Insulating and winterizing a Stone Cabin
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
Greeting all,
Any thoughts about Insulating and winterizing a Stone Cabin.
The walls are about a foot thick of field stone with a Knotty pine trong and groove wall directly on the interior of the stone.
The Ceilings are all cathedral and made of 2×6 the floor are 2×8 all on 16″ centers. None of it is insulated.
Right now it is just seasonal use. I would like to insulate for year round warmth.
Do you think that the ceiling and the floors might be enough.
what type of insulation techniques can you recommend.
Thanks in advance.
-PSMASTER
Replies
I am by no means an expert, but I think you have the classic case of needing to look at a problem in a different manner.
12" of stone, faced with T&G hardwood. Ergo, NO place for application of any of the standard insulative methodologies (fiberglass, cellulose, foam).
As one expects you want to preserve the interior finish, and rather like the look of the exterior finish, one can easily see the quandry.
Is the cabin tight? e.g. minimal air infiltration. If so, maybe you should just invest in a heating upgrade, such as RFH.
A 12" stone building should build up a signifigant heat store in it's mass. Though this will erode over the course of a few colder days/weeks.
I see two solutions, if you really want to insulate: Reface the stone, or redo the interior.
For the first option, insulate the exterior of the cabin, maybe using expanded foam panels - non-structural SIPs? After this is done, create a new exterior over the insulation. More stone, stoneface, or go rustic with log facing.
For the second option, strip the interior T&G, add interior walls to support your insulation choice, then re-apply the T&G. The cathedral ceiling can get a similar treatment, thus lowering the ceiling 4-8".
I doubt there's a 'magic bullet' technology to address this problem.
HTH,
-TJ
TJ is right, only way to insulate those walls is to tear off the T&G paneling and add foam, then rebuild
Don't know where this cabin is. In moderate climate, comfort can be improved without adding insulation by controlling infiltration. that is stopping air leaks at all leels.
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