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#1
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Insulation in a Condo
Is there any way to insulate existing walls in a 2nd floor condo?
Just a couple walls infiltrate cold air during winter... Being on the 2nd flr, can I dump foam or any insulation down my walls to help my heat bill? What about the downstairs unit? They get MY efforts? And, also... how bout high ceilings? Can they be more insulated? Not easy to get to.... I called a few co's and was told, "it would be very dusty to blow in stuff"... True? Anyone have alternative sources to put in place? :-) TIA. |
#2
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Insulation in a Condo
On Nov 7, 3:33*pm, (Paddy Waggin) wrote:
Is there any way to insulate existing walls in a 2nd floor condo? Just a couple walls infiltrate cold air during winter... Being on the 2nd flr, can I dump foam or any insulation down my walls to help my heat bill? What about the downstairs unit? They get MY efforts? And, also... how bout high ceilings? Can they be more insulated? Not easy to get to.... I called a few co's and was told, "it would be very dusty to blow in stuff"... True? Anyone have alternative sources to put in place? * :-) * *TIA.. Of course we know how the building is made since you told everyone and we know what type of roof it has. |
#3
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Insulation in a Condo
Ransley said::::
Of course we know how the building is made since you told everyone and we know what type of roof it has. And of course I see why everyone thinks you're an @sshole.... Thanks for the help dip****.... If you don't understand the prob... just ask me smartASS... |
#4
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Insulation in a Condo
Paddy Waggin wrote:
Is there any way to insulate existing walls in a 2nd floor condo? Just a couple walls infiltrate cold air during winter... Being on the 2nd flr, can I dump foam or any insulation down my walls to help my heat bill? What about the downstairs unit? They get MY efforts? And, also... how bout high ceilings? Can they be more insulated? Not easy to get to.... I called a few co's and was told, "it would be very dusty to blow in stuff"... True? Anyone have alternative sources to put in place? :-) TIA. Check the condo laws in your area before you do anything. Around here, a condo owner owns "painted surface to painted surface", with the rest of the building belonging to the condo association*. You own the paint, but you don't own the wallboard, studs, insulation, wiring, pipes, or outer surface of the wall. Of course, any interior walls are yours, guts included. :-) This is a rather technical definition, since I'm sure you wouldn't be challenged for fixing a wall gouge or driving a nail for a picture. * According to my architect brother-in-law in Dallas. -- Steve Bell New Life Home Improvement Arlington, TX |
#5
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Insulation in a Condo
On Nov 7, 7:53*pm, (Paddy Waggin) wrote:
Ransley said:::: Of course we know how the building is made since you told everyone and we know what type of roof it has. And of course I see why everyone thinks you're an @sshole.... Thanks for the help dip****.... If you don't understand the prob... just ask me smartASS... Hey dip**** without knowing how its made it cant be answered correctly, its folks like you asking questions without enough info that make an answer impossible. There is no problem, just no info. Its not a smart as response. |
#6
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Insulation in a Condo
"Paddy Waggin" wrote in message ... Is there any way to insulate existing walls in a 2nd floor condo? Yes. Just a couple walls infiltrate cold air during winter... Being on the 2nd flr, can I dump foam or any insulation down my walls to help my heat bill? No, there will be fire stops in the walls And, also... how bout high ceilings? Can they be more insulated? Yes Not easy to get to.... I called a few co's and was told, "it would be very dusty to blow in stuff"... True? Anyone have alternative sources to put in place? :-) TIA. Depends on construction. Your question is too generic to give a good answer. |
#7
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Insulation in a Condo
On Nov 7, 10:13*pm, "Ed Pawlowski" wrote:
"Paddy Waggin" wrote in message ... Is there any way to insulate existing walls in a 2nd floor condo? Yes. Just a couple walls infiltrate cold air during winter... Being on the 2nd flr, can I dump foam or any insulation down my walls to help my heat bill? No, there will be fire stops in the walls And, also... how bout high ceilings? Can they be more insulated? Yes Not easy to get to.... I called a few co's and was told, "it would be very dusty to blow in stuff"... True? Anyone have alternative sources to put in place? * :-) * *TIA. Depends on construction. Your question is too generic to give a good answer. Adding to the lack of info, what is meant by a couple walls infiltrate cold air? Does that mean that air is actually blowing in somehow? Without defining the problem, what insulation is already there, etc, impossible to answer. Also, Steve's comments about who owns and deals with various parts of a condo structure are on point. In the condo's I've been involved with, insulation in exterior walls has always been the responsibility of the association, not the unit owner, because the unit owner's responsibility ends at the interior wall boundary. |
#8
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Insulation in a Condo
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#9
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Insulation in a Condo
clipped
Adding to the lack of info, what is meant by a couple walls infiltrate cold air? Does that mean that air is actually blowing in somehow? Without defining the problem, what insulation is already there, etc, impossible to answer. Also, Steve's comments about who owns and deals with various parts of a condo structure are on point. In the condo's I've been involved with, insulation in exterior walls has always been the responsibility of the association, not the unit owner, because the unit owner's responsibility ends at the interior wall boundary. The same is true of our condo. The board or management company should be familiar with construction and with any other units which have had insulation added. If there are a number of units with the same issues, then a group of owners getting together may advance the cause. If other owners don't want to put up money, the association may let you go ahead if you pay the way......hopefully, they have contractors they have used and can recommend. Our condo is two story, with attic spaces above the second; one owner insulated the attic space, at his expense; others of the second floor units have huge heat/AC bills. |
#11
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Insulation in a Condo
On Sat, 8 Nov 2008 02:14:17 +0000 (UTC), "SteveBell"
wrote: Paddy Waggin wrote: Is there any way to insulate existing walls in a 2nd floor condo? Just a couple walls infiltrate cold air during winter... Being on the 2nd flr, can I dump foam or any insulation down my walls to help my heat bill? What about the downstairs unit? They get MY efforts? And, also... how bout high ceilings? Can they be more insulated? Not easy to get to.... I called a few co's and was told, "it would be very dusty to blow in stuff"... True? Anyone have alternative sources to put in place? :-) TIA. Check the condo laws in your area before you do anything. Around here, a condo owner owns "painted surface to painted surface", with the rest of the building belonging to the condo association*. You own the paint, but you don't own the wallboard, studs, insulation, wiring, pipes, or outer surface of the wall. Of course, any interior walls are yours, guts included. :-) This is a rather technical definition, since I'm sure you wouldn't be challenged for fixing a wall gouge or driving a nail for a picture. * According to my architect brother-in-law in Dallas. Yet another reason NOT to buy a condo. |
#12
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Insulation in a Condo
On Nov 7, 4:33*pm, (Paddy Waggin) wrote:
Is there any way to insulate existing walls in a 2nd floor condo? Just a couple walls infiltrate cold air during winter... Being on the 2nd flr, can I dump foam or any insulation down my walls to help my heat bill? What about the downstairs unit? They get MY efforts? And, also... how bout high ceilings? Can they be more insulated? Not easy to get to.... I called a few co's and was told, "it would be very dusty to blow in stuff"... True? Anyone have alternative sources to put in place? * :-) * *TIA.. If drafts are a problem, and the association does not want to do anything, you might solve some of the problem by sealing joints at the trim around windows and along the floor. T |
#13
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Insulation in a Condo
Phisherman wrote:
On Sat, 8 Nov 2008 02:14:17 +0000 (UTC), "SteveBell" wrote: Paddy Waggin wrote: Is there any way to insulate existing walls in a 2nd floor condo? Just a couple walls infiltrate cold air during winter... Being on the 2nd flr, can I dump foam or any insulation down my walls to help my heat bill? What about the downstairs unit? They get MY efforts? And, also... how bout high ceilings? Can they be more insulated? Not easy to get to.... I called a few co's and was told, "it would be very dusty to blow in stuff"... True? Anyone have alternative sources to put in place? :-) TIA. Check the condo laws in your area before you do anything. Around here, a condo owner owns "painted surface to painted surface", with the rest of the building belonging to the condo association*. You own the paint, but you don't own the wallboard, studs, insulation, wiring, pipes, or outer surface of the wall. Of course, any interior walls are yours, guts included. :-) This is a rather technical definition, since I'm sure you wouldn't be challenged for fixing a wall gouge or driving a nail for a picture. * According to my architect brother-in-law in Dallas. Yet another reason NOT to buy a condo. My opinion as well. That same brother-in-law has been trying to sell _his_ condo for several years. Lenders don't want to give anyone a mortgage to buy it, because the ratio of renters to resident owners is too high. He keeps it rented out enough to cover the mortgage, usually. -- Steve Bell New Life Home Improvement Arlington, TX |
#14
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Insulation in a Condo
In article ,
"SteveBell" wrote: snip My opinion as well. That same brother-in-law has been trying to sell _his_ condo for several years. Lenders don't want to give anyone a mortgage to buy it, because the ratio of renters to resident owners is too high. He keeps it rented out enough to cover the mortgage, usually. If he's been trying to sell it for years, then there's only *one* valid reason that it hasn't sold. The damn price is too high. Which means, of course, that he hasn't really been trying to sell it at all. |
#15
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Insulation in a Condo
Smitty Two wrote:
In article , "SteveBell" wrote: snip My opinion as well. That same brother-in-law has been trying to sell _his_ condo for several years. Lenders don't want to give anyone a mortgage to buy it, because the ratio of renters to resident owners is too high. He keeps it rented out enough to cover the mortgage, usually. If he's been trying to sell it for years, then there's only *one* valid reason that it hasn't sold. The damn price is too high. Which means, of course, that he hasn't really been trying to sell it at all. Three of eight units in my condo are for sale.......folks bought just before the real estate crash. Well, they're trying......open house every weekend.......but apparently not trying to sell for less than they paid. I was told recently that a local realtor had gone "bankrupt", which, in this particular area of Florida, does my heart good. Still got footprints on our faces from the "flippers" who have moved through. |
#16
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Insulation in a Condo
Smitty Two wrote:
In article , "SteveBell" wrote: snip My opinion as well. That same brother-in-law has been trying to sell his condo for several years. Lenders don't want to give anyone a mortgage to buy it, because the ratio of renters to resident owners is too high. He keeps it rented out enough to cover the mortgage, usually. If he's been trying to sell it for years, then there's only one valid reason that it hasn't sold. The damn price is too high. Which means, of course, that he hasn't really been trying to sell it at all. Lots of people have tried to buy it, but they can never get a mortgage. Mortgage companies require that the renter/resident-owner ratio be very high, or they won't issue a mortgage at all. I don't remember the exact numbers, but I seem to recall that it has to be in the 0.50 - 0.75 range. There was a condo building boom/fad in Dallas in the 70s and 80s, so condos are plentiful. Most of them are rented, I assume because people figured out that they get the disadvantages of living in an apartment combined with the disadvantages of owning a house, with the disadvantages of a homeowners association piled on top. Can you tell I'd never live in a condo? :-) He could do owner financing or drop the price to nothing, but what would be the point? The property is paying its own way, and he gets some income. He's just waiting around for someone who can do their own financing. -- Steve Bell New Life Home Improvement Arlington, TX |
#17
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Insulation in a Condo
In article ,
"SteveBell" wrote: Smitty Two wrote: In article , "SteveBell" wrote: snip My opinion as well. That same brother-in-law has been trying to sell his condo for several years. Lenders don't want to give anyone a mortgage to buy it, because the ratio of renters to resident owners is too high. He keeps it rented out enough to cover the mortgage, usually. If he's been trying to sell it for years, then there's only one valid reason that it hasn't sold. The damn price is too high. Which means, of course, that he hasn't really been trying to sell it at all. Lots of people have tried to buy it, but they can never get a mortgage. Mortgage companies require that the renter/resident-owner ratio be very high, or they won't issue a mortgage at all. I don't remember the exact numbers, but I seem to recall that it has to be in the 0.50 - 0.75 range. There was a condo building boom/fad in Dallas in the 70s and 80s, so condos are plentiful. Most of them are rented, I assume because people figured out that they get the disadvantages of living in an apartment combined with the disadvantages of owning a house, with the disadvantages of a homeowners association piled on top. Can you tell I'd never live in a condo? :-) He could do owner financing or drop the price to nothing, but what would be the point? The property is paying its own way, and he gets some income. He's just waiting around for someone who can do their own financing. Nothing wrong with keeping it, especially if he's got a zero or positive cash flow. But I'm skeptical about the mortgage rationale. It's an easy excuse for a buyer to change his mind. Things are worth what people can and will pay for them. If he won't drop the price to one at which it will sell, obstacles be damned, then he's asking more than the market will bear. So he could just acknowledge that this isn't the right time to sell. I'm buying an investment house with my g.f. in another city, where prices spiked far higher and crashed far more steeply than most, due to local conditions. Our realtor is saying that finally, things are starting to sell. Well, duh. Prices are 30% of what they were 2 yrs. ago, on a par with what they were 4 yrs. ago, which is what they're "worth" according to the inviolable law of supply and demand. It took a while for the banks, who own most of what's on the market there, to stop fooling themselves about recouping any reasonable percentage of their money and just cut the prices to whatever it took to sell. Are mortgages hard to get? Yep. And that reduces the pool of prospective buyers, which reduces the prices even more. That's the ugly reality of it, for those on the losing end of the bargain. |
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