Not sure where I should post this as I am new to this site.
Have a client with a 100+ year old home, which had balloon framing. The one-story home was remodeled. Most interior wall finishes (mix of plaster and gypsum board) were left in place. Blocking was added at floor level and sealed with expanding foam to prevent air flow up the wall. Exterior siding was removed. Exterior walls (2x4) were insulated with fiberglass batts, plywood and building paper and new cement-based siding was installed.
Interior wood floor does not have a subfloor. Due to random / irregular spacing of floor joists on this raised home with a 24" - 30" high crawl space, client had closed cell foam sprayed to underside of floor.
Attic is fairly wide open, approx. 8-feet high at central ridge. Only 50% of attic has insulation and this is blown-in cellulose with 6" thickness over about half of the 50% and 12" thickness over the other half of the 50%. The remaining 50% has zero insulation. No insulation under the roof deck (shingles above).
Client has a large attic access of about 36" x 60", with a hinged plywood top that rests on compressible foam strips when closed. The hinged side is unsealed and likely allows a good bit of air transfer. Also found a 10" metal duct for range hood through ceiling and into attic which is unsealed about a half inch wide around the entire pipe.
Home has 100+ year old, leaky windows which have been sealed around the perimeter but air still leaks through the glazing at the glass panes.
Client has gap under front door of about 3/8" and the front door does not have weatherstripping. Good draft is noticed when standing by door.
Client reports random periods of poor air quality inside of the home resulting in sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, etc. Client reports issues come and go but have gotten worse.
Home has a large gas range with electric double ovens, a 1,250 CFM range hood exhaust fan with remote fan installed on roof, two central air units with gas furnaces in attic (furnaces are vented through roof), an on-demand gas water heater (outside), one electric clothes dryer vented to the exterior, and one bathroom fan / heater vented to the outside.
Home occupancy is typically two people who work from home and are often there nearly 24/7 for weeks at a time.
Other than air leakage into the home through construction gaps and under the door and through windows, there is zero fresh air / make-up air brought into the home.
Initial inspection with Tramex and thermal imaging did not indicate moisture in walls, although there are signs of moisture intrusion below some windows. Home does not have soffits. Inspection in attic of over 80% of perimeter, looking at fascia to which cement siding abuts did not reveal evidence of moisture from the roof and the underside of the roof deck does not suggest water infiltration at walls.
Client reports a gable end vent existed at time home was purchased but during remodel, the gable end vent was eliminated. Client reports vent was approx, 18" or 24" wide x about 30" tall.
Client has two whirly bird vents at main ridge of home, but no actual air intake vents, especially since the gable end vent was eliminated. I suspect a good bit of air is pulled through at the roof deck / fascia interface as well as from within the home and into the attic and that the opposite may be true when the central air and heat is running.
With the walls not appearing to have moisture, does anyone have any input on the “bad air” conditions within the home?
I am considering recommending elimination of the two whirly birds, installation of continuous vented ridge, and installation of an adequate number of intake vents in the lower portion of the roof based on a 1:150 calculation rather than 1:300. Will also recommend air sealing all ceiling penetrations and eliminating the large attic access in exchange for a pre-fabricated unit perhaps with better insulation qualities and will also recommend complete insulation of attic to required code R-Value.
Thanks.