Get winter ready with IronmongeryDirect!

With the UK bracing for a cold winter and in particular, with the nation undergoing another period of lockdown, it’s the perfect time to prepare for winter – and beyond. In this blog, our Senior Category Manager, David Saxby shares some of the key projects to tackle this season and suggests the products and solutions for each.

Seals for Windows and Doors

When the temperature drops, draughty windows can make homes feel uncomfortably cold, not to mention the wasted energy and costs on escaped heating. The good news is that the situation can often be resolved without the need for a full window replacement. Weather seals are a quick and easy way to keep the cold out and represent a cost-effective option.  

A great example is the Schlegel Universal uPVC Replacement Seal that offers an effective replacement for a wide range of uPVC frames. Easy to fit and suitable for sealing gaps between 3mm to 4.9mm, the robust solution helps to keep the weather at bay. 

Alternatively, the Stormguard Rubber Foam Weather strip is a high-performing premium neoprene memory foam self-adhesive draught strip, suitable for sealing gaps between 2mm to 7mm. Thanks to its design, the solution strip goes back to its original shape after compression, making it ideal for variable gaps around any type of window, as well as doors.  

To help increase weather resistance at door entrances, it is advisable to fit some extra protection such as a rain deflector. Used to deflect water away from the bottom of the door, this fitting can work in conjunction with a threshold sill, or to replace a weatherboard. It can also be useful to install a Perimeter Door Seal Set, which can be used to further prevent the incursion of rain and wind, or a Brush Seal Strip to stop draughts and dust as well as reduce noise from busy roads. 

Another area for consideration is replacing letterboxes for those with a draught seal, to further prevent unwanted cold air entering a home.

Browse our wide range of Seals for Windows & Doors, here.

Roof repairs

As an out of sight building asset, the roof is often overlooked, but signs of ageing and disrepair can become noticeably significant during the wetter months, and without care and attention, can lead to serious issues. 

We stock a number of products suitable for roofing projects, including the superior, Clout Copper Nail Pack, which is ideal for securing tiles and helps to prevent moss growth. Also, Evo-Stik’s Lead & Gutter Silicone is an ideal solution for sealing and pointing lead flashing and overlaps in rigid sheet roofing.  

Browse our wide range of roof repair related products, here.

Updating security

Darker nights are unfortunately linked to increased burglaries and break-ins, so it is an ideal time to ensure that any property has a robust security system. 

For a quick solution, Prikka Strips provide an effective, yet low-cost deterrent against unwelcome intruders and can be fitted to the tops of fences, gates and walls. 

Investing in and installing an intruder alarm kit, such as the Yale Intruder Alarm Starter Kit is an effective choice. The all-in-one system has an extended wireless range of 200mm to help protect the shed, garage and home all within one system without the need for a signal booster.  

For added protection, the Yale Smart Home CCTV Kit provides high-quality, reliable and weatherproof CCTV monitoring at an affordable price. The product is easy to install and gives owners ultimate peace of mind, with the opportunity to check on their property remotely via smartphone, with clear footage around the clock even in poor weather conditions.

Browse our wide range of security products, here.

Whether you’re working on a project for your own home or for a customer, read our blog on Damage Control, highlighting the cost to rectify DIY projects that have gone wrong, which many tradespeople have had to go and fix!