Houston, We Have A Problem
This is the underside the Carriage House turret. It looks innocent enough, right?It is not! The turret faces west. It is supported by 2×12 east/west joists shooting out from the edge. The covering boards have shrunk over the years and air can easily get into the turret void. Which is…eeek…soon to have water lines inside the void. THIS. IS. BAD.
Scott is the one who realized this.The turret void also entails the empty paces between all the 2×12 joists above the foyer. And, because we have now punched a bunch of holes into the ceiling, the entire assumed “deadspace” above the new sheetrock ceiling will also be open to cold air. Dead space filled with even more water lines. OH. DEAR.
We all pondered this. And pondered. And came up with various solutions from complicated and iffy to maybe-not-so-bad (like installing several large vents in the new sheetrock ceiling, to allow heated air to rise into the voids). Then I had funny suggestion:”Why not heat the whole space with the mats used to heat bathroom floors?” I was kidding but the idea soon seemed like an actual good idea.
You know, like this.
Justin can lay concrete boards atop the new 2×4 joists. Atop this we would roll out the heating pads. Thus, the entire ‘dead space ‘and joist void would get heated. All controlled by a thermostat and remote. AND, this will also heat the bathroom floor!
I will bring back the scaffolding, remove the outer boards, insert two layers of rigid insulation between the 2x12s, cover all with Tyvek, and reinstall the original outer boards.
It is soooooo unlike Justin and myself to not foresee potential problems. Later, I said to Justin: “But, how many times have we had to take into account a turret void?”
6 Comments
Leave a Comment
Your email address will NEVER be made public or shared, and you may use a screen name if you wish.
I’d suggest wrapping the pipes with electric heat tape rather than heating the entire space. It’s specifically designed to keep pipes from freezing.
Maybe, but that won’t heat the floor, nor fill the gaps from the now-shrunken support beams.
Innovative solution.
Yikes.
I guess just insulated probably wouldn’t be enough.
The solution is ingenious, plus it will ensure the bathroom floor is nice and toasty.
I would still install a lot of insulation and weatherproofing as much as possible.
You are a brilliant and innovative architect. I was channeling you today as I ripped the doorframe and a number of risers off the stairs of the 50 year old Tudor dollhouse I am rehabbing. Miniature baby steps. Lots of primer, paint and sanding on basswood. I walked into this innocently. But I am learning. I even have miniature tools. The dollhouse will have to do until I win the lottery and can get a real one to rehab. I have my eye on an abandoned house…
Hugs!
By the time you pay the bill to keep the floor heated during cold snaps, and Emporia gets COLD… it might pay to shoot expanding foam into the air void where the cracks are?? Good luck.