GF killed her infloor radiant floor heat (punctured pipe & her spoiled son did not like the look of baseboard radiators in his bedroom >> remodeled garage) She also wanted A/C so……she had heat pump installed in the attic. Also uses attic for storage.
Ceiling insulation is inadequate. Ducting is flex duct w/ 3/4″ insulation. Auxiliary heat is gas w/ igniter, not pilot.
Problem: ice dams.
I am wondering about the feasibility of foaming the roof deck from underside. I have been told that moisture would be a problem because of the closed attic & the gas furnace.
Location: Detroit.
Thoughts? & Thanks
Edited 12/5/2006 10:48 pm ET by VaGentinMI
Replies
Ice dams may indicate air-flow and venting deficiencies. Is it possible to re-roof economically?
Is there any blown in insulation in the ceiling that may be covering soffit vents? Is the attic finished (drywall, floor etc)? If so why is there no warmth (at least enough to heat the space over the exterior wall)? I think that if you "picture" the envelope and look at convection and conduction heat loss/transfer issues,the correct solution may present itself, and hopefully it may be no more costly than caulking, proper venting and maybe some insulation adjustments.
Moisture and mold will only be a problem if your barriers trap the moisture within the envelope and don't allow the house to "dry to the outside " .
I hope this helps.
Muse
Foaming the roof may actually be the best answer--but only if the roof deck and finished roof are in good shape first. That's because foaming the roof fairly permanently "hides" one side of the roof.
Now, the other issue then becomes--how will the foamed roof "tie" into the wall insulation. Because, done properly, the attic becomes part of the insulated space, so it has to tie to the walls' insulation. Note that moots the "moisture" from gas furnace (or bathroom vents, or what have you) "argument." That's because everything really ought to vent to outside the roof (and not just the attic) anyway--you just have more of a reason to. Now, most ceilings are "leaky" enough to get some air changes out of and into attic spaces that are not habitated.
But, that's just my opinion, others differ.
Foam the roof, vent the furnace outside, and kiss the ice dams goodbye. Venting an attic space with heating and cooling equipment makes no more sense than setting the air handler up in the back yard.
Andy
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)
"Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom
"Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Book of Merlin
" Venting an attic space with heating and cooling equipment makes no more sense than setting the air handler up in the back yard."You might want to reword that slightly.There is a gas furnace up there and it either the space needs "some" venting for combustion air or the furnace has it's own source of venting for combustion air.
Right enough. Vent the exhaust to the outside, and provide a dedicated combustion air supply.Andy
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)
"Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom
"Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Book of Merlin