Recommendations for insulating below bay window?
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I’m wondering if anyone has recommendations on who to call for insulating underneath the flooring on bay window? I own the parlor floor on a brownstone which has bay window in the back room and unfortunately it’s become really obvious that the contractors who worked on the building before I purchased my unit put very little (if any) insulation underneath the floor in the bay window. As a result, the floor feels like ice when the temperature drops & I’m finding it near impossible to keep the back room at a livable temperature. I’m guessing that the space beneath the floor will have to be insulated by removing the panelling from the outside… insulating… then replacing the panelling. I’m attaching a picture from the back of my building that shows the bay window. Any recommendations on people to call would be great – thanks!
annep
in Insulation 13 years and 3 months ago
3
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3 replies
callalily | 13 years and 3 months ago
Never heard of insulating a floor. Most likely culprit is air incursion. Check cracks, doors, windows, etc., on the cold floor and especially in the mudroom and floor below the problem. You might also try covering the windows in weatherstripping plastic. Looks unsightly, but works well.
BobMarvin | 13 years and 3 months ago
From the photograph it looks like the OP is asking about a bay (oriel?) that’s just on the parlor floor, extending over the rear garden. I have something similar and it IS cold, despite triple-glazed windows. I had rigid foam insulation put up on the outside, underneath the bay, covered with new plywood sheathing. It looks fine, because there was enough space for it to not show at all. It helps a little bit. We have forced hot air heat, so there’s no radiators under the windows.
Contractor | 13 years and 3 months ago
Most often there are cast iron radiators (3)inside those windows, are the valves turned on, are they still there – i think not if its cold there, has a new system been installed but the back of that room was neglected? If so combined with the fact that the old windows have only single pane glass, this would explain a lot. Cold air drops to the floor. Those 3 windows that make up the bay look like the original wood windows ( as best i can see) If the window sashes no longer close parallel as is often the case, if all 6 window sashes are rickety a lot, lot of cold air gets through. Do a visual or light an incense stick and trace it around them slowly. You will see the smoke change course from the draft if one is there. Is the basement ceiling open beneath the floor beams, or is it real cold down there at the back, or as cold as your back room on palor level, its probably not? You might ask your neighbor if she remembers what work the contractor did on the rear facade if any, it looks like your sub-window paneling is much crisper than her’s, maybe it was just a paint job its hard to tell from the photo. These are all fairly easy things to do, I’m betting the bank on inadequate heat at or near this location combined with a large area of single pane glass, set in now imperfect and uninsulated windows. I will come by and source the problem free of charge if you wish. My number is 917 886 9576.- Fitz. If repairs/corrections are necessary and some obviously are I will then provide you a free estimate and explanation of any repairs that are required.