As the nights draw in and temperatures begin to dip, now is the perfect time to batten down the hatches—so to speak—and make your home more energy efficient. Little cracks, gaps, and leaks may seem insignificant, but they let warm air escape and cold air sneak in. Tackling insulation and draft‑proofing now means a cosier home, lower heating bills, and less stress when winter fully arrives.
In this post, we’ll go through how to identify where your home loses heat, which areas to prioritise, how to use the materials you can find at SJTools (notably in our caulking guns and sealants ranges), and how to do it all safely and smartly.
Before you reach for the gun or sealant, you need to know where to apply them. According to advice from the Centre for Sustainable Energy, draught‑proofing is one of the most cost‑effective DIY ways to reduce heat loss.
Here are typical weak points:
You can detect drafts by simple means (a lit candle, smoke pen) or more advanced tools like thermal imaging to spot cold spots.
Also, according to the Energy Saving Trust, sealing gaps in doors, windows and floors can save around £85 per year in Great Britain, and blocking an unused chimney could save another ~£60.
Two key product categories you’ll lean on are:
Here are some things to watch out for / prefer:
A caulking gun is a handheld tool designed to hold and deliver sealants, adhesives, fillers, or similar viscous materials (usually in cartridges or tubes). The user squeezes a trigger (or pushes a rod) to force the material out in a controlled bead. It helps deliver a neat, consistent flow, prevents waste, and gives better control than trying to squeeze a tube by hand.
Modern caulking guns come in various types — manual skeleton guns, heavy-duty ratchet style, drip-free, powered (pneumatic or battery), and more, depending on the volume, material, and precision you need. They’re ideal for;
The Everbuild C4 Pro Sealant Gun (400 ml) is a professional-grade, high-thrust gun designed to handle heavier, viscous sealants with ease. Its robust build ensures consistent performance when working with tougher materials, giving you more control and less hand fatigue. The 400 ml size fits standard cartridges, making it versatile for many general sealing tasks.
The Roughneck Heavy Duty Sealant Gun 10½ in is a ratchet-action, push-rod style gun built with a durable frame and ergonomic grip. It accepts cartridges up to 400 ml and features a quick-release trigger plus a built-in nozzle cleaner to make work cleaner and faster.
What Are Expanding Fillers & Foams?
Expanding fillers (commonly called expanding foams or PU foam) are polyurethane‑based products that expand when applied, filling voids, gaps, cracks, and cavities. They’re ideal for:
Because they expand, they can fill irregular spaces that would be tricky with standard sealants. However, they must be used carefully: overfilling can stress materials, and curing foam often needs trimming and finishing.
FAQ on Expanding Foam
Yes, if over‑applied. The expansion force can distort window/door frames or push apart lightweight materials. That’s why you should fill only partially and allow free expansion.
Many foams cure in about 1 hour, but full curing (through entire depth) may take longer. Always check manufacturer instructions.
Standard foam often doesn’t take paint well. Use a compatible paintable foam type or cover with a skim of flexible sealant or primer.
No — cured PU foam is generally rigid. That’s why in areas subject to movement (e.g. between wall and frame), you should overlay with a flexible sealant.
Some foams are formulated to work in lower temperatures or damp conditions — check the specs. Ensure the substrate is not soaked.
No. Avoid using foam near moving joints, in ventilation/ flue paths, or where it would block necessary airflow. Use sealants or weatherstrips there instead.
The Great Stuff Pro Hand Held Expanding Foam is a high‑performance, one‑component polyurethane foam that seals, fills, bonds and insulates a wide range of construction materials. Its all‑direction straw applicator allows for 360° application, making it ideal for awkward or hard‑to‑reach spaces. The foam cures quickly, and once set it can be cut, sanded, painted or plastered over for a clean finish.
Ronseal Expanding Foam is a versatile one‑component polyurethane foam designed to seal and insulate medium to large gaps and cavities. It expands to fill voids around door and window frames, pipes, and service entries, creating an airtight barrier that improves thermal efficiency and reduces drafts. Once cured, it can be trimmed, shaped, and overcoated or plastered for a neat finish.
Sealants are materials (often silicone, polyurethane, acrylic, or hybrid compounds) used to block the passage of air, water, dust, or noise through joints, gaps, or seams between surfaces. They are designed to adhere to adjacent surfaces and remain flexible (to a degree) so that small movements or expansions/contractions do not break the seal. Unlike rigid fillers, good sealants can absorb or flex with changes, preventing cracks and leaks over time.
As the weather grows colder, wetter and windier, sealants become vital in maintaining the comfort and efficiency of your home. Applied correctly, they:
Using sealants proactively before winter sets in ensures that small problems don’t become big, costly repairs.
The Sealant Adhesive Pro is your go-to all-rounder for tough jobs that demand both strength and flexibility. This high-performance formula bonds and seals in one simple step — perfect for when you need a rock-solid hold and a weather-tight finish. Whether you’re fixing trim, mounting panels, or filling gaps around architectural details, it delivers a clean, lasting result without the fuss of using separate products.
The Everbuild Weather Mate Multi-Use Gap Filler & Adhesive is a versatile solution for exterior sealing tasks. It’s designed for perimeter pointing, sealing gaps around windows, door frames and for external weather sealing applications. It can be applied over existing sealants, old putty, mastics, and metal or composite panels.
Draft proofing and insulation aren’t just about small gaps, many homes have larger voids around frames, pipework, or structural interfaces. Expanding fillers & foams are powerful tools for filling those spaces efficiently. But they work best when used in concert with flexible sealants (for finishing, movement accommodation, aesthetics).
By combining foam (for bulk filling) with sealants (for finishing), and by using quality tools like SJ Tools’ caulking guns and sealant products, you can dramatically cut drafts, boost comfort, and save energy before the cold arrives.
