3

I'm renting an apartment in a building built in the 1880s. I am on the first floor with a garden level apartment below me. Most of the apartment has laminate flooring, but in the bedroom they uncovered the original hardwood. It's very beautiful, but I can feel cold air coming up through the cracks.

I do have some carpets down already, but it's not enough, and I'm hoping there's something I can do beyond just layering more carpets. Last night, I set my shitty electric baseboard heaters to 75 degrees all night long, and when I woke up, the room was only 58. I'm not too concerned about getting my security deposit back, but I also can't completely wreck the place. What can I do?

JRE
  • 424
  • 2
  • 9
Julia Champagne
  • 31
  • 1

2 Answers2

5

The keys are always the same: block airflow and slow heat transfer.

To start, lay down something non-porous to block airflow. That alone might do the job, especially if there's something insulating like a rug over the top. It can be anything you find suitable, such as rubber mats, flooring underlayment, etc.

Then add insulation. Cover the entire room with rugs or carpet remnants or laundry or whatever. It'll keep the heat in your room from conducting through the floor and getting swept away in the draft.

isherwood
  • 158,133
  • 9
  • 190
  • 463
0
  1. Find a way to seal those cracks. Depending on what kind of cracks and where they are, maybe spray insulation, maybe wood paste, maybe clear caulk.
  2. Seal up anything else that lets cool / cold air in: add door sweeps, make sure that windows are closed, perhaps cover them with plastic that can be sealed shut
Captain Chaos
  • 131
  • 7