Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
ASK THE INSPECTOR: Attic moisture plaguing Manitoba homes
QUESTION: We had water dripping from our second-floor bedroom ceiling the evening of the first mild day a few weeks ago. Today, when I had time to get up into the attic, I found quite a bit of snow, about an eight-foot-square area, laying on top of the fibreglass batt insulation at the north end of the attic under the gable vent. There was some under the south gable vent, but not as much.
It was impossible to just remove the snow, as it had refrozen and was partially embedded into the batts. I have removed the top layer of batts to the garage to await thawing and drying out. The remaining insulation, another layer of R12 batts and wood chips, will also have to be dried out.
In 14 years in our home, we've never had such water leaks before. I don't check up in the attic regularly, and so assume there may have been some snow in previous years, but never enough to cause liquid water leaks. This year, I assume that one of the many snowfalls we had was accompanied by the necessary direction and strength wind to blow this amount of snow through the gable vent into the attic.
I know I should not block the attic vents, especially in winter, to maintain attic ventilation. Do I just need to get a better vent? The current one is a newer, plastic vent installed about seven years ago when we re-sided our home.
I've read suggestions online about installing a furnace filter on the inside of the vent, which is claimed to block wind-blown snow but not prevent adequate air flow. Is this a good idea, or are there other options? Thanks, Ray Vander Zaag
ANSWER: Having dealt with the issue of attic moisture in a recent article, I was reluctant to revisit the issue so soon, but the current situation in our area warrants further attention. You are only one of hundreds of homeowners who are having issues with unusual leakage from wet attics, and I'll to explain why this is happening.
There is a chance that the frozen moisture you have seen inside your attic is partially due to snow blowing through the gable vent, but it's even more likely that it's from frost that has formed from moisture within the attic itself.
With the high winds and blowing snow during this unusually bitter winter, some snow getting through the louvers on a typical gable vent is not abnormal. In fact, with these conditions some snow can often be seen below normal roof vents as well. These amounts, while looking troublesome, rarely cause much concern, other than temporarily wet insulation. Isolated wet spots like this should easily dry over the long, hot summer, as long as attic ventilation is adequate.
However, I think it's more likely that attic moisture has condensed inside the vent and frozen, creating a thick layer that may be partially blocking the vent. Wet, blown snow may also have stuck to the screen on the inside of the vent, further complicating matters.
With the recent warmer weather, this heavy layer of frost has partially melted and fallen on top of the insulation. What you may not have seen is additional frost that formed on the underside of the roof sheathing and fell on top of the batts, contributing to the leakage.
This additional melted ice may have exceeded the normal absorptive capacity of the fibreglass batts, allowing water to seep through to the ceiling. This larger-than-normal amount of moisture is likely why you haven't experienced this is previous years.
This issue is happening in lots of homes in our area. While excessive attic moisture and condensation is usually linked to high relative humidity in the living space and poor air sealing of the building envelope, this year there is another important variable: exceedingly long periods of -20 to -30C, which have prevented normal thawing and melting of attic frost.
A normal winter freeze/thaw cycle situation prevents the large, single-event thawing we're seeing late this winter, which is wreaking havoc in our homes. Unfortunately, some of the blame falls squarely on the shoulders of Mother Nature, not the building or its occupants.
You have taken the right step by removing some of the wet insulation, preventing the excessive attic moisture from causing further damage. But care should be taken not to remove all the insulation until the weather is consistently above freezing, as that may cause further problems.
Unfortunately for many homeowners, particularly those with blown-in, loose-fill fibreglass, dampness may be present in different layers of the thermal protective material. This makes partial removal much more difficult. I've also recently seen several homes where actual water was sitting on the polyethylene air/vapour barrier below the insulation.
While it may appear that a poorly designed attic gable vent is allowing snow to blow into your attic, causing leakage when the weather warms, that may not be the whole story. A combination of environmental moisture, trapped in the attic over the excessively cold winter, and air leakage through the building envelope, are more to blame in this case. Blocking any attic vent with any type of material or filter will only cause bigger issues and will delay quick drying of the wet insulation once really warm weather arrives.
Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and the President of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors - Manitoba (www.cahpi.mb.ca). Questions can be e-mailed to the address below. Ari can be reached at (204) 291-5358 or check out his website at www.trainedeye.ca.
trainedeye@iname.com
Renovation & Design
Put Home Expressions show on your schedule
Now that the Parade of Homes is over, you're probably wondering what to do about your home.
You visited many beautiful new homes during the Parade and are torn between fixing up your current home and trading it in for a newer model. Now is the best time ever to consider both options.
Most of the show homes are still open for your viewing. If you've misplaced your Parade magazine, it's still on the Manitoba Home Builders Association website (www.homebuilders.mb.ca). Take some time to visit one that caught your fancy during Parade, or look at some completely new ones.
If you're considering what to do with your existing home, the Home Expressions Home and Garden Show is April 4, 5 and 6 at the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg. Home Expressions is taking place on the second and third floors and is packed with great ideas for your home.
The show is features more than 200 exhibitors, the largest and most comprehensive such event in the province. The list is too long for this column, but let's just say that anything you need for your home's interior, your yard, garden or cottage will be on display at Home Expressions. (www.homeexpressions.ca) There are prizes, raffles and plenty of chances to win big at this years' 40th anniversary show. The Canadian Decorators' Association will be there, providing free advice for upgrading your home. There are two stages with fascinating and informative presentations throughout the show.
A special attraction for this year's event is the MTS Salute to Hockey, featuring the Hockey Fan Cave by Jackie Morra Interiors on the second floor. This was a popular part of last year's Toronto home show, and Home Expressions is the first time that the Fan Cave has gone on the road.
All hockey fans will be delighted to see memorabilia, luxuries and the essentials of the perfect setting to watch hockey. There will even be an artificial-surface skating rink attached to the Fan Cave.
Tickets are available through TicketMaster at the door on the day of the shows for $13.50, which includes agency fees and GST. All of the home and garden products and services that you will need are on display at the Home Expressions Home and Garden Show April 4 (noon - 9 p.m.), April 5 (10 a.m. - 8 p.m.) and April 6 (noon - 5 p.m.) at the RBC Convention Centre. Why drive all over town when everything you need is under one roof?
Mike Moore is the president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: Cleaning that dirty oven isn't so simple
QUESTION: My oven is three years old but looks as though it has been used every day non-stop for 10 years or more. It's a mess, and baking soda can't get it clean! The oven is self-cleaning, but even after I use the self-cleaning feature, the inside floor, inside window and window panes in between look dirty. Is it possible to take the glass apart and clean it? Sarah, Gillam, Man.
ANSWER: After using the self-cleaning feature on an oven, wipe the floor of the oven with vinegar and water to clean up any debris and white residue. To clean all oven windows, fill a spray bottle with two tablespoons of household ammonia, half a teaspoon of dish soap and two cups of water. Spray the windows and leave for 15 minutes. Scrub with an abrasive cloth.
I learned first-hand that taking oven window panes apart is quite easy; it's putting them back together that can be a pain. Two people will make this project a million times easier -- learned that the hard way.
While there are several different styles of ovens, you will need to remove the screws and possibly the hinges. Take photos with your camera as you disassemble so you don't end up putting the glass back in place upside down -- learned that the hard way. Dry the glass before reassembling the door; otherwise, when you put the glass in place, any standing cleaner will drip inside the pane and leave another drip marks. Learned that the hard way, too.
QUESTION: Can you please give me some tips on sharpening dull scissors? Thanks. Jayden, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Some people sharpen scissors by cutting through layers of aluminum foil, sandpaper or steel wool. However, for anyone who owns a rod-style knife sharpener, use cutting movements to cut through the rod several times. Your scissors will end up sharp enough to cut fabric. Another option: Hold one scissor blade on the outside of a glass drinking cup and the other scissor blade on the inside of the cup. Close the scissors as if you were trying to gently cut the lip of the glass. Repeat a few times.
QUESTION: I have a cigarette burn on my carpet. Is there an easy way to fix this without leaving a big space? Help please! Sol, Brandon, Man.
ANSWER: Since the carpet fibres have actually been singed away, you basically have two options: Either contact a professional carpet-care service or trim the entire cigarette-burnt parts away with small scissors. Using leftover carpet remnants, trim several pieces of fibre. Super-glue the fibres into the burnt area. Check the repaired area in a day and add more snipped pieces if needed.
QUESTION: With spring in the air, I am thinking about planting tomatoes, but I don't have a lot of space, and so I was thinking about growing them in pots. Any suggestions? Lorraine, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Great! Purchase a big pot and put a tomato cage inside the pot. Plant your tomato deeply in the soil and fertilize as desired. Fill a few plastic pop bottles with water, close the lids and put them around the tomato plant. Wrap the outside of the cage securely with plastic wrap from the bottom to the top, much like a greenhouse. These extra steps help keep your plant warm and growing well.
Smart tips of the week
-- For a smooth line when applying eyeliner, heat the liner for a few seconds with your hairdryer. Doing this softens the pencil and enables it to glide on with ease.
-- Less to carry: Instead of carrying bottles of condiments outside for a barbecue, fill each cup of a muffin tray with a different condiment, e.g., ketchup, mustard, sliced onions, cheese, relish, etc. Put a small spoon in each cup so guests can serve themselves.
I enjoy your questions and tips; keep them coming. Missed a column? Can't remember a solution? Need a motivational speaker for an upcoming event? Check out my website: Reena.ca.
