Fixed Cape Home in Greece, NY with Air Sealing, Insulation & Replacement Windows

Challenge

This Cape home in old Greece was comfortable enough in the spring and fall, but too cold in the winter, and unbearably hot in the summertime. Leaky ducts ran through a finished basement to heat both the first floor, and the poorly insulated second floor.  True to the Cape Cod style, the upstairs features sloped ceilings with short "knee" walls, creating tiny "storage attics" along the eaves.

The home was well-cared for by the current owners, but years ago, several DIY projects gone wrong were plaguing the otherwise happy family. Uninsulated rooms, falling insulation, ducts that were routed and re-routed, leaky or just plain disconnected made for cold and hot spots throughout the house.  The three season room was usable only for a few weeks in the spring and fall -- less than a 1-season room -- due to a marked lack of insulation and exceptionally drafty old windows.

Solution

We decided to tackle the problem in three steps: A, B, and C.

A.  The Attic.  We sent our skinniest installers into the kneewall side-attics with rigid foam boards and spray-foam.  We sealed up the air-gaps, and added to the existing kneewall insulation.  We finished by adding fresh blow-in cellulose insulation to the attic floor.

B. The Basement. Having fixed the top of the house, it's time to work on the bottom.  All accessable ductwork sealed tight with mastic, creating an air-tight seal that can expant and contract with the ductwork yearround.  Continuing to work at the bottom of the house, we insulated the floor of the 3-season room with rigid foam.

C. The Center.  Now that the top and bottom of the house are done, it's time to address the in-between space.  He homeowner wanted central air, and we came to the rescue with a terriffic new Goodman Air Conditioner with a 10 year parts warranty, and a lifetime compressor and heat-exchanger warranty.  In the sunroom, we insulated the walls and installed all-new Sunrise replacement windows, making the space a year-round excersize room, and occasional guest-room -- when the brother-in-law is in town, he can crash on the couch.

Project Summary

Building Expert: Ben Kershner

Problem: Cold rooms in summertime

Problem: Hot rooms in wintertime

Problem: Front porch unusable

Problem: Leaky ductwork

Problem: Under-Insulated Kneewalls

Solution: Draft Reduction

Solution: Insulate attic-adjacent wall

Solution: Tru-Soft insulation

Solution: Goodman Air Conditioner

Solution: Sunrise replacement windows

Solution: Rigid foam floor insulation