Fixing insulation issues in a 1905 farmhouse

[Giant_Hen+41]

Restoring an old 1905 farmhouse for my parents in Minnesota. Balloon framing means open airflow from basement to attic. No insulation anywhere so winters are brutal. Ridge vent helped a little but need a plan before I blow cellulose into the walls. Can't add soffit vents due to integral gutters. Thinking of leaving a few stud bays open to allow ventilation but not sure if it'll throw off heating efficiency

 

[DamienHushTM]

Restoring an old 1905 farmhouse for my parents in Minnesota. Balloon framing means open airflow from basement to attic. No insulation anywhere so winters are brutal. Ridge vent helped a little but need a plan before I blow cellulose into the walls. Can't add soffit vents due to integral gutters. Thinking of leaving a few stud bays open to allow ventilation but not sure if it'll throw off heating efficiency

Yikes, leaving stud bays open to your attic after insulating will likely skyrocket your Minnesota heating costs and cause other troubles.

 

[MadCaesar]

Leaving a few stud bays open could help with airflow yeah, but it will lower heating efficiency. Since you cant add soffit vents, dense pack cellulose with a vapor barrier is a better option.

 

[Giant_Hen+41]

@DamienHushTM
That's what I was afraid of, just trading one problem for another. What other kinds of troubles do you think might pop up?
@MadCaesar
Seems I was barking up the wrong tree with the open bay idea for airflow. I'm looking into dense packing now. What kind of vapor barrier do you think works best in an old house like this?

 

[WrapAndTrap]

It's a smart decision to switch to dense-pack. Avoid open bays since they'll hurt your efficiency and could lead to moisture issues. I recommend using a smart vapor retarder like MemBrain, it keeps out winter vapor while allowing your walls to dry out later.

Are you also sealing the top and bottom plates? It really makes a big difference when it comes to balloon framing.

 

[JRobert Oppenheimer]

If you're going the dense-pack route, sealing the plates is NECESSAR/Y. Also seconding MemBrain coz it's a good middle ground for old houses that need to breathe a bit. It's not perfect, but way better than guessing with open cavities.

 

[Giant_Hen+41]

Just wanted to report back from the trenches and say thanks again. You all were not kidding, this air sealing part of the job is a whole different animal. I've been living in the attic and basement for what feels like an eternity but I'm making good headway on sealing up these balloon frame cavities before I even think about renting the blower.

 

[DamienHushTM]

Just wanted to report back from the trenches and say thanks again. You all were not kidding, this air sealing part of the job is a whole different animal. I've been living in the attic and basement for what feels like an eternity but I'm making good headway on sealing up these balloon frame cavities before I even think about renting the blower.

Great to hear an update! Air sealing is the real meat and potatoes of the job and you're doing it right. All that hard work now will pay off in spades with lower bills and a more comfortable house.

 

[LemongrassLime]

Just wanted to report back from the trenches and say thanks again. You all were not kidding, this air sealing part of the job is a whole different animal. I've been living in the attic and basement for what feels like an eternity but I'm making good headway on sealing up these balloon frame cavities before I even think about renting the blower.

I know you probably want to keep it rustic and all that, but have you considered some modern insulation just to make the winters more livable?

 

[Giant_Hen+41]

I'm nearing the end of the air sealing marathon and the plan is to dense pack every bay with cellulose as was suggested. My next step is sourcing the equipment. Does anyone have a preferred brand of insulation blower to rent for a dense pack job in old lath and plaster walls?

 

[09ricky]

Before you put in insulation, seal up any gaps between floors. This stops stack effect air movement.

 

[Giant_Hen+41]

A few members pointed me toward sealing the top and bottom plates a while back and can report that the air sealing phase of this project is finally done. It was a much bigger job than I ever imagined but every little gap from the basement to the attic is now foamed or caulked shut. I'm now in the process of ordering the cellulose and trying to locate a professional grade insulation blower for rent in my area.