Concerning block veneer: ranch style house, block enclosed/poured foundation/floor.?
Question:i want to enclose this house in concert with an add-on, with 8inch textured blocked, grouted, reinforced. pour the block footing right up against the existing foundation on grade, about the length of the overhang away from the house, and block to a height which will allow me to hang a new metal roof (decking and frame) over the existing structure and complete with the add on. 2 issues: 1)assuming the worst conditions, exterior temperature 100 degrees with 90% relative humidity, interior temperature 68 with 45%, block exterior, fully grouted, 18" dead air space, old vinyl siding, weatherpaper, old sheathing, r-13 insulation, and finally sheetrock, need i worry about condensation and make provisions to deal with it? can i make this enclosure air tight and not EVER have to worry about condensation i cannot see? ISSUE 2) running out of space see next question.,
Answers:
And how exactly is this going to involve the windows?
Making it airtight will cause condensation.
Condensation inside a structure is never a problem if you can keep the Relative Humidity near 30% or less.
You cannot ever seal a house so well that humid air will not enter it. A house cannot be built with the sealing properties of a Vacuum bottle. Simply not possible.
So no matter how tightly it is built, the humid air will enter the structure and if the dew point is reached in the structure temperature wise it will wet out on the walls.
I think it is a very poor choice to build a house from Cinder or cement blocks. The cost is nearly equal or greater than conventional construction. The resale value is ZERO no one wants that sort of thing.
You might consider this for the best design energy wise. It is 2x4 stud construction, 24 inch OC with 2 inch closed cell foam insulation on the outside, a house wrap blanket. The inside would be 1/2 foam foil back both sides topped with 1/2 drywall. The inside walls foamed or blown fiberglass Blown fiberglass is actually better, it fills voids around pipes etc.
The cost is going to be about the same as those cement blocks and you will have a good resale value.
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