Divemd - I had an energy audit performed by CEC but they only use cellulose and I'm leaning toward fiberglass (no termite concerns, no mold concerns, etc.).

Do you have any info about this NYS refund program and would it apply to my CEC audit if I have another company install the insulation or is it only applied toward the installation by the contractor you use for the audit?

Daveinbedstuy - you mentioned Air-Krete in a past post - I'm also considering this as well as my front wall is quite drafty (I can feel the wind in my living room in the winter).

Do you know anything about the costs and energy benefits of having it installed?

Posted by: hansdieter at September 29, 2008 12:50 AM in response to blown-in insulation savings

I think there was some misunderstanding - I'm talking about the openings on the vertical surface of the skylight box which protrudes above the roof surface, not a roof vent. As far as I know, there are no roof vents on the top of my roof.

Posted by: hansdieter at September 29, 2008 12:19 AM in response to Skylight Venting

HI. OP here.
I'm new to this homeownership thing.
What do you mean by a shroud?
Is this something I can do myself (I'm pretty handy) or do I need to hire a professional?

Posted by: hansdieter at September 29, 2008 12:13 AM in response to Skylight Venting

I think there was some misunderstanding - I'm talking about the openings on the vertical surface of the skylight box which protrudes above the roof surface, not a roof vent. As far as I know, there are no roof vents on the top of my roof.

Posted by: hansdieter at September 29, 2008 12:19 AM in response to Skylight Venting

Since you can't cover up the venting, you'll have to construct something that makes it harder for the rain to get in. If it's a typical box with the skylight on top, adding a sort of wood "awning" on all four sides (like awnings over windows) might do it. It'll have to be sturdy since snow will load it down. You might even be able to get away with extending each top slat outward a foot or so.

Posted by: cmu at September 29, 2008 9:20 AM in response to Skylight Venting

I have two skylights in my master bath. One is a much newer one with no side vents and the other is as you describe..a glas top or "hat" and the sides are open, like shutters. As Bob Marvin said, I really only got some water blowing in during a heavy rainstorm but I was more concerned about the heat loss. I went up on the roof and wrapped the vented sides with stiff foam insulation and taped all the corners and edges with the aluminum duct tape. You can't see any of that from inside. This has pretty much eliminated the problems but I'm still concerned about further heat loss. What I will probably do is put a square piece of plexiglass in there to fit the top of the shaft and it can be held in with four wood strips to make a decent looking edge. This will allow the light in and prevent a bit more of the heat from rising.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 29, 2008 9:55 AM in response to Skylight Venting

It sounds like you have a doghouse vent on the skylight, which is pretty common in old houses with flat roofs. I have two of them here. On the "roof" of that skylight you'll see slit vents which are protected by metal flaps, or shrouds. Over time those flaps can bend, even break, allowing water to enter the vent. One fix is to braze larger flaps over the vents, also making sure that water pouring down the "roof" doesn't get into the vent.

You should also caulk around the glass because that's another entry point for water. I'm not a roofing expert but I believe you want to use a tar caulk on the outside, not something silicon based. You can pick up tubes of that in the roofing section at Lowes/HD.

I was on my roof last week fixing a fan vent (contractor installed a pitched roof vent on a flat roof, which was a source of leaks) and noticed that both of my old skylights are in pretty bad shape. I'll probably replace them next year with new ones.

Posted by: Steve at September 29, 2008 10:18 AM in response to Skylight Venting

I have the same thing and when we've had the driving rain with heavy winds it's happened to us as well.

I don't worry about the one in the bathroom because any water that does come in lands on a tiled floor. It's only ever been an occasional drip or two. We don't want to close it off in any way because you do need a means for moisture/steam to escape so as to avoid mold situations like Steve mentioned. When winter comes we keep the bathroom door shut so the heat stays in the home. Yes, it gets a little chillier in there sometimes but there's a radiator in there too so it's not too noticeable a difference from the rest of the house.

The one above the stairs we did something similar to what Dave mentioned when winter came. In the summer we removed it though because it's at the highest point in the ceiling and it provides a way for the rising heat to escape. It lowers the amount you spend on A/C.

Don't cover the bathroom vent. Do as CMU states and have the shroud re-tooled.

Posted by: TownhouseLady at September 29, 2008 10:20 AM in response to Skylight Venting

A few years back, I laid down rolls of fiberglass insulation in the crawl space of my 1900 row house. I want to mention that whatever I am saving in heat, I am sure I am paying in air conditioning. I am no longer drafty in the winter but I am hot as hell the rest of the year. Just something to keep in mind when figuring the costs/benefits of insulation if you personally utilize (aren't renting out) the top floor of your brownstone.

Posted by: bqe1970 at September 30, 2008 10:42 PM in response to blown-in insulation savings

I don't have the specifics. The program is called the High Performance w/ Energy Star Program. I am planning on doing a foam job in my basement in Dec. The contractor sent me a bunch of work sheets from this program w/ the incentives. Try the new york state energy star program web site it may all be there.

http://www.getenergysmart.org/SingleFamilyHomes/ExistingBuilding/HomeOwner/Participate.aspx

My contractor said that he has to submit the paper work to NYS and get the job approved before he starts the job.

Posted by: divemd at October 22, 2008 8:17 PM in response to blown-in insulation savings

bqe1970, you mentioned laying rolls of fiberglass. May I ask about the technique you used? I tried to get fiberglass from the roll in the roof space of my row house. And it was incredibly difficult. I am pretty fit guy, but moving about that space is tearsome. I could not back up at all. Maybe I will need a helper who would unroll the roll and I will just pull it into the position.

I also considered to take a radio controlled car from my kid and use it to pull rolls. :)

Posted by: bobjohn at December 29, 2008 1:40 PM in response to blown-in insulation savings