John Dirks Jr Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 This was taken from the attic of a 1988 Colonial. The exposed walls are to bedrooms on each side. It is a void over the stairway. Is this common? It's the first time I've found it? It surely has poor insulation implications. Anything else? Click to Enlarge 51 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspectorjoe Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 It's fairly common. The Fiberglas batt insulation hanging at the top of the picture was originally stapled to the truss chords on either side of the opening. That supported the loose Fiberglas insulation seen in the bottom of the picture. Either the staples pulled out or the paper tore, and everything dropped. Another implication in cold climates would be condensation forming on the interior walls. If the walls weren't freshly painted, I'd bet you'd find slightly darkened walls with the outline of the studs visible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted July 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 Thanks for the reply Joe. Do builders ever install drywall here for better separation instead of relying on batt insulation without any real support? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 I've seen it here a few times. Here, they just insulated the walls and the ceiling of the stairwell. OT - OF!!! M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspectorjoe Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 I'm not sure whether drywall is ever used. It's something don't check. I would imagine if it's done, it's pretty rare. Maybe some more of the ex home builders here will chime in. Last fall I ran into something really strange. It was in a townhome that was only a few years old. A shaft approximately 3 1/2 X 4 feet ran from the attic down to the basement. I have no idea what it was for. I'm sure THAT'S not very common. Click to Enlarge 46.46 KB Click to Enlarge 46.7 KB Click to Enlarge 44.18 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 I'm not sure whether drywall is ever used. It's something don't check. I would imagine if it's done, it's pretty rare. Maybe some more of the ex home builders here will chime in. Last fall I ran into something really strange. It was in a townhome that was only a few years old. A shaft approximately 3 1/2 X 4 feet ran from the attic down to the basement. I have no idea what it was for. I'm sure THAT'S not very common. That's a fire chase. It's there so that, when a fire starts in the basement, the whole building will burn more quickly and efficiently. - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Ahern Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 I removed a chase for my FORMER B vent(gas boiler). New boiler! Vent installation now thru the side wall. Also eliminated a metal square fake chimney box from my roof. Good riddance to a 60 years old leaky roof penetration.Water "storemore" zoned off of my new boiler. Eliminated any evidence of the chase from boiler thru roof. Picked up some usable floor space. [8D] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 It is a void over the stairway. Is this common? It's the first time I've found it? It's fairly common. Click to Enlarge 15.02 KB A shaft approximately 3 1/2 X 4 feet ran from the attic down to the basement. I have no idea what it was for. I'm sure THAT'S not very common. If it's not very common, we ended up in the same house! Click to Enlarge 13.42 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Joe & Bill, It looks like both of your chases are flanked by stairs. Were they both townhouses, and did any of the neighboring units have elevators? I feel sorry for the dudue that's gonna end up installing fire blocking in there, I've had the misfortune of a similar task. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Dumbwaiter chases? OT - OF!!! M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspectorjoe Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Mine was in a fairly new townhouse. I have no idea what was in the neighboring units, but it's too small to be an elevator shaft. It's about the right size for a very large dumbwaiter, but this was a modest townhouse - not something that you'd put a dumbwaiter in. Besides, I don't recall ever seeing a dumbwaiter in a house built after the 20's. It was vaguely reminiscent of a light shaft that you might find in a big, old apartment building. Until I saw that one, I'd never seen a chase even close to being that big. I can't imagine how the CO got issued for that building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msteger Posted August 2, 2009 Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 I've seen it here a few times. Here, they just insulated the walls and the ceiling of the stairwell. OT - OF!!! M. I've seen this situation also several times. Have any of you recommended adding insulation in these areas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspectorjoe Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 I've seen this situation also several times. Have any of you recommended adding insulation in these areas? Of course. Here's my boilerplate: The insulation that was attached to the ceiling joists above the stairs has fallen. This will waste energy because it leaves the walls in this area exposed. Insulation should be replaced here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 I see it here in Kentucky every now and then. Click to Enlarge 46.02 KB I think the best and easiest repair is to just insulate across the top of the chase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msteger Posted August 4, 2009 Report Share Posted August 4, 2009 With a piece of OSB over the hole and fiberglass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted August 4, 2009 Report Share Posted August 4, 2009 That's what I was thinking. I'd hate to be the poor SOB that found it if it was just covered in fiberglass, or worse yet, full of cells. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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