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mikesova
Member
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# Posted: 23 Aug 2024 09:44pm
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I am purchasing this little shed to be moved to my camping property. Before I have it moved, I'm building a gravel foundation surrounded by treated 4x4's.
It's not the exact thing we wanted, but it was local and it was a decent deal. One thing I would have preferred would be a normal entry door over the wooden doors. Is there a good way to seal those up for use as a cabin, or should I just plan on reframing for an entry door?
My plan will be to run some wiring for lights and some receptacles , insulate the ceiling and walls, and then cover the ceiling and walls. I was thinking like 1/4" luan, but I would consider other budget ideas. On one end I think we will do a bed on a bunk so there can be storage below it. Probably a table and chairs maybe a small counter top.
It will pretty much be a place to sleep and get out of bad weather.
I think I will also want to build a ground level deck in front of it.
I would appreciate any advice or suggestions, especially from anybody with a similar build.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 23 Aug 2024 10:47pm
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Think about getting it up off the ground so it can breath under there.
Also consider an extension roof from the door(s) forward so you don't have to go in/out through the rain coming from the roof.
Take a look at the past threads here about 'powering' your dream; lots of good info.
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 24 Aug 2024 12:49am
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Quoting: mikesova Is there a good way to seal those (doors) up for use as a cabin
The home stores sell peel and stick foam strips in small rolls.
Quoting: mikesova gravel foundation surrounded by treated 4x4's
Looks like not enough room to attach a porch roof. Put up a roof gutter on the front and build a taller sloped porch roof.
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Curly
Member
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# Posted: 24 Aug 2024 08:26pm
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I would suggest some additional windows to help with ventilation. Also, you may want to consider installing an exterior light. I'd also suggest painting the interior white or a light color to brighten things up in there.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 24 Aug 2024 08:45pm
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Some of these are difficult to insulate effectively without causing potential damaging moisture condensation behind the insulation and the exterior siding and roofing. Where is this, or what soet of climate?
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 25 Aug 2024 01:03am
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I have a 10x14 that I converted into a small temporary cabin. Insulate the floor even if you have to do it from the top. Garage door seals work really well for a door seal in these. Put it on the inside pressing against the door. It made a big difference on mine.
Mice are going to want to get in so think like your 1/4in wide and want to get in for everything you do.
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mikesova
Member
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2024 02:34pm
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To insulate the floor, I'll probably just use the stuff that you lay down before you put down laminate flooring.
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mikesova
Member
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2024 02:55pm
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I'm in Northern MI.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2024 11:27pm
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Do you plan on useing it in the winter?
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mikesova
Member
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2024 12:52pm
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probably sometimes, but not right away. I'd have to think more about a woodstove or another heat source.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2024 01:54pm
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Be aware that a wood burning stove takes up a fair amount of floor space with the required clearances for safety. Small spaces require small stoves and good small stoves and the chimney may surprise you with their cost. Small stoves also often have trouble carrying a fire overnight and are sometimes difficult to regulate to a low enough heat level.
A direct vent propane wall heater can often be a better solution in a small space. But then you need to buy propane and not use 'free' firewood if you have trees to cut.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2024 02:33pm
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Imo, after having a couple in cabins and loving wood heat, is that wood stoves take up more than a fair amount of space.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2024 07:20pm
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Wood stoves definitely take up a fair amount of space. This is ours in a 10x14. The beds go next to it so not actualy that much loss of space. This setup including the stove cost under $500. With no insulation ar 4*f it kept us warm. It prety cold in the morning though. This was always going to be a temporary cabin for us. If it wasn't I would prob insulate and use something like a chinese diesel heater in it. Small, cheap and cheap to run.
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mikesova
Member
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# Posted: 3 Sep 2024 02:47pm
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hopefully getting it delivered to my site this week.
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mikesova
Member
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# Posted: 11 Sep 2024 01:56pm
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It’s home! Now the fun begins…
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 11 Sep 2024 02:13pm
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Wha Hoo!
Do an overnighter in it 
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mikesova
Member
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# Posted: 11 Sep 2024 02:19pm
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If I'm doing an overnighter out there, I'll stay in the cargo trailer. ;) it's a camper conversion. The shed is still just a shed at this point.
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mikesova
Member
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# Posted: 16 Sep 2024 01:23pm
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Ok, so I have some electrical stuff, wiring, boxes, outlets, etc.
Still deciding how I want to bring the power into the shed, using a recessed male outlet and plugging in a cord or hard wiring it all the way to the electrical box, but right now I'm thinking about insulation. I've heard that the foam board insulation is superior to the rolled fiberglass. I also reached out to a guy who does spray foam and he quoted me 1500$ to do an 8x16 shed with 7ft wall. The shed is made of T-111 and has a ridge vent on the steel roof. Is there anything special I need to keep in mind when insulating? It has triangular trusses that I would probably leave the cross beam exposed and doing wall covering all the way up (not really leaving an attic space).
My wife would like to be able to stay in the cabin in the winter using a 1500w electric heater. What insulation should I be looking at for Central Michigan?
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 16 Sep 2024 01:34pm
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For your location you will want to Fill the wall cavities. It wont be code but will be plenty easy to heat and stay warm if pretty well air tight.
The ridge vent is venting the whole building and all the heat will go out through it  . An insulated 'real' building will have the venting coming in at the eves and exiting the ridge Only in an uninsulated area). I doubt you have any air inlets at the eve (top of wall) area between the rafters. If you want the 'roof' to breath you will need to make inlets, screen them, and insulate the ceiling at the cross ties/lower run of the trusses.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 16 Sep 2024 02:36pm
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$1500 to spray the walls and ceiling..do your electrical and pay the guy. How are you going to insulate the floor? It would need to be done.
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mikesova
Member
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# Posted: 16 Sep 2024 04:29pm
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don't know, unfortunately it's a prebuilt, so I don't know what i'd do beyond adding a layer of foam to the floor and putting down more plywood...
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mikesova
Member
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# Posted: 16 Sep 2024 04:31pm
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This may end up a fall cabin, not winter. ;)
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 16 Sep 2024 07:35pm
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Mike, we built a cabin, 12x24 c/w a 12x12 loft in '83-'84; had 1" of blue Dow under the floor, same Dow outside the plywood sheathing and under the barn board 'siding' an NO insulation in the roof At All. We used that in all seasons as we wished for 30+ years with just a med sized antique upright wood stove I refurbed.
In perspective, in years long past many families lived in structures less well built and far less airtight than what some of ours are today 
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Curly
Member
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# Posted: 16 Sep 2024 08:22pm
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An off the wall option would be use radiant floor heating. That would help with your floor insulation issue, but probably would not work for quickly heating up the space. Warm feet make wives and dogs very happy
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 16 Sep 2024 08:24pm - Edited by: paulz
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Congrats Mike. Boy I sure consider a wood stove an integral part of cabin life. Can be done as Brett showed.
Gets used for more things; heat food, dry wet clothes, warm counter top. Nothin beats sleeping warmed up next to a crackling fire. Well almost nothing.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 17 Sep 2024 09:50pm
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Well I need to question my last comment.. Today I went up to straighten out my little aux place, actually measured 7x14 inside. If it were just me I’d get by in it, but a wood stove, at least normal size, would be too much. Not to mention all the other necessities. Maybe one of those small cylindrical wood burners, I think Darz posted one earlier, but then of course the smoke has to go somewhere..
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 17 Sep 2024 11:05pm
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Ice Shanty wood stove, Paul
But I suppose since you are in CA you don't know 'ice shanties'......
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 18 Sep 2024 02:17pm
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Well I have been to Lake Tahoe many times, never stayed in an ice shanty.
This one would work in a small place. I’ve been burning lots of 2bys lately, leftover construction cut offs, would be perfect.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 18 Sep 2024 02:48pm
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Quoting: paulz 2bys lately, leftover construction cut offs
...easy stuff to split into kindling
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 18 Sep 2024 04:12pm
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I think that wood () still cook you out in short order.
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