Creating a More Comfortable, Energy Efficient Home
Lindus Construction’s COO, Andy Lindus offers advice on improving comfort and safety in your home by preventing mold and ice dams with proper ventilation and insulation.
Listen to the Entire Show Here:
Ice Build-Up on Your Home’s Roof and Gutters
For homes that have ice forming on their roof, icicles will likely form on its gutters. The only issue icicles pose is the hazard they produce when they separate from the home and fall to the ground. In the winter months, open style gutters will grab the ice and build it onto your roof, which has the potential to cause ice dams. Diagnostic testing by a reputable professional can assist in identifying the origin of the ice. Infrared imaging, which can highlight where air leaks are happening, can prove particularly advantageous in the winter months because of the dramatic difference in temperatures between indoors and outdoors. In most situations, the correct combination of insulation, ventilation, and attic air sealing can eradicate ice dams.
Reduce Bathroom Condensation with Proper Ventilation
Bathrooms built absent of exhaust fans can still have them installed at a future date. Prior to agreeing to this type of project being done, be sure the professional you have hired is planning to vent the fan outdoors and not into the attic or into the soffit. If it is vented into the attic then condensation, dry rot, and mold can ensue, leading to the need for more insulation. Bath fans should not expel warm air into the soffits because they are not designed to pull air out of the home. A quality professional should be able to explain their approach for your project to ensure that they are looking at your home’s entire building envelope and not creating more problems than they are solving.
Learn More About Home Performance Testing:
Key Components to Consider for Your Deck Renovation
Prior to converting a deck to a three- or four-season porch, a reputable professional should verify whether the current footings can support the additional weight of insulation, trusses, doors, windows, and walls. Careful thought and consideration should also be taken to determine how the deck will tie into the house and how the room will be conditioned. It’s wise to get pricing for making the space both a three season and four-season porch, as it is significantly more expensive to convert a three season porch to a four season porch after the fact.
Contact us today to get started on your next insulation or ventilation project.
Our team answers homeowner questions every weekend on WCCO 830 AM from 9:00 am-10:00 am. Have your most pressing home improvement questions addressed by calling or texting 651-461-9226
