Keeping a house cozy in the winter and comfortable in the summer is no small feat, but one we so often take for granted in our modern homes built by other hands. Creating our temperature-regulated cocoons with just inches separating our pleasant interiors from the large temperature fluctuation of the world is a job well done.
So we’ve been contemplating the most efficient way to do this. I was hoping to use sheep wool from Oregon Shepherd throughout the house, as it’s a natural insulation material. However, as is continually the case, weight ends up becoming our number one consideration and often our determining factor. Since we can only estimate our house’s weight before it is fully constructed, weight is a continual source of anxiety.
We bought our trailer with two axles rated for 7,000 pounds each, which at the time, from our estimations, seemed it would be adequate. But, as we’ve been able to more accurately measure the load of each material we purchase, we wonder if perhaps we should have gone with three axles… We’ve made some “heavy” choices: putting in quite a few windows, some of them larger, and the bay window in particular with it’s added framing and increased space takes a large chunk from our weight threshold…
So, although we’re still hoping to use the Oregon Shepherd sheep wool insulation in the ceiling, we decided we needed to go with foam board insulation in the walls as it’s super light. This stuff is basically huge sheets of styrofoam (ugh). It’s the same stuff we used in the floor. Along with the minimal weight, the foam boards also won’t shift when we’re towing the house around, which will prevent any poorly insulated spots from forming. Still, I am so NOT excited about having my floor and walls filled with styrofoam – yuck. But, if we are to make this house viable, we have to contend with our weight threshold. So many considerations when your house is on wheels.
But, we’re excited to move forward and we’ve go the first layer of insulation in! Before we can fully fill the walls with the next layer of insulation boards, we need to get all the electrical and plumbing work done. But even with just the first layer of insulation, it’s already a bit more cozy in the house!
Hi T and E! The house looks great!!!! I would never think of using sheep wool. How interesting. Henry wants to know if it is organic. when we loved downstate, the house was not well insulated and the windows were old jalousie ones that leaked cold air. We bought foam boards too and lined them with contact paper to match the rooms there in.. They had a wood border around them too and they worked really well. We put them in at sundown and tool them out in the morning.
Weight problems would be gone if you put a another axle or two under there….
Thanks, Linda! I read about the sheep wool somewhere when I was researching insulation. We plan to purchase ours from a company in Oregon called Oregon Shepherd. Their website doesn’t say anything about it being specifically organic, but you can read more about their product on their “Product & Types” page and their “Tech Info” page. Sounds like you guys had a great solution to old, poorly insulated windows! How crafty of you two!!
Unfortunately, adding another axle to the trailer would be a very expensive and most likely very tricky fix for going over our current axles’ weight limit. It would only be a very, very last resort.
It looks like it is going to be pretty well insulated. It also reread the concern on Rocky Road. Sounds like the weight limit is going to be close. Am I correct that window studs are heavier than the Jack Studs? I don’t know what Jack window studs are.
Love, Dad
Yeah, the weight limit is definitely a source of anxiety. As for the studs in the framing, this figure is a nice descriptor of the advanced framing techniques we (and most other tiny house builders) used for the wall framing: https://basc.pnnl.gov/sites/default/files/images/TE445e_minwallstuds1_DOL_SG-PNNL_06-17-12.jpg
So, the jack studs that traditionally support the header over a window or door are eliminated. There aren’t specific window studs, the windows are just only surrounded by king studs on either side (a header hanger connects the headers over the windows to the king studs). You can see all this if you zoom in on this photo of one of our walls before we raised it: https://i0.wp.com/livetheideal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Half-of-second-long-wall.jpg. So, actually our framing is lighter than that of most traditional houses. But, wood still weighs a lot! As does glass!
Holy shit. I’m amazed every time you post something. I’m simultaneously a bit envious of the build, but relieved that I don’t have to make those decisions!
I can understand how you might feel that way! It is a lot of uncertain decisions. And, neither of us is great at visualizing what something will look like before it’s there before us, so hard to even make ascetic choices with conviction, let alone choices related to the actual structure and sound build. But, so far we’re feeling good about most of the decisions we’ve made – fingers crossed that continues!