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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Existing tongue and groove ceiling insulation air barrier question
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Bryan3300
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2021 16:57 - Edited by: Bryan3300
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I purchased a cabin with tongue and groove ceiling and walls. The rafters are 2x6s w/ R13 faced insulation and metal roof. There is no ridge vent or soffit vents. I only plan on using the cabin in the winter maybe one weekend a month at most. We are in northern Maine. So my question is should I put the money, time and effort into installing a poly air barrier in the ceiling? My intentions when I bought it were to take down the tongue and groove and put up an air barrier, install soffit vents and a ridge vent along with rafter vent baffles. I had a contractor tell me it wouldnt be worth my time or effort to do it since I was only using it occasionally in the winter. We inspected the roof in a few random places and no signs of moisture or damage. Cabin has been there for many years but I’m not sure how often if ever it was utilized in the winter. Curious if anyone had similar experience with similar circumstances or any other input?
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ICC
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2021 18:14
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Quoting: Bryan3300
I had a contractor tell me it wouldnt be worth my the time or effort to do it since I was only using it occasionally in the winter.


I would tend to agree, even though I do like energy efficiency.

Unless there was a change in use or some other reason to get inside that roof I would leave it alone

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2021 21:06
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I would leave it too. R13 in any roof isnt enough and 2x6 wont allow for enough R value in Maine so your looking at a prety major renovation. When/if it ever becomes an issue you would only be removing things that you would need to remove now to do the project now...so theres no harm in waiting.

snobdds
Member
# Posted: 10 Mar 2021 11:31
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I agree...don't mess with it.

Bryan3300
Member
# Posted: 10 Mar 2021 11:38
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Thanks for the replies. I will leave it and monitor for any moisture in the ceiling next winter when I heat it.

snobdds
Member
# Posted: 10 Mar 2021 11:58
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if you use wood heat, it's a dry heat and will dry out any moisture created. In fact you will usually need to add moisture to the place as it will get dry. If you use non vented propane heat...all bets are off.

Bryan3300
Member
# Posted: 10 Mar 2021 12:18
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Yeah I definitely would never heat with non vented propane, Ive heard horror stories. I was more worried about the warm air hitting the cold roof sheathing and condensing. Guess I will know the first time I heat it up in there on a cold day. Fortunately there are a few places I can access where the tongue and groove is screwed in place and not nailed.

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