Should it stay or should it go now?

John Shea

I am fairly knowledgable with modern insulation/ventilation techniques, however, in the instance of my home's attic (cape cod style Michigan home built in 1927) I am not sure where to start.

There's a fair amount of insulation between and above ceiling joists, however, years ago, someone insulated the rafters as well. Right up against the roof decking! They used (probably r13) fiberglass foil-backed rolls with the foil facing the interior of the attic. Should I remove this insulation?

Being a cape cod, there are areas (below the ceiling joists) where there is no attic, but just rafters with roof on top and plaster beneath (similar to a cathedral ceiling architecture). I'm not sure if these areas are instulated or not. Should they be?
If so, what material would be best suited.

The biggest problem I see is that there is seemingly no venting at the soffits. Looks like insulation right into the eaves.

So far there's no sign of moisture or damage, but my inspection has been limited so far.

It IS cold up in the attic, but the visual 'snow on the roof' test shows significant heat loss.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Steamhead

Rafter insulation shouldn't hurt anything

The critical points are where there is no attic. Somehow you will need to ascertain if these areas have insulation. If the house is that old, they probably don't.

Whatever insulation you use in those places, you need to leave a gap of a couple inches or so between the insulation and the roof deck so air can circulate.

Venting the soffits is a great idea. I'm sure that attic gets hot in the summer, even in Michigan. I did this on my house (there were already vents at the gables), and the attic temperature dropped from about 140 degrees in the summer to 5-10 degrees above the outside temperature. With this setup, who needs air-conditioning?

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Weezbo

the other day some one asked a similar question...

And the basic idea is insulate ventilate and heaterate:) you are likely putting a fair amount of your money each year into heating the neighbourhood ,rather than your home andas commendable as the thought may be sealing pipe wires and any other Holes with some silicon caulking,adding ventilation through the soffits over the insulation into the attic and out the gable and crown vents will likely heal a great amount of the wallet day by day long into the future.consider foam board sealed with an inch of isothene with an air space over the top of it near the "Cathedral ceiling part"and outside plates of the exterior wall.that should also give you a bit more r value and much better ventilation...there are card board panels made for two foot and 16" o c framing that may aid you in the ventilation along the outside walls communication with the soffits acess to the outside world*~/:)

Weezbo

i type really slow

Dave Stroman

Weesbo- What does *~/:) mean?

Pat Clark

looks like a guy

with a stocking cap on to me. It's cold up there where Weezbo is.

Pat (Alaska Time) Clark

Mark Eatherton1

Dave...

Turn your head to the left and look at it. It's like a smily face :-) except it has a stocking cap on. He also has some with buttons and other stuff... Here he in in his stocking cap with a button down trench coat on *~/:)---|

You MUST think outside of the box grashopper...

ME

Pat Clark

Mark

So would this be a guy in a double breasted suit with a stocking cap on?

*~/:) [:::]<

and this would be a guy in a double breasted suit with a stocking cap on that isn't very happy

*~/:( [:::]<