Q. My sister and I have a lake cottage that we all take pleasure in on Lake James. We rent it through the wintertime to a every month renter and lease weekly in the course of the summer time when we are not there. The cottage started off as a small cottage and then was added to in the 1970s and then a more substantial addition was added in the 1980s. We have a roof leak around the bedroom region and are obtaining estimates for replacing the roof. This exact area has a vaulted ceiling with wood beams and wood “V” groove T&G concerning so there is no attic. I know this area is not insulated at all to the other attic regions we have been equipped to include insulation. Is there a way to insulate under the new roofing and not have to disrupt the interior look? — Jean and Julie
A. Indeed, you can look at incorporating a layer of foam insulation about the current roof deck then add sub sheeting and then new roofing but there are several things you should really look at.
The present roofing will will need to be removed so that there is not any unwelcome bodyweight on the roof framework. Check out the dimension and spacing of the current rafters to make sure they will maintain the extra excess weight like snow load.
In many years past some constructions were developed without the need of real guidelines as to rafter dimension and from time to time they are deficient or they use much too compact of rafter.
Also, there are quite a few kinds of obtainable foam insulation this kind of as Polystyrene, extruded Polystyrene and polyisocyanurate. The most widespread and offered is the XPO or Extruded Polystyrene at your neighborhood lumber enterprise.
Tips are to protected or glue the insulation down and utilizing a flashing tape seal the seams of the insulation. If you are applying many layers, stagger the seams so there is no immediate seam to seam void and use sealing tape. Then include a 7/16 OSB sub sheeting around the insulation with very long screws into the rafters.
Continue to keep in brain that if you pass up the rafter and go as a result of the primary sheeting the screw will appear via the concluded interior ceiling. They also manufacture and offer a laminated insulation on a OSB sheeting panel that is accessible, but it costs a minimal a lot more. Be certain and assume about the added thickness of that roof and how it will affect the facias and link details to the adjacent roofs.
Jeff Deahl is past president of the Builders Association of Northeast Indiana. Inquiries for the Square Corners column may possibly be submitted to [email protected].