Tag: insulation

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Raintastrophe

Wet Floor
Wet Floor
Wet Floor
More Wet Floor

We got a strong rainstorm yesterday, and my worst fear was realized. I’d neglected to tie down one side of the tarp, so the wind must’ve picked it up and flipped it (the tarp) over the side of the house, exposing everything.

Then it rained long and hard, soaking the walls and floor. As far as I know, two “compartments” in the floor got water in them, maybe more.

 

I repositioned the tarp and tied it down, but noticed it is full of holes. It is disintegrating from being out in the sun for so long.

All tarped up
All tarped up

The only thing to do is wait for the rain to stop and let the surface dry out. Eventually those compartments in the floor will mold (the insulation seems to be very good at resisting mold), so I’ll have to open up them up from the bottom and take out the insulation so I can dry everything out.

Next steps? Plow ahead! I’d been afraid of getting the floor wet since I laid it down and now I don’t have to worry about it!

This weekend I plan on squaring the walls and bolting them down (using the brackets I made) next.

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Ventilation: fresh air needed

A tiny home’s air quality is affected by pollutants more than a larger home, simply because there is much less air inside a tiny home.

My goal is to build the tiny home as air-tight as I can, to minimize the amount of air that leaks in or out. This also means that planning for a means to bring fresh outside air inside the house is very important.

The trade-off is every hole cut in the wall reduces energy efficiency.

On one hand, we have the exhaust fan with louvers that close when the fan is turned off.

8" Metal Shutter Exhaust Fan
8″ Metal Shutter Exhaust Fan

This fan’s only insulation is the louver, which doesn’t form an airtight seal. In hot or cold climates, this is not sufficient insulation.

According to the Department of Energy’s “Whole House Fact Sheet” (pdf), one option is to manually cover the opening(s):

Since standard fan louvers do not insulate or seal tightly, a cover should be constructed to airseal and insulate this hole …. The cover may be installed from the attic side (if attic access is easily available) or from the house side. Covers for both sides could be included in excessively hot or cold climates. Homeowners must remember to remove cover(s) before operating the fan and to replace cover(s) during seasons when the fan is not in use.

I can see that getting real old, real quick.

No solution, yet. Just something to think about.

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