Small Cabin

Small Cabin Forum
 - Forums - Register/Sign Up - Reply - Search - Statistics -

Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Cabin to "tight"
Author Message
jmcindric
Member
# Posted: 1 Nov 2020 19:27
Reply 


Can a seasonal cabin be built to tight? Our cabin is going to be built Tuesday. They are going to rough frame the window openings but leave the sheathing over the rough openings. I will remove sheathing as I install the windows (I know about flashing and such for the windows, I am recessing them to allow for security shutters). The cabin has ridge and eave vents. My plan is to caulk all seams in and out, insulation, vapor barrier and shiplap. Since it only going to be used on weekends and heated with a wood burning stove, do I need to be concerned with making it too tight? Do I need to and how do I let it breath so we don't have mold issues?

mj1angier
Member
# Posted: 1 Nov 2020 21:08
Reply 


I am having better luck with mold by keeping our cabin shut up as tight as I can and using the big tube of damp rid to keep the moisture under control. I tried keeping a window cracked and moving air in and out, but in NC every day is a high humidity day in the summer. After changing to trying to stop air movement and drying out the air inside cabin, we have not had any gray mold/ mildew.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2020 06:40
Reply 


Build it as tight as possible. Cant do that later. You can crack a window if it does end up to tight. I doubt it will be though.

What type of insulation are you useing? I think it's nearly impossible to make a building to tight useing bat insulation.

jmcindric
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2020 06:59
Reply 


Brettny

I am planning on insulating with mineral/rock wool batt 8nsulation. Climate is southern Ohio.

Desim
Member
# Posted: 13 Nov 2020 16:06
Reply 


Not a cabin but good anecdotal evidence.
We have an aluminum houseboat on Kentucky lake and people who lived on the lake and seaside told us we would not be happy with it. The consensus was it would moldy and musty. We have left it shut up for months at a time, up to 5 I think, and it has always been fine. I really am surprised as it has a lot of windows though they too are tightly sealed.
No dehumidifier or HVAC.
Note: we had a waterline break and it was musty so popped a dehumidifier in and month later all good again.

Your reply
Bold Style  Italic Style  Underlined Style  Thumbnail Image Link  Large Image Link  URL Link           :) ;) :-( :confused: More smilies...

» Username  » Password 
Only registered users can post here. Please enter your login/password details before posting a message, or register here first.