What's Between Brownstone top floor Ceiling and Roof?

It’s not actually that bad since I applied the caulking. That’s not what I’m seeing restorationcontractor- this was a design choice as far as I can tell. The ceiling in the opposite room is the same height as the ceiling boards- not the joists- they drop below that same level. There is roughly a foot between these ceilings and the roof- and after more poking around ,there is some type of crummy insulation in that space. The issue is lack of quality and completeness and that the spaces between the boards get drafty as heck. But sealing off the space for air flow has reduced the problem immensely.

If I did all you’ve suggested, the ceiling would be very low.

But on your roofing point- it is already sealed with a silver paint- is that different from what you have in mind?

emily.abruzzo

in General Discussion 4 years and 8 months ago

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cate | 4 years and 8 months ago

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Rick, that sounds like a great solution.

JohnHancock | 4 years and 8 months ago

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You need vents in the roof to prevent condensation and mold I think

RobertGMarvin

in General Discussion 4 years and 8 months ago

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Cate: I hope your caution was about applying insulation DIRECTLY to the underside of the roof , without an air space or vents. In such a situation condensation could be a major problem. However, in most cases, albeit not the OP’s situation, insulation is blown into the cockloft and vents are installed in the roof to deal with condensation. This is a common practice in old row houses. I had it done >40 years ago It reduces my heating cost, made my house more comfortable, and had not caused ANY problems.

stevecym | 4 years and 8 months ago

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i have been watching this to see what others say, whenever we did ceilings in the past, we never put insulation and in kitchens or humid areas we always put a sheet of plastic to keep moisture from setting in the ceiling. i was never sure why we did not insulate; it was we were told and what we did.

when my father decided to insulate the eaves in the house i grew up in, he did not insulated the joists facing the roof, but between the floor joists between the first floor and second floor, leaving the attic uninsulated.

2345bcde | 4 years and 8 months ago

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It’s my understanding that if you use close cell spray insulation it can be sprayed directly onto the underside of the roof without fear of condensation.

emily.abruzzo | 4 years and 8 months ago

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I have sealed most of gaps between the ceiling boards with acrylic caulk at this point and it has made a very noticeable difference. Since getting up on the ladder and in all the corners, I’ve noticed a few bigger gaps that I’m going to just cover with some scrap wood and foam board behind. Spray foam was not worth the bother because this is a predominantly interior space and that stuff turned out to be a mess waiting to happen for this application. About $120 total in caulk and backing rod, and some unnecessary foam that’ll sit in the basement.

Appreciate all the more thorough ideas, but insulating as suggested would require opening up space and doing some investigating just to get started, and then contracting out the work which exceeds my interest at this point. On the list if we ever go through with a gut renovation and add a level to the house.

A drop ceiling with insulation between the joists and drywall covering them was never in the cards bc I don’t want to shorten the room that much.

To me, the second most appealing option to what I’ve done was in stalling drywall (or interior wall grade insulating foam like thermax, were it available in NYC) directly between the joists, so the ceiling would functionally remain the same height. But I decided to keep it simple and stick with caulking. We’ll see how it holds up through the winter and next summer as temps change.

emily.abruzzo | 4 years and 8 months ago

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I have sealed most of gaps between the ceiling boards with acrylic caulk at this point and it has made a very noticeable difference. Since getting up on the ladder and in all the corners, I’ve noticed a few bigger gaps that I’m going to just cover with some scrap wood and foam board behind. Spray foam was not worth the bother because this is a predominantly interior space and that stuff turned out to be a mess waiting to happen for this application. About $120 total in caulk and backing rod, and some unnecessary foam that’ll sit in the basement.

Appreciate all the more thorough ideas, but insulating as suggested would require opening up space and doing some investigating just to get started, and then contracting out the work which exceeds my interest at this point. On the list if we ever go through with a gut renovation and add a level to the house.

A drop ceiling with insulation between the joists and drywall covering them was never in the cards bc I don’t want to shorten the room that much.

To me, the second most appealing option to what I’ve done was in stalling drywall (or interior wall grade insulating foam like thermax, were it available in NYC) directly between the joists, so the ceiling would functionally remain the same height. But I decided to keep it simple and stick with caulking. We’ll see how it holds up through the winter and next summer as temps change.

restorationcontractor | 4 years and 8 months ago

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Wow, that place has to be an oven in the summer! What you are seeing is the underside of your roof sheathing, with the base roofing being seen in the gaps between the boards. Someone removed the plaster ceiling.
I would do closed cell spray foam, sheetrock ceiling below for fireproofing, then add decorative beams and rough sawn sheathing below if you want to keep the look.
Also consider a reflective coating on your existing roofing if needed.

emily.abruzzo | 4 years and 8 months ago

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It’s not actually that bad since I applied the caulking. That’s not what I’m seeing restorationcontractor- this was a design choice as far as I can tell. The ceiling in the opposite room is the same height as the ceiling boards- not the joists- they drop below that same level. There is roughly a foot between these ceilings and the roof- and after more poking around ,there is some type of crummy insulation in that space. The issue is lack of quality and completeness and that the spaces between the boards get drafty as heck. But sealing off the space for air flow has reduced the problem immensely.

If I did all you’ve suggested, the ceiling would be very low.

But on your roofing point- it is already sealed with a silver paint- is that different from what you have in mind?