[masraum]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

In the red box at the floor an exterior photo would be helpful.

I don't have a pic of that exact spot, but this is what it looks like. The gap in the previous photo would be just above the red line in the photo below.



Most of the house is wood plank siding that is tapered. In the diagram below, it's what is labeled "sawn weatherboard." At the very bottom of the wall, there's a small piece that is, I believe the thick end tucked up under the last board so that anything that runs down will float out away from the house.

That being said I would caulk that gap not use expanding foam. I would then use a piece of one by to close the cavity. In the yellow box I would remove the insulation and also seal off te opening. Pull a board in all cavities and rmove the insulation and close.

I would then drill a hole near the ceiling at each bay and blow in insulation to fill the cavity. Glue the plug back in the hole.

The bottom (10-12" can't remember exactly) will be covered with wood before we put drywall back up. The problem with the blown in insulation is that if/when we have to replace some siding, all of that insulation will come pouring out. The wall is shiplap - studs - sawn weatherboard siding. So, just like if we had to pull some shiplap off, all of the insulation would end up pouring into the room out of the wall, if (and we will) we have to pull/repair/replace any of the siding outside, that will open the cavity. That's why I'm going with fiberglass bats. If we have to pull/repair anything, they'll stay in place. They are probably more expensive and more trouble to install, but they are a better solution in the end.

Originally Posted by Aurel

Insulting a 100 year old? I would never do that.

You don't want a 100 year old house to be insulated?

Or are you talking about spray foam insulation is what you wouldn't do?

I'm just talking about a single thin bead of foam to seal the visible gaps at the bottom of the wall. I'm not talking about gluing the entire house together. I just want to seal the gaps and then use regular fiberglass insulation to help the house be more comfortable and energy efficient.