Folding to less than 1mm thick for ease of insertion, the seal expands to grip the sides of the gap and sits in the shadow at the very bottom, resting on the support joists below.
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40 metre roll - £19.99 (save £2 per roll for 5 or more)
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nice to see some one is still trying to sort this aged old problem out but nowadays everyone wants paying for doing something even if it makes their job better so think this is the problem with this idea not a sand and seal expert but it could be good rof them ie prevents draughts.
I need to find a solution, my floorboards are too nice to replace but too cold to live with!!!!!
Hi R
You’ve found it!
Hi
Please could you answer the following questions about your product. I would be grateful if you could answer asap as I need seal my gaps asap.
1.Where can I buy stop gap in london,uk? Ideally shops closest to postcode e1 (east londonn) however please list where I can get them.
2.WHat is the maximum gap width stop gap can be put inside? If gaps are smaller, should the stop gap be cut and if so to what size?
3.How deep should stop gap be places?
4.I know it should be placed afrer sanding, however will it matter if you do it before sanding?
Many thanks
Hi S
Thanks for your enquiry. StopGap is not in the shops. We prefer to save you the trouble of walking, driving, waiting for a bus, catching the train or tube, parking, getting stuck in traffic. No, we prefer to send your order same day first class and have it delivered straight to your door. StopGap comes in one size which fits gaps from 1mm (credit card thickness) to 8mm (pencil) and is pushed down into contact with the supports below where it sits out of sight at the bottom of the gap. StopGap can be fitted before sanding if preferred.
Thanks again for your interest. Regards.
Dear Sirs,
Can I purchase Stop Gap in Dublin (Ireland)?
If so where?
Thank you for your help.
Regards,
Tom.
Hi Tom
Thanks for your email. StopGap is not in the shops but we supply customers by airmail not only in Dublin but worldwide. Just like Amazon. We believe our customers would rather have the postman deliver their StopGap directly than have to get the car out or wait for a bus, catch a train, find a parking slot, walk, get cold, get wet, queue at the checkout etc. The price of petrol or diesel and the cost of public transport these days mean that it’s probably cheaper too. so, relax, go online, select the number of rolls you need and ‘Europe’ in the ‘delivery’ box at http://www.stopgaps.com, then follow the prompts. Your order will be sent same day and arrive in 3-6 days.
Thanks again for your enquiry and please remember: money invested in saving energy will be repaid many times over.
regards
Marcus Plummer
t. 029 2021 3736
e. marcus@stopgaps.com
w. stopgaps.com
Hi
Doesn’t dust and dirt and fluff collect in the troughs created by your product, where formerly it would drop through??
Iain
Hi Iain
Thanks for your question. The answer is yes, dirt and fluff does collect, but is removed by routine vacuuming. The seal’s grip on the sides of the gap prevents it being lifted by the vacuum. Thanks again for your interest.
Do you think that stopgap would be effective against the mice who run about under my floorboards and find their way up through the gaps?
Thanks for your email. The answer to the mouse question is: we don’t know. StopGap is held in position because it is springy, which causes it to grip the vertical sides of the gap. This is enough to prevent the seal being lifted by routine vacuuming but may not be enough to resist the pressure of a determined rodent. On the other hand, I believe that mice seek out existing gaps and then gnaw to widen them. I am inclined to think that it is possible that introducing the seal may persuade them that the gap is not worth the effort and go elsewhere. There is only one way to find out and that is to give it a try. It may be best to use the dark seal. This is dark brown and from a rodents-eye-view, may present a less light, and therefore less tempting target.
As always, if you are not happy, we are not happy, and will refund your money. It will be interesting to get feedback from you if you decide to proceed and this could possibly help others with the same problem.
I hope this helps. If you want anything further, please email or call.
Thank you for your interest in StopGap.
Is it OK to fill the gaps with wood filler or similar, once the strips are in place?
Hi Bill
Thanks for your enquiry. The answer is yes, it’s fine to use filler on top of the seal. This is a good way to save on expensive filler by holding it in place while it sets.
Does it ever come out with hoovering? And if the floorboards need to come up does it get damaged, is there a trick to prevent this?
Hi Isla
Thanks for your enquiry. Stopgap draught seal is a flexible plastic strip which is ‘springy’ when folded into a ‘V’ shape along a central hinge. This causes it to grip the vertical sides of the gap. This is sufficient to prevent the seal being disturbed by vacuuming. Stopgap will not interfere with removing floorboards where required but care needs to be taken when lifting the first board. In wider gaps, say over 5mm, it’s possible to insert a credit card either side of the seal to compress and lift it. Once a purchase has been gained, the seal can be pulled out longitudinally. Narrower gaps are more difficult and a short length of damaged seal may need to be replaced.
If you decide to try STOPGAP, please remember that it carries a no-quibble, money-back guarantee. That means that if you are not happy with the product when you use it, simply send back the unused material and we will refund the cost.
I hope this gives you the answers you are looking for. If not, please let us know by email or call on 029 2021 3736
Thank you for your interest in STOPGAP.
Hi, do you have to use stopgap before varnishing sanded floorboards or after…. we’ve only just discovered this product and had planned to varnish this weekend.
Hi Sharon
No problem. Best advice is to finish the floor completely, wait a few days for the varnish to fully harden and then fit StopGap.
hi
is there a maximum width of gap for using stopgap.Some of our boards have gaps almost 15mm !
Hi Caroline
Thanks for your email. StopGap will quickly seal gaps between 1 and 8mm. Gaps wider than this require a foam seal which can deal with widths of 15mm or more. This has to be supplied in a range of thicknesses to suit the particular gap and is more time-consuming to fit but will only be needed for the wide gaps. Please email or call for guidance on sizing and price. Thanks again for your query.
Hi, we have some large gaps… What foam seal do you recommend? Do you supply one? What thicknesses does the foam seal deal with?
Thanks, Paul.
Thank you for your email. Just to clarify; you can seal gaps and you can fill gaps. StopGap is a seal which stops draughts through gaps rather than fill them. It will seal most gaps which are between 1 – 8mm wide and 10mm deep. This depth is required so that the 10mm deep seal can be pushed out of sight. See the seal in place in a floor here:
http://stopgaps.com/home/cimg3172/
The appearance of the gap is unchanged. It was designed this way for use between floorboards. Gaps wider than 8mm will need a foam seal. This is available in various widths; for example, a 10mm gap will need a 13mm seal etc. Assuming your aim is to stop draught, I would start by working your way around with StopGap, making a note of the places where the gap is too wide and then contact us to obtain a suitable foam seal for these areas. 13 – 25mm diameter foam seal costs £19.99 for 20m. I hope this has made things clearer for you, rather than worse! By all means email or call me if you want to. Thanks again for you enquiry. regards
regards
Hi
What about fleas coming up through the floorboards from the mice in the cellar below?
Would StopGap stop fleas? Or StopGap + another sealant? Any advice?
Thanks
Hi Alice
Thanks for your question, the answer is: we don’t know. StopGap is held in position because it is springy, which causes it to grip the vertical sides of the gap. This is enough to stop the passage of air and prevent the seal being lifted by routine vacuuming but may not make it flea-proof. Have you found that fleas are entering the room because you have pets or are they left behind when mice have paid a visit? If mice are entering then this is what we said to a previous enquirer:
“The spring may not be be enough to resist the pressure of a determined rodent. On the other hand, I believe that mice seek out existing gaps and then gnaw to widen them. I am inclined to think that it is possible that introducing the seal may persuade them that the gap is not worth the effort and go elsewhere. There is only one way to find out and that is to give it a try. It may be best to use the dark seal. This is dark brown and from a rodents-eye-view, may present a less light, and therefore less tempting target.”
By all means give it a try, as always, if you are not happy, we are not happy, and will refund your money. It will be interesting to get feedback from you if you decide to proceed and this could possibly help others with the same problem.
I hope this helps. If you want anything further, please email or call.
Thank you for your interest in StopGap.
Hi There,
I am putting air con in my bedroom and have a timber floor with open joints. Rather than cool the world, your product seems the perfect cure. I would require 75metres length ie 2 rolls, however, I live in Krabi Thailand.
Is this doable I ask.
Please advise
Regards
Robert Crawley
I was very pleased to receive your query – the potential for cutting energy use by controlling unwanted movement of air through gaps could be greater in hot countries than in cold ones – USA households spend $11 billion every year to run their air con. So it is definitely a good idea to stop your floor gaps rather than cool the world. And yes, by the miracle of airmail, your two rolls of StopGap can be with you in 3-5 days. Simply add them to the cart, go to checkout and select ‘worlwide’ and ‘recalculate’. Your order will be sent same day.
Thanks again for your enquiry, please let us have some feedback on your project. regards.
This product looks ideal for our lovely yet incredibly draughty floorboards. One thing, though – how do you know how far to push the strip down before losing it to the abyss below the house? I’ve seen another product that is foam-based that comes with an accessory that stops you pushing their product too far into the gaps.
Look forward to your reply before I bulk order!!
Hi Rachel
Thanks for your email. StopGap needs no tools or accessories! It is simply pushed down with a plastic card, credit, debit, RAC, AA, Tesco club card, etc, until it is in contact with the support joist below the floor. These are what hold up your floor and prevent it disappearing into the abyss. The joist is not visible in the cross-section photograph but they run at right angles to the floorboards, are spaced about 400mm(16in) apart, and their position is indicated by rows of nail heads. Simple. The advantage is that the seal sits at the very bottom of the gap, disappearing completely from view so that the appearance of your floor is unsullied. StopGap is also the fastest known method for draught-proofing floorboard gaps. Thanks again for your enquiry, if anything is not clear, please email or call me to discuss. regards Marcus
Hi Marcus,
I have had an extension built on my kitchen and even with the building regs requirements for insulation to flooring, I seem to have very draughty floor boards in the extended section. I also have draught coming through between the skirting boards and the floor boards, would your product be suitable for the skirting board areas too? Mostly the draughts are nearer the patio and garage door areas, so I am thinking of only draught proofing these areas.
Also,I don’t know if you are able to send a sample out at all?
many thanks
Giulia
Hi Giulia
Thanks for your enquiry. I believe stopping draughts between skirting boards and floor will become much more important in future as energy costs continue their inexorable rise. Taking an average gap of 3mm between skirting board and floor, the total gap around the perimeter of a 4metre x 4metre room (170sq feet) is equivalent to removing three bricks from the outside wall. Most people decide to do something once they become aware of the size of this problem. The actual gap is commonly much larger than 3mm, making the problem correspondingly worse. So, will StopGap provide a cure? The answer is yes, in most cases. Although originally developed to fit in gaps between floorboards, StopGap will work in most gaps which:
1. are between 1mm (slightly thicker than a credit card) and 8mm wide (the thickness of a pencil)
2. are deep enough (10mm+) for the seal to be pushed below the surface
This makes it suitable for use under most skirting boards. In practice, you simply push StopGap where it will go and ignore the places where it won’t. For example where the gap is too narrow. The overall effect will be to reduce draughts to a minimum. The seal is held in position by its shape, which causes it to grip the sides of the gap. Because no adhesive is involved it can be used in carpeted rooms with no danger of damage to precious carpet. In addition, StopGap can be used to seal little-used sash windows or French Doors for the winter.It can be removed in the spring and re-used next season.
If you decide to try StopGap , please remember that it carries a no-quibble, money-back guarantee. That means that if you are not happy with the product when you use it, simply send back the unused material and we will refund the cost.
I hope this gives you the answers you are looking for. If not, please let me know by email or call on 029 2021 3736. Please emal your postal address if you would like a sample. Thank you for your interest in StopGap .
regards
Marcus
Hiya, do the gaps have to be a minimum depth? I ask as some of the gaps are not very deep after we varnished the floor
Thanks for your email. StopGap is 10mm deep so needs a depth greater
than this, most floorboards are between 20 – 24mm thick. Have you
checked that your boards are not tongue & groove? This type has a
horizontal projection half way down which fits in a groove in its
neighbour. This was designed to stop draught(!) StopGap is not
suitable for this type of floor.
Thanks again for your enquiry. Please email or call if you want
anything further.
regards
Marcus Plummer
t. 029 2021 3736
e. marcus@stopgaps.com
w. stopgaps.com
I’m looking for something to fill gaps between my skirting board and the wooden floorboards before I carpet the room. Is this product suitable for this? Thanks.
Hi Paul
Thanks for your enquiry. I believe stopping draughts between skirting boards and floor will become much more important in future as energy costs continue their inexorable rise. Taking an average gap of 3mm between skirting board and floor, the total gap around the perimeter of a 4metre x 4metre room (170sq feet) is equivalent to removing three bricks from the outside wall. Most people decide to do something once they become aware of the size of this problem. The actual gap is commonly much larger than 3mm, making the problem correspondingly worse. So, will StopGap provide a cure? The answer is yes, in most cases.
Although originally developed to fit in gaps between floorboards, StopGap will work in most gaps which:
1. are between 1mm (slightly thicker than a credit card) and 8mm wide (the thickness of a pencil)
2. are deep enough (10mm+) for the seal to be pushed below the surface
This makes it suitable for use under most skirting boards. In practice, you simply push StopGap where it will go and ignore the places where it won’t. For example where the gap is too narrow. The overall effect will be to reduce draughts to a minimum. The seal is held in position by its shape, which causes it to grip the sides of the gap. Because no adhesive is involved it can be used in carpeted rooms with no danger of damage to precious carpet. In addition, StopGap can be used to seal little-used sash windows or French Doors for the winter.It can be removed in the spring and re-used next season.
If you decide to try StopGap, please remember that it carries a no-quibble, money-back guarantee. That means that if you are not happy with the product when you use it, simply send back the unused material and we will refund the cost.
I hope this gives you the answers you are looking for. If not, please let me know by email or call on 029 2021 3736 Thank you for your interest in StopGap.
I am thrilled with having discovered your product!
I was wondering why the lounge was so chilly when the rest of the house, even the hall, was warmer. Then I discovered the draught blowing up through the gaps of my floor boards.
I did originally have them filled after they were sanded with the ‘dust’ and glue method of filling in the gaps. But after a few years the filler has either blown up the vacuum cleaner or fallen through. So I have gaps where this has occurred and no gaps where the ‘filler’ has stayed. Obviously I would like your wonderful product to fill the gaps in the floor with no interruption. Should I ‘push’ the remaining filler through the gaps so I use StopGap uninterrupted throughout the room? Thank you!
Hi Ruth
Thanks for your comments! Yes, yes, go ahead and remove all traces of the archaic past and move into the 21st century with StopGap!
We have Edwardian floorboards in the kitchen, which were gap-filled with acrylic filler, sanded and beatifully sealed with ballgroom-grade varnish. A year later, after 3 dogs running around (and the transient company of 16 puppies, the floor is wrecked and we have many large gaps and a significant draught. The gap widths definitely change through the seasons (which is why I don’t think filler works)and StopGap looks ideal. Has anyone one tried filling in after applying stop gap?
Hi Simon
Thank you for your entertaining email. Yes, lots of people use StopGap before filler to dramatically reduce wastage. Thanks again.
regards
Hi,
I’ve noticed your product comes in two colours – brown or clear – some of my floorboards have filler within them (which is a brown colour), but others have gaps (which I want to use your product in).
Should I therefore be choosing the brown one, or playing safe with clear in case it’s a different brown? I guess you don’t really see it anyway?!
Thanks
Sally
Hi Sally, thank you for your question, which I’m sure will have occurred to many others who long to get back to enjoying their original wood floors without the misery of cold feet. As a general rule, brown is best for floors as the seal sits in shadow at the very bottom of the gap. The exception would be white or very light colour floors where neutral StopGap could be used but brown would still suit for the reason previously given. All 5 metre roll packs include a sample of the alternative colour so it could be a good idea to start with a 5 metre roll of the colour you think will be right and you will be able to try both to see which suits best. Thanks again for your enquiry.
Hello Marcus.
I just wanted to let you know how delighted I am with your product. The difference it has made to my bedroom is amazing. It did take me a couple of hours to fit due to the varying gaps in the floorboards. I wanted to use continuous lengths as recommended so had to cut some sections to single width to fit in the really tight spots. I also used it under the skirting board. I am now ordering 2 more rolls to do my bathroom and sitting room. It is absolutely brilliant and very VERY effective. In fact i’ve just remembered I need to order more than that as my parents are keen to do theirs too after feeling the difference in my home. Well done I am recommending you to everyone I know. Even your customer care is brilliant. Thank you.