insulation Archives - MidMod Midwest

Temperature and Moisture Control in Mid-Century Homes

Temperature and moisture control in mid-century houses is one of those topics that might seem less exciting and relevant until suddenly…it matters to YOU.

And while our mid-century houses have the potential be properly snug without being too sealed up. They also sometimes need a tune up. Plus a number of trendy, seemingly “esthetic” changes to your house – siding, soffit, or roof changes – can create problems that didn’t exist before. We’ll definitely cover the moisture consequences (yes, that sounds icky) of painting brick and adding vinyl siding.

So let’s dig into some building technology and the broader concept of thermodynamics so that you are READY to handle the most important considerations about moisture control in mid-century homes.

Keep your mid-century house cool with passive solar

40 min readPassive solar design has been around since forever. It just means that a builder makes siting and design choices that use the sun and shade to keep a building warm or cool.

Your mid-century house might be blessed with a great passive solar design or it might have a wall glass facing full west. If you know, you know!

For anyone in the later situation you may be looking for some mcm appropriate ways to shade your over-sunny living room in the evenings or to let a little more light into a shade-locked space! With a smart remodel, you can!

If you can set up your remodel plans to IMPROVE the passive solar potential of your home while also jazzing up it’s looks and streamlining the flow … you’ve got a win win win!

Adding Insulation to Your Mid-Century House

27 min readIs your house too chilly in winter or too toasty in summer? Let’s explore improving your home’s energy efficiency, without compromising its mid-century charm, by adding insulation.

Mid-century homes weren’t built with modern insulation standards in mind. Many of our homes leak heat in cold climates or let in too much warmth in hot ones.

The good news is that these homes often have excellent air seals thanks to plaster walls and old-growth materials, which provide a solid foundation for energy improvements.

Easy Wins for Cozy Living

If you’re looking to make your home more comfortable without a major remodel, start with the low-hanging fruit:

Attic Insulation: One of the simplest ways to improve energy efficiency.
Basement Sealing: Insulating rim joists can make a big difference with minimal effort.
Air Sealing: Check around windows, doors, and outlets to prevent drafts.

These are straightforward projects that you can tackle yourself or with professional help.

What stands between you and the world, or Taking a Hole Saw to House Walls

3 min readHave you ever felt an overwhelming desire to just drill a hole in the side of your house. Maybe not. And that’s for the best. But since I have, you can share in the benefit of my experience.

When we installed the exhaust fan for the new basement bathroom, the most direct exit route was right through the rim joist of the house. Dad got out his trusty hole saw with the largest (4 inch diameter) attachment and got to work on it. Continue reading “What stands between you and the world, or Taking a Hole Saw to House Walls”

Progress: Installing Batt Insulation

2 min readHaving passed the framing and electrical inspections, the next direct step for the basement was to finish up the insulation. For the first time ever, this task turned out to be easier than I expected.

It was unexpectedly challenging to find 23” batts of insulation (designed for more efficient 24 inch on center framing I used) which were ALSO unfaced (no place for moisture to get stuck) AND designed for a 2×4 wall (not an attic). I scoured the internet for this unicorn of insulation objects, the 23” unfaced 3.5” batt and finally had to special order it to be delivered to Menards. Continue reading “Progress: Installing Batt Insulation”

Fun with an Infra Red thermometer

2 min readNothing shows the importance of insulation like an IR thermometer. It is best used when the temperature differential between inside and outside is greatest – mid summer or winter.

Since it was 20 degrees outside all day yesterday, I took some readings of the window frame before finishing the insulation seal in and around the window framing. The difference was pretty dramatic.

(Note: you also FEEL the difference dramatically with your hand but that shows up less well in a blog post.) Continue reading “Fun with an Infra Red thermometer”

Micro Update: Up-Down Insulated Blinds

4 min readInsulated blinds are one of my favorite micro updates. In addition to a warmer (or cooler) house they provide privacy, controls over your daylight and a stylish update to your aesthetics. Win. Win. Win. Win.

The snap in the air this week reminded me to adjust my insulated blinds up at night instead of leaving them at half mast for daytime privacy. I love, Love, LOVE my cordless, up-down, cellular blinds. They are energy efficient, streamlined and private, and I think they could be an improvement to any home. Continue reading “Micro Update: Up-Down Insulated Blinds”

Progress: Snugged in for winter with new basement Windows

2 min readWith winter coming (the weather just shifted from 70’s to 40’s this week), I was reminded of a punch list of get it done in good weather items. One was last weeks painting catch-all. Another is the possibly crazy goal of getting the mudroom framed in, scheduled for next week.

This week I wanted to install the rest of the basement replacement windows. Continue reading “Progress: Snugged in for winter with new basement Windows”

The Secret to (Warm) Success: Insulating behind new Basement Walls

3 min readPart of the reason I decided to entirely tear out the existing “finished basement” was aesthetic: it was incredibly dated with an unpleasant drop ceiling and an unfortunate layout. I could have kept some parts of it however, if it hadn’t been totally un-insulated. I can do SO MUCH BETTER than that.

I did part of this insulation work a couple of weeks ago – to make step one before framing the walls for the new bathroom – and the rest is still on my agenda. I’ll be insulating the south and east walls next. Continue reading “The Secret to (Warm) Success: Insulating behind new Basement Walls”

Tap in the SubFloor, One Tile at a Time

3 min readThe old basement walls were built from the vinyl tile flooring straight up to the ceiling and attached to 2×2 furring strips that were bolted straight to the painted concrete walls. I want to improve the insulation of the basement and also the air circulation so that no mold will form in dead air cold spaces. First step: install a DriCore sub floor system.

I’m working with a dry basement (generally) but I did notice a little mold on the back of some of the knotty pine and drywall I moved from the original “finished” space. The walls I took out had been built from the vinyl tile flooring straight up to the ceiling and attached to 2×2 furring strips that were bolted straight to the painted concrete walls. I want to improve the insulation of the basement and also the air circulation so that no mold will form in dead air cold spaces. Continue reading “Tap in the SubFloor, One Tile at a Time”