In Holmdel, NJ, a homeowner dealt with discomfort in their 2nd-floor rooms due to a poorly insulated kneewall, which they also wanted to use for storage. The temperature fluctuations made the conditioned space uncomfortable and the unconditioned space unsuitable for storage, while the inadequate insulation also drove up energy bills.
Solution
We addressed the homeowner’s issues by creating a SuperDeck with 4-inch SilverGlo foam boards on the floor, topped with wood decking for better insulation and a solid storage surface. We air-sealed the kneewall floors with ZypFoam sealant and built a wooden retaining wall at the far end, blowing in TruSoft cellulose insulation to complete the floor insulation. SilverGlo foam boards were installed on the adjoining wall to prevent airflow from escaping or entering the conditioned room. Lastly, we drilled holes along the edge of the adjoining wall's floor in the kneewall between each bay. Through these holes, we used a hose to blow in TruSoft cellulose insulation, further insulating the conditioned space's floors. With proper insulation, the homeowner now enjoys a more comfortable, energy-efficient home and a reliable storage space.
The kneewall lacks proper insulation and air sealing. The fiberglass insulation on the adjacent wall fails to effectively insulate, allowing conditioned air to escape and unconditioned air to enter the living space. Consequently, both the floors and kneewall do not maintain suitable temperatures for adequate storage.
We installed 4-inch SilverGlo foam boards on the floor, followed by wooden planking, to improve insulation and storage.
This image shows the large adjoining wall that we insulated with 2-inch SilverGlo foam boards and sealed with ZypFoam. This will help keep the conditioned space insulated from extreme hot and cold weather.
The adjoining walls have exposed fiberglass insulation that is ineffective at insulating. As a result, the kneewalls' poor insulation causes the conditioned room to become too cold in winter and too hot in summer.
The adjoining wall is insulated with SilverGlo foam boards and sealed with ZypFoam sealant, which will enhance the insulation of the conditioned space.
We drilled holes along the adjoining wall in the kneewall, at the floor between each bay, and dense-packed the floors of the conditioned rooms with TruSoft cellulose insulation. We then used a hose to blow in the insulation and sealed the holes with plugs and ZypFoam sealant.
