our (1921) foursquare

We all know the internet is a vast resource and can assist in everything from finding DIY info to locating a good deal on a treadmill :-)

Since we bought this place, which needs work in every nook and cranny, I have found great ideas and product info while browsing the many other houseblogs that are out there. It is neet to browse and read about those going through the same frustrations and joy with their old houses. While I spend usually some ammount of time checking in on my favorite blogs, Melissa has found the mothering/ap forums (sorry didn't memorize that link yet). So now, for the time being, we each have our own small get-away in cyber land that keeps us occupied when we otherwise can't work on the house.

Posted by kpf at 6:46 PM | Permalink

Removing insulation and hearing your boiler kick on is not usually a good thing. Ok after spending the day in the attic I don't have a whole lot to show for my work.

I still have roughly 2 to 3 more hours in the attic before I can even start on removing stuff from the knee-wall area. I packaged roughly 28 bags full of various old insulation today. This almost entirely fills the little green-house :-)
(I really can't wait untill I get the job box in April)

While covered in filth and yuck and stuffing bags with insulation, I was alwase thinking of "how I am going to go about re-insulating". My main goal here is to correct the non-air flow problem between the kneewall and the upper attic space. I'm thinking I need to use a system of joined baffels to guarantee the open air space between the two areas. Under the baffels I am thinking of using double foil faced ridgid insulation, if that exists. If not I guess I will make do with single faced. For the actual attic space floor I would like the result to be a 30+ R value using a combination of faced and un-faced batt material.

Posted by kpf at 11:23 PM | Permalink

Ok this project is big like I mentioned before.. This project also has a few other side projects that go along with it to make it all worth while. The first of which is adding ventalation and air flow to the attic space.

Since our third floor, walk up attic, is finished I would like to correct the ventalation of the kneewall area and promote air flow through to the peak of the roof where an attic fan (eventaully a ridge vent) will be installed to exhaust the air. I believe this will help keep the temperatures down for the AC equipment as well as help us to save money on the heat bill next winter. My goal is to remove the 1970's ish loose fill insulation that is clogging up the air flow between the kneewall and the top attic and remove the poorly installed fiberglass batt insulation that is littered throughout the attic area. I expect this to be basically one of the dirtiest jobs that I have done yet to this house.

Once the AC system is installed I plan to go back and install insulation making sure to maintain air-flow space and sealing off air access where applicable. Eventually I want the insulation system to look something like this.

I managed to talk our electrician in to coming back over to give me some pointers on just how this house looks on the inside. Since he fished wire and poked around in all the wall cavities and floor cavities he knows a bit about the construction of this place. This should help me in the planning of the runs for the AC project.

Posted by kpf at 10:48 PM | Permalink

In taking on this AC project Ihave to admit that this one is pushing my limits of keeping things balanced to run optimally and efficiently.

The efficient part is not that cumbersom but engineering the system to actually do what it is suposed to do is another. I have decided on the SpacePak mini duct system like I mentioned before, to eliminate the need for large box in corner units on the first floor. However, in my design of this system I am creating box-ins in other areas, mainly one bedroom and part of my bathroom. I'm not sure this is worth it but I have to get these delivery runs down to the first floor where the family needs to be comfortable. I have opted for the largest air handler that is produce by spacepak. This airhandler matched with a 4 ton condenser unit on the outside should provide adequate cooling for this large house. I am a bit worried about the return air situation though. Since the airhandler is in the attic this should be simple right? Well the attic is a finished attic, this produces the problem. I have roughly a 24" oval that needs to 48" minimum out from the airhandler.... More stuff to think about. Good thing I didn't become an Engineere.

Posted by kpf at 11:25 PM | Permalink

This morning was so nice outside we all decicded to do a bit of yard work.

We all braved our nice warm sunny morning and went out to make early spring pruning cuts and do some needed raking. Matthew had fun catching the bunches of sprig limbs I cut from our apple tree, and squirting me while I was stationary on the ladder. Melissa and Andrew did some raking and trying to find where the strawberry plants are.

When mom and dad arrived mom jumped right in and started helping pull weeds and trying to find our raspberry patch. It was fun to get out side and enjoy the sun and family.

Posted by kpf at 10:56 PM | Permalink

The bathroom remodel took a step forward today. Dad finished the wiring project. All equipment works as expected and the fan is well..

quite!. While dad finished the electric project in the bathroom up. I prepared two more wires for pulling up to the S knee wall for the air handler and one more to run the future attic vent (and a light maybe). I also poked around in the 80+ degree attic today. This area needs to be vented properly and the insulation removed and re-installed properly.

I am running a room by room calculation for the AC system. I should know by the end of this week how much I will need to complete this project. Questions I have are many...

- multiple returns?
-bends in small duct?

Posted by kpf at 10:33 PM | Permalink

Over the past weekend I measured almost all of the various spots in and around the house. While Dad did more electrical wire work in the bathroom.

I have taken measurements on all 28 windows in this house and the rooms to go with them. I am hoping to have much of the calculating process and figures done (including run lengths) before we go to D.C. on the 24th of this month.

The handy people at spackpak have made all the how-to documentation available in pdf format so I can basically do everything my self from design to install..... hopefully. Once the calculations are complete I can re-evaluate if I can actually install the required number of runs that the system will need. It will be tricky figuring out how to get the actual runs down to the first floor. The main goal with this type of system is to avoid the box-in situation you have with retrofitting regular duct work in an old house. All said and done I hope to only have one nicely blended small box-in located in the, yet to be completed, bathroom.

On another note. As spring is ever approaching I am seeing the ammount of work that we will have outside just to get things in a semi presentable manner. This summer will be only small adjustments outside. Like cleaning things up!!!

Posted by kpf at 7:52 PM | Permalink