SBF #6 What we found in the old farmhouse.

The gypsum plaster was put on after the window trim, adding over 200 ft of potential air and water leakage. The prodigous amount of air leakage is known for preserving the wood frame in old buildings that spent over 5 and 10 cords of wood heating. The current air barrier scheme is to use ADA. (Airtight Drywall Approach) Gasketing the planes to each other. Dense pack cellulose will also slow down the air and water, and effectively store some water as a heat sink during the winter.




The timber stud frame was balloon framed on the eave sides which are north and south. In the original house, the studs go two feet above the 2nd floor up to the rafter plate and on that sit 2x7 rafters on a 12/12 pitch. Floor joists are nailed to a floor ledger nailed to the inside face of studs with floor beams, square-hole joined to 4x10 stud-posts.
In the add-on kitchen here to the left, the rafter plate is closer to the 2nd floor. You can see the joinery here.


One of the issues with deep energy retrofits is that typically it is advatageous to add the insulation to the outside because of ease of creating a continuous insulative envelope and air barrier. This often makes sense where the exterior siding needs replacing.
In our case, the farmhouse exterior siding is in good condition. And knowing the cost of residing, I was thrilled to find the balloon framing from the interior that will allow us to build a continuous space for the cellulose to cover the outside edge of the floor ledgers.







And here is some of the wood lath that was spit from a board with a chisel. Seen sideways.