Julian Cassell's DIY Blog

Front or back doors can be better draught-proofed simply by fitting draught excluders around the door frame. Because most front doors open inwards, these excluder strips are normally positioned on the outside frame. Designs vary, the one shown below is basically made of a metal strip that holds a rubber seal which fits tightly against the door when it is in a closed position – therefore stopping any draughts from entering the house. read more »

Something as simple as fitting a brush draught excluder can make a big difference in keeping a room much warmer. They are relatively inexpensive and can be fitted in a matter of minutes. Brush draught excluders are most commonly fitted along the bottom of a door, as shown below, but there are also self-adhesive draught excluders that are effective around the frame of a door or window opening, as well as other designs that are commonly fitted around the frame of an exterior door. read more »

Insulating your loft correctly will not only save you money on your heating bills but also help the environment. The regulation depth for blanket insulation is around 30cm. A good approach is therefore to lay 15cm of insulation between the joists and a further 15cm layer across the top of the joists. To estimate the quantity you require, divide the loft area (in square metres) by the area of one roll, which should be marked on the roll packaging. However, you must check the depth of the rolls you are buying as blanket insulation can be sold in 5cm, 10cm and 15cm depths. read more »