[masraum]

Originally Posted by Instrument 41

I have done 3 houses built before 1900. All of the same construction. One of the things we did when I hade it sprayed with Closed cell foam insulation from the bottom is not just in between the beams but also along the outer perimeter so that you don't have to stuff the voids with pink insulation. When you would look under the house it was completely covered on foam. The closed cell is almost always done under the house. They might try to sell you on open cell for the walls, in an old structure every bit helps so stay with closed cell. Is more expensive but well worth it. The next project is windows......

Right, I closed cell seems like the way to go as it should also protect from moisture and work as a better insulator.

We got fairly lucky with this house. It was built around 1920 by the first owners. The man died in 1960 and the wife in 1965. I spoke to a family that bought the place around 1990 and they said that it had been empty/derelict for a while when they bought it. I'm guessing it may have been the 25-30 years between. Anyway, they rewired with romex, plumbed with PVC, and installed central HVAC. So the various systems in the house are in pretty good shape (HVAC needs to be replaced as it's still dated 1991). I believe they replaced the windows, but I think someone else has since replaced them again. They are all vinyl framed double pane.