LarryC Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 I thought about a brick or stone exterior after posting, and wonder if that isn't pretty good for the summer. Can't imagine drilling all those holes in your exterior masonry, and I don't think they'll plug them to match up with the limestone, either. Yep, it sounds like your windows might be next in line -- I suffered my first 22 yrs. in this house with original wood windows and sash weights, and constantly felt cold next to each of those old windows. The vinyl frame argon dual-glazed windows transformed that, so think what getting rid of those steel or aluminum frames could do! The reduction in noise transmission was a surprising icing on the cake, and I'd guess metal frames transmit more noise than wood. Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Shmoe Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Ya know, you could do this project yourself and probably save money! I helped my cousin do his pole barn & his house. Home Depot gives you the blower & hose free to use, all you do is buy the insulation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBK Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Michael, We have a similar problem with our 1968 raised ranch - purchase a few years ago - a real nightmare for heat/cooling. I just found a product the looks real interesting to use in addition to the insulation www.fifoil.com - it radiant insulation. Looks real promising for reducing the heat level in the attic etc. Still researching - who can install,etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyholiday Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 Indiana Energy Facts Indiana power plants rank 12th in the nation for electricity sales Indiana consumers pay the 4th lowest electric rates in the nation Indiana mines over 35 million tons of coal each year which represents about 3.5% of the total U.S. coal production Primary Sources of Energy for Indiana: Coal: 53% Petroleum: 29% Natural Gas: 17% Renewables: 1% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel's wife Posted July 14, 2006 Moderators Share Posted July 14, 2006 Michael, We have a similar problem with our 1968 raised ranch - purchase a few years ago - a real nightmare for heat/cooling. I just found a product the looks real interesting to use in addition to the insulation www.fifoil.com - it radiant insulation. Looks real promising for reducing the heat level in the attic etc. Still researching - who can install,etc. Dtel and I used a product similiar to this in our workshop addition. The installation for the product we used was very simple, we did it ourselves. There is a company here in Picayune, MS that worked with NASA to develop some of these types of insulation. You can go to www.reflectech.com and get additional info on these types of products. Their phone numbers are also available at the web site. The prices may even be shown on the web site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigStewMan Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 Michael--what do you think of the "Whole House Attic Fan?" Someone just recommended that I get one. Sounds like a great idea, are they worth the cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted July 14, 2006 Author Share Posted July 14, 2006 They work great, a childhood neighbor had one and this home has one. If it's not very humid they work great. What it does is twofold. It creates a breeze throughout the house by sucking air through the ceiling into the attic. Opening a single window in the rooms farthest from the centrally located fan seems to give the best effect. This has a secondary effect of forcing the hot attic air out through the roof vents, stopping the heat transfer into the living space. Mine also sucks air up from the cool basement as well. In the Spring and Fall, I use mine for a couple of hours before bedtime to cool down the house. They are a bit noisy so I don't leave on for long periods of time. Becuase of our seasonal very high humidity, I have a box built around mine that is a barricade for the insulation and has a hinged lid that seals it in the summer and winter months. I would think that they might work better in a ranch home and in areas that don't get exceptionally humid. So Cal might be such an area. I'd contact a heating contractor or insulation specialist in your area to either conduct a test of your home's energy efficiency and recommend the size and placement of the unit. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted July 14, 2006 Author Share Posted July 14, 2006 Here's a good article on the Whole House Fans http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infattfan/infattfan2a.shtm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigStewMan Posted July 15, 2006 Share Posted July 15, 2006 Michael--thanks for the info--it's always best to get advice from someone that actually has the product you're interested in. i believe i read in a previous post that your home was built in 1950--so was mine. we just purchased it last year from the original owner. no a/c and that is killing me this summer. i've been living on the coast for 20 years, while in the coast guard, stupidly waiting until i retired and settled down before i bought a place. when i finally retired, i couldn't afford a house in the town i'd been living in for the past ten years. had to move 20 minutes down the road to save over $150K. There is actually a big difference in the temperature. i've heard a hardwood floor and raised foundation isn't the best accoutically; but, that's what i've got to deal with. lots of work to do here. when we bought the place, it was running on 50 amps! Don't know how the lady managed. we've been upgrading slowly. fortunately, the house is solid and has double-paned windows. when i have the tunes cranked up, i have to go outside to ensure i'm not bothering the neighbors--the place is pretty soundproof. it's actually built so solid that i have diffculty getting cell phone reception indoors. i have a detached garage that i'd like to turn into my "lounge," that someday will have Klipschorns. I bought some Hereseys back in early 1984 and have wanted some horns ever since. Living room right now is Synergy III which does well. Still have the Hereseys--too fond of them to get rid of. I appreciate the advice. This means absolutely nothing on-topic, but i spent a weekend in Indy back in 1978. i was in the coast guard and one of the guys on the ship was from indy and invited me to his hometown for a holiday weekend. went to a real big party! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted July 15, 2006 Author Share Posted July 15, 2006 Yes, I"m in an older home. I have basement or crawl space under all main floors, so it's a wood floor joist underneath. I like this arrangment because the bass travels through the floor, 'floor shock' I call it. Feels like the room is energized, vs the concrete HT basement rooms many guys have. I also have hardwood floors in my gallery (what was the living room), and real plaster walls. However it isnt 'pingy', that kind of ring that drywall has. I think because it's sooo stiff, I just get a single slapback echo and that's it. So that room works well. If the hardwood bothers you, a thick area rug with pad can help as can acoustical wall treatments. These need not look like recording studio or ugly the room up. Consult the Architectural Forum for hints about this. I had 60 amp service on fuses here when I moved in. Changed it to 300 amp circuit breakers, but the electrician was a lone worker who'd done my brother's new home. He screwed me by saying that ground wires were present and he just hooked up new grounded outlets. Turns out there was no ground wire. So I got bigger service but still no grounds. He did not rewire as required. Guy did some other really lame things too, but I won't go into it. Just hire a local reputable firm. It'll be expensive, but worth it on resale. Good luck with the place, feel free to PM on other house items. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigStewMan Posted July 15, 2006 Share Posted July 15, 2006 cool. my house isn't grounded either. just had a loose neutral coming from the powerline that caused some surges that fried our oven, cable box, and modem. fortunately, i had an expensive surge protecter that my yamaha htr5790 was plugged into--the surge protection gave up its life, but saved the amp. electrican said he could ground any room(s) i want easily. probably have them do that when they run 220 for my spa. the hardwood floors/raised foundation isn't an issue for me. i mentioned that based on what others have told me and i thought that i may be missing out on better sound. thanks for the help. from reading some of these threads, i've got so much to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted July 15, 2006 Author Share Posted July 15, 2006 Think about the wood this way. When you see the interior of a recording studio what is the wall frequently paneled in? WOOD. My entire Hearth room where the main HT is situated is paneled in 3/4" knotty pine. It sounds GLORIOUS. But there is double pad beneath the carpet and one large window has 4" Foam wedges behind the curtains. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyholiday Posted July 15, 2006 Share Posted July 15, 2006 Typical R-values ,Face brick per inch 0.11, ½-inch gypsum board 0.45 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted July 15, 2006 Author Share Posted July 15, 2006 Typical R-values ,Face brick per inch 0.11, ½-inch gypsum board 0.45 So my 4" limestone isn't to hot, at least there is very little air infiltration. Now to calculate where my dollars are better spent, windows or drilling and filling the exterior walls. I'd bet the best bang for the buck is in windows. It'll better the look and resale value of this home more as well. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrWho Posted July 15, 2006 Share Posted July 15, 2006 My entire Hearth room where the main HT is situated is paneled in 3/4" knotty pine. It sounds GLORIOUS. Ya it does. I think part of it is that crazy style speaker layout you got running too [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted July 17, 2006 Author Share Posted July 17, 2006 It's not that crazy Doc, if you looked at it from an aerial perspective, it's pretty symmetrical nowadays. It's just that it sits a bit funny in the room, with the Right LS against the side wall and away from the front a bit. btw, now that insulation is in, I could really use your help in finishing up the house installation. We have those jack plates in office and Hearth Room, I pulled the wires through for the Klipsch IW50's in the Kitchen, there's the eave mounts for the front porch, and I'd like to run jack plates through to the garage for the Industrials. Sounds like a good weekend project when you have the time. No weddings until Sept. so I'm clear. Just let me know. And you have to hear the Khorns. Heaven man. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrWho Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 I meant crazy in a good way (even getting rid of most of the early reflections too). Let me see what my school and work schedule looks like and when is that crossover thing going to happen? Maybe I can swing by the day before and we can crank it all out? So are the khorns tucked into the corners now? I've been dying to hear a pair with normal amplification (like them old HK recievers). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted July 17, 2006 Author Share Posted July 17, 2006 Khorns are ready for your golden ears sir! Roger came over with the pad material and rubber footies and had em tucked in in no time. Trey and Steve both complained about the one not being tight in because of the radiators, so I told em to take the side grilles off and she backed up very nicely. Look at mid-late August for the crossover thingie. One solid day for us to get set up for that and do the wiring. I have RG6 crimp tool, need to order the jack plates, etc. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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