Step back, “man cave.” There’s a new fad that’s winning popularity across the world. Although men have long made their “man caves” a cultural staple, women are now demanding their own private retreats.
Yes, it’s official. The “she shed” movement has arrived. Some are decorated rather modestly, with perhaps some chairs, some books or a sofa, and some are quite intricate and have bathrooms and beds and more. Regardless of your style and structure, if you have a “she shed” and want to make it cozy this winter, you’ll want to take a few simple steps that we at Grove City Heating and Air organized to help you stay warm in your backyard sanctum this winter.
WOODEN FLOORS, HEAT
Any amount of time you spend in your haven this winter is going to demand a safe and reliable source of heat. Perhaps a space heater, or an outdoor stove. Whatever you choose, you don’t want that beloved heat going out the door, or through the floor. Heat rises, sure. But most people don’t realize that you can waste an extensive quantity of heat through your floor as well. If you don’t insulate your “she shed” correctly, the warmth that’s coming from your heater gets cooled fast by the wind running under the building and along the thin and bare floor.
For this predicament, there are a few solutions. We recommend getting some inexpensive carpeting. It need not be the most beautiful, and it will require some cleaning from time to time. But if you can find some and trim it to the right size, it’ll go a long way in keeping your “she shed” snug when the weather becomes freezing cold. Before laying your carpet down, we propose selecting some cheap cloth, like cotton or felt, and laying it down on the naked floor. Once it’s down, push it into place. You mustn’t leave much room around the edges. Make certain it’s snug before putting the carpeting on top. Once you’ve done this, check the sides around the room to make sure no dampness can get in.
INSULATING THE WALLS
Now that you’ve got the floors covered, literally, the subsequent thing you’ll want to do to put some insulation on the walls.
To do this affordably, some experts propose using bubble wrap.
Yes, that’s correct, bubble wrap.
Measure the bare areas you want to cover and fashion the sheets to fit it snuggly. You can staple or nail these into position. Lastly, you can get some fiberboard or plywood to cover it up. Once you have your sheets of wood to size, which might involve a little work, you merely screw it or nail the wood into position. You won’t find a cheaper solution to insulating your walls.
WRAPPING IT UP
You are liable to waste a lot of expensive heat in these additional vital places, so check out these tips and utilize them properly.
- Use some spray foam insulate located at your local hardware store to protect the interior perimeter of each window. If you find this idea to be unsightly or ugly, you can always smooth it with a file.
- Buy a door sweep or craft yourself a makeshift slider cloth for the gap at the bottoms of your doors. Weatherstripping is another great idea. This will help keep the warm air in and the cold air out.
- Utilize the shutters on the exterior of your windows if you have them. They won’t hold a lot of heat in, but it will help the windowpanes remain warm while you hang up some drapes inside. Thick curtains or blankets also work for added window protection from the brisk wind.
- Lastly, use a candle to find any remaining air drafts that might compromise your cozy winter getaway. Turn off any fans or space heaters that might be moving the air inside, so that it’s very still. Light the candle and go about your windows and doors or any other penetrations of the building. If the candle glimmers, you have discovered a draft 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 special she shed sanctuary warm through another frigid Ohio winter, give us a call at Grove City Heating & Air today at 614-490-7540 or schedule an appointment online now at www.grovecityheatingandair.com/schedule-now/.
