How long does planning permission take in Northumberland?
A practical guide to how long planning permission usually takes in Northumberland, what can cause delays and simple steps…
Many older Northumberland houses have suspended timber ground floors: boards on joists over a ventilated void. They can be cold and draughty, with air rushing up through gaps between boards and skirtings.
How we insulate them
- Check the void – ventilation, ground conditions and the state of the joists and sleeper walls.
- Lift boards carefully (or work from below where there is a deep void).
- Fit insulation between the joists, supported on netting or battens – often wood fibre or mineral wool, which stay breathable.
- Add an airtight but vapour-open layer where suitable and seal gaps at the edges.
- Relay the boards and keep the air bricks clear.
Do not block the ventilation
The void under a timber floor must stay ventilated to keep the joists dry. Insulation goes between the joists; air bricks and sleeper wall openings stay clear.
