RoughDesigns

Super Insulation:

 My adventures in Extreme Insulation

 

Here is how I've been super insulating my old house with it's endless challanges, uniquness, variability, and really really tiny attics! 

Click here for the photo blog with commentary.

Rube Goldbergs' s exisiting attic Super Insulation / Deep Energy Retrofit.

  • Phase 1:  Two layers 2 inch foam 2 feet wide as walkway to work from, allow inspection and work without crushing insulation in years to come.  Cover with old celotex to keep insulation unharmed.
  • Phase 2:  Layer of Tyvek, accept no substitute, really, is it worth the risk?  Over the entire attic floor, over the 12 inches of existing insulation.  This will stop air movement up from below, via wind pressure and stack effect, the main mover of moisture.  Moisture should not condense on it (as a cold condensing surface), since 22 inches of insulation will be installed over it, keeping it on the 'warm side'.
  • Phase 3:  Retro - fitting the air / vapor barrier:  RAM batt insulation, rated for vapor barrier (it's a theory), between all rafters, at eaves, over exterior wall.  Yes, this will block air flow up from the eaves, such is life.  It's this or what?  Recall, I'm tapped out, can't hire someone to blow in insulation or rip everything out, apply spray poly U over top of ceiling.  Now take sheet of 1 inch foam, cut to size between roof rafters, spray foam around edges, and RAM down ontop of that matted batt insulation, push up against nails to lock in place (leave air gap between panel and roof sheathing.   Not done, now, foam up fold of Tyvek, lay against foam sheeting, RAMish batt insulation under to hold against bottom of foam.   Ta Da, air vapor barrier sealed from ext. wall to ext wall.
  • Phase 4:  Two layers 11 inch R22 batt insulation, unfaced, and rated for vapor barrier (as I said, it's a theory).  Lay seams off center.  Yeah, there might be some compacting, but I prefer two layers with off center joints to retard air flow.
  • Phase 5:  Loose laid plastic tarp to protect insulation from odd leak.
  • Phase 6:  Decon. mold then use fan fold foundation foam over bottom of rafters, foil side up, to retard summer heat, protect from nails, channel heat up to peak for venting, keep roof cooler in winter, cutting back melting snow and ice damming.
  • Phase 7:  Install new end gable vents as high up as possible.

 

 

 
Edit below:
 
Emotional benefit? Related work?  What does that mean? 
not only super insulates, but provides a permanent built in gutter with a low cost solar powered de-icer, and, it provides an elaboratly detailed cornice line to the roof.  What is the payback, 20 yrs.  Will you care ever day when you come home and look up at your wonderful cornice, or in the winter no longer wonder if the 10 foot ice dam is going to rip off your roofing, or crush your car, probably not.
 
you are going to be ripping off the inside or outside of your building, slather on insulation, and put up whole new inside or outside wall surfaces.  It will be the biggest change in the building since it was built. 
 
If this is a happy and exciting idea, just check to see if you are getting even a 20 yr payback, as you'll feel even happier and excited knowing your nice new building is going to pay for itself.  If it's going to take 30 yrs, then I'd have to ask myself, really, I could cut costs $10,000 and take a dream vacation, and be almost as happy and excited over my new building.

 

Insulating for Your Old House

 

Deep Energy Retrofit

Foam Insulatio
   DOES NOT EQUAL
Super - Insulation
 
Nothing is that easy.

Click Here

For a ton of information on wrapping your building in foam.
 
Insulation - 
How Much Is Enough
Quick answers to your insulation questions

 

 
What is Superinsulation? 
  Attic insulation over R60, wall insulation over R40 (About double code in NYS)
When do you want to superinsulate?
  New construction - All - Typically super insulation adds a bit more than 10% to new building costs.
  Existing construction - Up to a 10 yr payback or when the emotional benefit of related work makes it "worth it".
 
FPSF -

Experiences w/

Old House Rehab

 

It is saving me the $40,000 or so it would cost to underpin the house, install a foundation and insulate it.  Nor would this have addressed the rim joist, a major source of heat loss.

 

For those concerned with vermin and bugs, termites, etc. in the skirt.  I've had one element in 3 yrs, in a vermin and bug heavy area, with only a few spiders taking up residence.  I suspect in addtion to being pretty well sealed, it's dry and foodless.

 

We have noticed that we no longer have ants invading the kitchen every spring, and flies infesting the area outside the kitchen in the summer.  There might even be fewer mice.

 

In addition, the boxout is a great ledge for planters at a real easy height to maintain, with the plants and flowers visible from inside.

 

I'm going to try some parsely and carrots that we can't grow in the garden, the moles keep eating them.

 

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