24 - Friday, June 19, 1987 - North Shore News MAKING COTTAGE, HOME COMFORTABLE Insulation warms up the floors ROOMS BUILT over crawl spaces, or other unheated areas, and the floors of cottages don’t have to be cold and drafty. Insulation and damp-proofing are all that is required to make them cozy. Crawl] spaces can be insulated in two ways. The foundation walls can be insulated, creating a heating area, or the floor above the craw! space can be insulated, leaving the crawl space unheated. If the crawl space is very moist, you should insulate the floor above, and ventilate the unheated space. If there are water pipes or heating ducts in the craw! space, wrap them in insulation, or in- sulate the foundation to keep the crawl space warm and prevent frozen pipes. if the ground level inside the crawl space is well below the ground level outside, insulate the outside foundation walls. Crawl spaces which are not vented to an adjacent basement must be vented to the outside with not ‘less than one square foot of unobstructed vent area for every 500 square feet of floor area. These can be insulated and sealed shut for the winter. INSULATING THE FLOOR Wear proper safety equipment: a dust mask, goggles, and a hard hat. Then, seal all points of air in- filtration. Caulk around the end of each joist, the junction between subfloor and header, and the gap between the sill plate and the foundation wall. Use a good quali- 7 Classifieds . Sell 986-6222 ty butyl rubber caulk. The vapor retarder can be pro- vided by the floor above. Tile, li- noleum or varnish on wooden floors are adequate vapor retarders. If you don’t have one of these, cut strips of plastic sheeting to fit between the joists, and staple them in place. : Fill the joist cavity completely with insulation. Hold it in place with chicken wire or fine screening ~— which also helps to prevent ro- dents from nesting in the insula- tion. Finally, lay plastic on the crawl space floor to reduce humid- ity. Cover this with a two-inch layer of sand for protection if you wish. INSULATING THE FOUNDATION Insulating the foundation wall is often easier and usually requires less material. Insulating these walls from the outside protects the foundation and is the best method when the footings of the founda- tion are located above the frost line. If there is a porch, part of the job can be done from the inside, as Jong as the inside and outside por- tions overlap by at least two feet. Excavate and clean off the foundation. If the foundation has not been damp-proofed, apply pargeting and damp-proofing compound. The insulation should carry up over the floor joists and header. It can be placed against the wall and held in place temporarily with the backfill. Cover the above-grade portion with galvanized expanded metal lath attached to the foundation with galvanized nails and washers, and two coats of pargeting. This protective covering must extend a foot below grade. ; Flashing, tied into the existing exterior cladding of the house, must be added to the top edge to Light Oak Display Kitchen Cabinets : Established 1974 : 225 E. Ist St. North Van. a your better quality furniture store suite cherry — ‘The beauty of solid cherry woods make this bedroom suite a maste design. special introductory price matching foot board only °599 rpiece in quality and 3999” .... It takes Master Craftsmen to create a living tradition. Heritage Oak & Pine Shoppe 1058 Marine Drive, North Van (across from the Avalon) 984-325 Sratexny keep water from running down behind the insulation. Lastly, place a sheet of plastic over the floor of the crawl space and cover the plastic with sand. 2 piece Socket Set Insulating the walls of the crawl space from the interior is similar to insulating the walls of your base- ment, and is only recommended if the walls are sound and dry. $4 OPEN SEVENS DAYS 9-5:30 p.m. Revolutionary Lifestyle Concep | “The Affordable Chalet-Trailer’ Now you can purchase this rustic style chalet with all the comforts of home for as little as $28 per mo. O.A.C. Call 985-0646 ‘Pacific Holiday Villages 1365 McKeen, N.Van. (across from B if Rail) Be cool this Suinmer _ Keep out of the heat, and Let in the Lighi! C1 The Skyscreen for your Skylights C) Solar Screens for your home or office. ( exterior application stops 70% of the heat. Phone NOW and have your Solar Screens In place before the heat hits. NEW WORLD SKYSCREEN CO. 984-3534