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PA_Bound
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2011 06:18pm
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What would be the risks of not insulating a cabin (besides the obvious of being harder to heat)?
The backstory here is that I was having a discussion today with someone who questioned the need to insulate a cabin I'm planning. Based on the fact that the cabin would be sparingly used, and never in the colder winter months, he suggested that the layer of drywall on the inside would be all you would need to keep the place warm on cooler days.
Certainly a wood stove or other heat source would have no problem heating the small space, but would the unfilled voids between the exterior wall and interior drywall create any issues? I'll admit that I don't know enough about the science of insulation to determine the potential issues here.
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Just
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2011 06:44pm
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I had a cabin i built with no insulation . like you we had no plans to use it in cold weather . it was a singal skin 8x13 . plywood siding over 2x4 studs. we painted it inside and out . we heeted it with a 1500 watt electric box heeter . i only slept in it once below40*but it was nice and warm in the sleeping loft.if i were to add inside wall finishes i would for sure go with the insulation!! you never know if your plans could change to include cold weather use !!
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cabingal3
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# Posted: 26 Oct 2011 04:19pm
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dear just. i love a cabin if it has no insulation.i love what u did with your cabin walls.this is so nice.ledges to store stuff or decorate.we sleep in our.well our main cabin walls are insulated but not our kitchen.i know one year we were out on 5 acres n in a small camp trailer.we would wake up to ice on the inside windows.we were warm but we had lots of fresh air.so we eventually had to move to town for the winter and i tell u...from the very first we were sick and stayed sick.when we were in our woods,we were never sick once.
so i think all the really air tight homes are not always good.
but it is important to save energy.i was just commenting on what i saw about our health.
we have slept in our cabin and stayed warm but we have a little buddy stove.its small and propane but sure puts out the heat.thank u for sharing your cute place
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bugs
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# Posted: 26 Oct 2011 04:57pm
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PA
Our little shack has insulated 2x6 walls and the floor and ceiling are also insulated. We have stayed out in it at -5C and just our body heat keeps it about +16C. When we use it for day trips in the winter it does not take long for our heater to take it from -15C to a balmy +20C to enjoy our lunches in.
We have also found that the cabin stays cool in the heat of the summer if we close it up in the early morning. It is much more enjoyable to sleep at 20c instead of 30 C.
For us the expense of insulating was well worth it and allows us to enjoy our place in all seasons.
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Just
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# Posted: 26 Oct 2011 11:19pm
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cabingal3
nice to here from u2 miss old Garys witt !b well..
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smitty
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# Posted: 27 Oct 2011 10:37am
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From living in a 120 year old house, that wasn't insulated until the late 60's.. No house wrap, no tar paper, just studs, plaster on the inside, and siding on the outside.. I would say, no risk. Just takes more to heat.. If it's a small place and you heat with wood, just keep the draft out, and the fire going. The floor is what I would be concerned about. A cold floor will suck the heat right out of your body..
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cabingal3
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# Posted: 27 Oct 2011 11:38am
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well thanks everyone for the info about lacking insulation.i forgot to say even if i love a cabin without one cause of the 2x4 studs showing...for putting what nots on those...our main cabin is very insulated.smitty,i sure do agree with your knowledge on the floor needing insulation.we use to tend and live in some friends cabin.concrete floors.oh my word...so so cold.
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larry
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# Posted: 27 Oct 2011 10:07pm
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when we built our place it was decided to be a three season cabin, so no insulation. most of the time i can keep it warm but when it gets into the teens it is very difficult to get it above 60 f. inside. hind sight being 20/20 i wish i would have insulated at the time of construction. now i start tweaking out around mid winter because i want to go to my cabin but its just too damn cold. if you have the means, DO IT. i say this as i make plans to insulate my place in the spring.
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PA_Bound
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# Posted: 28 Oct 2011 07:36am
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Great information here. I appreciate everyone's insights and experience. I think I'll change my plans and insulate as I build out.
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Patgreat
Member
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# Posted: 28 Oct 2011 01:16pm
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my cabin is not insulated either, I have a wood burning stove and it can take an hour or two to get the place heated to start but once you get it heated holds the room temperature very well. My place has two sides, so I only use one side in the winter to conserve the heat, you may want to consider that if it is an option.
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