I've got a draft at the back of my house in both corners. Not near a window or door, right down in the corner. The house has a cantilevered ledge at the back. In the corners in the basement i've gone ahead and sprayed some foam insulation in at the back corners. I'm hoping this has solved the problem in one corner, especially when i put regular insulation in. The other corner has a different problem. I can plug the draft so it's not coming in downstairs but it's still coming in from outside. I know this because i can feel the cold air up in my kitchen. And when i was working downstairs i saw a space between the outer wall and the beams i'm working between, that's where the air is travelling through from the outside. There's no access downstairs to get at it to block it off. So my question is, do i go to my kitchen and cut open the wall and insulation in that corner and try to spray foam in? I'm not concerned about how it will look when i patch it closed after, there's a pantry built onto that wall anyway. I'm not sure if this is the way to go because it seems i'm just guessing. I had an energy audit done but don't know specifically where the draft is coming from. Anyone with suggestions?
I just called him, and he said to, insulate everything in sight Then cover it all with plastic, and seal with that cool red tape he has and cover with new drywall....
cold always travel downward, if your gonna tear a wall apart, insulate the crap out of it. not so sure on the cool red tape, but to make it look really cool, why not?
What year was your house built? Are the joists set into the concrete walls or sitting on top? The cold corner you are referring to is also over part of the cantilever? What is the outside finish of the house? and in particular are there gaps in the exterior where it 'turns the corner' running vertical to under the cantiliver?
With a few more answers I might be able to give a better opinion. Also can you check the area with smoke pencil to locate the draft? If you did decide to open up the wall (which you can do from the outside under the cantilever -if i'm picturing correctly or inside) you may only have to remove the insulation and see if there breaches in the air barrier. Using closed cell insulation (spray foam) is a good bet because you will get the benefits of air and vapour barrier and r-value...
ak
p.s. Mike Holmes...would also say "build to maximum code"!hahaha! what a joker! He does show good practice overall though!
Is the ceiling in the basement drywall or T bar ? Hopefully the floor joists are sitting on top of the concrete ,that would be an easy fix to go in that way. If your unable to get at the cantilevered area from the basement then like it was said ,check outside under the cantilevered area you may be able to get in that way. You shouldn't be getting a draft from down in that area ,maybe it's coming from underneath the bottom plate .If there was no sill plate gasket put under the wall or wrap put on the outside of the house this is more than likely where the draft is coming from. Good Luck.
Thanks for the advice. I hadn't thought of trying to access the problem from under the cantilever. I really hoped i could plug things from inside. Carl, i knew i should have closed the door! Done now, thanks bud! The house was built in 1978. The front and the sides of the house are brick, the rear is siding finish. The corners i've had the problem with are at the back where the cantilever is yes. I don't see gaps. The siding is only on the back and doesn't wrap around if that helps describe it better. Just trying to remember since i'm at work writing this, i think that the cantilever bottom is wood, nailed in place so i think it would be fairly easy to get them off for access. I'll have to double check. The basement is t bar, i can slide the ceiling panels open, which has helped greatly in determining that at least the air is coming in from that cantilevered ledge. I'm very sure it's not coming down from the top.
-- Edited by blacktransam on Saturday 18th of December 2010 06:33:24 AM
