Attic rehab need help with soffit sealing cleaning interior wood on roof and prepping walls for whitewash

Posted by Harry Palmer on May 18, 2007, 11:14 am

Hi all

we have a brick Victorian in Chicago and we have a big attic that we want
to convert into a living space. I'd like to ask for ANY help advice or
warnings that you folks could offer me.

A description of the area

the floor plan is 60 feet long by 25 feet wide.
it is enclosed by a double brick wall which on one LENGTH varies between 5
feet high down to 2 feet and on the other side is a consistent 3 feet high

the apex of the PITCHED roof is about 12' - 14' and the pitch seems go up 1
foot for every foot.

the roof has exposed rafters which extend down to the brick wall.

the floor is some kind of wood but it's too dirty to figure out what it is
and it has gaps between the planking.

Our intention

we want to clean all the brick, seal it and paint it white to brighten up
the area, we have enough exposed brick elsewhere. Any advise on this process
including tools, cleaning approaches etc, would be great.

we want to clean the wooden planks that are on the underside of the roof,
it's looks pretty good but is dirty, again any cleaning advice for the
UNDERSIDE of a roof would be great.

thanks in advance for any help

Harry Palmer

Posted by Harry Palmer on May 18, 2007, 1:43 pm

> Hi all
> we have a brick Victorian in Chicago and we have a big attic that we want
> to convert into a living space. I'd like to ask for ANY help advice or
> warnings that you folks could offer me.
> A description of the area
> the floor plan is 60 feet long by 25 feet wide.
> it is enclosed by a double brick wall which on one LENGTH varies between 5
> feet high down to 2 feet and on the other side is a consistent 3 feet high
> the apex of the PITCHED roof is about 12' - 14' and the pitch seems go up

> foot for every foot.
> the roof has exposed rafters which extend down to the brick wall.
> the floor is some kind of wood but it's too dirty to figure out what it is
> and it has gaps between the planking.
> Our intention
> we want to clean all the brick, seal it and paint it white to brighten up
> the area, we have enough exposed brick elsewhere. Any advise on this

process

> including tools, cleaning approaches etc, would be great.
> we want to clean the wooden planks that are on the underside of the roof,
> it's looks pretty good but is dirty, again any cleaning advice for the
> UNDERSIDE of a roof would be great.
> thanks in advance for any help
> Harry Palmer

Sorry I forgot the soffit problem.

The top of the knee wall has a gap that you can see the outside from
between the slate and the brick. We want to seal this gap, could we just put
insulation matting in there? Thanks in advance

Posted by John Reddy on May 19, 2007, 7:21 am

> > Hi all
> > we have a brick Victorian in Chicago and we have a big attic that we want
> > to convert into a living space. I'd like to ask for ANY help advice or
> > warnings that you folks could offer me.
> > A description of the area
> > the floor plan is 60 feet long by 25 feet wide.
> > it is enclosed by a double brick wall which on one LENGTH varies between 5
> > feet high down to 2 feet and on the other side is a consistent 3 feet high
> > the apex of the PITCHED roof is about 12' - 14' and the pitch seems go up

> 1

> > foot for every foot.
> > the roof has exposed rafters which extend down to the brick wall.
> > the floor is some kind of wood but it's too dirty to figure out what it is
> > and it has gaps between the planking.
> > Our intention
> > we want to clean all the brick, seal it and paint it white to brighten up
> > the area, we have enough exposed brick elsewhere. Any advise on this

> process

> > including tools, cleaning approaches etc, would be great.
> > we want to clean the wooden planks that are on the underside of the roof,
> > it's looks pretty good but is dirty, again any cleaning advice for the
> > UNDERSIDE of a roof would be great.
> > thanks in advance for any help
> > Harry Palmer

>
> Sorry I forgot the soffit problem.
>
> The top of the knee wall has a gap that you can see the outside from
> between the slate and the brick. We want to seal this gap, could we just put
> insulation matting in there? Thanks in advance

Those gaps are there for ventilation. Do not seal them or you will have
all kinds of problems.

Posted by Harry Palmer on May 19, 2007, 9:07 am

> > > Hi all
> > > we have a brick Victorian in Chicago and we have a big attic that we

want

> > > to convert into a living space. I'd like to ask for ANY help advice or
> > > warnings that you folks could offer me.
> > > A description of the area
> > > the floor plan is 60 feet long by 25 feet wide.
> > > it is enclosed by a double brick wall which on one LENGTH varies

between 5

> > > feet high down to 2 feet and on the other side is a consistent 3 feet

high

> > > the apex of the PITCHED roof is about 12' - 14' and the pitch seems go

> > 1

> > > foot for every foot.
> > > the roof has exposed rafters which extend down to the brick wall.
> > > the floor is some kind of wood but it's too dirty to figure out what

it is

> > > and it has gaps between the planking.
> > > Our intention
> > > we want to clean all the brick, seal it and paint it white to brighten

> > > the area, we have enough exposed brick elsewhere. Any advise on this

> > process

> > > including tools, cleaning approaches etc, would be great.
> > > we want to clean the wooden planks that are on the underside of the

roof,

> > > it's looks pretty good but is dirty, again any cleaning advice for the
> > > UNDERSIDE of a roof would be great.
> > > thanks in advance for any help
> > > Harry Palmer

> > Sorry I forgot the soffit problem.
> > The top of the knee wall has a gap that you can see the outside from
> > between the slate and the brick. We want to seal this gap, could we just

put

> > insulation matting in there? Thanks in advance

> Those gaps are there for ventilation. Do not seal them or you will have
> all kinds of problems.

I want to turn it into a living area what can we do to ventilate and ensure
there are no drafts? Thanks for your help.

Posted by marson on May 19, 2007, 9:48 am

> > > > Hi all
> > > > we have a brick Victorian in Chicago and we have a big attic that we

> want

> > > > to convert into a living space. I'd like to ask for ANY help advice or
> > > > warnings that you folks could offer me.
> > > > A description of the area
> > > > the floor plan is 60 feet long by 25 feet wide.
> > > > it is enclosed by a double brick wall which on one LENGTH varies

> between 5

> > > > feet high down to 2 feet and on the other side is a consistent 3 feet

> high

> > > > the apex of the PITCHED roof is about 12' - 14' and the pitch seems go

> up

> > > 1
> > > > foot for every foot.
> > > > the roof has exposed rafters which extend down to the brick wall.
> > > > the floor is some kind of wood but it's too dirty to figure out what

> it is

> > > > and it has gaps between the planking.
> > > > Our intention
> > > > we want to clean all the brick, seal it and paint it white to brighten

> up

> > > > the area, we have enough exposed brick elsewhere. Any advise on this
> > > process
> > > > including tools, cleaning approaches etc, would be great.
> > > > we want to clean the wooden planks that are on the underside of the

> roof,

> > > > it's looks pretty good but is dirty, again any cleaning advice for the
> > > > UNDERSIDE of a roof would be great.
> > > > thanks in advance for any help
> > > > Harry Palmer
> > > Sorry I forgot the soffit problem.
> > > The top of the knee wall has a gap that you can see the outside from
> > > between the slate and the brick. We want to seal this gap, could we just

> put

> > > insulation matting in there? Thanks in advance

> > Those gaps are there for ventilation. Do not seal them or you will have
> > all kinds of problems.

> I want to turn it into a living area what can we do to ventilate and ensure
> there are no drafts? Thanks for your help.

You might get away with sealing those gaps, but I would be sure that
you don't close something up that you can't monitor. I'd guess an old
roof with shiplap and asphalt shingles will probably breath well
enough that you won't have problems with condensation, especially if
your whole house is leaky. I live in an old house that has no roof
ventilation whatsoever, and no condensation forms in the attic--but
you will need to monitor this. Go up in the winter and look for signs
of condensation/frost.

However, using the bottom of the roof sheathing as a finished surface
does not seem practical. Isn't it going to cook up there in the
summer and freeze in the winter? To make it livable, I would think
you would need a ventilation space next to the sheathing, then
insulation and vapor barrier, and finally drywall or panelling or
something.

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