Cape Cod Attic Fan

Hi martin thank you for your article on radiant barriers.

Cape cod attic fan.

I hope you can help me. Cape cod roofs present a special problem in that in the usual cape design there is a lower attic knee wall enclosing what amounts to a low attic followed by the equivalent of a cathedral ceiling over the middle section of the roof often penetrated by dormers when the second floor of the cape cod is designed to be occupied followed again by. Attic ventilation in cape cod is necessary to prevent heat buildup in your houses. The problems associated with these homes are a result of poor architectural design and not improper installation of the roofing or insulation.

Anyone who has lived in one of these types of houses knows how uncomfortable they can be in both the summer and winter months. How to heat cool a cape cod style house 1. Ventilating attic spaces do it with turbine vents. Insulating and ventilating cape cod or 1 story houses can be very challenging.

Since 1993 we have helped homeowners and professionals solve cooling and indoor air quality issues. Usually the issue with cape cod style homes lies in the fact that warm air gets caught in the corners of low ceilings. Although you can have roof vents and fans to ventilate your attic you need to understand that the amount of air coming through those vents is not enough. What about ventilating attic spaces in a cape cod style home that has a short knee wall in the upper level.

Whole house fans return air pathways transfer grilles cape backdraft dampers cool your house in the summer and refresh it during the winter with a tamarack whole house fan. The attic and second floor areas get stifling hot in the summer months. Get attic vent installation replacement or repair in your budget. I have a hot in the summer cold in the winter 2nd floor approximately 1 300 about 650 per floor sq ft cape cod on long island built in 1956 w 2 x 4 16 oc construction.

The upstairs area is very close to the roof and has little or no attic barrier meaning the sun s heat easily enters the interior. I ve asked three different contractors and received three different answers. I have already re insulated w r 13 vapor barrier fiberglass and added new drywall to the 1st floor. I think if i install a fan up there and close the appropriate doors and windows i can cool it down pretty easily.

It can get pretty warm upstairs. There is some dead or attic space behind the walls upstairs but i d say it is minimal. Don t finish or remodel your attic until you see this. One static vent style is the turbine vent which uses wind to power its enclosed fan all it takes is a light breeze to rotate the blades and suck heat out of the attic view example on the home.