Replies

1. 
   DanH | Jul 01, 2012 09:16pm | #1

   What work are you planning on the cabin?  If it were new construction, or you were going to reside, the most important thing would be a good, air-tight rainscreen.  After that maybe some fiberglass batts in the walls and 6 inches of whatever in the attic would be all you'd need in that climate.

2. 
   JBesags | Jul 01, 2012 10:24pm | #2

   Don't really want to take the siding off unless I have to. My plan was to strip down to the bare studs on the inside and then starting over with the interior of the cabin. 

3. 
   MarkH | Jul 03, 2012 11:55am | #3

   That job seems to need closed cell foam.

1. 
   davidmeiland | Jul 03, 2012 02:54pm | #4

   I would not

   spray foam on the interior of the siding if I was absolutely sure I was NEVER going to need to remove a single piece of it.

   I'm about to start on a similar job in a similar location, and for better or worse, the best approach is to re-side the building... over, as Dan says, a nice air-tight sheathing layer and rain screen. Replacing all the windows and doors too...

   If I couldn't do that, I'd do nothing.

4. 
   JBesags | Jul 03, 2012 07:46pm | #5

   Thanks for the input. I've thought about residing, but it's a question of how much to do. Then I go back to the foundation and it just sits on concrete blocks.do I want to put that much money into it or tear down and start all over again with a new design and second story. 

5. 
   sapwood | Jul 04, 2012 12:02pm | #6

   Is this place a recreational cabin or do you plan to live there? How big is it? What degree of finish do you plan for the inside? There are lots more questions but basically you need to ask yourself, "... what are my goals?"

   The existing exterior is probably not keeping out the wind driven rain. Nothing you do on the interior will change that. Do your best to seal the air leaks at windows and doors, that effort will improve the habitability immensely. But keep in mind that insulation will disrupt the existing natural order of things. If you place fiberglass or cellulose insulation between the studs, that wind driven rain will now have something to soak into, stick around for a while, and nurture some mold. 

   If your desire is simply to be able to heat the place up on the weekend using a wood stove or similar, the  add fiberglass to the attic, add some rigid foam insulation to the inside of the studs, cover with cheap paneling, and party-on. 

1. 
   DanH | Jul 04, 2012 02:33pm | #7

   Yeah, probably 1/2" or 3/4"

   Yeah, probably 1/2" or 3/4" of foamboard across the faces of the studs, taped, and then paneling or MR drywall over that.  Should be a pretty good wind barrier and still let air circulate behind the siding.