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Question

So I've completed my first major energy efficiency project in the attic, and I'm now planning for the next. I am aware of two more areas of potential energy loss in my home, and based on the sloppiness of my builder, I'm sure these areas were not done correctly. One of these areas is the rim joist between the basement and first floor of my home. The biggest drawback is that I have a finished basement, and no real interior access to this area. I have gone as far as to run low expanding foam on the exterior plate/rim area. Is it feasible to fill this with foam from outside? Are there any other solutions than removing walls inside the basement? Also, is there a way to test for air infiltration at this area if it's behind drywall?

Submitted: 55 days and 15 hours ago.
Category: Home Improvement
Value: $9
Status: CLOSED
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Posted by Stephen Cutler 55 days and 15 hours ago.

Answer

Hi and thanks for using JustAnswer.com.

Removing the interior wall will not give you access to the cavity above and beyond the top plate. Removing ceiling will expose the joist parallell to the sill plate, which also blocks access to the cavity. You would need to bore holes, that do not impinge upon the outer thirds of the joist, to gain access. The same is true if you remove siding except you will also be boring through the sheathing. Either way you do it, save the bores to glue back in with caulking to plug the holes. On a wall perpendicular to the sill plate, the ceiling is the easiest access- no boring required.

I hope that this information was helpful to you. If it was please remember to click "ACCEPT" on your screen to make sure that I am paid for my efforts. By clicking ACCEPT you are not giving up your ability to ask more questions pertaining to this subject, and I will be happy to respond to these as well. Please take a moment and leave feedback, it is very important!

55 days and 15 hours ago.

Reply

So is expanding, closed cell foam the product to use if boring and injecting from the outside? Also, back to the original question, is there a way to test or measure the amount of air infiltration at this area? Since I will be the one completing the work, I want to make sure it's cost effective before I start up the drill. ;-)

Accepted Answer

The only way to test l can think of would be to fill a plastic bag with 1 cuft of air, drill a hole thru the joist, tightly fit a pipe to the hole, use a plastic bag to push the 1 cuft air into the cavity, and see how long it takes. Multiply to get cuft/min. This is VERY approximate as changing the air pressure, by squeezing, changes the air transfer rate.

I hope that this information was helpful to you. If it was please remember to click "ACCEPT" on your screen to make sure that I am paid for my efforts. By clicking ACCEPT you are not giving up your ability to ask more questions pertaining to this subject, and I will be happy to respond to these as well. Please take a moment and leave feedback, it is very important!

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Expert: Stephen Cutler
Pos. Feedback: 99.3 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 9/28/2009

General C&ontractor

35 years of troubleshooting construction, remodel, component & material failures. What to do next

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