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One of the many things I've had to do in working on our old house is update the wiring on antique fixtures or completely replace wiring in others. The example I have today I actually pulled out of the garbage when my sister and I were pulling cabinets from a "free" alley pile. The cabinets are beautiful, and the lamp was cute! But it was clearly thrown out because of the shredded wiring at the joints. Since this lamp has an adjustable head, there is more stress on the wires in those spots. But with just a few supplies, it's not too hard to rewire! 
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Previously, I wrote about thermal bridging and why it matters in houses. A thermal bridge is any material that allows heat to pass through it easily. A thermal break is the opposite: it is a material that does not allow heat to pass easily, and it is used in a place to disrupt the passage of heat. By adding thermal breaks in strategic places heat loss can be minimized, and the energy used to condition homes can be reduced. We have done a bit of work on this already by insulating our basement: by adding rigid foam along our rim joists and on the foundation walls, we have reduced the ability for heat to transfer between two thermal bridges: concrete and wood. But we still have a lot of work to do, particularly in our attic. When our electrical was redone, we didn't take the time to properly reinsulate the attic floor, so our R-value in some places is less than R-10 with poor sealing. It's like we're leaving a small skylight open all winter.  Happy New Year! I'm back with a big old house science topic: thermal bridging. With all the changes we made last year, heat loss became a big issue, and even just a quick drive around the neighborhood showed me that it isn't just me with this problem... Big gains have been made in the past century, and I hope to be able to integrate some of that here. Working on old houses, and particularly planning around my own, the structural differences between old and new are consistently apparent in how systems are integrated. This is especially true with how houses are insulated and sealed for cold -and hot- months. Managing insulation becomes just as much about managing moisture as it does about managing temperature. Thermal bridging is one of the biggest energy losses in homes, and there are a few schools-of-thought for how to manage it! No matter what, understanding a little bit about what is happening can help make the best choices for each situation.  |
Katie SwansonI am a parent, creative spirit, and old house lover. My big passions are sustainable design and preservation. Bringing these together is key to moving existing homes into the future. * By subscribing to the monthly newsletter, you consent to receive links this month's blog posts and other relevant blog updates, a round up of things I love, and as a throwback to my DIY days, I may toss in an exclusive knit or crochet pattern of mine. Archives
January 2025
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