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Claywms1
Member
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2026 10:13am
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Hi folks. Glad I found this forum!
I recently inherited a small cabin in Pennsylvania.
The interior of the cabin is finished with 1x6 pine boards.
There are small gaps here and there.
Within the walls is Kraft faced fiberglass insulation.
The cabin will only be occasionally heated with a small space heater in the winter.
My question is if this will pose any kind of moisture or mold problems down the road? To redo the walls and insulation would be a big project, so I'm hoping the current setup is fine.
Thanks!
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2026 10:39am
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What kind of space heater?
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gcrank1
Moderator
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2026 12:14pm
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How old is it?
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Claywms1
Member
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2026 01:26pm
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The cabin itself is fairly new, just about 3 years old. The space heater won't be anything special, probably a small electric one at 1500 watts or so.
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Claywms1
Member
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2026 05:23pm
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I guess my only concern is the gaps in the wall, and the potential for moisture build-up. Most of the time the cabin will not be heated or cooled, and PA weather can be damp and reach heat/cold extremes. Thanks for any input.
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Fanman
Member
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2026 06:53pm
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Gaps in the walls, my concern would be critters making nests.
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gcrank1
Moderator
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2026 07:03pm
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Our prev owner built 'shack' had gaps, more than what I envision you saying. We thought we could fix it up but gave up and tore it down...it was insect, mouse and red squirrel infested.
Are saying it has some small gaps between the inside boards that are not tongue and groove or overlap so you can see some of the faced insulation? that facing is a vapor barrier, though not 'state of the art' today, yet it was the standard for decades.
Imo, as long as you dont use an unvented propane heater (they dump huge amounts of moisture from the propane to the inside) and you are well sealed outside it will likely be fine as a cabin.
Also, dont use it as a sauna or take long steamy showers or do a bunch of fish or corn boils inside 
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DRP
Member
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2026 09:18pm
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There it is, be mindful that moisture is going to ride along with the heat and try to go out to the cold. If it hits a cold condensing surface, liquid moisture will form. That is in the insulation or on the backside of the exterior sheathing. That is when mold can grow if things don't readily dry back out.. Watch the relative humidity inside and react accordingly. Open up and vent the moist air, then reheat is one approach, that is how traditional lumber kilns work. When you bring in cold outside air and heat it the humidity crashes, this pulls moisture out of materials. You have power? A small dehumidifier if needed will also do the trick.
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spencerin
Member
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# Posted: 29 Aug 2026 11:11pm
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There are other factors at play, but you're saying it's electric heat in the winter. Electric heat is "dry", and you're using it during a "dry" time of the year. So, no issues. The gaps in the interior siding will mean nothing if moisture isn't get trapped inside it. If anything, it seems like the gaps will allow for ventilation. The main point is to avoid warm air that holds moisture from hitting cold surfaces.
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