INSULATING a Tiny House with Expanded CORK CLADDING

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Hi All, thought we should leave a few videos that we watched as inspo for the cork cladding. We aren't too worried about it for now... we will see! But thank you all for the comments & concerns :) Hope you enjoy the videos! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mprZgq1rZpaLrMU kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2G7kGlvbd1lp5Y kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4m8kJljl693r6M kzbin.info/www/bejne/iovRZnuKbq2HbMk

[@paulmlemay]

Very inspiring. I have a small cabin that I plan to renovate very soon

[@marthamaeda8257]

Hello from Tanzania 🇹🇿 This type of cladding is new here but love your progress well done🤗🤩

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

It would be great to see it being used more widely worldwide. It’s a great product!

[@leonardlorriman7095]

The cork looks great I would never have thought of that to cover the outside of a building like that, But its a good idea - looking forward to the next video.

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Glad you liked it!

[@babetteplaisted2663]

Yes! A video on costs of materials would be awesome

[@danielf3511]

You are doing a great job, so fun to watch the progress. You have the same cold as I in Sweden❄️ Keep up the good work👏👏👏

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Thank you 💚

[@mindsetmentor681]

I'm a contractor in Canada. Try to make sure you don't let water touch the MDF. It will fall apart. Seal any open edges... Great progress...

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Thanks. We do intend to go through an fill the gaps with a glue cork mix. The MDF if supposed to have a water resistance treatment so should be better than the standard stuff... we hope!

[@gaetaneboelens4940]

Look at this beautiful lil' cabin you made! It is so impressive! There must've been so much hard work and tough conditions to "play" with, yet you make it look so "fluido" (as they'd say here in Spain)... Love the energy you convey in your videos: clearly your natural kindness, humor and mutual support are part of your recipe for success! Keep it going! Didn't know about the expanded cork, will check it out! Also interested in the lime morter, I'd love to eventually cover my interior walls with it... Much to investigate on, still! Thanks for showing the way, you're a true inspiration!!

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Thanks so much! We’re really starting to feel quite proud of what we’ve achieved, as two complete beginners!! The lime mortar is a specific type with microfibres in it, to help it bind. It has a few different uses. We’ll get the info together to share in more detail. It was quite nice to use, once you got used to the right consistency.

[@mafish7962]

Fantastic job! Congrats so far! Laura ❤

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Thank you Laura 😁💚

[@callanderbarbers]

great job guys

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Thank you 😁💚

[@old_con]

Great progress, and the cork looks good too. Nice that you have had some help from friends and relatives,helps keep the moral up as well as pushing things along quickly. It’ll soon be a cosy home ! 👍🏽😎

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

So great to be able to invite some friends and family to come and help ❤️

[@naomigoldbergwebman8691]

Hi from Tel Aviv. I love what you're doing, and especially how you're so willing to learn new skills as you go along. The cork is beautiful! It might be quite warm in the summer as it's very dark, but maybe you'll be able to paint it white with some sort of lime wash. Keep the videos coming!

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Thank you. If we can do it, anyone can 😁 We’re hoping the natural insulting properties will help it from not getting too hot in the summer, and it will lighten a bit over time in the sun too!

[@vswild7005]

I love this!!! It's beautiful and just disappears up against the terrain 👍 it's really turning into a little house now 😍

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Thank you! We LOVE the way it’s starting to blend into the land too 😁💚

[@joansheppard6576]

I have never seen this type of use for cork. Very interesting.

[@joansheppard6576]

I enjoyed watching the video on cork. Thanks for sharing. They should use cork over in the states .

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Glad you enjoyed the video. It really is a nice product and we love how it turned out!

[@Patmofar]

Hi Danny and Kate, that cabin is wonderfully well built and is a credit to the two of you. I really like the cork panels because, apart from the advantages you outline in the video they also look really well. I am looking forward to seeing the fitting out of the inside and I hope you find the door handles soon. It is great to see Paco supervising the build too.

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Thanks so much! The door handle will come eventually

[@StudjoInfinity]

That looks great! Great to see you guys moving forward!

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

💚😁 Thank you!

[@Rostha846]

Se ve muy bien, estéticamente pega muy bien con el ambiente rustico

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Muchas gracias 💚 Estamos muy contentos con cómo se ve 😁

[@karlroyston8453]

Looking good , a great job done, that's going to be a very cosy cabin.

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Thanks 👍

[@isahogan]

Fabulous!

[@alisonearll2474]

Wow amazing progress. Well done guys!

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Thanks a lot :)

[@NATALIE_W_]

Good on your for giving building a go. Those MDF panels will continue to absorbs moisture and swell/mishape. The cork will eventually fall off as the adhesion surface moves and dislodges. I would overlay the cork layer with a water tight/proof cladding like tin/corrgitated iron. Water resistant is totally different to water proof.

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

The cork should be fine as an external cladding, we've seen a few videos of it being done around Barcelona and it gets "more" rain there. We´ll add some videos in a pinned comment or something.

[@NATALIE_W_]

@@SmithsdaleFarm Just my imput as materials are so expensive now, it pays to do it right first time and not have expensive repairs a little down the road.. MDF should never be used if there is any chance of moisture exposure as its will expand, loses its integrity and fail. The joins between the cork will let in moisture and trap it and the MDF will soak it up and swell. Also creating the perfect environment for mould to flourish. I've renovated 2 houses, project managed 1 new home build and on my 2nd tiny house build atm.

[@colonynaut1627]

@@NATALIE_W_ Not to rub it in for the Smiths but... you were totally right. An alternative for the Smiths as they found osb and ply too expensive may be to brace the structure with steel strapping and use battens to attach the cork to the steel framing, but they should really shell out for a vapour barrier...

[@101life9]

1st timer? Who would believe? Job well done 👏! Moving in next week? How's the olive grove? Are they growing back? There are trees all over but couldn't tell what they're. 😁😍

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Hahaha thank you. Definitely a lot of mistakes along the way.. but that’s how you learn right?! 😁 The olive trees had an off year last year so we’re hoping for some olives this year - they pattern in on (good yield) and off (bad yield) years. We have a mixture of olives, carobs and pine trees mostly.

[@101life9]

@@SmithsdaleFarm 😁😁👍

[@garyreneau6166]

did you guys not use a vapor barrier? I'm afraid water will always get through to warp that MDF. Hopefully not, I know you guys have put a lot of hard work in.

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Keep watching…… 😬😩🙈

[@kingfisher5150]

That looks brilliant!!! xxxx

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

We love how it’s turned out 😁❤️

[@suzziew2931]

Great job it looks brilliant. how long has it taken to get permissions from the local council for residential dwelling ? or are you not planning on living there permanently?

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Thank you 💚 We know now what all the processes and steps are, but we haven’t started the permission request yet for the stone house. We’ll share an update when we start it all.

[@oakolive]

I thought I recognised the mountains in your videos, turns out we lived in that area for a few months! You chose a beautiful place to live in :) Although it is drier in your area than in Portugal, MDF warps soooo quickly in the humid winters, it really isn't an ideal building material. Our neighbours have to replace all their MDF work they used in their house after a few years now because its expanded, warped and rotten. For your future house, definitely don't use it there. Also definitely cover that cork up with a vapour barrier and some sheet metal - or you'll not have built it to last.

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Ah you'll have to let us know where you stayed?? And why you didn't hang around (PM us :). The MDF is treated for water resistance so should be better than standard stuff but it's still not great & definitely won't be using it again. The cork should be fine as an external cladding, we've seen a few videos of it being done around Barcelona and it gets "more" rain there. Well add some videos in a pinned comment or something.

[@heathermorgan2265]

I absolutely love ❤️ it

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Thanks ☺️

[@emadabdolmalaki]

Hi there I wish you success on your journey. May I ask you who helped you find your farm after all or how you found it? I want to do the same but no clue where to start😊😊😊

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Hi. We made a video all about it last year - talking through our process of searching and buying the land, and shared some links in the description of that video. Hope you find it helpful ☺️ kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJjEo5iFr7tqe5I

[@hemlock40]

Looks great. What is the lime adhesive product that is available in Portugal? Is it a weber product?

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Pretty sure it was the SecilTek isovit e-cork

[@Balya-Malkan]

Admire your good work-regards from Tokyo😊

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Thank you 😊

[@zackdreamcast]

Wouldn’t you want to waterproof the outside before putting the cork on?

[@Fabio_Costa_Music]

Could you have fixated the panels with nuts and bolts?

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

In the end we did. We used some glue rather than mortar (more flexible) and screwed them in for some physical anchor. I think when they use cork for external insulation they have larger bolts so you don’t go into the cork.

[@Fabio_Costa_Music]

@@SmithsdaleFarm cool! Thanks

[@jarilyden]

If you need to open a door or window and you do not have the correct tool just usexa large screw driver or similar blade that fits diagonally into the square slot.

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Good to know! There hopefully won't be a next time...

[@wuttmodel3232]

So nice i loved ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Thank you 💚

[@stephenwalford774]

Hi been watching all the progress..well done. question off topic. is it possible to get insurance on a rural property where you are..damage and contents etc ? cheers Steve

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Hi thanks for watching! TBH we haven't looked at insurance yet. I kind of feel like there should be a possibility, but would have no idea on cost etc. When we do I´ll try remember to mention it

[@mmanut]

SOLID JOB GUYS ‼️ Vinny 🇺🇸

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Thanks!

[@FollowingMyStyle]

Hi guys, I watched a few of your video's and you really inspired me! I had a question: which real estate company did you use? I am going to Barcelona in 2 weeks and I am on the hunt for a property/land. I do not speak Spanish however and I remember you mentioned that you had an English speaking agent. Let me know and good luck with finishing your tiny house! 😃

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

In case you haven’t seen it yet, we made this video all about our research and buying process: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJjEo5iFr7tqe5I In the description there are some useful links and the names of the agencies we used back in 2020 to buy our land. Bear in mind that our property is about 2 and a half hours south of Barcelona, in the Tarragona region. So the agencies around the Barcelona area (if that’s where you’re looking) would likely be different ones. But you should still be able to find properties and agencies on sites like buscomasia. Good luck! 💚

[@Nali_Verse]

is it allowed to build a cabin in spain like that? what are the restrictions

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

Depends on where you are, each village town has its own rules.

[@LunaLucie3911]

❤

[@breedjack]

and most important of all you don't have to cut down the trees!!

[@MrGwizyadig]

Guys, you used MDF as sheathing? Help me understand why. lol. That stuff warps bad when it gets wet. OSB is much better

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

At the time we bought it, materials costs were increasing hugely, and the OSB had almost tripled in price compared to normal. We couldn’t afford that to cover the whole cabin. This MDF is a water resistant one. And the cork cladding is the protective layer that will stop it getting wet. Time will tell. It’s all a learning curve 🤷🏻‍♀️ Some people have bottomless bank accounts to build with only the best materials and highest quality tools. Unfortunately we don’t, so we’re just sharing our own experience as we go 🙃

[@shedboy18]

I love watching people work but the wife and lodger keeps dancing when the loud Muzak interludes happen.

[@SmithsdaleFarm]

And what’s wrong with a bit of dancing?! Good for the soul 😁

[@pedrofmc0000]

You have to cover the cork against the rain or it will get garbage in few time. Water and cork don't get on well at all... It works as isolation well and it's a natural, but keep water away man... We know the cork well in Spain... Indeed, we produce most of the cork you can find in the market...

[@TaMoose101]

You both know little but you waffle on as if its a documentary! Talk less work more

[@davidhookway514]

That's A Bit Harsh!