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Energico
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2021 05:50pm
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Hey all, I am here for advice on a cabin I am renting out, with a stickler of a landlord who doesn't want to insulate the cabin (some walls are insulated); however, he has offered to buy a new woodstove...
My problem is the roof; it is of the metal variety, is uninsulated, open-beam, and not vented. The interior of the house is 2 story with open floor plan all the way to the attic, which is basically the 3rd story. Its one big open space...
It's like an oven in the summer (weather reaches 100°) as the cabin is in the sun with southeast exposure. In winter, the heat from the woodstove goes up and doesn't stop. My question is what can I do to lower temps? I will include pictures soon.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2021 05:55pm
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Move
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Energico
Member
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2021 06:04pm
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Pics
Ceiling Attic
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Ceiling 1
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Ceiling Bedroom
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Southeast Roof
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Energico
Member
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2021 06:09pm
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Believe me, I would leave this shitstorm if I had a better opportunity...
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2021 08:39pm
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Since it is somebody else's and modding it up doesnt sound like something the LL would agree to you can only do simple things that are 'reversible/non-marring'.
How about making your primary quarters a 'room within a room' with tarps to somewhat isolate you from the rest and min. the square footage you need to control for comfort?
Or lightweight partition panels and ceiling; ie, light/thin surfaces sandwiching rigid styrofoam core?
Fwiw, decades ago (pre-1970) for the winters here in Wisconsin my Great Gramma blocked off all the rooms in her old uninsulated farm house but for the dining room that had the parlor stove, had her small bed, a chair and a couch for company. Her kitchen was just a doorway away with her old wood range. No fridge was needed! The rest of that old house was freezing but her quarters were cozy.
She had homesteaded to N. Dakota in the early 1900's and had a 'soddy' as her house out there so she knew the old ways.
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Energico
Member
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# Posted: 28 Mar 2021 12:45am
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I like that idea... I may do that, thanks!
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Brettny
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# Posted: 28 Mar 2021 07:02am
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I would also move. That's the benefit of renting prety much anything is not your problem and once the lease is up you can leave.
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FishHog
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# Posted: 28 Mar 2021 08:24am
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gcrank's idea is probably the best option. Not sure if your on grid, but if so some type of portable ceiling fan would help a lot for winter to keep some hot air moving lower and for a breeze to help cool in the summer, but that can only do so much.
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rpe
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# Posted: 28 Mar 2021 08:33am
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Sounds like you are in a tough position there. The "room within a room" idea gcrank mentions is a good one, but really eats into the space inside. I would caution against the use of foam for insulation though, due to fire risk. Noxious fumes and fast burn characteristics are a bad combo with a wood stove nearby.
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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 28 Mar 2021 10:25am - Edited by: silverwaterlady
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What about your legal rights as a renter?
Read your rental agreement.
I would do some research online and go from there.
Good luck, you should not have to live in this uncomfortable situation.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 28 Mar 2021 01:36pm
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I totally agree on a fan to move the heating season warm air stacking in the top down into the living space. And in the hot summer you need to get that hot air out, open a high window and put in a box fan?
At our one story place Im setting up a small bit of high ductwork to fan force the hot summer air out what was the gable end woodstove pipe hole. With the lower windows open it will draw through and at least it will be air moving past the skin for a cooling feel/effect rather than still, hot air.
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Energico
Member
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2021 12:43am
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Quoting: silverwaterlady Read your rental agreement.
Nothings in writing. I live here because theres a lot of open land and I like the country better than the city. Should I just hound him to let me insulate it, he might give..? But how would I go about that, theres no venting >.<
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Energico
Member
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2021 12:50am
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Guys I got 80° Nights out here last summer, I had a box fan in high window all day, all fourteen windows open, and still I come home from work 7pm and its 100° in the second story... Some nights I got nearly no sleep, definitely uncomfortable the whole time... Swamp cooler (wet sheet in front of fan) helped some, but we are on SOLAR and cant use much past dark... Special exception on those hot nights ... I may have to get a generator and ac unit 
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2021 05:53am
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Get a new place to live.
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rpe
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:06am
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This is an odd situation for sure. Are related to the owner? Is it a very low-rent situation? That's not the sort of building that's typically rented for full-time occupancy, in Canada at least! I'm not sure what your financial situation is, but you may want to talk to your landlord about the possibility of buying the place. Then your renovation efforts would be your gain.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:15am
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Quoting: Energico Quoting: silverwaterlady Read your rental agreement. Nothings in writing. I live here because theres a lot of open land and I like the country better than the city. Should I just hound him to let me insulate it, he might give..? But how would I go about that, theres no venting
Even with NO lease signed you have rights when you rent. There will be state, possibly county laws that spell out living conditions. However, I guess that if you push too much or go and follow the legal resources the owner may simply say he is not going to rent anymore.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:18am
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Quoting: Energico ....still I come home from work 7pm and its 100° in the second story...
Back when I was a kid and it was hot, hot, hot we slept on the porch. The heat was also one reason why virtually all the ranches here were single story buildings.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2021 10:12am
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Short a screen porch to sleep on of those beastly nights how about a little screen house, tent or otherwise.The location sounds like sleeping 'outside' would be nice.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2021 10:15am
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Quoting: Energico I live here because theres a lot of open land and I like the country better than the city.
So, it seems you have made the choice to live in the country but could live in a more urban area? Is that right?
If that is correct, how does the amount you pay for rent compare to what urban area rent would be? You may be getting proper value for monies expended, even though the premises may not meet the requirements spelled out for occupancy and rental of a residence. If the rent is low it would not be possible for the owner to insulate properly without having to charge higher rates. It is a tough situation and you don't really have many choices to force any changes.
If you buy a generator to power some kind of cooling it should be one on the quiet inverter generators or the noise will negate any cooling relief you may gain.
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zorro
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2021 10:32am
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No idea what your power supply is like, but could you use a window or portable air conditioning unit?
Alternatively, you can get reasonably low powered units that a small generator could run, if that was all that was connected - maybe a small low noise inverter generator, depending upon size and power use of the air conditioner?
Really depends on what power source you have or can get
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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2021 05:34pm
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Quoting: ICC Even with NO lease signed you have rights when you rent. There will be state, possibly county laws that spell out living conditions. However, I guess that if you push too much or go and follow the legal resources the owner may simply say he is not going to rent anymore.
Yes, this sadly could happen.
Again, I am sorry you are living under these conditions. I’m quite sure you would move if you could.
I will never understand how a landlord could know a tenant is suffering yet do nothing about it.
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Energico
Member
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# Posted: 10 Apr 2021 05:58pm
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Yes I'm related to and working for the owner... Strictly solar power means yes, I will be buying a quiet generator/inverter and small ac unit, and sectioning off a dwelling... I will probably move the bed to the small separated room and just let the rest of the house stay hot. Will window shudders help/be worth the effort? I have access to free defect fenceboards to make 'em...
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 10 Apr 2021 08:10pm
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Imo you wont be able to stop all the heat gain but anything to stop solar gain though south windows would be good. Id open lots of the others to just let the air flow, especially at the top where it starts to stack 'down', you already know you cant control the inside temps. Open widows low down on the cooler shaded side(s) to let that pull in when the top hot air moves out.
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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 10 Apr 2021 09:05pm
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Blackout shades in sunny windows.
That’s what I use.
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