Ventilation

Question: Good morning Mr. Marantz. I would like to start by saying that my wife and I very much enjoy your weekly advice column, having recently purchased our first home. I found your previous article on knee-wall ventilation especially interesting because our home is exactly like the home … [Read more...] about Turning Attic Into Closet

Question: We have a custom built home that is almost 10 years old and is a 1400 square foot bungalow with 2x6 construction.  We have noticed that the house doesn't seem to be retaining heat as well as it should.  Our basement is insulated and half of it has been finished.  Our … [Read more...] about Stopping Thermal Bridging

Question: I have a question with regards to polyurethane spray insulation for the basement.  Will 2" provide an adequate vapour barrier?  I hear differing opinions about this.  The plan is to build a frame wall flush to the 2" of spray insulation and put batts in the wall.  As … [Read more...] about Spray Foam in Basement

Question: My Mother is the original owner of a basic, rectangular, 1,100 sq. ft bungalow, built in 1952 in Crescentwood. Each end of the roof peak extends to form a gable, bearing a wooden louvered face as part of the attic ventilation system. The louvers run the full width of the face of the … [Read more...] about Replacing Old Gable Vents

Question: I read one of your articles with interest since my basement is not insulated and I'm planning to do so.  I was advised to use the Manitoba Hydro Power Smart booklet #2, Basement and crawlspace insulation.  In that booklet, they describe applying a moisture barrier.  This … [Read more...] about Moisture Barrier in Basement

Question: I have a 9 foot square room at the back of my house we have always called the summer kitchen.  It's uninsulated and is at ground level, attached to my back door.  Consequently, we can only use it in the summer.  It would like to use it all year round and want to know … [Read more...] about Insulating Screen Porch

Question: We are trying to improve the house that our child has bought. It is a 55 years old, 11/2 story house with knee-walls and 4 small attics. Ice dams occurred at our first snow and melt this year. One small attic runs along the entire length of the house and upon inspecting this … [Read more...] about Insulating Knee Walls

Question: I am an avid reader of your column and recently there have been several articles about proper home insulation. I have a specific question concerning the installation of insulation in the roof of my 20 x 24 ft. detached garage. I wish to insulate it to make it a comfortable wood working … [Read more...] about Insulating Garage Roof

Question: My house is 8 years old and I'm finishing my basement. The pockets between the joists were not insulated. I filled the pockets with insulation, 2 pieces of fibreglass to total 5.5 inches thick, then sealed the pockets with a piece of polyethylene. On one side of my house, where the … [Read more...] about Insulating Floor Joist Pockets