DIY Builds
DIY Builds
Photo: Nicola Barts
The best way to air seal the sill plate is to place a sill sealer (also called a sill gasket) on the concrete before laying the sill plate over the foundation. A sill seal product that covers the whole sill plate area is preferable because of its waterproofing capability and inherent uniformity.
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Ramps are wild spring onions. With a small, white bulb and hairy root, they resemble scallions but have a forward, garlic-onion flavor. Their...
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Pour the gravel into the shed area and create a smooth surface using a hand tamper. Use a spirit level on the top layer to see if it is level....
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A 5 inch rise requires a 5 foot ramp, a 12 inch rise requires a 12 foot ramp and so on. Jul 23, 2010
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Any penetrations through exterior walls must be sealed. See the guides on air sealing electrical wiring and plumbing penetrations. Use caulk or Seal (and flash) all penetrations through the rim joist or sill plate. All surfaces must be cleaned before applying sealants. The photos in figures 1 and 2 show how caulk and spray foam are applied. Surfaces must be clean and free of dust, dirt, and grease for the sealants to stick. Rigid foam is another option for insulating the juncture of the rim joist and the sill plate as shown in figures 3 and 4. For more guidance on this approach see the guide titled Rigid Foam Board Insulation for Existing Band Joists. It may not be possible to apply sealants directly to the seam between the foundation and the sill plate in homes with existing concrete slabs. However, it may be possible to remove the baseboard around the bottom of exterior walls within conditioned spaces and seal the crack between the wall and the floor. This crack may have carpeting and other flooring in it. If it can be done without damaging the visible portion of the carpet, remove carpet fibers from the crack before filling the crack with caulk. Be sure to replace any baseboard removed for the project. Be careful to keep sealants off of floor and wall finishes. Kitchen and bath cabinets, stairs, and other built-in components may block access. Seal around the cabinets and the joints within the cabinets. Investigate removing the toe kick from cabinets to reach the intersection of the wall and the floor. Kitchen and bath remodels are a perfect time to access this seam. Be sure to replace any toe kicks removed for the project. Pay attention to cantilevered floor cavities for balconies, bay windows, or other bump outs that extend past the foundation to the exterior. The open bays where the floor joists extend past the foundation must be filled with rigid insulation or another sheet material and insulation. See the guide on cantilevered floors for more information. The photo in figure 5 shows how rigid foam insulation held in place with spray foam may be used to seal open bays in cantilevered floors. Once the open bays are sealed the floor joists may be filled with insulation. If it is accessible, seal the floor surface above the cantilevered floor joists. Batt insulation must be installed before exterior sheathing is attached to the bottom of the floor joists. If the cantilevered space is already enclosed, dense pack, blown in insulation is an option. Carefully seal walls separating conditioned spaces and garages as exterior walls, caulking all cracks on both sides of the wall, including the seam between the bottom plate of the wall and the foundation or subfloor.
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If possible, stay away from water-based paints since OSB can swell when it contacts water or a lot of moisture. Prime with two coats of an oil-...
Read More »Existing surfaces may be finished with paint containing lead, especially in home built before 1978. Old plaster may contain asbestos. The Pre-Retrofit Assessment of Hazardous Materials guide contains more information. Figure 1. Caulk is used to seal the seams around the rim joist. Figure 2. Spray foam is used to seal the seam where the sill plate sits on the foundation. Figure 3. Rigid foam insulation may be used to seal and insulation the interior side of the rim joist. Figure 4. This figure shows how rigid foam insulation can be used with spray foam to seal the rim joist, including penetrations. Figure 5. Rigid foam insulation and spray foam are used to seal the open joist bays below a cantilevered floor.
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