We need insulation in our walls, the floor of the cape cod style upstairs that has only one bedroom, crawl spaces on either sidesIm afraid of mold in the walls, but we'll cross that bridge should we get thereThe home is old, should we do it ourselves renting blowers and such or should we hire a company? What are the ball park costs of either option? And what are the better choices in types of product? Thanks!
Yep, clay pipes are a historically common objectYou'll probably have difficulty constructing a standard pipe, thoughYou can easily make a tobacco bowl and use another material as the pipe-stem, but most real clay pipes are slip-cast, not hand-built, since a slim stem is extremely hard to do by hand(You can also skip the glazing step, unless you know exactly what you're doing.)
In the early settler days many old miners made clay pipes to smoke by the fireThey were made from clay dug from the creek banks and fired in the campfireChinese setlers used porcelain and did not glaze it, as it doesn't have to hold water you do not need to fire itBut remember that not tobacco stuff is dangerous to mental health.New studies prove that it causes brain damageSome clay pipes have wonderful dragons carved along the pipestem and bowl so go for it and have fun.
Yes, but make sure you use a glaze that does not contain lead.
Your home’s energy bills are determined by two factors: 1The severity of temperature extremes (hot or cold) in summer and winter for the area in which you live2How well your home keeps the temperature you want IN and keeps the temperature extremes outside your home OUTEnergy efficiency starts with insulating your atticInsulating the attic ceiling is not recommendedAlthough done often this application can trap moisture behind the insulation and rot out the roof sheeting and can contribute to mold and mildew growthThis under the roof application can also lessen the life expectancy of the roof covering because it traps heat against the underside of the roofOnly insulate under the roof if the attic space is going to be finishedInstall a vapor barrier and a separation between the insulation and the underside of the roof so moisture will not become trapped against the under side of the roofRadiant barrier foil reflects 97% of radiant heat (either keeping it in during the winter or keeping it out during the summer)It is the least-expensive energy improvement you can make in your home.
