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Here’s the dilemma. I have a boxed-out 24-ft by 2-ft overhang on a shed roof. The overhang abuts an SIP wall panel, the 2×10 end. The overhang is a series of chambers that are roughly 24″ x 24″ by 10″ (joist spacing is 24 OC). Basically the “joist bays” are boxes, closed on all six sides, that aren’t connected to each other, and they are sealed off from the building so there’s not much potential for air movement. There’s no heated or cooled surfaces, other than the atmosphere.. Do you vent something like this? I suppose temperature change and a tiny amount of air leakage could cause a small amount of condensation within these bays, but I’m thinking cutting a hole and installing a screened vent in each space could lead to more potential for condensation. Anybody ever deal with this before? Got any suggestions? I posted this question in General Discussion. More hooks in the water… Thanks, Nick |
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If you're not too fussy about appearance, just hole-saw a couple of holes in each chamber and press in round vents. They're friction fit, but use a touch of construction adhesive as well.
If you are in an area like mine, venting like that would cause more trouble than it would solve. Reason is that it would let the heavy warm foggy moisture creep in and condense
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Hi
Thanks for the reply. I support you in your career change. You might also look into instructing in a trades program in public schools or in prisons. I have a friend who made that transition and it worked well for him.
As for my venting question. I live in Upstate New York, where temperatures can range from over 100 to minus 20, fortunately not in the same day. Venting is easily accomplished, I just don't want it to create problems by doing it where none existed before.
The area in question isn't connected in any way to heated or cooled space; it's just a box that's out in front of the roof.
Nick
"look into instructing in a trades program in public schools or in prisons. I have a friend who made that transition and it worked well for him."you might have missed the part where I want to reduce stress, LOLI would leave the boxes closed. If later you see them developing some sort of problem, you can always add pop in vents later, but I think the odds of needing them there are maybe .02%BTW, I grew up in WNY
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FWIW, we live in Minnesota. The round vents I described are what I used on our house. In a perfect world the area doesn't need venting, but the vents will allow any wind-driven rain moisture to escape reasonably rapidly, reducing the chance of rot.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
as "dilemmas" go, this one doesn't sound like it's too life or death.
Why don't you pop a small circular vent into two of the bays (one near each end, for symmetry) and leave it alone for five years?
Then you can poke a mirror up in there and see if there's any moisture. If not, go ahead and vent them all, checking them out as you go to see if the unvented boxes are worse, or if any water has been getting in.
Then you can write back in with the definitive answer to your own question. We'll be waiting to hear from you!
Your inspector could probably give you a better answer on wether or not those spaces need venting, but if it really bothered you and you didn't want to install the screened vents, a quick and easy solution would be to take a 1" dia. auger bit and just drill a hole (one per box) through the 2 x 10. This will allow air to pass back into one of the rafter bays (or attic) which I'm assuming is properly vented.
being built with SIPs implies no vent space, that is why no vents
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Ok, then plan B, how about just filling those "boxes" with insulation?
That would just make any moisture problems worse.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader