Home Improvement Thread

[mac5155]

And, I'm not having it inspected so no big deal. But I may as well try and abide by code to the best I can

[NTP66]

And, I'm not having it inspected so no big deal. But I may as well try and abide by code to the best I can

I mean, with electrical, 100% follow code, no exceptions. I have run Romex from my panel to a wall on the first floor, the area beneath my stairs in the basement, etc. - followed code for every single run. You don't **** around with shortcuts on electrical.

[Beveridge]

I'm anal about electrical work and will pay the one guy we have in town who is fantastic anytime electrical work needs done. I don't care if I think I can do it.

[tifosi77]

I feel like "DIY Electrical" should be a sub-channel of Fail Army.

[NTP66]

It could be. Electrical work isn’t scary if you’re competent and do things right.

[Pavel Bure]

It could be. Electrical work isn’t scary if you’re competent and do things right.

That’s 2 things most people don’t know. Arm chair electricians. That said, replacing light fixtures, ceiling fans, sockets, and switches is pretty easy. Make sure you invest in a $12 tester before attempting though.

[skullman80]

Insulwise guy spent over 3 hours here today. Very thorough. Gave a detailed layout and options he recommended on a scale of 1 to 5.

We ended up picking to air seal the attic plus insulate it. They wrote out a detailed plain provided pictures etc. There are a ton of air leaks between fixtures and bathroom vents, bulkheads and other open voids. We had about 4-5 inches of old fiberglass insulation in the attic that was it.

They are also going to spray foam the joists in our laundry room and other exposed areas in the basement.

They are also installing a few intake vents to help with ventilation. Sounds like the gable vents we have with the ridge vent is not how it’s supposed to be.

We are holding off on insulating the garage for now as he said the attic will get you the biggest roi and comfort level change.

We also held off on the aerosol duct sealing for now.

All in around $5500. Not too shabby. Bout 4-5 weeks till they can do it and they think a 3 man crew can knock it out in a day. Just gotta wait to get on the schedule next week and then see how it goes.

[mac5155]

It could be. Electrical work isn’t scary if you’re competent and do things right.

That’s 2 things most people don’t know. Arm chair electricians. That said, replacing light fixtures, ceiling fans, sockets, and switches is pretty easy. Make sure you invest in a $12 tester before attempting though.

Yeah, I'm looking at wiring 3-4 15amp circuits of 10ish receptacles and can lights each. Maybe throw in a three way switch on one of them lol. Nothing major.

If I was installing a tankless water heater with a 240v sub panel disconnect and 3 40amp double pole breakers, I'm calling someone.

[dodint]

Heh.

[skullman80]

Insulation people called to schedule and they can actually fit us in next week over two days....so next Tues/Wed...we shall see how it goes.

[skullman80]

Insulation day one begins. Sounds like today is just all prep work and air sealing, then tomorrow is actual blow in insulation, spray foam on the joists downstair and ventilation install.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

I’m in the market for some potential spray foam in the attic so I’m interested in the outcome

[skullman80]

I’m in the market for some potential spray foam in the attic so I’m interested in the outcome

We are only doing spray foam on the joists downstairs in the basement/laundry room area that is unfinished. The attic will have blow in cellulose (after everything is air sealed, and then some extra ventilation added)

[NTP66]

I’m in the market for some potential spray foam in the attic so I’m interested in the outcome

We are only doing spray foam on the joists downstairs in the basement/laundry room area that is unfinished. The attic will have blow in cellulose (after everything is air sealed, and then some extra ventilation added)

This is basically what I want to have done in the near future - spray foam in the joists in the basement, additional bat or cellulose in the attic.

[skullman80]

Day 2 has begun. Found out yesterday that our bathroom fans were just venting into the attic. Luckily no mold, but that is also getting fixed today. They spray foamed the joists in the laundry room/basement already, and now they've split off one doing some last minute attic prepping (knee wall sealing etc), while the other is on the roof starting the venting work. Once that is done then it will be time to blow in the cellulose.

[NTP66]

Source of the post Found out yesterday that our bathroom fans were just venting into the attic.

When we were getting ready to sell my wife's condo, I was updating what I could - new 6 panel doors, painting old countertops, etc. One area was the bathroom, and I figured it was worth checking the attic space to see if anything needed to be addressed. Whoever ran the duct from the bathroom fan to the exterior vent must have run out of flex, because they just left it disconnected in the attic, 6" short. Cost me $10 to fix. I can't imagine being that **** lazy.

[skullman80]

Source of the post Found out yesterday that our bathroom fans were just venting into the attic.

When we were getting ready to sell my wife's condo, I was updating what I could - new 6 panel doors, painting old countertops, etc. One area was the bathroom, and I figured it was worth checking the attic space to see if anything needed to be addressed. Whoever ran the duct from the bathroom fan to the exterior vent must have run out of flex, because they just left it disconnected in the attic, 6" short. Cost me $10 to fix. I can't imagine being that **** lazy.

From what little bit of research I did it seemed people didn't think venting into the attic was that bad until like the past 20 years. It seemed pretty common in the 60/70 and even 80's. Our house was built in 75.

[NTP66]

That's because those people were **** idiots.

[skullman80]

That's because those people were **** idiots.

I agree. Our house was also remodeled (including the bathrooms) so one would think when they remodeled it they would have thought hey maybe we should vent these outside now.

[NTP66]

Master bathroom fan:




2nd bathroom fan:


Spray foam for the larger gaps, siliconed on the outside vents.

[skullman80]

It sounds like its raining outside my door as they are blowing in the cellulose (attic access is in a closet in the hallway near my office).

[eddy]

Hmmm, my bathroom fan goes into the attic and that's it. Looks like I should get this fixed

[NTP66]

Yes, run it out of the gable end or soffit, with the roof being the last option.

[eddy]

I can do that, what should I get to run it to the outside?

[NTP66]

I can do that, what should I get to run it to the outside?

They make flex duct for this stuff that is better than the old school accordion looking ****:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-6- ... /203626515

I prefer rigid whenever possible:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Master-Flow ... /100196725

As for the vent, easiest to just go to one of the big box stores and see what works for you. I forget what kind I used on mine, honestly. Something like this looks good:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/NO-PEST-VEN ... /207195609