[emendez1970]

I am new to this community so, Hi to all. I am trying to finish an attic with cathedral roof from an 1890 house that has no soffit or top vents. The ceiling will be where the collar ties are (a little less than 8 feet tall) so there will be a kind of crawl space still left at the top. I did knee walls but I am planning on running insulation on the wall as far down as I can so I can insulate the empty space behind the knee walls (using for storage and A/C duct)

My question is, do I need to use baffles behind the insulation? Is there any scenario where I don't need to use baffles?

Thank you,
Erick

 

[Nealtw]

I am new to this community so, Hi to all. I am trying to finish an attic with cathedral roof from an 1890 house that has no soffit or top vents. The ceiling will be where the collar ties are (a little less than 8 feet tall) so there will be a kind of crawl space still left at the top. I did knee walls but I am planning on running insulation on the wall as far down as I can so I can insulate the empty space behind the knee walls (using for storage and A/C duct)

My question is, do I need to use baffles behind the insulation? Is there any scenario where I don't need to use baffles?

Thank you,
Erick

You need to look at the venting, the soffet and high vents are really important.

The ridge vent is not much a problem, what are you looking at for soffet vents

Did you build the nee walls out of 2x6 for good depth of insulation.

The sloped part of the ceiling will likely need more room for baffles and enough insulation.

did you solid block between the joists below the nee walls?

 

[emendez1970]

You need to look at the venting, the soffet and high vents are really important.

The ridge vent is not much a problem, what are you looking at for soffet vents

Did you build the nee walls out of 2x6 for good depth of insulation.

The sloped part of the ceiling will likely need more room for baffles and enough insulation.

did you solid block between the joists below the nee walls?

Thanks for the quick reply.
I did not reconstruct or rebuild anything. I just added the kneewall studs to close in with sheetrock (no load bearing). This is an old house and it does not have suffits or top vents so I just wanted to know if I had to still use the baffles if I don't have any ventilation coming from the soffits or top vent.

 

[Nealtw]

Thanks for the quick reply.
I did not reconstruct or rebuild anything. I just added the kneewall studs to close in with sheetrock (no load bearing). This is an old house and it does not have suffits or top vents so I just wanted to know if I had to still use the baffles if I don't have any ventilation coming from the soffits or top vent.

I understood what you said, I didn't ask about load bearing anything. my response and questions stay the same.

 

[emendez1970]

I understood what you said, I didn't ask about load bearing anything. my response and questions stay the same.

I guess I did not understand your answer. Are you saying I have to make the soffits and the top vent in order to put insulation on the roof? No, I did not put blocks in between joists on floor, I did the bottom plate for the kneewall and extended the original 2x6 rafters by addin 2x4's.

 

[Nealtw]

I guess I did not understand your answer. Are you saying I have to make the soffits and the top vent in order to put insulation on the roof? No, I did not put blocks in between joists on floor, I did the bottom plate for the kneewall and extended the original 2x6 rafters by addin 2x4's.

You can finish with out venting but it is something less than best, sometimes venting is close to impossible but you never take a short cut with out looking at how hard it is to do it right.

So can you tell me what you see in the soffet area out side and inside?

Or post pictures of both.

 

[Bud9051]

Hi Eric,
I've been following and having done some building in southern NJ I'm concerned you are not following the rules. None of my business but in NJ they are good at catching and penalizing people for failure to get permits and inspections.

In your case a cape style attic is a pain to achieve the code required improvements. It can be done, but expensive.

One approach is to fill the rafter cavities with rigid closed cell spray foam. Being closed cell eliminates the moisture issues that fiberglass insulation creates and why it needs the ventilation.

First question, have you submitted a plan and received approval and related permits?

Bud