Should there be a wall between house attic & covered porch / garage?
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
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Should I open up the wall between my living room and family room?
Comments (33)Ok I am back..... Wow, I just read thro' all the responses and you guys rock !!! I love this forum :))) So far the consensus seems to be to open it up. To answer some of your questions.... oakleyok: The rooms are small. LR is 13 x 18 and FR is 11 x 18. So if we open it up, it will prob. be around 24 x 18 which I think is a nice size....Not too big nor small... bumbledoodle & jan in wisconsin: Thanks for sharing :) I am glad you love the openess....Its very affirming. We currently have a full set of furniture in the LR(Sofa, loveseat, 2 chairs, coffee & end tables). In the FR, we have a loveseat, 3 accent chairs and the TV which is currently on a console. One wall in the FR is dominated by a brick fireplace, similar to the inspiration photo that I linked. So I guess we will have two separate seating areas, even if we open up the rooms. Prob. one will be near the fireplace and another TV watching area.... lynninnewmex, nanny2a & bronwynsmom: Yes, I def. plan to check with an architect if its a load bearing wall or not. I've read (in cote de texas's blog) that if you put in a doorway, it wouldn't cause an issue to the structure as opposed to removing the entire wall. Is this right?? palimpset & pps7: Thanks for letting me know that traditional homes have open architecture...I never knew that. I didn't grow up in this country, so a lot of it is new to me......Now I feel better that I won't be really messing up with the integrity of the house :) Scanmike: Thanks for sharing your pics. You have a beautiful home. I really love your sunroom..I wish I had one and also some new kittens :) susanilz: I think we'll be here for atleast the next 5 yrs...Maybe 10 yrs...I don't have the energy to move anytime soon...So I guess, it makes sense to make it into something functional for us.... vampiressrn: We don't entertain a lot...But def. a few times a year, we have large gatherings for 30+ ppl....Maybe we'll be more prone to entertaining with an open area...I am feeling really pressurized cos we're having a formal gathering of nearly 50 ppl...Its a prayer meeting, so everyone will be sitting together in the same space unlike a party where ppl can move around... Initially, I was considering putting in only a regular doorway (with a french door or pocket door). But after committing to hosting such a large gathering, I am really at a loss on how we're going to accomodate everyone. This was the trigger to everything..... jamaraz: Thanks for sharing your experience...I am scared about the unknowns...Sometimes I think I am opening up a can of worms :) monablair: I am not sure it would work for us. Like I said, the FR has a fireplace and has a very cozy vibe..Maybe I could place some seating around it and have some bookshelves against the adjacent wall to create like a reading/library room (similar to the little reading nook in Somethings gotta give)....I love my books :))) awm: Thats exactly the look I wanted initially. But somehow DH is against the idea of french doors or pocket doors. He wants a more open feel I don't know if I should really listen to him. He doesn't hang out obsessively in design forums like I do, KWIM :)) He's pretty clueless when it comes to design..... How wide do you think that opening is in the pic?? I initially did want doors. But I am not sure how wide the opening would be if we put in doors(like I said, we're trying to accomodate nearly 50 in one space) Also, with french doors, I am thinking if it will hamper the space/furniture placement when we open the door. tomorrowisanotherday: Yes, I really don't want to lose real estate value...I will have to somehow figure this out and make it work.... dlm: Thanks for sharing your pics :) Your french doors are so gorgeous...I don't have any in my home and I really love the look of one :( teaforwendy: We do have a door connecting the FR to the breakfast nook & kitchen. Its not as open as I would like it to be but I don't mind it too much for now...Maybe it could be a project for the future...... kjmama: Yes, we did talk before :) Infact, I searched and pulled up your thread yday to get more ideas. How's the doorway working for you?? Are you done with decorating? Any pics to share :) Please keep the ideas coming...Right now, I am def. leaning twds putting in a doorway...Our "handyman" is coming to take a look tomorrow...But I need to check with an architect about the load bearing aspect of it before we start on anything....Will keep you all updated and will also, try to figure out how to post pics meanwhile..... Thanks once again :)...See MoreHelp with Attic Insulation over a front porch
Comments (10)mcarmelo, Your porch (being open on one side) doesn't really need to be insulated at all. It was probably done as a courtesy in case you wanted to fully enclose it in the future. The important thing is that the ceiling above your "living space" is insulated, because that's the area you heat/cool. The cardboard you pictured is a leftover from whomever did the insulation job. It's function was to prevent insulation from being blown into the entire vented soffit of the porch- allowing it to vent properly. I'm guessing the 'vinyl siding material' on the ceiling of the porch you mention is solid, but when you step outside and look at the soffit area (where the gutters attach), that vinyl material is ventilated. The little holes in it that ventilated soffit area must NOT get clogged with insulation, or you will trap moisture. DO NOT remove the cardboard pieces, as they are preventing the insulation from spilling over into the soffit, where it could/will absorb and trap excessive moisture and prevent the porch form "breathing" properly. Remove it ONLY if you plan to completely remove all the insulation, too...which would be silly...because it shouldn't have any bearing on your leak issue. Hope that helps answer your question!...See MoreRange on outside wall, brick house, vent thru wall or attic?
Comments (7)It's usually much more expensive to create a new route (i.e. through the attic) than to use an existing one, UNLESS tapping into the old duct means you have to use 10' of sheet metal. The most efficient venting and least expensive option would be to vent through your brick wall. If your patio is there and you use it a lot, you might want to chooses the exact location gingerly. I hope that 400 cfm is adequate for your current range because you probably won't have to worry about make-up-air at that level (check your local code), but you generally choose cfm by your range BTUs. As you plan to switch to induction, you can afford to under estimate....See MoreCovering fiberglass insulation in garage attic
Comments (10)The paper is the moisture barrier and needs to be on the towards the conditioned (interior) side of the house or garage. This is done to prevent moisture from getting into the insulation and ruining it. You can't put something above the insulation that would trap moisture. If the joists are above or close to the level of the height of the insulation, then the best option would be to lay sheets of plywood on top of the joists. This would give you a place to stand and store items. If you have blown in insulation you could clear an area and give up some R value. If you have fiberglass batts that are too high, then you could compress them and also give up some R value. If the batts are too high, then you could remove a section and replace it with a less thick batt in the that area....See More- 3 years ago
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