Attic ventilation and insulation - Page 4

Higgy · 12-11-08, 11:07 AM

I just checked our roof. I think it's ok. I'll take a better look next time we have a few days of sunlight. Our roof seems to be covered nicely with snow. And the icicle thing only happens on the south side of the house where the sun beats down on the roof, and then I think it only happens when we get really warm weather followed by cold. Thanks for the info.

Daox · 12-14-08, 10:31 AM

I did what larry said and here is the pics. It looks like theres quite a bit of heat loss going on! You can clearly (expand the pictures) see the snow on the overhang is much thicker than the middle of the roof. Also, in the second picture you can see the heat rise from the porch roof combined with heat loss from the walls which are uninsulated.

PaleMelanesian · 12-15-08, 10:35 AM

At least it's all very even. That means insulating the attic floor / house ceiling will likely be all you need.

TimJFowler · 12-29-08, 02:04 PM

Woo! we had the cellulose insulation blown into the attic last week just before a big storm. The house is cozier and the furnace is running about 1/4 to 1/5 as often as it did before!

What is really interesting is to look at the neighbor's homes and compare the depth of snow on the roofs. We still have an even 2-3 inches of snow on our roof, while the other homes have thin snow remaining over the eaves and the rest of the roof is clear.

I've sent off the rebate forms to the gas utility and (for once in my life) I am really looking forward to seeing the next gas bill!

More info here - Cellulose Insulated Attic Makes For a Cozy Home | EcoNewMexico.com

Daox · 01-28-09, 06:02 PM

Well, about a week ago I blew in my cellulose. I did have some prep work to do. I needed to build a wall around the attic access door out of rigid foam. This could have been made of anything, but I went with foam. It was easy to work with and will eventually make a top for it.

I also made up my own kind of vents. The rigid board didn't quite go all the way up so as to hold back the cellulose. So, I stappled a bunch of plastic bags to the joists. Unfortunately, I lost pictures of it. Anyway, it worked great and the cellulose blowing went quite well. There is now roughly 15" above the 6" of fiberglass/rockwool. That should get me right in the area of R-60 (even after it settles) which was the original goal. Here are the pics.

jwxr7 · 01-29-09, 08:06 AM

I should have checked this thread before I started that one about attic loss

. larryrose11 had a link all about it.

Wow Daox, Nice work. That should make a difference

. Good idea making that raised platform.

Higgy · 01-29-09, 09:58 AM

Ya, good job man. Looks good.

Now, I see some plastic at the sides (picture number 3) where I'm guessing it's to protect the venting and not plug up the hole...do you have to remove that plastic after?

Daox · 01-29-09, 10:12 AM

Nope, the plastic is there to hold back the insulation from going down and clogging the air vent that was made by installing the foam board an inch from the roof itself. Its basically my DIY version of staple up plastic or foam vents you see in any home improvement store.

FYI I should mention that this has noticeably helped. It is now 1-3 degrees warmer in my bedroom which is upstairs.

Doofus McFancypants · 01-30-09, 12:24 PM

Awsome job Daox
Looks really good.
makes me ponder doing same in my house.

steve

Daox · 01-30-09, 12:36 PM

It really was easy to be honest. Most of the hard work was cleaning up the mess from the roofers and figuring out what to do with the odd angled part from the first post. After that, things went quick and easy. I'd highly recommend cellulose as its a good green option, good price per r-value, and super easy to install yourself.

Still got a few more things to button up with the project though. I gotta seal up the attic access and insulate it yet.

12-14-08, 10:31 AM	#32
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I did what larry said and here is the pics. It looks like theres quite a bit of heat loss going on! You can clearly (expand the pictures) see the snow on the overhang is much thicker than the middle of the roof. Also, in the second picture you can see the heat rise from the porch roof combined with heat loss from the walls which are uninsulated. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-29-08, 02:04 PM	#34
TimJFowler Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 184 Thanks: 9 Thanked 12 Times in 11 Posts	Woo! we had the cellulose insulation blown into the attic last week just before a big storm. The house is cozier and the furnace is running about 1/4 to 1/5 as often as it did before! What is really interesting is to look at the neighbor's homes and compare the depth of snow on the roofs. We still have an even 2-3 inches of snow on our roof, while the other homes have thin snow remaining over the eaves and the rest of the roof is clear. I've sent off the rebate forms to the gas utility and (for once in my life) I am really looking forward to seeing the next gas bill! More info here - Cellulose Insulated Attic Makes For a Cozy Home \| EcoNewMexico.com __________________ - DIY Adventures in Applied Sustainability - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-28-09, 06:02 PM	#35
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Well, about a week ago I blew in my cellulose. I did have some prep work to do. I needed to build a wall around the attic access door out of rigid foam. This could have been made of anything, but I went with foam. It was easy to work with and will eventually make a top for it. I also made up my own kind of vents. The rigid board didn't quite go all the way up so as to hold back the cellulose. So, I stappled a bunch of plastic bags to the joists. Unfortunately, I lost pictures of it. Anyway, it worked great and the cellulose blowing went quite well. There is now roughly 15" above the 6" of fiberglass/rockwool. That should get me right in the area of R-60 (even after it settles) which was the original goal. Here are the pics. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-29-09, 10:12 AM	#38
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Nope, the plastic is there to hold back the insulation from going down and clogging the air vent that was made by installing the foam board an inch from the roof itself. Its basically my DIY version of staple up plastic or foam vents you see in any home improvement store. FYI I should mention that this has noticeably helped. It is now 1-3 degrees warmer in my bedroom which is upstairs. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-30-09, 12:24 PM	#39
Doofus McFancypants Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atlanta Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Awsome job Daox Looks really good. makes me ponder doing same in my house. steve __________________ Steve AKA Doofus

12-11-08, 11:07 AM	#31
Higgy The Gardener Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manitoba - Canada Posts: 492 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	I just checked our roof. I think it's ok. I'll take a better look next time we have a few days of sunlight. Our roof seems to be covered nicely with snow. And the icicle thing only happens on the south side of the house where the sun beats down on the roof, and then I think it only happens when we get really warm weather followed by cold. Thanks for the info.

12-15-08, 10:35 AM	#33
PaleMelanesian Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 118 Thanks: 4 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	At least it's all very even. That means insulating the attic floor / house ceiling will likely be all you need.

01-29-09, 08:06 AM	#36
jwxr7 Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: mid michigan Posts: 191 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I should have checked this thread before I started that one about attic loss . larryrose11 had a link all about it. Wow Daox, Nice work. That should make a difference . Good idea making that raised platform.

01-29-09, 09:58 AM	#37
Higgy The Gardener Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manitoba - Canada Posts: 492 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	Ya, good job man. Looks good. Now, I see some plastic at the sides (picture number 3) where I'm guessing it's to protect the venting and not plug up the hole...do you have to remove that plastic after?

01-30-09, 12:36 PM	#40
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	It really was easy to be honest. Most of the hard work was cleaning up the mess from the roofers and figuring out what to do with the odd angled part from the first post. After that, things went quick and easy. I'd highly recommend cellulose as its a good green option, good price per r-value, and super easy to install yourself. Still got a few more things to button up with the project though. I gotta seal up the attic access and insulate it yet.