Move aside, “man cave.”
It’s time to make space at home for the latest trend that is gaining attention throughout the world. While guys have long-established their “man caves,” the ladies are now rehabbing old exterior structures into their own special retreats from the world, making it official. The “she shed” is here to stay. While some are assembled fairly modestly, possibly some chairs, some books, or a couch, some are far more elaborate and have showers and toilets and other fancy accommodations. Regardless of your style and type of building, if you have a “she shed” and want to keep it comfortable this winter, you’ll want to follow a few simple tips. We at Lewis Center-Powell Heating and Air prepared the following to help you stay warm in your outdoor haven this winter.
HEATING AND FLOORING
Any time you enjoy out in your refuge this winter is clearly going to call for a safe and trustworthy source of heat. Perhaps you decide to go with a space heater or an outdoor stove. In either case, you don’t want that cherished heat going out the door, or literally, through the floor. Sure, we all know heat rises. However, a lot of homeowners don’t understand that you can lose a tremendous amount of heat because of your floor as well. If you neglect to insulate your “she shed” adequately, the heat that’s coming out of your heater gets cooled rapidly by the breeze flowing under the building and underneath the thin and bare floorboards.
Experts say there are a few solutions to this. We say, if you’re working with a budget, get some inexpensive carpeting. It doesn’t have to be the most luxurious, and it will call for some cleaning periodically. But if you get some old carpeting and cut it to the right size, it’ll work wonders in keeping your “she shed” comfortable when the temperatures drop. To make this suggestion complete, we also advise obtaining some cheap cloth, like cotton or felt, and laying it down first, on the bare floor. Once it’s down, kick it into place. You mustn’t leave the borders with much room. Make it really snug to the edges and then put down that carpeting on top. Once both layers are down, don’t nail or tack or puncture the carpet to hold it in place. Rather, use objects in the shed, like furniture or chairs or bookshelves, to hold it in position. Before you’re finished, examine the edges and around the room to make sure no moisture can get in.
BUBBLE WRAP INSULATION?
Now your floors are covered, quite literally. Next, you will need to fix some padding onto the walls. To do this affordably, some experts suggest using bubble wrap. Yep, you heard that right, bubble wrap. Start by measuring the bare areas you want to coat and cut the sheets to fit it snug. You can staple or nail these in place. Then, lastly, get some fiberboard or wood sheeting to cover all the spaces. Once you have your sheets of wood to size, which might require a little elbow grease, you merely screw it or nail them down. You won’t find a cheaper solution to insulating your walls. If this idea doesn’t seem the prettiest for your “she shed,” simply slap on some paint or some other creative decorative layer.
FINISHING UP THOSE LOOSE ENDS
You are inclined to lose a lot of precious heat in these key areas, so consider a few more tips that will spare you a chunk of money on heating:
- Get some spray foam insulation from your local hardware store to protect the interior perimeter of each window. If you find this solution to be unsightly or ugly, you can always smooth it down with a file. Perhaps even paint over it.
- Invest in a door sweep or craft yourself a makeshift slider cloth for the bottoms of your doors. Also consider weather stripping.
- Utilize the shutters on the outside of your windows. It won’t keep a lot of heat in, but it will help the windowpanes stay warm.
- Hang up some drapes indoors, thick curtains, or a blanket for additional window protection from the wind.
- Get rid of any rubble around the outside and tidy the place up, if you haven’t already.
- Lastly, use a candle to locate any remaining drafts in your comfortable winter getaway. Simply turn off any fans or space heaters that might be moving the air inside, so that it is very calm. Light the candle and go over your windows and doors or any other penetrations of the building. If the candle flickers, you have a draft in that area that will need sealing. You can use spray foam, caulk, or any insulation sold at your local hardware stores.
For more information or further assistance in keeping your personal “she shed” sanctum warm through another chilly Ohio winter, give us a call at Lewis Center-Powell Heating & Air today at 614-490-7530 or schedule an appointment online now at www.lewiscenterpowellheatingandair.com/schedule-now/.
