Cold Top Floor Apartment

obriendj

Hi There

I am hoping for some advise on how to keep an apartment warm.

I own a 3 bed apartment. I have had it for 7 years but this winter it seems to be colder then ever. The living room / kitchen for example is quite small roughly 3m x 3m. It is a top floor room.

The windows are double glazed, quite large but cold to touch in the evenings. There is also a vent which is blocked for now and does not seem to have a draft. The kitchen has an extractor van as well which could cause the heat to escape.

There is a large storage heater which is often turned on but as soon as it is turned off the room temperature drops. We did change the flooring from carpet to laminate flooring this year. Would that change be a cause?

Can anyone suggest a solution on how to help keep the heat in? We have considered curtains on the windows but would want to be sure that this will sort it before investing in them.

I used a candle to check for drafts but it seems the windows are well sealed when closed.

Thanks in advanced

listermint

Taking out carpet will always make a room colder. Its both an insulator and a heat sink. It also adds a physiological effect of warmt.

What was the reasoning for removing it, Surely Laminate in an apartment is noisy and as highlighted here 'cold'

obriendj

It was constantly dirty and worn before its time, especially as the kitchen is off the room.

The room does look much better with a large Ikea rug which takes up a majority of the open floor.

Thanks for the advise. can you add anything further as I wont be able to go back on the flooring?

sky6

Is there any or enough insulation in the Attic above the ceilings. If not you should seriously consider getting it insulated.

wandererz

In addition to the attic insulation, do you know if the outer facing walls are insulated or just plasterboard stuck onto the blockwork?
We had our place drylined earlier this year as the walls were ice cold to the touch. Discovered that the plasterboard was simply stuck on, no insulation whatsoever.

Recently installed wood flooring also.

Had also removed the storage heaters when walls were being done with intention of getting new heaters, but haven't done so as yet.

Now all that's heating the place is a DeLonghi oil filled mobile heater in the lounge/kitchen/kitchen areas and the place is nice and toasty.

BER rating went up from approx D1 to C1 as well.

There is a €900 grant available from SEAI for this type of work from approved installers as well.

Some pics of the before & during of the walls being done.
http://imgur.com/a/HAi6z

Cedrus

Insulation. Check the walls and ceiling and get good heavy curtains for the winter at least. Reworking the walls will be messy from a decorative point of view as will the ceiling if you can't get above it.
Ditch the storage heater (assuming it's electric) and get something more cost effective, this won't necessarily be warmer in itself but having it on longer is more viable.
If there is nothing permanent on top of the laminate floor it may be possible to lift it and put an insulating layer underneath, this also depends on the design of the planks and whether you self installed or paid someone to lay it.

obriendj

Cedrus wrote: »

Insulation. Check the walls and ceiling and get good heavy curtains for the winter at least. Reworking the walls will be messy from a decorative point of view as will the ceiling if you can't get above it.

I think the curtains will be a help.
Also insulation above will be too, but i will have to contact the management company on how to proceed and if they can check the roof.

Cedrus wrote: »

If there is nothing permanent on top of the laminate floor it may be possible to lift it and put an insulating layer underneath, this also depends on the design of the planks and whether you self installed or paid someone to lay it.

Good idea, we laid it ourselves so could pull it up again and insulate.

I think the curtains and roofing will be the way to go first.

wandererz wrote: »

In addition to the attic insulation, do you know if the outer facing walls are insulated or just plasterboard stuck onto the blockwork?

Yes they are plasterboard is stuck to the brick wall. it will most likely need what was done in your place. Thanks for the photos very helpful.

obriendj

Thanks for all the input

Its a great help.

Thanks
obriendj

wandererz

obriendj wrote: »

Yes they are plasterboard is stuck to the brick wall. it will most likely need what was done in your place. Thanks for the photos very helpful.

If you need a recommendation of a company to do it in the Dublin area then feel free to PM me.
I must say that they were excellent in terms of the work done and the final finish.

We did have to move out for a few days though due to the dust levels. But a great investment nevertheless.

In your case though, you are probably also losing heat through the roof if not insulated. I may be mistaken but being an apartment there may not be too much you can do about that bit unless there is a deep enough ceiling.