Why Insulating Kitchens and Baths Matters
This past week we started a series on why insulating kitchens and bathroom is so important. The number one reason is pretty simple, it’s because there are water pipes in the walls, ceilings, and floors of these rooms that can easily freeze during our bitter cold winters here in Washington DC, if we’re not very careful to protect them from freezing. The passive and easy way to protect these pipes from freezing is by providing good insulation from the exterior cold. Over time, even with good insulation, pipes can still freeze, but generally even the hardest cold snaps don’t last indefinitely here in Washington, DC.
Even though it’s just a passive method of protection, insulation can bear the brunt of stabilizing on the warm side of the insulative barrier and prevent pipes from freezing in the majority of our typical winter conditions.
Last week, we talked about how this important step, in the rough-in construction project can easily be missed by rushed schedules and budget-crunched flippers, today we’re going to talk about some of the ways insulation can be done proactively and pragmatically to both save significant lifecycle costs and avoid or help to prevent disasters and flooding of buildings in the future.
The picture above shows a room where the ceiling has been recently removed. Some of the finish materials remain laying on top of the subflooring. The average homeowner is more accustomed to seeing a building with drywall or plaster covering all parts of the framing. The framing though, as complicated as it might sound to build and install, it’s actually relatively simple, at least in concept. Framing generally runs, milled to stick length, normally in two foot increments, at 2x dimensions, in parallel and in series.
The explanation of saying that something runs both in series and parallel could be a bit confusing, so we’ll add a bit more information to clarify. In electrical terms, things cannot really be both in series and in parallel, in most cases. In the case of a ceiling framing, as shown in the picture above, and in most types of stick framed walls, floors, and ceilings, and even roof systems, the framing can be set both in series and parallel.
These framing members each run individually, but in parallel from one to the next. They also, run a series, one following the next across the span of a planar side of a room or building.
The picture below shows the fluffy fiberglass material found in most batt type insulation. This particular type of batt insulation happens to be relatively thick. The thickness, in this case, gives it a higher R-value. When compressed, the fiberglass insulation may retain some of its characteristics such as sound dampening, but it will actually lose some of its thermal resistance. For complete effectiveness, as intended by the manufacturer, and the rating agency, to reach the thermal resistance value as stated, the insulation needs to be allowed to be fully expanded so that it can have as much space as it requires.
Here, in the picture below, you can see another type of similar installation rolled up as it is normally purchased from a retailer or wholesaler.
The next picture below shows the open edge of the same type of rolls of insulation. You can see that these unfaced bats are actually long rolls pre-cut to fit between particular dimensions of stud spacing. In typical building practices, studs can be spaced in a variety of different spacings, but certain spacings are more common in stud framed walls. Particularly where load bearing, wall framing will often be spaced on 16-in centers. That means that each stud, from its center, is 16 in from the next stud in series.
The next picture below shows a historic building with an open framed ceiling, painted white, here in Washington, DC. Interestingly the original wood flooring system, heart pine, in this case, is fastened directly to the floor joists. In modern construction, a subflooring material such as plywood oriented strand board would be installed first and then the floor will be fastened to the subflooring.
In addition to simply installing insulation to fill the wall, ceiling, and floor systems, it’s also important to bear in mind that a historic brick building without relatively recent repointing may be much draftier than it otherwise should be. This draftiness will allow cold air to enter more freely into the inner wall cavity. Repointing or tuck pointing can help seal the exterior envelope of the building much better.
In addition to typical batt insulation in wall cavities, we also recommend additional types of insulation at piping. It’s always important to install the pipes on the tempered side of the insulation, but you may also consider pipe insulation wrapped directly around the pipes.
Dupont Kitchen & Bath Can Help
As dedicated and local DC metropolitan kitchen and bath builders and installers, we pride ourselves on turning your visions into reality. Your kitchen and bathrooms can reflect your unique style and be designed with personalized aesthetics. It can be a process from creative designs to the realization of your dream space. Specializing in kitchen and bath construction, we bring expertise and skills to every project. If you’re contemplating a renovation, upgrade, or modernization in the local market, we’re happy to be your team. Consult with us, and we can start together on a path to redefine and elevate your DC living experience.
You can visit our company website at https://dupontkitchenbathdc.com/
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