Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
ASK THE INSPECTOR: Stop air leakage into attic from pot lights
QUESTION: We read your column in the Free Press and would like some information about attic insulation. We had an energy evaluation done last fall and the inspector found there was air leakage in the kitchen pot lights that extend up into the attic. He said there were cone-shaped covers available to seal them off so no air would be drawn up into the attic.
Could you please advise me where to get them and also how to install them so they don't overheat? I appreciate any information you can give me.
-- Ed St. Laurent
ANSWER: Air leakage into attics around ceiling pot lights, especially in older homes, is a common problem that can cause significant condensation and leakage. There may be several ways of providing a relatively safe way of covering and insulating these lights, but there are some concerns with any retrofit of this type. Some of these methods will be discussed, but the true repair may require replacement of the entire light fixtures.
Air-sealing any component that extends through a portion of the "building envelope" can be tricky, but especially pot lights, due to the large amount of heat these units produce. This heat not only can cause an issue with warming the air above the light in the attic, causing condensation, but it can also be a safety hazard.
Some types of insulation and wood framing in attics are combustible and may come into contact with an older pot-light housing protruding through the ceiling. These lights can produce a sufficient amount of heat to create a fire hazard from the hot metal housing surrounding the light. Care must be taken to prevent any combustible material from sitting direct against this housing, which includes polyethylene sheathing and possibly the cone-shaped covers that your energy evaluator recommended.
One way to prevent this fire hazard from occurring is to install a small box around the light housing out of non-combustible material. While drywall is sometimes used for this purpose, I would not recommend it due to its tendency to fall apart when it becomes damp. This could happen in an attic environment unless an excellent air/vapour barrier is installed under sufficient insulation.
Still, the heat that may accumulate in this box could still cause deterioration. A better solution may be a plywood or OSB box lined with non-combustible material such as metal sheathing or other insulation materials with an aluminum skin. This would provide a good moisture-resistant material that can be easily covered with an air/vapour barrier and insulation and would provide protection from the heat of the light.
Care should be taken to build the non-combustible box large enough to provide sufficient air space around the light housing to prevent overheating of the box. A gap of several centimetres between the box and the housing in all directions is ideal. This box should be installed so it does not touch the housing or the metal light fixture at all, and should be sealed to the drywall or plaster ceiling to prevent movement. Once in place, the box needs to be air-sealed and insulated.
Several methods are available for this job, depending on existing insulation in the attic and access to the area above. The most conventional method for insulation of a light box in an attic is to cover it with six-millimetre polyethylene sheathing, which should be sealed to the other air/vapour barrier underneath the existing insulation with acoustical sealant or other caulking. Once sealed and in place, it could be covered with insulation similar to that already in your attic. This insulation could be blown-in fibreglass, mineral fibre, cellulose or batts of fibreglass. Adding more of the existing material may provide adequate protection from heat loss, but better alternatives are available.
One possibility is to encase the new box with rigid polystyrene insulation. This may be a good choice due to the ability to cut this rigid material to exactly the same dimensions as the light protection box. Gluing this material directly to the plywood sheathing on the exterior of the box will prevent it from moving, and overlapping the seams with a second layer of rigid foam will prevent any voids. Once installed, this material can be covered with polyethylene sheathing, or it may only need to be caulked to the existing poly if high-density expanded polystyrene is used, which may have a sufficient air/vapour barrier rating alone.
The final option for insulating and air-sealing the new light-box cover is the easiest, but may be the least cost-effective. Covering the light boxes with blown polyurethane foam will provide the best seal and a high insulation value with minimal thickness. This can be accomplished with a few small canisters commonly available at the local building centre if there are only a couple of lights, but will be too costly if there are several lights. In that case, hiring a professional foam-insulation contractor to insulate and seal these lights will be required.
Unfortunately, it may be difficult to access the area above your pot lights if they are near the eaves or if you have sloped ceilings. Also, working in attics can be a difficult process. If you have had little trouble with your lights and no evidence of condensation, you will have to decide if the cost and effort required to seal these lights will be equal to the gain from the lack of air leakage in this area.
Finally, newer pot lights are made with specifically designed boxes already installed, for use in insulated ceilings. Installation of these units, with lower-temperature compact fluorescent bulbs, may be the best solution of all.
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 emailed 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
SOLUTIONS: Steam way to fluffier potatoes
QUESTION: Julia Child once said, "The lid should always be left "ajar" if potatoes are left in the pot after cooking." Also, someone said that cabbage should be cooked without a lid on. Would you know why? Here are some tips: Leftover cheese sauce is good in mashed potatoes, and grated cheese perks up potatoes. Bon appetite! Doris, Binscarth
ANSWER: While there is no one right way to cook potatoes or cabbage, here are a few hints that you may want to consider. For fluffier boil potatoes, pour off all the water after they are boiled and cover the pot with a double thickness of paper towels, then cover with the saucepan lid. In 10 minutes, steam will be absorbed by the towels and your potatoes will be dry and fluffy. The idea behind cooking potatoes with the lid left "ajar" is to cook the potatoes in less time (instead of no lid) without allowing the water to boil over. To cook cabbage, plunge the cabbage into a pot of boiling water, cover the pan only until the water returns to the boil. Remove the lid and let the cabbage cook gently until tender and still a vibrant colour.
QUESTION: Hope you can reply as soon as possible. I had company over last night and served teriyaki salmon which I cooked in the oven. I have one fillet left over and wondered whether I can freeze it. Much thanks. Love your column and read it regularly. Pearl, Winnipeg
ANSWER: You can freeze the fillet as long as it was not previously frozen but not for longer than six months. After that, you will notice a serious decline in quality. Fatty fish, such as salmon or trout, are best frozen for less than three months. All types of fish must be wrapped or packaged in airtight and moisture-vapour proof packaging such as freezable bags. Remove all air from packaging before sealing and over wrap with plastic wrap. Ensure that all packages are labelled with the date, weight and contents. When you thaw your frozen fish, do it gradually. Never in the microwave or room temperature! Let fish thaw in the fridge.
QUESTION: My tenant put a ballpoint pen in my dryer and it has left blue skid marks all over the drum. We have tried a variety of solutions to no avail. Please tell me what to do. Thank you. Gwen, Winnipeg
ANSWER: It may take time to completely remove the stain but it will lessen over the next few months (especially if you use your dryer often). Soak one or two large rags with bleach and water. Run the dryer and allow the towels to dry inside. Clean with dish soap and water. Use nail polish remover to zap remaining ink. Clean dryer out again with dish soap and water before using.
QUESTION: I need your help. I have a pair of expensive leather sandals and the straps close with Velcro. Unfortunately, the Velcro does not stay connected anymore and when I walk, there is a ripping sound, the strap becomes loose and flaps around. I can no longer wear them because of this. Any help you can give me would be appreciated. Thank you. Nancy, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Here are a few options: Bring the sandals to a shoe repair store or comb the Velcro with a pet brush to rejuvenate and clean, or stitch a new piece of Velcro on top of the current Velcro. Some people recommend gluing a new piece of Velcro onto the sandal but in my experience this does not hold.
QUESTION: I just bought a house and it smells like cigarette smoke. We took out the carpet, washed the walls and the smell is still there. Do you have any quick solutions to solve this problem? Thanks! Love your articles in the newspaper. Dominique, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Wash and paint the walls and rent (or purchase) an ozone machine. Use it according to the directions when you are not home. This little machine is what they use in smoke damaged buildings and hospitals. It is not a good idea to use often but you should only need it once.
I enjoy your questions and tips. Keep them coming.
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national bestselling Household Solutions series. Her website is www.householdsolutions.org. You can contact her at Box 429, Blumenort, Man., ROA 0C0.
Renovation & Design
Be a man! Guy space will impress friends
DEAR Marc:
I'm working long hours at the office, and when I come home I am tired. This part of my life is all about my career, so I don't spend lots of time at home. But when I am there, I'd like to have a place where I can relax and unwind. I am basically living like a bachelor right now. My walls are white; I have minimal furniture, and a large, flat-screen TV and sound system. I don't want to compromise the comfort of my furniture just so my house looks good, but I would like for it not to look so ugly. Help! -- Zach
Dear Zach:
Having a designer space is like having a sports car. All your friends will want one. In our fathers' and grandfathers' time, guys were not expected to live in designer spaces. Nowadays, guys are expected to develop their own taste and style for their homes. Many men will buy and design a home before moving in with their wives. Who says we can't live in rock-star spaces before we get married?
The functionality of a given space in your home will change depending on your needs. You might want to easily change your dining room table to a poker table for poker night. Or your living room may not be a sitting area, but rather a room filled with electronics. The most important function of the room may be to have adequate seating for friends and reachable tables to set down a cold beer.
To design your space, you'll need to select an appropriate colour scheme. Great colours for a guy's space may include greys, blues, army greens, taupes, and reds. My personal favourite is shades of grey as the primary wall colour, paired with a deep dusty blue as an accent colour. Think of a navy blue with a dab of grey and that's the colour we're looking for.
Now for furniture. As we're trying to create a strong design with a consistent look, we'll want to stick to a dark grey fabric or black leather for the sofa. The key to buying a great sofa for your guy space is to steer away from the overstuffed sectionals. Rather, look for clean lines and a more modern look and feel. Quality sofas are built to be comfortable without looking like a bean bag with legs, therefore, invest in one and you won't regret it. I know this will come as a shock to most guys, but designer furniture has all of the same functions as regular furniture. If you want a reclining chair, designer chairs that recline are also available!
As for manly accessories, stick to natural elements such as chrome or wood. If it comes down to light or dark-stained wood, choose dark. Cowhide rugs make great area rugs in these spaces. The successful formula is to have touches of rustic design, but not have your home look like it should be part of a ski lodge.
As for your flat-screen television, don't fret. If it isn't wider than your fireplace, you can hang it above the mantel. This way, your focal point is still the fireplace, and you won't have to change your seating around when the guys are over to watch the game. Also, instead of having the speakers sitting on the floor around the room, invest in in-wall speakers. These are wired into your walls between your studs (vertical 2 X 4s in the wall) so that neither the wires nor the speakers are visible. And voila, your pile of electronics that was sitting in the corner of the room is now transformed into a state-of-the-art entertainment system. All the great functions, with none of the ugly!
Who says guys can't have a designer space? Once you've completed your guy space, you'll be the envy of all your friends.
Marc Atiyolil is the editor-in-chief of Canadian Home Trends -- Canada's Home Decor & Lifestyle Magazine. To submit a question for Marc Atiyolil, visit CanadianHomeTrends.ca.
Renovation & Design
Around The House
Back to school
NO one does small spaces afford-ably better than IKEA, and this fall the Swedish retailer is tackling dorm rooms in style. From bedding to desks to organizers, IKEA has coeds covered.
Here are some suggestions for starting university in the right frame of mind (uncluttered):
-- Small boxes keep USB sticks, CDs, pens and extra cables stowed and hidden.
-- Young adults enjoy their sleep. An alarm clock will ensure they get to class on time.
-- Magazine files and letter trays can store books, handouts, and work-in-progress.
-- Dirty clothes will pile up -- put them in a hefty laundry hamper instead of on the floor.
-- Inexpensive and decorative storage boxes can stash clothing, magazines or school stuff.
-- IKEA also sells prints and picture frames to bring personality to a small space.
Wallpaper
I thought the point of wallpaper was to put it up and be done with it. Not so. The folks at U.K.-based Graham & Brown have created a wall covering ideal for people whose idea of fun is repainting the walls every year.
Superfresco Paintable wallpaper has a bold pattern that can be painted to blend with furniture and accessories, or left white for a contemporary look. The product is intended to be put up over imperfect walls whose cracks or bubbles would be amplified under a coat of paint. So the idea is to cover up your wall's blemishes, then add colour to your heart's content, with the benefit of a funky pattern. Curvy Superfresco Paintable wallpaper is available at homedepot.ca for $23.99 a double roll.
-- Postmedia News
