9 DIY draft-proofing tips and the biggest mistake to avoid

Table Of Content

• Don't forget hatch openings to your attic
• Drought-Resistant Plants for the Bay Area
• This Storybook cottage’s native plant wonderland shows how gorgeous no grass can be
• A big year for wildflowers in Southern California — just not poppies. Why?
• For cracks between 1/4 inch and 3 inches, use spray foam.
• Add Brush or Rubber Strips to Windows
• Central Coast Landscaping Plants

During recent droughts in Texas, contractors regularly charged between $8,000 and $15,000 for foundation damage jobs. Drought problems are often more severe in areas with clay soil because it is more likely to shift when dry. Brick homes are also known to experience more foundation problems during drought because bricks are heavier and put more pressure on the soil than wood and siding.

Don't forget hatch openings to your attic

Mark every draught source and visit your DIY shed, or go online, and look for suitable remedial products. Believe it or not, your problem will not be unique — every possible draught has been considered and appropriate products produced. Draught proofing is generally considered to be DIY work — if you can handle a screw driver and a silicone gun you should be fine.

Drought-Resistant Plants for the Bay Area

This initial burst of enthusiasm lead to him trying (and failing) to build a biogas digester to convert pig manure into fuel, at a Kent oast-house, his first conversion project. If that is not practical then there are temporary chimney blockers that are cheap and effective. There are a few options available, including chimney balloons, chimney sheep and chimney umbrellas. Draughtproofing shouldn’t be too tricky if you're usually happy to tackle simple DIY jobs.

This Storybook cottage’s native plant wonderland shows how gorgeous no grass can be

If you discover cracks in your foundation, fill them with waterproofing, which can be easily found in local hardware stores. After patching up obvious cracks, homeowners may need to install piers underneath their homes to make them less susceptible to shifts and movements in the soil. Of course in winter you will want to be using your fireplaces and woodburners to keep your rooms toasty, but there may be a chimney or two that aren't being used that will still be letting cold air in and warm air out. As we said above, you shouldn't just seal the bottom of your front door to keep drafts out. Interior doors, if they don't reach right to the floor, will increase airflow from room-to-room.

All sorts of shops sell draught excluders, or you could even make one yourself by filling a large piece of fabric with old clothes or rice. Draughts from outside can come into your home through gaps around doors, letterboxes and even keyholes. Secondary-glazing film is a transparent tape that fixes to windows to create a double-glazing effect.

For cracks between 1/4 inch and 3 inches, use spray foam.

When designing a drought-tolerant yard, the most crucial decision is selecting plants that can endure California’s blistering summer temperatures and require little water for half of the year once they are planted. This allows the plants to thrive and saves you a fortune on water bills compared to a traditional grassy lawn. Jeanette Marantos is a Features reporter focused primarily on plants, gardening and Southern California’s changing landscapes for the Los Angeles Times. Times Plants newsletter, which includes a calendar of upcoming plant-related events.

If a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant front yard is what you’re opting for, avoid invasive species of native or drought-tolerant plants such as the popular pampas grass and the ultra-colorful periwinkle. We found the questions people ask most frequently about gardening and outdoor plants and went to local experts in Southern California to get some answers. Keep in mind that drought conditions could have been present even before you moved into your home. So it’s a good idea to check for foundation issues even if your period of ownership has been accompanied by a steady flow of rain. However, cracking isn’t the only problem that results from this competition for resources.

Add Brush or Rubber Strips to Windows

The U.S. Drought monitor’s latest data show the vast majority of California reporting no drought as of Oct. 17, though pockets in the northernmost and southeastern parts of the state are still considered abnormally dry. Wherever you plan on going next in California, there’s still time to make your road trip more eco-friendly. Here’s your guide to designing a drought-tolerant landscape that will thrive in California. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only.

Central Coast Landscaping Plants

Extreme drought costing some in SE Louisiana thousands in foundation repairs - FOX 8 Local First

Extreme drought costing some in SE Louisiana thousands in foundation repairs.

Posted: Mon, 13 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Email calendar submissions or plant-related story ideas to for consideration. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a fragrant Mediterranean shrub with dark green foliage and sweet violet flowers that is handsome on its own or as a backdrop to other showier plants. We can thank South Africa for these cheerful, fragrant and drought-tolerant shrubs, which come in a variety of flavors and colors. This variety, Pelargonium citronella, has a citrus scent, but there are many others with aromas including chocolate and mint.

Foundation cracks can lead to many other issues inside your home, such as causing your floors to slope and become uneven. With constantly changing weather conditions and climate patterns, droughts can happen almost anywhere. Compounded by the extremely high temperatures that often accompany drought conditions, special precautions must be taken to preserve the value, comfort, and safety of your home. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds.

It prefers full sun and well-draining soils but does well in part shade too, according to CalScape. The scarlet bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius) is a California native perennial with long vividly red tubular flowers — it’s a favorite with hummingbirds. An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the color of the flowers on white sage (Salvia apiana). Also, Pigeon Point coyote bush (Baccharis pilularis ssp. pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’) does not produce seeds. If you live in the Dallas area, these are some resources you should get familiar with in case a drought strikes in the future. It’s always a good idea to check the city’s drought and water emergency plan to understand potential watering restrictions.

If you turn up the thermostat and don't feel the heat, there's a problem. Old windows, worn doors, and poorly installed outlet covers are basically an open invitation for the frigid winter air to make its way indoors. To avoid feeling the draft — and cut down on your heating bill — follow these tips from the Good Housekeeping Institute. If you can feel cold air coming in from under an external door, you can fit a weather bar or a door brush strip. This acts as a seal at the bottom of your door when it’s closed.

It’s such a common issue that plenty of homeowners think there’s no way to solve the problem. If the fireplace is used then consider installing a log burning stove and sealing the chimney around the flue. It’s important to strike the right balance between humidification and ventilation. This can be hard when your windows and doors are tightly shut to insulate your home. The deciding factor in your plant placement (aside from pure aesthetics) ought to be the amount of sunlight necessary to grow your chosen species.

We found that the film may need to be re-stretched periodically (with a hair dryer), which can be inconvenient. Hiring a professional installer to draughtproof your home could cost around £200. Doing it yourself may be a lot cheaper, but only if you have a good idea of what you need to do. The amount you'll save on your bills means that your draughtproofing is likely to pay for itself in a few years.

This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. In both British and American English, when people are drafted somewhere, they are moved there to do a particular job. Gradually, however, the spark grew to a burning mass, which created the draught of air that fanned it. This, however, will not be necessary where there is a chimney high enough to create a strong draught. Being quieted by the Captain with a draught of cold tea, and made to sit down, the examination of the book proceeded. At night, shine a flashlight, like the Maglite Mini PRO LED Flashlight, on door and window frames.