Looking for more ideas on next neighborhood... (Taylor, Millvale: buy, asbestos)

[PghYinzer]

I dont know if my house is "grand" or not, but its a big old brick Pittsburgh foursquare with a walk up attic. Heat, range, and hot water run me about the same as Hopes, about 1k a year. My house has it's original plaster, but had the blown-in style insualation put down from the eaves at some point....not the best method, as I assume it has since settled, and probably has some voids, but better than nothing.

Please keep in mind that I naturally "run hot" so I keep my winter thermostat around 65 degrees.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I'm not sure it's uninsulated. But the house clearly still has its original walls intact, and given it's age I'm presuming the plaster was directly applied to the brick with no gap. Could be wrong about the latter.

As to the attic roof, it may be insulated. We asked the seller's agent, who asked the sellers (who lived there for 24 years) and they said they thought it was insulated, but weren't sure.

Surely the plaster would have been on lath, not directly on the brick? I know a friend's house in Lawrenceville was like that, there was a space between the lath and the outside brick.

[Hopes]

For my gas usage, I should clarify that I have a frame house that's over 100 years old and insulated.

[stburr91]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I'm not sure it's uninsulated. But the house clearly still has its original walls intact, and given it's age I'm presuming the plaster was directly applied to the brick with no gap. Could be wrong about the latter.

As to the attic roof, it may be insulated. We asked the seller's agent, who asked the sellers (who lived there for 24 years) and they said they thought it was insulated, but weren't sure.

Knocking on the walls would tell you if the plaster is applied directly to the exterior walls.

Buyers should really should be more concerned about the things they can't see, than they should be about the purely cosmetic stuff. The cosmetic stuff is easy to change, be concerned about the bones of the house, and the mechanicals.

[Der Schwabe]

4BR with finished third floor that may have had some insulation by prior owners with new insulated windows. We ran max $300 a month during polar vortex. Roughly 1400 for this past year. But I would recommend getting their usage either from them or the gas company. That gives a better idea of what the upper range would be, especially if you can get your hands on the past 12 months.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Since it still has plaster walls, the previous owners probably did the blow-in insulation. Call the gas company for the usage history. You can easily find out the exact amount of money it takes to heat that house by calling the gas company, and it will give you an idea if it's insulated or not.

I highly doubt the plaster was applied directly to the exterior brick without there being space behind the plaster.

The house was built only 13-16 years later than our current house, which assuredly did have plaster directly on brick walls. I know because I stripped the plaster off the first floor fireplace, along with the attic walls, Lathe was only used for the plaster on the interior wood-frame walls.

Of course, our current house was built for a working-class family, and that house was built for gentry. Maybe this was the crucial difference.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by PghYinzer

I dont know if my house is "grand" or not, but its a big old brick Pittsburgh foursquare with a walk up attic. Heat, range, and hot water run me about the same as Hopes, about 1k a year. My house has it's original plaster, but had the blown-in style insualation put down from the eaves at some point....not the best method, as I assume it has since settled, and probably has some voids, but better than nothing.

Please keep in mind that I naturally "run hot" so I keep my winter thermostat around 65 degrees.

That blown in insulation is doing a good job if your gas bill is similar to mine. We keep the thermostat at 70.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by eschaton

The house was built only 13-16 years later than our current house, which assuredly did have plaster directly on brick walls. I know because I stripped the plaster off the first floor fireplace, along with the attic walls, Lathe was only used for the plaster on the interior wood-frame walls.

Of course, our current house was built for a working-class family, and that house was built for gentry. Maybe this was the crucial difference.

How is the electrical wiring run to the exterior walls if there isn't a space? Do you only have electricity on the interior walls? The fireplace and the attic probably doesn't have electrical outlets, but do your other exterior walls have electricity?

You might be able to resolve all of this by calling the gas company. If the gas bills aren't astronomical, you won't need to worry about how the walls are made and if they are insulated.

[Hopes]

I just realized I'm paying $1,200 a year instead of 1k. My budget amount is near $100/month. Personally, I'd be fine with $1,500 a year in gas. $1,800 tops. Those would be a budget amount of $125 and $150. Paying more than that would make me hesitate for my size house. Then again, I must not have my priorities in place since I pay more to Comcast and Verizon per month. LOL

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Hopes

How is the electrical wiring run to the exterior walls if there isn't a space? Do you only have electricity on the interior walls? The fireplace and the attic probably doesn't have electrical outlets, but do your other exterior walls have electricity?

If you're talking about our current house, all the outlets on exterior walls were placed on the baseboards, and the light switches were only on the inside walls.

I have to say I didn't notice if there were any outlets on outside walls in the new house. Looking over the pictures, I can't see any, except in the kitchen along one wall, and the kitchen was redone within the last five years. We have the inspection a week from tomorrow, so I'll know more then.

Originally Posted by Hopes

You might be able to resolve all of this by calling the gas company. If the gas bills aren't astronomical, you won't need to worry about how the walls are made and if they are insulated.

I may just do that.