Our Green Attics Diaries

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It is usually recommended to get rid of existing tiles when setting up brand-new ones. Particular locations in the attic can pose severe fire and health and wellness threats. Before air securing and protecting an attic, guarantee you or your professional address the adhering to health and safety and security issues. Inspect the smokeshaft and bordering mounting for signs of charring, soot deposits, collapsing stonework or mortar, or proof that the smokeshaft lining is wearing away.


Have a smokeshaft specialist repair work, seal and shield it at the exact same time. Commonly a gap exists where a stonework chimney travels through the attic room. To air seal this location, first install sheet steel blinking to bridge this space and afterwards seal all the joints with a non-combustible sealant (make sure the product is rated for this application).


An air and vapour barrier covers the floor of the attic room space and is sealed to the joists with acoustical sealer. Factory-built metal smokeshafts ought to be kept from getting in touch with insulation by a minimum 75 mm (3 in.) unless or else defined by maker or local authorities. Set up a non-flammable radiation guard that keeps a 75-mm (3-in.) air room between the chimney and insulation.

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The top of the radiation guard need to also be a minimum of 75 mm (3 in.) higher than the level of existing or brand-new insulation to be included. To avoid insulation from falling back the guard, attach a clamp-type tornado collar without sealant on top of the radiation guard, as shown in Number 5-4.


A radiation obstacle creates a 75 millimetre or 3-inch air area around the chimney and extends 75 millimetres or 3 inches over the attic room insulation, maintaining the distance from flammable materials. The top of the barrier is a tornado collar secured, not sealed, to the chimney. Above the ceiling, the air and vapour obstacle is twisted around the drywall to speak to the firestop sealer.


A collar-like ceiling trim plate is attached below the firestop. Work securely around electrical wiring (turn off the power). Talk to an electrical specialist if suspicious wiring or corroded electrical links exist. Typical interior recessed lights are tough to air seal effectively and can come to be a fire threat if covered with insulation.

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As an option to conventional recessed or pot lights think about light-emitting diode (LED) flush or level place components for far better energy performance. This additionally supplies the possibility to far better seal and insulate the existing cavity. Ensure that fixture installation directions are complied with. If you discover a considerable amount of pet droppings and vermin in the attic, do not disturb them due to the fact that they can harbour quickly air-borne moulds, parasite eggs and germs that can cause extreme ailment.


Seal the complying with areas: Around the pipes stack and any various other pipes. For plastic plumbing heaps that move up and down as a result of thermal growth, utilize a versatile gasket or a polyethylene sleeve secured to a plywood collar (see Number 5-6). Around cables or ceiling lighting fixtures that permeate the attic floor and dividing and outside wall surface top plates (see Figure 5-7 and Number 5-8).




Around the chimney. Building ordinance require that air spaces in between chimneys and floor or ceiling assemblies whereby they pass be sealed with a non-combustible fire stop (see Number 5-3 and Figure 5-4). Along the side of shared wall surfaces. There is typically a space between the party wall surface (such as the shared wall between units in duplexes, triplexes and row houses) and the edge of the attic floor.

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A heavy polyethylene sheet which is caulked with acoustical sealant and stapled to the my site ceiling frames the electric box. An electrical cable leads away from the electric box and down with a hole into an interior wall. Holes around electrical cords are loaded with caulking or foam sealant, and caulking seals voids along the top of the indoor wall surfaces.


Attic ventilation serves a number of purposes. It decreases summer warm accumulation, prolonging the life of roofing and decreases air conditioning system lots. After air sealing, attic room ventilation is your second line of protection versus the water vapour that may have located its means into the attic - Radiant barriers. It makes sure a colder, well-vented attic space less prone to the development of ice dams at the eaves.




You may need to situate roofing or soffit vents from outdoors if they are not plainly visible from inside the attic. Houses with peaked roofing systems and available attics are the simplest to air vent by making use of the proportion of 1 to 300. This ratio describes unobstructed air vent area to the protected ceiling location.


Do not make use of electrical exhaust fans for attic ventilation as these can draw extra air than can be provided via the soffit vents. This will actually draw house air into the attic room, causing greater warm loss and moisture build-up. They are also vulnerable to failure, sound manufacturing and raised energy usage.

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The place of vents is as crucial as their number and kind. Usually, a mixture of kinds and areas will function best. The adhering to Parts detail the most effective strategy depending on your attic room type. After you have checked the attic room and executed any type of remedial work, focus initially on air and wetness control.


On the other hand, spray foam supplies air securing and a preliminary layer of excellent quality insulation that can be covered up to the wanted RSI (R) level (HVAC installation). If the attic room retrofit is being finished together with indoor renovations, the most convenient approach is to set up a new, solitary air and vapour barrier on the underside of the ceiling joists


Building codes require that air spaces in between chimneys and flooring or ceiling assemblies through which they pass be secured with a non-combustible fire quit (see Number 5-3 and Number 5-4). There is commonly a space in between the party wall surface (such as the shared wall between devices in duplexes, triplexes and row houses) and the side of the attic flooring.


A hefty polyethylene sheet which is caulked with acoustical sealant and stapled to the ceiling frames the electric box. An electrical wire leads away from the electrical box and down via an opening right into an interior wall surface. Openings around electrical cables are loaded with caulking or foam sealer, and caulking seals spaces along the top of the indoor walls.

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After air securing, attic room air flow is your 2nd line of defence against the water vapour that may have found its method right into the attic. It makes certain a colder, well-vented attic room space much less prone to the development of ice dams at the eaves.


You might have to locate roofing system or soffit vents from outdoors if they are not plainly visible from inside the attic. Homes with actually peaked roofs and accessible attic rooms are the most convenient to vent by utilizing the ratio of 1 to 300. This ratio refers to unobstructed vent location to the insulated ceiling area.


Do not make use of electrical exhaust followers for attic air flow as these can attract much more air than can be supplied via the soffit vents. This will really draw home air into the attic, leading to better warm loss and moisture accumulation. They are likewise prone to failure, noise manufacturing and raised energy use.


The location of vents is as crucial as their number and type. Typically, a mix of types and areas will certainly work best. The complying with Parts detail the very best strategy depending on your attic type. After you have actually examined the attic and executed any kind of remedial job, focus initially on air and dampness control.

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On the various other hand, spray foam offers air securing and a preliminary layer of excellent quality insulation that can be covered up to the desired RSI (R) degree. If the attic room retrofit is being finished together with indoor renovations, the most convenient strategy is to install a new, solitary air and vapour barrier on the bottom of the ceiling joists.