February 22, 2010
Dear Ken: The kids' bedrooms are over the garage. As you might guess, they're really cold. What can do down below to get them more comfortable? Lori
First, make sure the attic above the bedrooms has loose insulation to a depth of about 13 to 15-inches; add some if you need to. Also, how about the windows? Are they double-paned vinyl or wood? Do they have cellular shades? All this will help upstairs.
In the garage itself, you'll need to check the insulation in the ceiling. The only reliable way is to cut out a panel of sheetrock, say 16 x 16 inches and take a peek. You'll probably see batt material (the chunks of insulation with paper attached). Ideally, they should be at least 6 inches (or more) high-giving you an R-19 or so. If you need some more, the insulation company may be able to blow in extra material through small holes drilled here and there in the ceiling. Remember that your garage ceiling is part of the "firewall" system, so all holes and cuts should be taped over. It's also a good idea to insulate and drywall all garage wall surfaces. Finally, a new insulated steel garage door will help retain heat overnight from the cars' engines.
Dear Ken: The floor and part of one wall next to our shower are turning black from mold. Can we handle this ourselves, or do we need to call in an expert?
Jill
This doesn't sound like a big deal. Danger from mold and its spores has been wildly exaggerated by the media. If you were sensitive to this stuff-as is about 15% to 20% of the population-you'd be noticing it already. Even so, it's a good idea to use a good mask over your nose and mouth while you do the work. The first chore is to remove the moisture source. Stop taking showers in this bathroom for now. Turn on the exhaust fan and remove the carpet and pad. Scrub the moldy hard surfaces areas with some Clorox and water (start with 2/3 of a cup to a gallon). Once it's dry, apply some shellac or our old friend KILZ to the spots. Next, check the weather-stripping around your shower door to make sure it's intact. You can then redecorate--but only with a hard surface floor, like tile or vinyl!
Dear Ken: Will putting a door at the bottom of our basement stairs help keep the house warmer? Craig
Not really. Warm air rises, so the upstairs heat will tend to stay up there. However, if you have air conditioning, that door will help keep the cooler air on the upper level in the summer; it's heavy, so it likes to ooze down the stairs. There are other reasons, to add that door, though. Many folks feel safer with a locked basement door while home alone. I've seen many instances of a dead bolt on that door, with the key side facing into the basement. Not a bad idea, especially if you have lots of basement window wells for miscreants to hid in.
Dear Ken: I had a flood in my crawl space last month. Now, I can't seem to get it dry. Any ideas would be appreciated. Nancy
I like the idea of mechanical ventilation. Use a window box fan to circulate drier air through the space. So provide an opening-perhaps in the crawl space door-so air can be drawn through and sent outdoors. No doubt, this will waste energy, but a dry crawl space is vital to protect your foundation. Why not inside air? You don't want to draw mold spores and other nasty stuff into your living environment. It may take a week or two of 24/7 operation to get the moisture out.
