I want to make my home more energy efficient. I live in a 2-family,
3-story brownstone that is over 100 years old. I currently have a recently purchased gas furnace with little to no insulation in my walls or ceilings. I have 9 foot ceilings. I live on 2 of the 3 floors that have a total of 2,400 square feet of living space. I would say that the builing is 30 feet wide and 40 feet long. The windows are huge and have recently been replaced. Most of the walls are drywalls and a few walls are actually plaster.The first thing that I want to do is install insulation.
- Is it more cost effective to use foam (poured or spray) insulation or break down the walls to install typical insulation? What is generally the cost of each based on per square foot?
- If I have foam insulation installed, what are the concerns? Do I need to be concerned about a vapor barrier, which I do not have right now? What other concerns?
- Can I spray foam insulation by myself? Or should I use an installer? How much could I save if I did it myself?
- I have an open layout in the 1st floor. Do I need to insulate the ceiling between the first and second floor?
- Do I need to insulate the ceiling between the 2nd and 3rd floor? The 3rd floor is not my apartment.
Next I want to add baseboard heating and install a boiler:
- What kind of boiler do I need?
- Should I choose baseboard or radiator?
- Is it worth it to install this system if I have forced air heat? My system doesn't feel adequate enough but maybe that is due to the lack of insulation.
- Would it be difficult having each room with its own thermostat? 8 rooms altogether.
I have a huge front door with gaps around all four sides. Although I have a foyer door that eliminates some of the draft, what can I do to fix those gaps. The door is over 3 feet wide and around 8 feet tall. Conventional weatherproofing supplies don't fit. I am thinking of replacing the door altogether. But I wanted to save the front door if possible. I tried to place a rubber strip on the bottom of the door but there is still some space. I even have a mail slot that is not air tight.
- What should I do? replace the door and frame?
I would also appreciate any other advice you might have. Thanks.