Steve writes from Hawthorne, New York: "My cape cod has a full dormer in back and nothing in front. The insulation in front was on the roof side- and not on the knee walls - is that correct? Or - from what I see here - only the knee wall on the second floor and the attic floor should have insulation. Is that correct - should I take down the insulation that is there? Could you show a diagram of a cape?"

Answer: I can’t find any diagrams but I recommend removing the insulation from the roof line behind the knee wall and placing it on the floor behind the knee wall, then insulate the knee wall itself. Of course, the vapor retarder should go toward the warm-in-winter side.