Case study: The Joseph Story house
January 08, 2009
Case study
The Joseph Story house
By Paul Dion, Closed Cell Structures, LLC
The Joseph Story house in Salem, Mass., is a historical landmark that was built in 1811 for Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story. The new owners, Neil and Martha Chayet, wanted to renovate the home to make it energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
However, two difficulties were evident from the beginning of the project. Although the house would need major remodeling to meet the Chayets’ goals, there was only minimal space available to add and improve insulation, which is key to greening a residence. The Joseph Story home was constructed long before insulation was the norm. The inch-and-a-half between the brick substrate and the new walls would prove an insulation challenge for any green remodeler.
In addition, the remodelers would have to work around moldings and other woodwork that Samuel McIntire, a well-known, 18th-century architect and woodcarver, had carved. The National Historical Society had decided to preserve these elements.
The contractor for the project, Anthony DeIulis, of DeIulis Brothers Construction Company, contacted Paul Dion and Nick Williamson, the owners of Closed Cell Structures, LLC. Together, they tackled the issue of insulation, which also helped them determine how to retain the historical nature of the property.
Generally, the home improvement contractors use spray foam in their work, and suggested utilizing it in the Joseph Story house project.
“The architect was very responsive to using spray foam because he knew the foam would outperform any type of conventional insulation they could put in there,” Dion said.
In addition, spray foam would fit in the narrow frame.
“The problem was getting something in there that would be flat enough that they still get the sheetrock on top of it,” Dion said.
Using spray foam not only increases a home’s energy efficiency, but, in this case, it also helped to maintain the building’s historical features.
After spraying the foam, it quickly expands to fill all gaps and cracks, conforming to the space in the walls and the attic. Spray foam then creates an effective air barrier that seals the walls to prevent air penetration. The insulation will not shrink or deteriorate, and will also retain its noise-reduction qualities over the life of the structure. Some foam insulation products are blended with anti-microbial ingredients that also inhibit mildew, mold and bacterial growth.
In addition to the architect’s and the professional remodelers’ opinions in favor of spray foam, the owners were very receptive to the idea of using this insulation.
“The team brought spray foam to their attention as an alternative to using rigid board. Foam would be able to penetrate behind some of the moldings and give them a monolithic seal, whereas they would only get about an inch-and-a-half of thickness with rigid foam,” Dion said.
Applying the spray foam was a large task because the home is larger than 10,000 square feet. Dion and Williemson sprayed the insulation in many areas, including inside the walls and in the basement.
It was worth it. Spray foam can save up to 40 percent on energy bills by reducing energy consumption. It achieves this by forming an air seal that keeps heat and cold inside, but prevents noise, pollutants, dust and pollen from entering the home. This type of insulation also helps to provide a sound barrier between floors and between interior, adjacent walls, particularly in bedrooms and in bathrooms.
In addition to the spray foam insulation that Dion and Williamson installed, the homeowners added a variety of other energy-efficient items, including a new, geothermal heating system, and new windows.
With all of these features, the contractors greened the 1811 residence and brought it into the 21st century.
“It's Energy Star-rated and it achieved a Silver-level LEED qualification. The challenge was trying to make it energy-efficient while keeping as much of the original structure as possible,” Dion says.
In the end, that’s exactly what they accomplished, helping the Joseph Story House begin a new chapter in its long history. ,
