fire centre based in Middlesbrough,

No, they didn't recommend (or mention) external air supply

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am worrying about draughts coming in through the beam and block floor ? and through the blockwork walls, could you beg or borrow a thermal imaging camera some local authority’s have then for loan. Or hire one. Check what is going on, where draughts are coming in. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello tonyshouse,

 

1 hour ago, tonyshouse said:

I am worrying about draughts coming in through the beam and block floor ? and through the blockwork walls, could you beg or borrow a thermal imaging camera some local authority’s have then for loan. Or hire one. Check what is going on, where draughts are coming in. 

 

It's not something I'd considered, but I like the idea of using of technology so I'll be researching further.

My local council don't offer this but I did find this link from an energy company who will lend their customers a unit. It's a device that fits to a smartphone so won't be as sophisticated as a dedicated camera but may still give a good indication of problem areas.

I might be changing energy supplier soon :)

https://octopus.energy/blog/flir-thermal-cameras/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 14/11/2020 at 22:22, MikeH said:

Hello tonyshouse,

 

 

It's not something I'd considered, but I like the idea of using of technology so I'll be researching further.

My local council don't offer this but I did find this link from an energy company who will lend their customers a unit. It's a device that fits to a smartphone so won't be as sophisticated as a dedicated camera but may still give a good indication of problem areas.

I might be changing energy supplier soon :)

https://octopus.energy/blog/flir-thermal-cameras/

Mike,

 

Where are you in the world. I have a Thermal Camera. Happy to assist if your not miles away for a Bacon bun and some Coffee.

 

FLY

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...