Are you living in one of Australia’s ‘leaky’ homes? Homes where it feels like there’s a continuous draft coming from somewhere, and no matter what you do, it’s impossible to heat or cool, costing you a fortune in energy bills.
There are ways to improve the comfort of an old house during winter, and Barwon Timber has a range of insulation and door and window seal solutions to help you. Consider whether the following products are suitable for your home.
- Door seals
- Window seals
- Wall insulation
- Floor insulation
- Roof insulation
What are Draughts and How to Find Them
Unlike ventilation, which can be controlled, a draught enables uncontrolled air exchanges. To find a draught, look for the following.
- Feel for air movement around doors, cavity door openings, windows, skirting boards, vents, stairs, beams and rafters.
- Windows and doors may rattle or close during strong winds.
- Look for gaps around door and window perimeters.
One easy way to detect drafts and air leaks is to hold a candle or incense stick near the edges of your doors and windows on a windy day.
Sealing Doors and Windows
If you’re looking for a simple solution to quickly improve the comfort of your home by preventing draughts, try fitting new door and window seals or replacing worn seals.
Investing in Raven weather seal products will prevent cold air from seeping in during winter and keep cool air from escaping during summer. Raven weather seals help maintain a comfortable temperature inside your home.
Many of the Raven door seals come with an adhesive backing, making application very easy. We’ve also got seals suitable for external applications. Barwon Timber has a comprehensive range of Raven Door and Window seals in stock, ready to draught-proof your home. Raven door seals are available in a range of sizes, colours, and thicknesses.
This includes different sizes and brushed and brushless seals. If you need to fit or replace a door frame, we can do this with a rebate to fit a door seal.
Additionally, weather sealing can help prolong the life of your windows and doors by protecting them from moisture and drafts. So, to make your home more energy-efficient, include Raven weather sealing in your upgrade plans.
Insulation
If you’re in a position to insulate an old house, Barwon Timber can help you with a range of insulation solutions. If you’re renovating an old home, we strongly recommend you take the time to design good insulation. The team at Barwon Timber can help you.
We have bulk stock of insulation batts suitable for wall and roof applications and can also order roof blankets.
Barwon Timber stocks Foilboard, a versatile insulation product that can be used to insulate existing joists and bearer construction floors, walls and roofs. The subfloor insulation works well in homes with old floorboards directly over joists. Foilboard has a garage door insulation solution available at Barwon Timber. We can also get you a garage door seal.
Barwon Timber stocks the full range of Pro Clima high-performance building wraps, tapes and accessories. The Pro Clima system includes wraps to help wick moisture away from your house frame, preventing mould.
You Could be Eligible for a Rebate
The Victorian State government offers discount programs for weather-sealing your homes and upgrading appliances and equipment.
Products include draught sealing, water heating, lighting, space heating, and cooling. Investing in high-quality door seals, window seals and other energy-saving equipment can improve your home’s energy efficiency and reduce draughts and heat loss.
Check your eligibility to receive a discount on the Victorian State Government’s Victorian Energy Upgrades for households page.
All households in Victoria can engage with the initiative and qualify for energy-efficient products and services incentives. To avail of a discount on the installation of a heating and cooling system, follow these steps:
1. Install a product that meets the program’s criteria.
2. Engage with an accredited provider.
Accredited providers offer various products, services, expertise, and pricing options. The Victorian Government website provides a Register of accredited weather-sealing providers.
Need More Help or Information?
Need more help and ideas on how to insulate and seal an old house? Contact us at Barwon Timber; we’re happy to help, or have a look at these online resources.
– Your Home – Australia’s Guide to Environmentally Sustainable Homes
– Sustainability Victoria – Planning and designing a home for sustainability