This technique involves purchasing a specialist draught-proofing material, something like a thin foam board or matting that you insert between the boards. I used to punch the nails partially through the boards and then lever them up with a thin bolster type chisel. Another product that can be used is cork expansion strips, a little harder to insert in the gaps, and slightly more expensive, cork expansion strips are available in different lengths and thicknesses. Its stance of putting consumers first is protected and enshrined in the legally-binding MSE Editorial Code.

The first thing to assess when considering whether to draught-proof your floorboards is what the required finish is.That’s because not only are fitting or inserting the filler yourself, your will even create the filler liquid yourself. I will also be wandering around with a joss stick to see if that helps narrow it down (good idea too! Even rooms that have carpet and underlay fitted often have gaps between the skirting board and the floor that allow significant heat to be lost. For example the methods used to draught-proof floorboards under a carpet are different to those used to draught-proof stripped floorboards.

The unique shape means that the floorboard gaps remain completely sealed, whether it’s a humid summer or a dry winter. All homes need some ventilation but the difference between ventilation and draughts is that ventilation is a flow of air that is controlled. Will a good quality underlay be enough to stop the draught through the boards or would it be better to fill the gaps first or put a membrane type cover down first? Draughtex Floor and skirting board filler is a proven floorboard gap filler, designed to eliminate the cold draughts and improve the comfort and energy efficiency of your home.

Years ago I had this problem with a carpet laid by Carpetland, they had to send round Servicemaster to roll back the carpet and seal, relay it and clean the marks off. This is where you take small strips or slivers of reclaimed floorboards and hammer them gently into the gaps. If you can’t afford pine slivers, but still want a longer-lasting and neater finish, a specialist product such as Stop Gap or Draughtex is the answer.

This is a squishy, stretchy dark grey sausage available in different thicknesses for different gap sizes. DraughtEx is a proven floorboard gap filler, designed to reduce the cold draughts and improve the comfort and energy efficiency of your home.The gaps in between stripped floorboards may add up to the size of a small window; therefore draught-proofing your floor is essential and can shed pounds from your energy bill, paying for itself in less than 12 months. Please note: StopGap is not suitable for tongue and groove boards due to the shape of the gaps in this type of flooring. Fabric draught excluder - Usually long and chunky tubes placed in front of the door when you're settling down in a room. In my house I truly believe that the skirting was attached to the wall using wooden wall plugs as you describe before plastering. As for the underlay and a cheap interim carpet, when I've spoken to carpet fitters (have got a number of quotes and chosen already) I've been told to absolutely hold off until decorating .