Replies

1. 
   DanH | Mar 07, 2010 02:59pm | #1

   Will it be occupied at all during freezing weather?  If so, will it be occupied more or less continuously (at least most weekends), or only occasionally?

1. 
   daveyespos | Mar 07, 2010 04:36pm | #2

   Hi Dan,

   Thanks for the reply. Yes we will be doing year round living there. I'm attaching a photo...

   I have done some research. Seems like a multi pronged approach might be the way to go; heat tape around the pipes. Skirting all the way around, Insulation in the floor joists; obvious stuff to me - I'm just wondering what else - and will that even work. It get's cold; occasionaly below zero but mainly in the teens...definitely cold enough to freeze things!

   Thanks for any further thoughts!

   DAve

   
1. 
   DaveRicheson | Mar 08, 2010 06:03am | #3

   Use PEX along with your other insulation protocall.

2. 
   wane | Mar 10, 2010 08:38am | #4

   I've been banging my head putting in and taking out water systems for cottages for way to long, here's a link to the only way it should be done (http://www.cottagewatersupply.com/).  This takes care of your supply, as for distribution and drain lines these should all be internal and sloped to common drains that you can just open to drain before going.  Use bell traps instead of p-traps on shower drains.

3. 
   wane | Mar 11, 2010 08:21am | #5

   check out the link above

4. 
   junkhound | Mar 11, 2010 08:57am | #6

   AH!!

   Good excuse to buy a used backhoe or bobcat!

   Here is what I'd do if living there year around. 

   Dig a basement under that cabin and pour 6" or thicker concrete walls or 8" block (block likely easier) with 2" external styrofoam insulation to below 6 ft down or more.  Gravel under the floor covered with poly sheet, no insulation under the floor. 

   For the size and shape cabin in the pix, I'd most likely dig and install the basement right next to the cabin, then slide the cabin over onto the new foundation/basement. 

   On my external pumphouse, did a ground temperature calculation and superinsulated the pump house so that the ground heat up thru the floor would keep the inside of the pumphouse above freezing for the worst case recorded temp  (which is only  zero degF here, colder where you are).

   Of course, if the cabin is simply a place to live while you build a bigger house, then just do the drain and pex items already advised.

   Have fun

   BTW, put camo netting over the hole while building, slide the cabin over during a weekend, that way you can likely avoid the pain of any permits!