Consumer needs help with missing insulation.

[gromicko (Nick Gromicko, CMI)]

Hello there,

[FONT=Arial]I could’nt figure out how to post a question on your site and I’m not sure if this is where I would ask a question but I’m sure you can direct me to the right person if it isn’t. My problem is that the builder of my Michigan cottage mistakenly forgot to put insulation into the rim joist between the first and second floor. I am having awful ice damming so we had him come out to take a look and he admitted that he did not insulate that area. Now we are trying to figure out the best way to insulate that area with the least amount of destruction. My fir st thought is to remove the drywall from the ceiling around the perimeter of the house and insulate with fiberglass but someone else suggested if I am to open up that area to use the spray foam insulation as it will perform much better. Another thought was to make holes in the ceiling and use cellulous insulation the mess would be drastically reduced but I’m not sure how one would be able to tell if the insulation is filling the cavity appropriately. If someone could shine some light on this I would be most grateful.[/FONT]

Thank you,
Sandra
eyesonantiques@comcast.net

[pdoane (Peter Doane)]

How do you get ice damming between floors?

A good link for foam insulation:
http://www.askthebuilder.com/565_Foam_Insulation.shtml

Good link for cellulose insulation install:
http://www.cellulose.org/pdf/cellulose_bulletins/tech_bulletin2.pdf

[homebild]

Right.

Ice damming has nothing to do with missing rim joist insulation between floors.

Ice damming issues are usually the result of excess heat entering the attic from the living space below. This is usually ‘cured’ by eliminating all sources of heat infiltration into the attic by sealing all holes from wires, chases, chimneys, vents, pipes, doors, lights and other openings into the attic.

Improving attic ventilation can likewise help.

Adding the missing insulation may have little to no cost-to-benefit ratio at this point in the game, and simply cost a lot of money without providing any real measurable energy savings.

[jkormos (Joseph Kormos)]

This too

http://www.fomo.com/products.html
http://www.tigerfoam.com/
http://www.icynene.com/

[mcyr (Marcel Cyr, CMI)]

@gromicko

Hello there,

[FONT=Arial]I could’nt figure out how to post a question on your site and I’m not sure if this is where I would ask a question but I’m sure you can direct me to the right person if it isn’t.[/FONT]

*You got the right person. *

My problem is that the builder of my Michigan cottage mistakenly forgot to put insulation into the rim joist between the first and second floor.If this is a recent build, have him come back an fix it before the warranty runs out.

I am having awful ice damming so we had him come out to take a look and he admitted that he did not insulate that area.So what did he say was going to happen to fix the problem.? Could he explain why you were having ice daming that is not related to box sill insulation?

*Now we are trying to figure out the best way to insulate that area with the least amount of destruction.Why should you try to figure it out? It is up to the Contractor to fix his deficient work. *
My fir st thought is to remove the drywall from the ceiling around the perimeter of the house and insulate with fiberglass but someone else suggested if I am to open up that area to use the spray foam insulation as it will perform much better. Another thought was to make holes in the ceiling and use cellulous insulation the mess would be drastically reduced but I’m not sure how one would be able to tell if the insulation is filling the cavity appropriately. If someone could shine some light on this I would be most grateful.
The means and the methods are up to the Contractors discrection.

Thank you,
Sandra
eyesonantiques@comcast.net

Marcel
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