I want to convert an open, empty space, a “bonus” room, into a large walk-in closet. This space has no provisions for conditioned air, hot or cold. It is located above my living room. The space is not rectangular. The space is 23’ long. One wall is approx. 8’ high while the opposite side has no wall and the roof angles down to meet the floor. I will have to add a knee wall. The builder used 8” x 10” floor joists. It is filled with. How do I add the tongue and groove flooring? T&G flooring?
Answer:
Heat, in the way of radiant electrical heat is about the best option here. Discard the insulation from the floor and fir down the ceiling 2X6s with 2X4s on edge (so you have air space above R-28 bats) and then add vapour barrier before the drywall. A well applied layer of 5/8" T&G flooring will accommodate your laminatged hardwood flooring and you're done. The back of the knee wall and the floor joist cavities behind it can also be insulated but the back of the kneewall has to have a vapour barrier too.
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