Home Improvement Today?

I was talking to the family I think the other porch he's supposed to work on, We're going to hold off on. Get him done and out of here.

He's just taking on the easier job to make quick money.

 

Yep i agree

 

Had to do something today that I really didn't want to do; pop open the septic riser. It has been pretty dry here a couple months and I've started to notice a line in the yard that is slightly greener than the rest. Ruh-roh!



Yea, that would be my leech field. Did some digging at the end of it and the soil has more moisture than the rest of the yard, but isn't soaking. Ok, guess I gotta stomach this and open that lid.



Actually didn't smell that bad. Luckily the effluent level is normal, and I actually just did a load of laundry like 30 minutes before hand. No real scum or grease layer, so I must be doing something right. Doesn't mean everything is hunky doory, but there was no signs of rising "water". The tank appears to be the original from 1965! Replacement is enviable, but seems to be holding now. Average Replacement cost in my area is $25k and I have no idea how to come up with that kind of cash...

 

Alright who is the resident insulation expert in here? I have a new to me flat roof home and we ripped out some false soffit in the home and found no insulation anywhere. I’m sure they were losing heat there. I would like to better insulate but I’m not sure the proper way to do it. The outside has a vent built in so I’m guessing it circulates through the flat roof system but this is all new to me. Any suggestion or recommendations. I have no good pictures but can get some if needed.



Above the beam on the far left is open to the outdoor overhang which has the vent in place. I would like to seal that off to stop heat loss if that’s possible. The beam and remainder of ceiling will be drywalled.

 

insulating flat roofs is just about the worst topic for insulators. Speaking from an energy auditing background, you need air flow through those cavities. Moisture will get in somehow, and if you fill the whole thing with insulation you are really just creating mold cavities.

The “right” way to do it is by adding insulation on the roof deck under the flat roof membrane next time that gets replaced, and you just consider that cavity above the drywall to be part of your heated space. If you’re set on adding insulation inside, you can spray foam half the depth, or net and blow half of the depth, just make sure there will be airflow. My crews write hundreds of insulation quotes per year, and filling flat roof cavities or even sloped cathedral cavities is a hard no from us.

 

My neck is burning and it's hot. PITA

 

@brow is spot on, here's another reference for you.

https://www.finehomebuilding.com/project-guides/insulation/insulating-a-low-slope-shed-roof

 

Yup that’s sort of what I gained over my few hours of research. It’s a very complicated system and i would likely make things much worse. The house had water damage from a roof leak before supposedly and the energy audit had heat loss through the roof and I suspect when they “repaired” the roof they didn’t rip out the insulation and repair what was soaked. The ultimate fix will be ripping off this entire flat roof and pitching it like houses in New England should be. That’s a massive project with a lot of dollar signs though and we’ve got enough to keep us busy for a while before we hire out that project. Is it safe to insulate against the beam with some foam at least?

Edit - My father-in-law who is handy around a home wanted to just totally block the space with rigid foam and spray the gaps to make the outside portion airtight and that didn’t seem right to me haha.

 

While you're researching, this group is located in Fairbanks, AK. They have decades of case studies on building science, it's kind of refreshing vs the many personalities on YouTube pushing sponsored products.

http://cchrc.org/

https://youtube.com/user/ColdClimateHousing

 

If you can COMPLETELY eliminate any air infiltration into the insulated assembly(all six sides plus their corners) a sealed system can work but it’s difficult to accomplish this. I read there are builders in the northeast doing this with spray foam and dense packed cellulose but if you get it wrong catastrophe can ensue lol.

What is the distance from the bottom of the roof deck to the ceiling

 

I'm surprised that using the styrofoam baffles and then insulation over them isn't an option?



Like this, into @Clark27's soffits and the whole length of the rafter bay. Then the whole cavity can be filled with insulation against it?

 

It being a flat roof complicates this system

 

Because?

 

Since in a typical flat roof you have insulation on the roof deck, doing this now introduces a stream of air between your two layers of insulation, directing outside unconditioned air into your insulation assembly. You need to give a direction for things to dry while still trying to negate airflow through your insulation. It’s a dumb problem. I’ve got a whole hour rant about how architects who don’t take their climate into account are the worst people in the world.

 

Oh. I think I get it now.

I guess I must have misunderstood his comment about how the roof was fixed and thought the poor repair job didn't include insulation.

 

Yeah, you could block off above that beam with rigid foam board to seal off the soffit overhang from the interior, should help negate the unconditioned air being siphoned directly into your ceiling.

 

true, I should have added

*if that’s all you’re doing*

a well sealed Uninsulated structure will perform better than a leakier structure filled with insulation. If it was me, I’d block off all those gaps, seal it up well, and forget the insulation until you can make the roof correct. (This is an unpopular opinion with almost all insulators, contractors, and building inspectors)

 

I figured that’s what you meant lol so I pulled my post

 

bomb the whole assembly with 2lb foam to a depth that will acheive R-28

 

Done.