How should I properly address the issues with the closet space turned coffee nook to avoid potential mold and rot problems in the future?
Hey, this is where I keep my clothes but we’re planning to turn it into a cute little coffee nook (don’t mind the wiring mess). We were surprised to find out that there’s a deck under the plywood floor and insulation we removed. It seems like they built this closet right on top of the deck, threw down some vapor barrier, and then started building. The outside is all covered in siding.
I’m not sure what the best next steps would be. Should I take out the vapor barrier, use plywood with house wrap on the bottom, leave a gap between the floor and the deck, fill it with rockwool, and then add another vapor barrier and plywood? Or should I just leave the vapor barrier, put in a plywood floor, insulation, and more plywood on top? I’m not really feeling the idea of just putting the insulation back in and adding plywood on top like it was before.
We do get a lot of snow and rain, so the deck gets wet. I want to make sure we’re preventing any mold or rot issues in the future. There wasn’t anything concerning when we first opened it up, but we’ve only been in the house for a year.
That’s what they used to call sub flooring back in the day. If there’s no rot, just restore it to its original state.
Hey, it’s not a subfloor, it’s actually my wooden deck at the back of my house
I’ve come across that situation many times as a contractor, seeing it used as a subfloor
Hey there, if that was decking on the outside, it wasn’t supposed to be
Ph Smith considering they utilized it as a subfloor, what do you suggest? I saw some recommendations online about treating it as a sunroom conversion, where they advise putting in foam board with spray foam for a snug fit, then layering on the plywood. How would you handle this situation?
Ph Smith completely. That’s exactly my problem.
We need photos of the outside.
Showing the outside of the closet. That’s my deck or decking.
: Vinyl batten and J channel need to be removed for siding, and new flashing needs to be installed on the exterior wall sheathing. Make sure the flashing extends 3-4″ up the wall and a few inches out onto the deck, beyond the J channel. Seal the outside corner lap of flashing with butyl caulking, as well as under all the flashing against the deck boards and sheathing. If there is house wrap on the wall sheathing, ensure the flashing is installed underneath it. Reinstall the siding.