26
votes
Accepted
What is this tube sticking out of my roof?
Almost certainly a vent for plumbing. It connects to the sewer, so it doesn't need a cap. It's highly likely there's a sink or other fixture nearly below it.
- 20.3k
23
votes
How can I lower an attic ladder by remote control?
There are kits you can buy, where you attach a metal ring to the door and then have a pole you store nearby to reach the ring and pull down on to extend the ladder
- 24.2k
23
votes
Accepted
Mold or rust stain on roof truss
Neither. It's labeling paint. It was either sprayed onto the entire lumber unit or this truss set for identification.
source
- 129k
21
votes
Accepted
how to reduce heat lost to attic through attic door
You could glue and/or screw some type of insulation to it:
- 6,196
20
votes
Noises from attic - Should I be concerned?
You should always be concerned about a new noise in your house. Examine the outside upper story soffit framing to see if any soffits are missing or broken. If so, there's a good chance something's ...
- 78.7k
18
votes
Accepted
What is this amber substance on the wood in my attic?
"it's sap crystals that have been extruded from the wood due to high attic temperatures. We see more of this sap staining when the wood used for framing was not kiln dried before construction." ...
- 4,912
18
votes
Does my loft bed need diagonal supports?
I'm posting this as an answer because I know I will exceed the limit for a comment. I've built about 3 dozen bunk beds for a church retreat facility. They were all red oak. The side rails and the ...
- 23.1k
18
votes
How to properly plug nail holes in roof shingling?
On a cool day, or in the early morning before the sun is on the roof...
Use a putty knife or painter's bar to gently separate the layers of shingles. They should pop apart without tearing chunks out ...
- 129k
15
votes
Repairing a partially cut roof strut
You could put two plywood plates either side to strengthen it.
But you may not need to. How long has it been like that? Is the snow load significant?
Just remember that that strut is working in ...
- 26.3k
14
votes
Accepted
How to make attic easier to traverse?
I live in Florida too so I know exactly what you mean about hot attics. I had the same problem except for the pvc water pipes. I put up a number of 2 by 8 feet of 3/4 inch plywood on the rafters. ...
- 78.7k
14
votes
Accepted
Weatherize old multifamily building against extreme heat
Additional blown cellulose insulation is VERY cheap and based on the pic, it should be done.
I don't recommend a box fan. Increase the ventilation and use proper fans that are designed for that space. ...
- 7,600
14
votes
Accepted
Would sprayed insulation under the roof deck cool down a hot attic?
Spraying the roof deck would create an insulated box. It's difficult to predict how that would affect average interior temperature. It would certainly increase roofing temperatures, which isn't ideal. ...
- 129k
13
votes
How can I safely work in my attic without a floor in place?
What you have in your attic is blown cellulose or fiberglass insulation. It can be moved out of the way and replaced in small areas without too much harm to its insulating value.
To move around in ...
- 129k
13
votes
Is it normal for relative humidity to increase when the attic fan turns on?
This is a function of what relative humidity means.
The hotter air in the attic can hold more water than the cooler air outside, so for the same absolute amount of water-in-air, the warmer/hotter ...
- 201k
12
votes
Accepted
How do I get the insulation blower into the attic?
The blower doesn't go in the attic. The hose and the control cable do. If you took the blower up there you'd also have to carry the insulation up after it.
If you don't have enough hose, request an ...
- 129k
12
votes
Why are nails showing in my attic after new roof was installed?
Nails that show through 3/4" or more are perfectly common and done properly. You need that, or your shingles wouldn't be properly attached.
If you keep perforating your head when going up there, ...
- 20.3k
11
votes
Should a smoke alarm be installed in the attic?
As a firefighter that recently battled a large and rapidly moving fire that appears to have started in the attic, I found myself searching the topic of smoke alarms in attics. Though it is a low ...
- 111
11
votes
Accepted
If I blow insulation everywhere in my attic except the door trap, will heat escape through it?
You don't put blow in above the door. Use batts or cut several layers poly board insulation to mimic slightly less than your attic cover. 4-5 layers will give you good coverage.
This will not ...
- 47.8k
11
votes
Truss was cut when installing attic ladder
I am going to disagree with the other answers for this question.
It is not OK to cut a roof truss without consulting either an engineer or the truss manufacturer. The integrity of that truss has been ...
- 4,523
11
votes
Accepted
Best way to turn my detached garage into an insulated shop?
Assuming budget is not "Sky's the limit":
Delete rafter insulation (but carefully), add ridge vent and/or a functional cupola, reuse rafter insulation (see "carefully") in wall ...
- 201k
10
votes
Want to cover up nail points in attic ceiling
Leave a hardhat or bump helmet (lighter version of a hardhat) by the attic hatch. Put it on when you enter; take it off when you leave.
- 20.3k
10
votes
How do I get the insulation blower into the attic?
OK for the most part these do not go in attics, but can. As long as you have a pretty good attic opening you can fit these in there and I have had to in two story homes - or deal with a mess. In no ...
- 47.8k
10
votes
What is this tube sticking out of my roof?
It's a vent pipe for the plumbing it connects eventually to the sewer.
It will catch a small amount of rain but the rain will stay inside the pipe and eventually reach the sewer.
You're probably not ...
- 19k
10
votes
Accepted
What is this type of insulation?
Vermiculite is a hydrous phyllosilicate mineral which undergoes significant expansion when heated. Exfoliation occurs when the mineral is heated sufficiently, and commercial furnaces can routinely ...
- 129k
10
votes
how to reduce heat lost to attic through attic door
Answers suggesting that you add insulation are good, but that solution doesn't accomplish much without sealing against airflow. You can have R-500 and it's worthless if air is pouring around it.
...
- 129k
10
votes
Accepted
Does a Junction Box in the Attic Need to be Covered
When cutting off wires coming out of a junction box, you must go into the box and remove the wires from their wire nut splices. Otherwise the cut off wire ends will be energized (and 1/8" apart, ...
10
votes
What is this glowing orange spot in my attic framing?
It's a PVC white pipe. I've got two in my attic. The 4" pipe goes through the roof and has no cover on it, probably a vent and could be used for running a snake down to unclog it. All it needs is ...
- 78.7k
10
votes
Black tar like substance and streaks on attic roof and stains on chimney
I would suspect fungus on the chimney, possibly due to poor weatherproofing on top. If water is leaking and absorbing into the masonry it would support all manner of living things. You would need to ...
- 129k
9
votes
Should a smoke alarm be installed in the attic?
We specify a "heat detector" in the attic and crawl spaces of all our homes. A "smoke detector" will pick up a neighbor's burn barrel smoke (products of combustion) but a heat detector operates on the ...
- 23.1k
9
votes
How can I lower an attic ladder by remote control?
There are electric ladders exactly for this purpose. There is no cool video of this one
but the description says
These stairways are available in 2 different models. One is the S3000 Series which ...
- 693
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible