the eave vents and roof vents in my attic appear to be blocked by blue styrofoam-ish stuffthe inspector says they need to come out but the builder says they are supposed to be therehelp!
Sometimes insulation companies put styrofoam insulation chutes at the edge of the wall where the roof meets the wallthis keeps the blown insulation from going out into the soffitThese pcsshould have open air gaps in them rather than flat pcsof styrofoamIf they are flat pcsand don't allow any air to circulate into the rafter spaces then they need to come outIf they have some voids in them where air can get through then they should stayThe roof vents need to be clear and free so air can flow outThere is no exception on thisUnder no circumstances should the roof vents be blocked - everI wish we knew if these vents were in the roof or the sidewalls, either way they should not be blockedVentilation is ventilation - I would ask the builder why he/she even installed vents if they were going to be blocked up? Sometimes some cost cutting builders will use young inexperienced helpers to build houses, they know nothing - and the builder just wants to get houses finished and sell themAsk around about your builder at the local lumber yards, or better yet ask another contractor for his opinion on the matterOffer to pay this other contractor $50 to stop by and give him/her their opinion on the matterIf your builder is a member of the NAHB local chapter, call them and ask how you can file a complaint about this builder with their local board.
Since you are renting the home, I don't think I would be spending my money on fixing up the house for the landlordYour problem is most likely a couple of thingsFirst, you can fill the walls full of insulation, however if there is air coming in and around all the windows and doors the wall full of insulation isn't going to do you a lot of goodSecond, the furnace may not be large enough to heat the home even if the home was insulated wellThe furnace is most likely having to operate at full capacity most if not all the time trying to keep up with what the temp is set toAs for moving, you will have to make that decisionYou know what you have at the present timeIf the house you speak of that is nearby and has roof and wall insulation and double pane windows and there are no gaps in the doors and windows, and the furnace is large enough to keep the house warm, you might be ahead to move, but again, that would have to be your decision to makeIt would probably be good if you didn't have to move your kids, but if your problems are this bad, the kids might be better off in a better homeThey can and do adjust quickly to a new location, most likely much better and quicker than you and your wife will.
