criffus
05-18-2009, 06:09 AM
Hi,
I'm new to the forum and just a "layman" at-best. (Though I did attend ResNet in New Orleans this year on a fact-finding/educational mission...)
I have a 3800 sq-ft (under-roof inc. garage) home in southwest Oklahoma. It's a U-shaped brick house with a total of 4 gable-ends. These gable ends are like Swiss cheese when viewed from within the attic. These gable-ends are covered with 1x12 painted cedar, nailed clapboard-style directly to bare studs with no wrap or other barrier between) The roof is shallow (haven't figured the pitch, but maybe 4-12) and covered with high quality asphalt shingles (faux-shake looking). The style is for it to look like the house has open timber construction I guess, as there are no soffits, and the only ventilation is provided by down-facing "vent boxes" placed at the tops of the gable ends. Currently the attic has blown in loose insulation that is absolutely filthy with dust and dirt.
The attic gets to 150F+ during 100F+ days here.
My question is this:
Considering our dry climate and relatively mild winters, would I be moving in the right direction to go ahead and seal this attic with foam insulation? I was wanting to install 1 or 2 ERV's for air quality and an attempt to maybe control humidity (lack of it) during winter.
Or would installing some sort of vents around the perimeter and ridge-venting be a better setup?
I will be removing the gable-end boards and installing some sort of sheathing and house wrap of some sort. I'm researching that too, so any input is appreciated. I plan to go back with a Hardi-board type of outside covering.
Any and all input is appreciated, and don't spare my feelings if I have illuminated any of my conceptual misunderstandings here. Let me know if I'm getting into too deep of waters!
Thanks much. -Chris
I'm new to the forum and just a "layman" at-best. (Though I did attend ResNet in New Orleans this year on a fact-finding/educational mission...)
I have a 3800 sq-ft (under-roof inc. garage) home in southwest Oklahoma. It's a U-shaped brick house with a total of 4 gable-ends. These gable ends are like Swiss cheese when viewed from within the attic. These gable-ends are covered with 1x12 painted cedar, nailed clapboard-style directly to bare studs with no wrap or other barrier between) The roof is shallow (haven't figured the pitch, but maybe 4-12) and covered with high quality asphalt shingles (faux-shake looking). The style is for it to look like the house has open timber construction I guess, as there are no soffits, and the only ventilation is provided by down-facing "vent boxes" placed at the tops of the gable ends. Currently the attic has blown in loose insulation that is absolutely filthy with dust and dirt.
The attic gets to 150F+ during 100F+ days here.
My question is this:
Considering our dry climate and relatively mild winters, would I be moving in the right direction to go ahead and seal this attic with foam insulation? I was wanting to install 1 or 2 ERV's for air quality and an attempt to maybe control humidity (lack of it) during winter.
Or would installing some sort of vents around the perimeter and ridge-venting be a better setup?
I will be removing the gable-end boards and installing some sort of sheathing and house wrap of some sort. I'm researching that too, so any input is appreciated. I plan to go back with a Hardi-board type of outside covering.
Any and all input is appreciated, and don't spare my feelings if I have illuminated any of my conceptual misunderstandings here. Let me know if I'm getting into too deep of waters!
Thanks much. -Chris