friggin architects

[grumpydasmurf]

I can't for the life of me figure out what the architect was thinking! I spent 3 hours today with a superintendent of a job site and the framing carpenter. We were all staring up ath the the ridge of the roof, from inside.

Our discussion consisted of "how the hell do we ventilate this atic?"

Let me explain. The rafters are 2" x 4" 16 oc. They have a 3/4" cdx nailed ontop of them. OK here's where it gets funky. ONtop of that there is another 2" x 4" nailed. Between this first piece of plywood they are going to put typical fiberlass insulation r13. They are going to then put a 1/2" cdx roof deck.

The soffit vents ventilate into the attic. The air in the attic space has no way to exhaust!

I've thought of a few options here: 1) cut an opening in the ridge of the first deck so the air can circulate out of the opening in the second deck. 2) install a gable vent with a power fan and put no roof ventilation other than that.

I don't have any clue what the architect was trying to accomplish with this because the attic will be unfinished trusses. They woudl be better off insulating the ceiling joists.

Oh yeah lead architect is on vacation, so is the GC. We are scheduled to start tuesday when I will be on vacation, and my boss will be managing the project.

I sent my concerns via fax to the GC and site super and maybe tomorrow I will send the architect as well. Problem is the framing (secondary ontop of trusses) is already in place and waiting for insulation which was delivered yesterday. This means the carpenter is going to have to undo 40 something rafters.

I won't make any more or less by doing this right, unless they ask me to undo the carpenters secondary rafters. I just want the roof to last as long as it is intended to last. This is my first project for this GC and they are a very large and organized GC.

[Rich]

I've actually seen something very similar to what you are describing. The architect thought it would be a more efficient insulated system (we were in a very cold part of the country). I didn't like it at all so we brought in an expert on moisture and air mitigation to recommend. He point blank told us the architect was high. The best method, he said, was to insulate the ceiling and leave the rest of the attic space for air movement. He did say that the system could work but it becomes cost prohibitive. That's all I needed to hear so I never did find out what his solution was for the architects genius plan.

[grumpydasmurf]

The ONLY way I could see for the system to work would be a powered gable fan.

[Rich]

That's definately the most reliable and controllable way.

[grumpydasmurf]

Well we decided to open the ridge of the sub deck to allow air vent out of the ridge vent. Also they decided to eliminate the fiberglass insulation and put some kind of thinner rigid insulation in place and leave 1" of empty space for air flow.

They are going to have REAL high energy bills since they are NOT insulating the ceiling.

[Rich]

Fix one problem... only to create another. Sounds like a typical architect.

[utahcutter]

Kay I'm not the most experienced person in the world with construction but even I can see that that really is a quack way to do things. I don't see why they would think it would insulate better anyway. But as all on the structural end of things have probably said more than once, as long as it looks pretty why would the architect care if it works well.