Insulation Services Case Studies: Front Porch Addition Meant Cold Floors in this Reston, VA Home!

Wednesday, May 8th, 2019 by Justin Dobson

Challenge

Comfenergy was called because the bedroom floors on the front of this home were VERY cold in the winter. After careful evaluation and thermal imaging, we determined that the front porch that was recently added to the home created this issue.

Solution

Comfenergy opened the side of the covered porch attic area to access above the porch. The way the joists were installed on the porch created a HUGE air gap to allow cold air under the floor of the front bedrooms. The rim joist was removed during the construction of the porch and joist were "slid" into place. You could literally put your arm between the Batt insulation and the floors of the bedrooms.

We used foam boards and foam spray to seal each of these joist spaces. This sealed off cold air from travelling beneath the floor, and now these floors are comfortable again!

Project Summary

Evaluator: Justin Dobson

A front porch was added to this Reston, VA home. It looks great, but it has created cold floors in the front bedrooms.

Comfenergy removed the siding and cut a hole to access the attic portion of this front porch.

Look at the HUGE air gap allowing cold attic air from outside to get beneath the floors of the bedrooms!!! You can fit your entire arm between the insulation and the floors above.