Saturday, March 17, 2012

Insulation Completed

How do you insulate an old house? Very carefully with many, many holes.  Please do not notice the Christmas wreaths which remained up way past the holiday.  We put plastic up in the windows to help keep the heat in and couldn't remove the wreaths.  Well, they're gone now!  No more plastic going up in the fall. YaaHooooooooooo!

Now way down deep into the bowels of the house. Otherwise known as the basement.  I never knew how much heat was lost through the concrete above ground. Evidently, cement blocks have only an R value of 1.  The guys spent 2 days spraying a 2 part insulation foam on the basement walls. After this was completed there was a noticeable difference in the house.
Please notice the beautiful plumbing.  This goes to our new bathroom.  No frozen pipes in the winter. What a novel concept.
Beautiful insulation aaaaa.......

Next came attic insulation.  We have two attics. 

Please don't fall through! Nice and deep with plenty loft.  When we first moved into the house the attics were slap full of junk.  The house was owned by a hoarder and boy was it full.

They removed the top portion of the window at each end and put in a vent to allow moisture to escape. There is old wallpaper from who knows when.  I can't imagine being a kid and staying up here.
They spent about 4 full days insulating the house.  In the past if the temp in the kitchen was 68 we had a rip roaring fire in the woodstove.  Now with the fire banked it will reach 70 with very little effort.  The big test will be when we drop back to the negatives.  Today the high is suppose to be 60.  If this keeps up we should get 3 cuttings of hay this summer.  That will be a blessing in itself.
Much Love and Prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm

6 comments:

rugosarosefarm said...

Ooooh! Aaaah! You'll be so warm, you won't know what to do.

Stoney Creek Homestead said...

with the new insulation job, your old house might be even cooler this summer compared to last summer.

LindaSue said...

how fabulous! we are going to increase insulation in our attic to keep it cooler - but concept still the same - wonderful you have been able to afford and do the changes to make your wonderful place even more comfortable

Marigold said...

Oh, Kelly! I am SO happy for you guys! The older I get , the colder I get. :) And our barn has no insulation. But winter in Maine, with no insulation? I can't imagine. Woo Hooo!!!!!!!! Warmth for Mainely Ewes Twos!!!!!

Lili said...

This is so wonderful! And I did not know that about a block foundation, I must alert the man about that one! Can't wait to hear what a difference it makes when the temps go way down again! ~Lili

~ Janis said...

My house says 1850 on it. Your insulation project isn't as bad as I imagined it would be. I might have to check into what it would cost here in N VT. Thanks for the inspiration.