| You probably have a very good idea as to how | | | | basement, to keep these spaces dry. The ventilation |
| draughty your house is. When there's a storm, do | | | | spaces should, however, be sealed off, similar to the |
| the lampshades wave in the wind? How easy it is to | | | | treatment of the attic space above. The floor and |
| find and fix the leaks depends to a large extent on | | | | skirting boards should all be draught-proofed along |
| the type of construction. If it is a standard brick-built | | | | with any door leading to a basement.o Windows and |
| house with plaster covered brick partition (internal) | | | | doors: start with doors as these are likely to prove |
| walls, then your problem is probably confined largely | | | | the worst offenders. The most complex |
| to the openings in the basic structure- the windows, | | | | draught-proofing occurs in a sliding sash window.o |
| doors and ground floors. However, if your house is of | | | | Fireplaces and chimneys: seal fireplaces but also |
| timber construction or built with a composite material, | | | | consider installing a ventilator here as a means of |
| there are likely to be more passageways for the air | | | | introducing controlled ventilation. Chimneypots should |
| to find its way about. | | | | also be capped with ventilated caps, ensuring that |
| There are many books which cover the materials and | | | | the inside of the chimney remains dry.o |
| techniques of draught-proofing well. Here are some | | | | Draught-lobbies and door closers: in houses where |
| practical suggestions of what to look out for in | | | | there is the possibility of wind blowing through when |
| different parts of the house:o Attic or roof space: | | | | both front and back doors are open, consider |
| look for any passageways leading up through internal | | | | introducing a draught-lobby or putting door closers on |
| partitions and surrounding services. Properly seal the | | | | appropriate doors. |
| door or hatch leading to the attic.o Ground floor | | | | At the same time as draught-proofing, you need to |
| basement: there should be adequate ventilation under | | | | consider an overall approach to controlled ventilation. |
| the floorboards and cross-ventilation in any | | | | |
