[brendelac]

OK it's not a sink hole, but almost as puzzling. The cavity is inaccessible from the house without removing drywall and is about 3x3x8. Inside the cavity, the exterior wall has insulation but the other 3 walls are bare which certainly doesn't help heating and cooling costs.



Any ideas why this would be there? I'm assuming that a simple sheet of plywood and some insulation on top would be sufficient. Do I need to use a vapor barrier above the space since it isn't ever occupied?



Thanks.

 

[Nealtw]

I would cover it with plywood and caulk the edges to seal it, sounds like free closet space if there is no other reason for it.

We don't see air chutes for you low venting?

 

[Bud9051]

To answer we need to know more about the surrounding structure. The fact that it is open to the attic is not good. is it open to the basement? Are there multiple floors?

A picture or two from the outside may help.

Bud

 

[brendelac]

I would cover it with plywood and caulk the edges to seal it, sounds like free closet space if there is no other reason for it.

We don't see air chutes for you low venting?

Chutes meaning baffles? If yes, that's exactly why I was in the attic in the first place. My attic only had 10 or so old styrofoam baffles that were complete flat. Rather than remove the soffits and install new ones from the outside, I'm following this youtube video.

...and ya, it could have been closest space as there is a bedroom right beside it.

 

[Nealtw]

Chutes meaning baffles? If yes, that's exactly why I was in the attic in the first place. My attic only had 10 or so old styrofoam baffles that were complete flat. Rather than remove the soffits and install new ones from the outside, I'm following this youtube video.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2kNWggDBss


...and ya, it could have been closest space as there is a bedroom right beside it.

Right now I have no sound but that looks like it would work just fine. :vs_cool:

 

[joed]

We need to know what is below that area from the inside and outside.
Looks like possibly a removed chimney.

 

[brendelac]

To answer we need to know more about the surrounding structure. The fact that it is open to the attic is not good. is it open to the basement? Are there multiple floors?

A picture or two from the outside may help.

Bud

The cavity is above the coat storage area (beside the doorway, bottom right). The closet on the left side of the pic would be in front of the cavity, but is only about 2' deep so there is an extra 4' of unknown space between the cavity and closet.

 

[Nealtw]

The cavity is above the coat storage area (beside the doorway, bottom right). The closet on the left side of the pic would be in front of the cavity, but is only about 2' deep so there is an extra 4' of unknown space between the cavity and closet.

As soon as the have the top closed up and sealed, i would be in the back of the closet for a look see.

 

[brendelac]

As soon as the have the top closed up and sealed, i would be in the back of the closet for a look see.

Definitely. If the closet were wider, I could push through the back wall and potentially have a bunch of storage space, but being only 3ft wide, it's pretty useless.

 

[Bud9051]

Storage space is never useless . It is only a question of what you store there. In some cases hidden storage can be a place for more valuable items. I used to work weekends for an alarm company so often saw homes that had been burglarized, thus the after the fact alarm system (NJ).

In any case you want to be sure it isn't a hidden air path from below to the attic, a thermal bypass.

Bud

 

[Chris616]

What is the thing on the exterior wall that I've circled on the blowup of your original photo?

Chris

 

[brendelac]

Chris, just vapor barrier and insulation.