More Q&A Spotlight
Houses are a needy bunch. As a certain character from that late-night weekend show used to say, “It’s always something!” And particularly with older homes, “always something” can actually mean that there’s really a lot to do all at once. This seems to be the situation “Squishy” is in with his 50-year-old home in Climate Zone 5A. In a recent Q&A post, Squishy said he wants to improve his house’s energy efficiency and durability while reroofing—upgrading insulation, siding, and windows, and potentially bringing the attic into the conditioned enclosure. He’s completed some projects, such as upgrading the insulation with mineral wool—R-15 cavity insulation in the walls and R-30 in the attic floor—and transitioning from baseboard heat and no air-conditioning to heat pumps on the first floor.
Now he wants to start on the exterior.
The house needs a new roof. Is this the time to extend overhangs so he can add continuous exterior insulation and new siding to the walls? Should he insulate the roofline and bring the attic into conditioned space? There is an air handler in his attic. The siding needs to be replaced, and he wants to use fiber cement, but the existing siding is asbestos. Does he need to remove and abate it, or can it be covered with insulation or maybe Zip-R insulating sheathing? The windows are single-glazed and need to be upgraded. Where do they fall in the list of priorities? Finally, Squishy hopes to add solar panels to the roof. Is that the last thing he should do?
“The increased thickness [of walls with exterior insulation and a second layer of siding] makes me want to extend my roof overhang as much as possible,” Squishy wrote, “but I don’t know what is possible without…
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3 Comments
This is a terrific topic and a question every 'old house' homeowner should ask themselves. I love reading the advice and suggestions posted on Green Building Advisor, and I look forward to the comments posted on Squishy's potential project. But....
This is a perfect opportunity to get a professional involved. A builder or architect familiar with old homes and energy retrofit strategies can help guide Squishy's goals and priorities into an organized strategy - something that can be accomplished all at once or phased over time - but one that will avoid unintended consequences and unnecessary future costs. Paying a professional for a smart strategy will let homeowners like this proceed with confidence.
Whichever way you go, good luck Squishy (and similar homeowners)!
Where specifically is the house located? What are the fuel choice options and the cost of each? This information is critical to determine cost effectiveness.
Doug
As all I've done since 2010 are Deep Energy Retrofits, I can tell Squishy that in the end you do get a new home out of it. One that doesn't even need utilities for gas or electrons. It will also be the most comfortable house you've ever lived in. When I'm finished it beats PHIUS standards and all that is needed to cool or heat the home is a small 18K heat pump that can easily run off of a smaller PV system. There's a reason my customers love me:-) Just sorry that I'm retiring next year and there are no contractors willing to do this type of work for the millions of homes that need it.
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