Hi guys....I've been searching the list trying to answer this question with no luck, plus I've read Rod's Book, so here it is. Does a typical brick exterior wall suffice as a leaf? If not, will the air space between the bricks (~1-2") and the exterior insulation, typically some sort of foam board here in South Louisiana going to be a problem, if I go with staggered stud or double wall construction?? If so, how would I address it?
James Smith
Watson, La.
Brick exterior 1 leaf?
Originally posted at johnlsayers.com, topic 10185.
Hi JK
Can you post a sketch of what you're describing, with dimensions and spacing.
Sounds like a "yes" one leaf, but be careful using the word typical as building methods can vary from region to region, year built and seemingly what the builder had for breakfast. As long as there is no other hard surface decoupled from brick (ie drywall on furring strips) then brick wall counts as one leaf (even if it's hollow cinder block). Insulation counts as AIR. You'll want to replace foam with fiberglass or rock wool insulation. You should be building a single frame as your inner leaf. Forget the term staggered stud unless you're really tight for space in between rooms within build. Double stud walls are much better for real decoupling. Good luck. MarcDoes a typical brick exterior wall suffice as a leaf?
My understanding is your exterior counts as one leaf.
If your desire is to build a room in a room design, you are adding a leaf to an already existing two leaf wall.
If you have Rods book look for existing brick exterior walls and see how the interior of this was handled.
As a point of search, any basement build you find here should be an area of interest for your build, as a starting point.
hth
Built a new wall in front of your brick wall with the spacing you want (More is better) fill with insulation then sheetrock. Your exterior brick wall would be your first (massive ) leaf, the newly installed frame and sheetrock would be the second. Based on the info you provided and what i understand from it. To avoid triple, quad and other frightening leaf numbers :wink: just make sure anything you build only contain one air space between the two leaf. sketch would really be helpful here.
regards