Waukesha County Home

FEBRUARY 2013 HOMES PLUS 9 Methods available to insulate and seal attic cover Electric radiant heaters best option for making garages warmer Dear Jim: I just moved into a new house and I went up into the attic to store some holiday decorations. There was no insulation on the cover or seals around it. Shouldn't the cover be insulated and sealed? – Mike M. Dear Mike: The opening cover seldom is sealed and insulated, but it certainly should be. Often just an old scrap piece of plywood or drywall is cut somewhat close to the correct size and placed in the opening. Its insulation value is less than R-1 and it leaks like a sieve. Since the attic access opening is often located in the ceiling inside a bedroom closet, the air leakage and heat loss (or heat gain during summer) are seldom noticeable. Wind direction can create a negative pressure in the attic, so with the access opening in the attic floor, even more conditioned air can be drawn from 0 8537 2 9387 m/12 PIN eber.co w first WAUKESHA: EXECUTIVE RANCH Exquisite executive residence with stunning lake views. The split floor plan offers 3 main floor BRs, all with their own baths. The kitchen is a chef's dream! Exposed lower level w/4th BR & bath, game room, family room, bar & wine cellar. $699,900 CINDY FLEMING (262) 424-5711 or (262) 782-3110 0 9088 7 9488 m/12 PIN eber.co w first WAUKESHA 2-family near Carroll College. 3 bedrooms each unit. Many updates including siding, windows, baths, kitchens & more. 2.5 car heated garage plus extra parking. Plenty of storage thru-out. Appliances included. Call today for a showing! $207,000 DEBBIE JOHNSON (262) 522-7706 or (262) 544-8560 the house. The simplest fix for this energy loss is to attach insulation to the top of the cover and weatherstripping under it where it rests on the lip of the ceiling opening. Insulate it to the recommended code ceiling R-value for your area. Adding more insulation above this level will not help appreciably. The lip often consists of just pieces of molding nailed to the sides of the opening. You may have to pry a side or two of it loose and reattach it so it is somewhat even. If it is very uneven, it will be difficult to get a good seal under the cover, no matter how compliant the weatherstripping is. In my own house, I first nailed a piece of 1/2-inch drywall to the plywood cover to give is some additional weight. Next, I glued a few layers of 3/4-inch polystyrene foam sheets on top of it. I used four layers to get three inches of foam insulation. The next step is to attach adhesivebacked foam weatherstripping to the top edge of the lip around the opening. Use as thick a foam as you can find to accommodate any out-of-level edges. The weight of the plywood and drywall should be adequate the compress the foam weatherstripping. 0 8840 5 9437 m/12 PIN eber.co w first WAUKESHA: 4BR HOME ZONED BUSINESS Open concept home w/attached office/clinic awaits your business ideas. 4BR/2BAs in main residence. Business features large reception area, 3 treatment rms/offices & 2 half BAs. 60x30 pole barn for your toys/equipment, all on 7.22 acres. $385,00 KRIS PLECHATY (262) 720-5157 or (262) 251-7200 8 8433 5 9373 m/12 PIN eber.co w first WAUKESHA Spacious 4 bedroom colonial in Merrill Crest. Newer roof, hardwood floors, water heater, windows, patio door and much more. Expertly planned kitchen, garden window and appliances are included. Natural fireplace in Family room. Lovely yard. $200,000 LAURIE SCHUBERT (262) 227-7980 or (262) 544-8560 If you plan to go up into your attic often and want to install pull-down stairs or a ladder or your attic currently has one, you should buy a special insulated cover for the attic access opening. You could attempt to make one yourself, but its weight may be hazardous to open and manage when you are on the stairs. One of the least expensive options is a heavy-duty cardboard box. It is collapsed when you receive it, but it is easy to open and assemble. Once assembled, you attach your own insulation to the top and sides. It is very lightweight and easy to handle when completed. Two other efficient options are a lightweight, large rigid foam domed cover and a flexible, zippered insulated cover which is attached to the attic floor for a good seal. The zipper provides for easy access to the attic. The following companies offer attic entrance products: Atticap, 781- 259-9099, www.draftcap.com; Attic Tent, 877-6605640, www.attictent.com; Battic Door, 508320-9082, www.batticdoor.com; Calvert Stairs, 866-477-8455, www.calvertusa.com; and Rainbow Attic Stairs, 203-322-0009, www.rainbowatticstairs.com. Dear Jim: My husband uses the garage to watch football games with one 7 8808 7 9432 m/12 PIN eber.co w first MUKWONAGO This 4 BDRM 3 bath ranch is located on a quiet cul-de-sac in Mukwonago. Beautifully designed contemporary ranch with finished basement is sure to please. Open concept design with 10 ft ceilings. Gas FP in living room & huge master bedroom! $285,000 JEFF ROBINSON (414) 418-4419 or (262) 544-8560 0 8738 2 9424 m/12 PIN eber.co w first MUKWONAGO Very clean & well maintained 3 BDRM home in the Village of Mukwonago. Fenced in backyard. New roof-2012. Neutral decor. Mature lot with plenty of plants and trees. Ready to move into. Home warranty included. Gazebo, shed and much more! $189,900 DEBBIE JOHNSON (262) 522-7706 or (262) 544-8560 6 8384 2 9365 m/12 PIN eber.co w first WAUKESHA Lovely 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath colonial with many updates. Main floor laundry, NFP in living room, solid surface counters in kitchen. Newer roof, gutters, water softener, water heater, patio & more. Private wooded lot. Come and enjoy! $269,900 KELLY SAVELKOUL (262) 409-0435 or (262) 544-8560 0 8723 7 9421 m/12 PIN eber.co w first MUKWONAGO: LOW CONDO FEES! Updated 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath condo with full basement. Low condo fees. Newer windows, roof, furnace, central air, water heater and more. Parking for 3 cars. Big country kitchen with custom cabinets and appliances are included. $133,500 LAURIE SCHUBERT (262) 227-7980 or (262) 544-8560 JAMES DULLEY of his buddies. He tried a small propane heater, but the fumes smelled bad. What is a good heating option for the garage? – Mary D. Dear Mary: If there are going to be only two people in the garage watching TV, using two electric radiant heaters should work. They won't heat all the air in the garage, but someone sitting in front of a heater will be warm. If they want to heat the entire garage area, a direct-vent propane heater installed in an outdoor wall will eliminate the fume odor issue. These heaters are also energy efficient and operate quietly with a thermostat. (Send inquiries to James Dulley, Homes Plus, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.) 2 6189 2 8920 m/12 PIN eber.co w first WATERFORD: OPEN FLOOR PLAN Cape Cod w/sunken great room w/gas fireplace & wall of windows, a 1st floor Master suite, large kitchen/dinette & situated on a 1/2 acre lot across from a park. 3 BRs, 2.5 full baths. $250,000 PATTI JASTROCH (414) 303-3299 or (414) 543-7800 Waukesha County Home Buyer Seminar First Time Homebuyer Grant and Downpayment Assistance Programs When: Sat. February 16th Time: 9:30am - 3:30pm Where: First Weber Waukesha Office 1507 E. Sunset Ave. Limited Seating To Register: Call Michele Krause 262-490-8145 or mkrause@firstweber.com 230490002

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