"NICKODEMOS" wrote in message
...
Hell all. Did a search on here and found some answers but not all. So
here goes my questions.

The house was built in the 1860's. Doing an attic where I will be
insulating the walls and ceiling (cathedral I think it is called). It
will be against the old clap board siding with it's many tiny holes in
it. So how would I go about making it air tight before I put the
insulation in the walls? Or should I?

Live in the Indianapolis area so any special needs? Vapor barrior?

Also someone said something about putting in soffet? And something
about the bottem 12" remaining free of the insulation for venting.

Anyways I am looking for all information I can get since I am doing
this for an older lady from my church and don't want to screw it up.

Oh and if you have some link that would be great.

Nickodemos



Unless the attic is living space there is little value in insulating the
walls. Ditto the roofline.

The number one heat loss factor is through the ceiling. R-38 in this area
and some caulk for air infiltration could easily cut her heating bill in
half. If you insulate the living space below from the attic above that is
your greatest payback. Sometimes with a floored attic this is hard to do.
Is that you situation?

It is important to allow for airflow for the roof in situations where the
roof rafters have insulation added between them in a true cathedral ceiling
situation. I doubt you have that in pre 1900 construction. Also, I think
you have not clearly understood something that someone has posted about
soffitt and the bottom 12".

Post again with more info and myself or one of the regulars will try to
answer you questions.

And thanks in advance for helping the old folks.


Colbyt