Foam applicator gun, Caulk and Sheep’s Wool – start with the large to expose the small.

> Unit cost £30 + Installation £30 = £60

Objectives

Tackling miscellaneous holes and inappropriate obsolete vents. Our homes are have become perforated with many inappropriate and unwanted holes. Understanding and controlling air ingress/egress is paramount to home improvement. Air bricks and chimneys are problematic. Chimney stacks date back only five hundred years, the air brick a mere two hundred.

Cross ventilation and stratification.

If it can’t get in – it can’t get out.

Start with the large to expose the small.

Interventions

Foam applicator gun

Expanding foam filler is an invaluable material for sealing up draughts and a versatile adhesive for securing things in place without the need for mechanical fixings such as screws and nails. Foam filler is ideal for preventing air ingress, it is a good insulator, preventing the conduction of heat and also preventing moisture vapour migrating to cold surfaces causing condensation.

Unlike disposable canisters, a foam applicator gun provides full control. The application can be in moderate and the canister can be closed off and reused on another occasion to avoid waste.

Ten top tips

https://www.neighbourhoodconstruction.org/foam-applicator-gun/

Suppliers

Foam applicator gun – £24.99

http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-foam-applicator-gun/28483

Expanding foam gun grade – £5.99

http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-expanding-foam-gun-grade-750ml/87934

Foam gun cleaner – £4.99

http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-foam-gun-cleaner-500ml/60133

Caulk

Decorators caulk is an affordable and easy way to prevent air ingress up from between the floorboards. Using the trigger gun the gaps are filled, being water-soluble, excess decorators caulk can be wiped away with a sponge and any residue remaining on the boards can be lifted with WD40, an oily rag, once the caulk has cured.

A box of twelve tubes is sufficient for a couple of rooms for a little over a pound per tube.

Suppliers

Sealant adhesive dispenser gun – £19.99

https://www.screwfix.com/p/p-c-cox-sealant-adhesive-dispensing-gun/4379h

Caulk – white – Screwfix – £1.39

https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-decorators-caulk-white-380ml/43686

Caulk – brown and white – £1.87

https://www.duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk/ddc-decorators-caulk

Sheeps Wool

Chimneys, top and bottom: start with the large holes, to expose the small.

Likewise, with a roof ladder, it is possible to plug chimney pots with sheep’s wool and topped with a chimney cowl, preventing large amounts of cold air ingress as well as warm air-egress.

Chimney capping cowl

https://www.travisperkins.co.uk/Mad-Capping-Cowl-Powder-Coated-Terracotta/p/954174

Sheepswool loft insulation

https://www.celticsustainables.co.uk/thermafleece-cosywool-sheeps-wool-insulation/

Demountable chimney excluder

https://www.chimneysheep.co.uk/product-category/chimney-draught-excluders/