…or in this case, no roof. Yes, this is my cape-style home in Fort Washington. My family and I are currently undertaking a major energy retrofit.

So far, we’ve done the following:

• Installed a 96% efficient variable speed furnace
• Installed a 95% efficient natural gas hot water heater that is also capable of providing space heating for a future addition via radiant in-floor heat
• Demolished our chimney (appliances no longer vented through it)
• Removed old asphalt roof and sent to be recycled into new road surface material
• Begun to move the thermal envelope (where the insulation is) to the outer most surfaces i.e. gable end walls and roof slope.

We have a ways to go before we complete this roof-related phase including:

• Adding 3” rigid foam to the new thermal boundary – the roof deck
• Air-seal and insulate small uppermost attic and nine separate small attic spaces formed by second floor kneewalls/roof lines
• Install a metal shingle system from Classic Metal Roofing Systems. This aluminum product is made from 95% recycled aluminum and can be recycled completely when it is removed in the distant future.

Cape-style houses are notorious for being difficult to properly air-seal and insulate. There are thousands of these in the greater Philadelphia area and a key aspect of this project is to develop the most efficient way to accomplish an effective energy retrofit on a Cape.

Stay tuned for future updates on my progress with the home!