Even if you're eager to draught proof your whole home, it’s important not to completely seal your property. There needs to be some air flowing in and out. this initial burst of enthusiasm lead to him trying (and failing) to build a biogas digester to convert pig manure into fuel, at a Kent oast-house, his first conversion project. We’re happy to show you how! If we’re not installing something like a Fakro loft ladder that comes with a fully-insulated hatch and frame then we build one bespoke. And in that scenario, we usually opt for a hinged swing-down hatch with a post surrounding the inside of the hatch frame. The hatch then rests against that post when shut and it’s on that post that we apply a rubber ‘P’ seal as illustrated in the diagram below. Cross-section of a hatch and casing with ‘P’ seal What’s the difference between a draught-proof and an insulated hatch? By draught-proofing your loft hatch, you can help to make your home more energy efficient. If you constantly have to put up with a cold draught coming through your ceiling, particularly in the winter, you’ll no doubt be tempted to crank up your heating. This could lead to much higher energy bills. So draught-proofing your loft hatch could save you money. Better for the Environment So let’s get to the nitty-gritty. There are several ways to fix a draughty hatch. The general principle here is to create an airtight seal around the edge of the hatch or frame. And this can be achieved quite easily using a compression seal or foam strip. Where this is applied will depend on which type of hatch you have. Here are some common scenarios:

Loft Attic Hatch Door Draught Excluder Seal Stormguard Around Loft Attic Hatch Door Draught Excluder Seal

Mark every draught source and visit your DIY shed, or go online, and look for suitable remedial products. Believe it or not, your problem will not be unique — every possible draught has been considered and appropriate products produced. Where to Buy Draught Proofing Supplies If you’ve got a draught of cold air coming into your top landing then it could very well be from your loft hatch. In this post, we’ll look at the causes of draughty hatches. And then talk about some ways to insulate and draught-proof your hatch. Awesome! What causes a draughty hatch? We have an extensive selection of thresholds that meet disabled and easy access requirements for Part M of the building regulations for mobility, PAS 24 performance testing, BS6375-1:2009 and Part Q of the building regulations 2010 secure by design. We meet all requirements for inward and outward opening single doors, as well as double doors and sidelight frames. High performance materials with stylish design and UK-based manufacture, low maintenance features, reliable customer service and the latest up to date innovations ensure we can provide all our customers with the solutions they need to help promote successful business growth and continuous improvement. Proline AM3, AM370, AM5Ex and AM5Ex70 are just a few of our most popular thresholds.

Instructional/How to

It’s important to strike the right balance between humidification and ventilation. This can be hard when your windows and doors are tightly shut to insulate your home. Make sure you keep outside ventilation in areas where there are open fires or flues, and in rooms where moisture is produced, such as kitchens and bathrooms. The hinged variety that fold downs into the living space, and could come with or without a ladder. This option is now the go-to option in new homes due to the ease and accessibility they offer. When insulating a loft, and often forgotten task is to insulate the hatch. Hot air rises and this can very easily escape through the hatch. Make sure that you fix some insulation to the top side of the hatch cover and this will insulate and keep the warmth in your home.

Slikseal — Stormguard

There are different types of loft hatches in every home. So you’ll need to consider what kind of insulation is the best for you.Once you have covered the obvious spots around the home, try draught proofing some of the less obvious spots. Loft hatches are an area where lots of heat can be lost, so make sure that the hatch fits snugly and some draught proof strips have been fitted around the edges. Draught proofing an existing hatch is simply a matter of attaching a self-adhesive foam strip (sometimes called weatherstrip) or EPDM door and window draught proofing strip. Secondary-glazing film is a transparent tape that fixes to windows to create a double-glazing effect. However, we recommend you avoid using it. Just as important as insulation is draught proofing, and undertaking measures to draught proof an existing loft hatch will improve comfort in the living space below.

Draught Seal - White Wickes 10m P Profile Rubber Draught Seal - White

For other ways to save, head to our guide on how to save on your energy bill. Draught proofing tips for renters This needs to be put around the edge of the hatch as well as around the frame it sits in, ideally (but not essentially) with a closing mechanism that pulls the hatch down onto the draught proofing. How Much Does it Cost to Insulate a Roof Hatch? If you’ve got the type of hatch that rests on the frame surrounding, and swings into your loft, then a compression seal or foam strip can be applied around the edge of that frame. The strips would be facing upwards into the loft. And finally, if you have the very old style of loft door that isn’t hinged or even attached to anything fear not! You should be able to use the techniques we’ve talked about above to draught-proof and insulate that too.To make sure you don’t get overcharged for double glazing, read our guide to double glazing prices.

How To Draught Proof Your Home - Which?

Into these gaps you should squirt filler to stop the air being able to get through. Use a flexible filler (a decorators caulk, or silicon based mastic) as there will be movement as the pipes heat up and expand and then cool and contract. Following these draught proofing tips will help to make your home cosier – and cut your energy bills. It is not only external doors that need draught proofing. You should also draught proof internal doors if they lead into unheated or uninhabited rooms as this in turn will also prevent the lowering of the overall indoor temperature. Draught Proofing Loft Hatches And likewise, if you have a hinged hatch that swings downwards but rests against a post within the hatch casing/frame when shut then you’d apply the strip around that post. So the strips would be facing downwards. Draughty homes are uncomfortable. It’s also a waste of money if the heat that you’ve paid for escapes through gaps and cold air comes whistling in from outside. The good news is that draught-proofing is easy and our DIY draught-proofing guide will help you plug those gaps and stay cosy at home.

Ventilation can be Important

Thereafter, the movement of people around the house, moving in and out, and naturally opening and closing windows and doors will deal with other ventilation needs. Around door and window frames, there are a wide range of self adhesive draught excluders that will do the job reasonably well, although some brands may need replacing every few years, as they have to put up with some big changes in temperature over the course of a year. Draught Proofing Other Areas Draught-proofing won’t prevent heat loss in the same way that insulation will, but it will stop cold air from passing through the gaps and into the space below. Find out how to draught-proof different types of loft hatches below. For Flat Loft Hatches