Reshingling an Indiana landmark designed by Philip Johnson. More
Reshingling an Indiana landmark designed by Philip Johnson. More
No contractor wants to talk to customers about square-foot cost. But the topic... More
A Massachusetts builder explains how he built a structurally sound vaulted hip... More
A finish carpenter describes the pros and cons of four techniques for installing... More
Q. We built a custom home for a client in west Michigan a couple of years ago, and the home has had problems with ice ever since. It's a 1,450-square-foot ranch with cathedral ceilings and many can lights throughout. We used blown fiberglass insulation in the ceiling assemblies. From the beginning, the can lights (IC-rated) overheated and tripped their thermal-protection breakers. We finally resorted to pulling the insulation away from the housing of the can lights so they TAs a result, the heat from these lights now warms up the roof and has created a horrible ice problem instead. Last fall we even added four pot vents to the back of the roof in addition to the soffit-to-ridge venting. The homeowner called to report that the pot vents have improved the situation but not completely. I drive by this home frequently and see ice buildup there while other homes in the area are ice free. More
Q: I have been asked to determine the cause of black shadow marks on a cathedral ceiling in a new home. The black marks correspond to the bottom sections of the rafters, near where the rafters meet the wall. The black shadows do not resemble stains from water leaks. There is a gas fireplace on one of the outside walls; the fireplace has been tested for leakage, and it checked out fine. The owner burns a large candle, which sits on the fireplace mantle. Could the ceiling shadows be caused by soot from the candle? More
Q: Does a cathedral shed roof addition need collar ties to restrain the outward... More
