draughts in my new house All manner of questions and solutions to problems and issues surrounding the subject of brickwork, blockwork and stonework

[ed404]

I have had a new house built and we get a lot of wind at the back where the kitchen is. I have lamenate flooring and lots of air bricks. Usually i get lots of draughts in this room but i recently covered the air bricks with a wall tile, not fixed. Is there a better solution as it seems crazy that planning made me put lots of insulation in my new house only to let the air bicks let the cold air in!!
Regards ed404

[stoneyboy]

ed404,
I assume you are referring to air bricks which ventilate the space under suspended floors. In this case you should not seal up the airbricks or you will get wet rot in the suspended floor.
Where are the draughts you refer to coming from?
end

[Perry525]

Modern homes are built with as few holes and as insulation as possible to enable them to comply with the building regulations.
One wonders why the council would ask for air bricks?
Do you have an open fire?
Or a boiler that does not have a balanced flue?
A large gas burner of some description?
Or does someone like fresh air?
Do you have solid floors?
Most homes do these days, floor boards and open spaces including air bricks are impossible to keep warm.
Look forward to your reply.
Perry

[ed404]

most of the draughts are coming from where the giproc wall boards meet the hdm flooring

[ed404]

[quote="stoneyboy"]ed404,
I assume you are referring to air bricks which ventilate the space under suspended floors. In this case you should not seal up the airbricks or you will get wet rot in the suspended floor.
Where are the draughts you refer to coming from?
end[/The draughts are coming from where the plasterboard meets the flooring]

[ed404]

[quote="Perry525"]Modern homes are built with as few holes and as insulation as possible to enable them to comply with the building regulations.
One wonders why the council would ask for air bricks?
Do you have an open fire?
Or a boiler that does not have a balanced flue?
A large gas burner of some description?
Or does someone like fresh air?
Do you have solid floors?
Most homes do these days, floor boards and open spaces including air bricks are impossible to keep warm.
Look forward to your reply.
Perry[/yes I have an open fire, wooden flooring but no I do not want fresh air howling round the house!!quote]

[stoneyboy]

ed404,
From your reply it sounds like you have suspended floors, since your house is new insulation should have been fitted under the floorboards and around any perimeter walls. This should stop draughts from the wall/floor junction.
Without details of the type of construction of your house it is difficult to suggest a solution which will not give you problems elsewhere in the house.
I suggest your first action should be to contact the builder and or NHBC ( or whoever guaranteed the quality of construction)
end

[Perry525]

Solution is simple.
You run a four inch sewage pipe under the floor from the outside to as close to the fire as you can. (I terminated mine under the fire in a concrete box)
Fire then pulls cold air in from outside via the pipe. Room stays warm, no drafts, cheaper to run as you are not burning air you have already paid to heat. Air needs to move in room by convection only, at less than one foot per second.
Next, while the floor is up. Squeese four or five inch thick polystyrene sheets between the joists insulating the underneath of the floor boards - this will make an incredable difference to the comfort of your home. Make sure every hole is blocked.
Perry

[the specialist]

Re: Stoney boy's first comment. You meant dry rot not wet rot didn't you?

[TheDoctor5]

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