200 year old New England cape, post and beam, rubble wall foundation, dirt floor, and dampness seem to go together. Previous owner did extensive renovations 30 years ago and installed electric baseboard heat.. basement was unheated and therefore insulation was installed with chicken wire between the 1st floor and basement.. subsequently forced hot air furnace was installed in the basement, so now the space is kept fairly warm winters.. I have installed a fan exhausting to outside for warm weather use (New Hampshire not very humid and the basement is kept closed from introduction of outside air), a sump pit with cover draining to drywell outside, 6 mil plastic on the dirt floor everywhere I could get to, 65 pint dehumidifier directly draining to sump pit.. humidity is down to 50% and the pervasive smell of mold has abated.. should I:
1. remove the insulation from the basement ceiling except for the foundation areas?
2. try to get a layer of 3/4″ ledge stone spread over the plastic? We don’t store anything in the basement and only foot traffic over plastic would be for furnace service and to reload salt in water softener
Replies
bump
"All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone." Pascal