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Lawson82
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# Posted: 9 Sep 2021 10:43pm
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Winterizing Cabin
Hello all, new to the group.
Recently purchased a Cabin in Ontario, it’s currently a three season and I’m thinking of winterizing it to use as a Fourseason what’s the best way to enclose around the bottom of the cabin or is it better to leave it open and spray foam underneath the cabin
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FishHog
Member
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# Posted: 10 Sep 2021 07:53am
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If spray foam under the floor is a realistic option then its the best one. No real need to enclose the bottom, in fact that ventilation is a good thing the other 3 seasons.
Spray foam is expensive, but also the best option if you can afford it.
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KelVarnsen
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# Posted: 10 Sep 2021 08:34am
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My cabin is on piers similar to yours, although a bit higher off the ground. I bought some used 3 inch ridgid foam insulation from a local salvager, it had come off a school roof. Then I used the cut-and-cobble method to install it. It was a miserable job, mostly because all of my floor joists were installed at varying distances apart so I had to custom cut each piece of foam. I got it done for about $500 for 300 sq. feet and I'm happy with the results.
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leebree
Member
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# Posted: 10 Sep 2021 12:48pm
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What's your water source? Where is the pump located? If there's any plumbing under the cabin you'll need to think about how to keep the water line from freezing (assuming you want to keep the water running all year). The benefit of enclosing some or all of the cabin is that water lines/plumbing/pumps etc can be brought into the heated envelope.
One other thing to thing about is whether rodents might have fun gnawing your foam insulation if it's exposed under the cabin. It might need to be covered with wire mesh?
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Nobadays
Member
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# Posted: 10 Sep 2021 01:49pm
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Our cabin is on piers as well and we live there nearly year round. We live in high mountain but dry conditions, humidity/dampness under the cabin us virtually nonexistent.
Metal was used to enclose the crawlspace. We had the underside of the floor sprayed with 4" of closed cell foam... it made a huge difference in retaining heat as well as comfort walking on the floor. This fall we hope to have the perimeter metal sprayed too. We found that even in single digit temperatures under the cabin didn't drop below 28°F, we think if we foam the perimeter it likely won't freeze at all under there.
All of our water lines are foam insulated with pipe foam made for that purpose. Rodents have not chewed on this. The drain lines are wrapped in fiberglass insulation... done by the PO, the rodents have messed with that some.
Newer closed cell foam, according to the installer, has some compound in it that is disagreeable to bugs and rodents. We have had no damage.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 10 Sep 2021 07:27pm
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What is your heat source?
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Nobadays
Member
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# Posted: 11 Sep 2021 04:45am
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Quoting: Brettny What is your heat source?
If this is directed my way.... the earth.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 11 Sep 2021 05:36am
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The OP
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 11 Sep 2021 11:12am - Edited by: gcrank1
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Do you drain down the pipes for winter or what?
If so, and you only envision going occasionally in winter (ie, how are you going to get in/out, down to how cold do you really want to be going to a Dead Cold cabin? We have found that is about freezing temp for us).
If only a few times maybe just carry a few gal. of water in and use it smart as if you have a no plumbing place.
I suggest you use the place pretty much as is for a year before making major decisions.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 11 Sep 2021 04:04pm
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I arrived at a 30* log cabin once. Its 20x35 and 2 stories. We ran both wood stoves for about a day full bore to get things comfortable.
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Lawson82
Member
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# Posted: 11 Sep 2021 06:27pm
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We have a wood stove plus baseboard heaters. It has insulation, windows are single pain glass. Looking at replacing them in the future.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 11 Sep 2021 07:39pm
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What are the chances of a power failure in the winter?
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