| Click to Post a New Message!
Page [ 1 ] |
|
|
|
help water condensating in the wall cavity-
Chris -
Like everyone here, I too feel for your dilemma. I guess I am from the old school...that is, I feel comfortable with the old tar paper on the exterior over the sheathing, and my Owens Corning rolled R19 (or whatever rating) fiberglass insulation in the walls, covered by not one but two layers of sheetrock.
Some may be wondering why two layers. By applying the second layer practice, not only does one get a more airtight seal around the typical cold air leak points, however your wall strength increases as well. For instance, instead of using a single 1/2 inch sheet of sheetrock, use two 3/8 inch sheets, that are are fixed to the studs opposite from one another. First layer runs horizontal, second or top layer runs vertical - it really ties the wall together, and alleviates the potential for any cracks to appear later on down the road, besides keeping the house warmer in the winter, and cooler in the summer.
Anyway...that is what I do up here where it usually gets around -30 F in the winter season, and up to 100+ in the summer.
As far as the insurance and the like, DON'T wait to get legal assistance in getting action from the contractor. One doesn't need to feed him to the wolves just yet, rather flex the muscle , so to speak.
Insurance wise, -most- Homeowners insurance policies today, now have provisions standard written in, concerning mold and moisture damage. Many offer up to $10,000 - $15,000 without quibble worth of repairs. Check with your Insurance agent for your provisions - I know when my policy renewed one year a while ago, I was surprised to have read that.
- Willie H
|
|
 Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
help water condensating in the wall cavity-
Chris -
Glad to hear that things are working out. It sounds like you have done an extreme amount of research since last posted - good for you that you were able to find such info, and, a contractor / company that knew what they were doing.
Question: You mentioned that you have an air exchanger to keep the humidity levels a constant. If you lose the exchanger for one reason or another, can you expect that the walls will "refill" so to speak?
Will this happen each and every time the conditions are to change, or was this merely a coincidental element with the moisture from the mudding process?
Sometimes with an air exchanger, it creates a negative in the house so extreme, that if you wanted to light a fire in the stove for instance, it would not stay lit. I hope in the cold where you are, this will not be a concern.
- Willie H
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
help water condensating in the wall cavity-
Chris -
I guess one could spend as much as one wanted or as little as one wanted, relative to the extreme of effiency that one wants to go - Lord knows the costs can REALLY climb.
(Quite obviously, you do too)
My Uncle moved into another house awhile back. It was outfitted from day one (maybe 15 years old) with a solar heat/water exchange unit in the basement, with copper tubing running to and fro the collector panels on the roof line. He also has an oil burner as secondary, as well as a wood burning fireplace.
More often than not, I would say about once a year, usually when it started to get cold, the exchanger control board would need replacing - about $450.00 each and every time. Then, the roof needed to be replaced (shingles that is). What a friggin nightmare to execute the removal and replacement. All the solar hardware had to come off first, then the roof work, then the solar panels and piping had to be reinstalled etc etc.
By the time all was said and done, the efficiency / cost effectiveness was costing THEM everytime they turned around.
Then one day, a guy stopped over and asked about buying the complete set up. They did sell it to the guy, but once again, another nightmare, as all the antifreeze lines had to be evacuated first, then the exchanger (big heavy mother)in the basement had to be brought out. On top of this, the solar panels had to be removed from the roof - very gingerly. Then they had to insure that the roof was not damaged from the removal, so the now purchaser had to contact the roofer again, and the story goes on and on, but you get the picture I'm sure.
Needless to say, they are tickled that they rid themselves of this system. I am sure that improvements have been made to the systems since this vintage, but it would be a cold day... before I would contemplate putting it in to my house.
As you mentioned, the costs for the insulation / process is very costly. I had no idea that it cost THAT much these days.....maybe it is time I moved to Brazil...all I would need there would be an umbrella and bug spray!  (maybe a round or two of ammo too)
Keep it warm and dry -
- Willie H
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Page [ 1 ] | Thread 124985 Filter by Poster:
1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
|
()
Picture of the Day
candoarms
Unanswered Questions
Active Subjects
Hot Topics
Featured Suppliers
|
Gas Generator Weather Protecti
03-03-2006, 23:37 
Digg It 
Del.icio.us