Apartment renovation project
 

Hello fellow Ecorenovators,

I'm starting/started work on a rental property (the same one I installed a solar hot water preheater in last year) for next 3 months. It probably hasn't been measurably updated since the maybe the 70's so there are a lot of cosmetic and eco renovations to be done. Here's a laundry list of goodies:

• Existing exterior walls are 2"x4"s with blown-in fiberglass. The cavities will have 2" of XPS board foamed in place. Over that a second wall will go up and dense-pack cellulose will fill the cavity. The 2 walls' studs will be offset of each other to basicallyeliminate thermal bridging. Many thanks go to AC_Hacker for invaluable advice on this.
• Sanding and sealing existing hardwood floors
• Replace all the single-pane windows with vinyl-dual pane windows (I'm considering interior storms for additional insulation as well protecting the windows from people)
• Replacing the toilet (made in the 60's :eek:) with a Niagra Stealth UHET (0.8gpf! :thumbup:)
• 1.5 gpm water saving showerhead (again going with Niagra products).
• Drain water heat recovery (DWHR) into the Solar Hot Water Preheater Tank. Considering trying a DIY route cause I have a **** load of pex-al-pex laying around :).
• Try this design for an energy saving shower mod.
• Gutter system overhaul to reduce/eliminate need for a dehumidifier in the basement as mild flooding has been a problem.
• Adding and/or replacing room lighting with LED's ( here's a good source of information that helped me decide to commit to LEDs)
• Installing a 4'x6' solar air heater I have kicking around (builditsolar style)
• ERV of somekind if the unit's gonna be better sealed :P
• And of course all the crap to make it look good :) )

I've already begun demoing the plaster and lath, gutting the old insulation and foaming maybe 6 cavities so far. Expect pictures to be posted soon.

I just read your Water preheater project and found it most interesting.

For this current project are you considering Plexiglass for interior storm/ insulating
security windows ? or what is your thoughts on it so far?

My last house I was in bed with the girlfriend , when Smash ! incomes the bedroom window glass all over the bed with 3 drunks standing outside my house.
I lose it, grab my sludge hammer and chased them off.
Replaced that window with plexiglass to hamper any further Vandalizing.
Sold it & move to a better end of town.

I am going to suggest putting plexi outside for a security/storm window.

Make it hard for thieves/vandals.

Wow that's some story! I'm definitely considering plexiglass now, it's mostly a question if they can be mounted in a sliding frame so the windows can be opened.

Any updates here? I'm expecting pictures. :)

Sorry that story made me chuckle a little as I imagined 3 blokes running away from another in his underwear swinging a giant hammer

Glad you and your lady wasn't hurt that night