Insulating cabin floor for Alaska cold at the off grid homestead.

[@carlosdelascuevas6140]

My advice, protect the foam insulation on the underside from rodents and other critters with chicken wire net . You won't regret it. Keep going strong with the build!

[@Greenacres1958]

I was thinking that. How would you do that. Materials?

[@geo_walters]

1/4 inch square metal cloth, and staple it up under every bay so the critters won't chew through.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

That’s a good idea

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

Good idea

[@chris2pher44]

Beat me to it. Ya the rodents will make your hard work go to waste. Otherwise looks great and doing great job

[@mmanut]

DAMN, THAT IS ONE PRETTY OUTHOUSE‼️ LIKE YOUR BUILDING TECHNIQUES‼️ GREAT JOB GUYS‼️ Vinny 🇺🇸

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

Thank you

[@stevedockery3534]

Darn good job on insulating the floors. I agree with the wire mesh on under side of floor. You'll be glad you took the time with an air stapler. Be worth every penny of it. Great looking build my friend. Steve

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

Thank you

[@wilwilliamson8831]

Bloody hell you ain’t half cracked on there, keep up the good work , respect from across the pond in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@Dutch779]

Handy stuff that foam insulation. That outhouse was just made for reading the newspaper.

[@kinggzz]

looks good BUT from experience i can 100% positively say you will have critters of every type living in your well insulated floors, been there done that, had to crawl under and install plywood to cover all the foam and insulation was a beast.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

I hope not but it possible

[@kinggzz]

@@MitchellsInAlaska well maybe it’s too cold there on average for critters to enjoy life very much idk, i just know i did the same kinda thing and two years later we had mice, snakes and even an entire family of groundhogs inside our floor! it was ridiculous! had to do the plywood and that pretty much fixed it. nice looking cabin so far, i subscribed and will be following what y’all are accomplishing. thanks for posting! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

@@kinggzz I just added a room on my cabin and did the floor just like this. I almost built it with plywood on the bottom so maybe I should have. We don’t have snakes or groundhogs here but we do still have mice but the haven’t been a problem in the cabins so far anyway

[@kinggzz]

@@MitchellsInAlaska did you make a series for yt about the addition? would enjoy watching that….

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

@@kinggzz one video is out I’m currently working on the inside now

[@debbiemiller7342]

Love watching from Missouri!

[@vivianwilliams2216]

Tyler's cabin is coming along with a great foundation insulation , you guys do really great work 👏! 😊👍💕💕💕

[@eugenetate5684]

Looking good ! You know, ten foot walls are Tall ! Way up there !

[@jeffreyfreeman5625]

4x6 piers. Thanks for that idea !

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

@@jeffreyfreeman5625 thank you for watching. The 4x6’s are the runners and they are sitting on adjustable blocks.

[@maxdex8]

@@MitchellsInAlaska thanks for the video! are the block on any footings or just soil?

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

@@maxdex8 we actually put down the road fabric then gravel, packed it then put flat blocks down and set the concrete adjustable deck blocks on them, that is what the 4x6 runners sit on

[@maxdex8]

@@MitchellsInAlaska appreciate the info! I am going to build in a cold climate and considering piers and beam but I like the simplicity of the no dig blocks. thanks for your video posts

[@maxdex8]

has any structural heaving happened with seasonal temps and if so how much?

[@mmanut]

BEST LOOKING OUT HOUSE IVE EVER SEEN. U GUYS DO DAMN GOOD WORK. VERY IMPRESSIVE‼️‼️ THAT’S A BIG CABIN GOING UP. LIKE THE WAY YOU ARE INSULTING THE FLOOR, NICE WORK GUYS‼️‼️ Vinny 🇺🇸

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

Thank you very much

[@suzannereese987]

Amazing job

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

Thank you

[@markhudspeth8503]

Looks great! An love the out house!

[@barrywhitlock141]

Good to see the insulation going in, I would like to see the laying of the floor. The water pipes fitted and the waste pipes, It is good that you are concentrating on getting each building watertight and then moving onto the next building.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

They are both dry cabins

[@barrywhitlock141]

I thought you would be using a rainwater collection system for the washing.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

@@barrywhitlock141 we will at some point after the building is done

[@pinkywilliams8063]

Well I watched the videos backwards, enjoyed them both....You were looking a little pink Tony... hehehe

[@douglasthompson2740]

I think I would use a two inch wider rim joist and lay full 4x8 foam directly on your timbers with the joists then attached with hangers or ledger boards to the rims in the normal way. That way it would go quickly as well as eliminating all the thermal bridging going on with the joists. For me I prefer 1 1/8 plywood for the floor. It is tongue and groove as well and eliminates the finish flooring while making a stronger floor system. Just saying....

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

That is some good ideas. I sure wish we had more carpenter skills

[@Greenacres1958]

@@MitchellsInAlaska are you using 2X6 on the joists? Newby here

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

@@Greenacres1958 yes

[@DJD8RR]

25:35 WC = Une oeuvre d'art ....

[@alysiachristensen5475]

Looking great!

[@godssentry]

Thanks guys!

[@Greenacres1958]

Interested in seeing the inside of the outhouse! Bathe tmi but the outside is awesome. Lol

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

Thank you

[@cedricgates9976]

you guys seem to work well together

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

Thank you

[@rlmast]

you should run OSB below the floor to prevent rodents from stealing the insulation.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

We skirted with metal

[@mick_0359]

I’ve noticed that Tyler’s footings are different to yours is there a particular reason for that?..or is it down different soil conditions and cost? Asking because won’t the cabin move when the ground freezes over winter I’m no builder but just observing and learning from all the different channels out there in KZbin....Anyways god bless you all looking fabulous as always keep up the hardwork...fingers crossed both cabins will be dried in before snow flys...your channel is a great source of knowledge and entertainment love it...

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

His sits on pads. We did put a heavy base on road fabric so it is solid but ground heave might be an issue we don’t know. We see a lot of them here on pads

[@alaskahermithomesteader9549]

Y'all should be putting some wood down before any insulation. If not the squirrels will have a field day under there. Weasels too.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

We are putting metal skirting on it

[@MrNewcarscott]

Been there done that. But the only way to get a truly warm floor is in a climate like (Canada) this is an heated airspace underneath. I'd raise the cabin 2-3 feet and close off the crawlspace with heavily insulated walls and put in a space heater that blows air into the crawlspace. Problem solved. Oh yeah and take out the foam from between the joists. It fights against the heat coming through the floor. oh yah #2 throw down 6 mil poly on the ground in the crawl space.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

We got part of it right. We did put 6 mil plastic down and skirted it

[@MrNewcarscott]

I’m with ya brother. It’s a tough question. It’s just we been though this with poor results Anyway wish you the best with it

[@kristinlee9485]

Wish you had filmed this clise up. Is there a plywood bottom to this? It seems so

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

No plywood bottom just the hard foam on the bottom and fiberglass insulation on the top

[@Tom_Azin]

What is the expected temperature in the cabin in the winter? Asking because in my country everybody is obsessing with insulation, yet our temperatures are not anywhere close to Alaska's.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

@@Tom_Azin inside usually 75 degrees Fahrenheit Outside as low as -40

[@gaylecoffey3313]

Have you finished the metal on Perry's roof? Sure would like to see it!

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

Yes it’s finished now

[@erwinaddison2030]

Will the mice not chew on the foam board?

[@georgeshotrodbarn2113]

It looks good but i do have a question none related. when you are out and about do you see anybody riding around in hot rod cars

[@gary24752]

How were you planning on keeping the rodents from setting up housekeeping?

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

It will have metal skirting like the other cabin

[@junnielaine4208]

Saw when you first got to Alaska but am confused about the cabins, I saw the ijnital cabin with all of you, then the the one you just were roofing, but now is Tyler’s a second or third cabin? Oops, went back and read that you are building two more cabins so now I got it. 👍

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

Yep, I live in the old one so the others are Perry’s and Tyler’s

[@arizonaguy7574]

Good morning gentlemen, another amazing build in the works.... I have a question. I am seeing a lot of beetle kill around the various channels I visit in AK. Id the state taking steps to control this issue or is it left up to the landowner?

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

To be honest I don’t think anyone does anything but I don’t know if you can really. It has killed most of the spruce in the whole area

[@yadayada752]

What will stop animals from pushing up the foam & living in the floor space?

[@planeaddiction2560]

what side did you put the Vapor Barrier on?>

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

On the top side

[@Greenacres1958]

Question. Did you do a video for the joists and floor frame too?

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

I don’t think we did

[@williamsedlock3903]

I wonder since you have installed it if any rodents have crawled in and chewed your pink foam that's exposed under the cabin? I'm just curious

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

Not at all. We were actually under there late this last fall doing some plumbing. Maybe in other parts of the country it might be a problem but here in Alaska it’s very common the way we done that. It’s been almost 4 years now

[@pappaG2000]

Using a saw for cutting insulation? Why not install Scribfacing Vapor barrier and sag it between the joist, spray foam between, then saw cut the foam flat to the top of joist, then the 2" foam on top of the joist to prevent thermal bridge, use 1 1/8 T&G on top of the 4x8 sheets, and use 2 -2x4's Dbl. Rim Bd. At the edge of the floor screwed down to your joist using structural grade screws? Don't get me wrong, you guys seem to do quality work. But looks like maybe just an older technology form of style, that would not pass Energy Codes in the Lower 48.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

I understand what you are saying and no doubt a better way to go but where we are some services are hard to come by and working on a budget as well.

[@donwimberley4772]

I watched a video showing toxic smoke from the purple foam as it burned....BAD stuff

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

You are right so if it’s on fire I’m getting out. Lol

[@stephenoverdorf4917]

How is the floor temp in the winter?

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

It stays about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the room temperature

[@keen9629]

Why wouldn't you build a pony wall on the perimeter for your base.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

Pony wall for what? To raise the wall height? Not sure what you’re asking

[@a772202]

👋 hi. I'm planning on building a stud wall cottage in the UK. I'm going to go over the top and follow the insulation techniques that they use in Alaska and other places. The UK is a very wet place, Scotland in particular. What would you suggest for floor insulation?

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

The way we done this one is the way we see a lot of them done here

[@Greenacres1958]

@@MitchellsInAlaska good to know. I’m building my house and am going overboard too. Getting older sucks. Staying warm helps!

[@alaskahomesteadadventures7579]

Carpenter ants LOVE that pink/blue foam... yikes!

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

@@alaskahomesteadadventures7579 we haven’t seen any yet. Hopefully we don’t

[@livingoffgridalexander]

How do you make it

[@januszpaliczak3658]

👍

[@randallweaver7718]

How is Tyler's cabin going to be attached to the ground? Curious.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

It won’t be attached to the ground at all

[@randallweaver7718]

@@MitchellsInAlaska of course not. Just let Tyler blow away. Man... Y'all did turn out to suck. This is horrible content.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

@@randallweaver7718 you obviously don’t know anything about the weather where we live

[@randallweaver7718]

@@MitchellsInAlaska your right sir. I do not. Nothing personal.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

@@randallweaver7718 we just don’t have wind in our area at all

[@stevendauner3919]

why not do sepitic tanks

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

Freezing too deep

[@ohske]

😯👍👍👍👌

[@metamud8686]

The Alaskan nature thanks you for dumping all that purple insulation powder straight from the saw onto the ground...where, due to the nature of the material, it will never decompose, but end up in animals intestines for years to come...

[@robertshelton9677]

We can only hope.

[@benjaminbunny99]

How do you sheath and/or weatherproof the underside of the floor?

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

The hard foam board is sealed with spray foam and that’s it. It will have skirting around the cabin

[@benjaminbunny99]

@@MitchellsInAlaska any concern of rodents chewing through the foam? I’m building soon and trying to sort this all out. Thanks

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

@@benjaminbunny99 it hasn’t been a problem yet anyway. We used metal skirting and it is about 5 to 6 inches into the ground

[@blackterminal]

What will stop rodents getting into that cavity?

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

We have not had a problem with that at all so far anyway

[@douglasthompson2740]

P.S. Too late now but I would have raised the crawl space. Seems you invariably need to get under there to work and slithering like a snake is no fun and hard to work in. For a small bit more in materials it makes living in much nicer down the road.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

It would have been better for sure

[@Greenacres1958]

@@MitchellsInAlaska would have maybe left more room for cold air? Lol. I want mine low as I can get it too. Without pouring a pad

[@elenaponce3812]

Sorry, but you are building that cabin in the middle of the wood, and is a nice work, but the squirrels and raccoons can break your insulation right under neath, unless you cover that

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

When complete it will have skirting that goes to and is buried in the ground. So the crawl space is sealed up. It has been almost three years since to build with not damage so far

[@annashepard6337]

Will rodents be able to chew it?

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

I have had people say they will but this has been in for three years and so far it has no issues. This is very common here in Alaska.

[@desmondrochon1351]

I don’t know why people insulate the floor. It just makes a nice place for rodents. Walls and roof of course makes sense

[@mnmike6884]

Apparently you have not been in a building in the cold of winter where the floor was not insulated. Your boots/shoes will freeze to the nail heads in the flooring.

[@desmondrochon1351]

@@mnmike6884 I grew up in Northwest Washington. So yes I have known cold winters . I tore out all m’y crawl space insulation because of rats.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

The cabins have skirting buried in the ground and the won’t chew the hard foam board anyway. At 30 below 0 you want the floor insulated

[@jasonbourne1596]

I had something to think about, but this video isa year old do I'm sure your finished now.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

I’m adding a room on my cabin now so if you have any good tips I’m interested

[@jasonbourne1596]

@@MitchellsInAlaska Well my earlier thought was on the height of your room. 10 foot ceiling looks more roomier but you have to burn more wood too since heat goes up and most of it is above you now. I'm in Tennessee so I don't know everything about there, but I have noticed some things about what I've saw on people's houses in Alaska so far. I haven't saw what you did so far, but I noticed everyone pretty much collects water from the roof and has a wood shed. I would personally for functions sake add more roof overhang and store wood beside the house, it's closer, acts as a shield, helps keep house temperature up with less wood as it acts as outside insulation, then you collect more water too. If you put a door on that other room and built out a few cords in size bigger for most of the winter you could just open that door and grab some wood, plus more water collection too. I would stack it just like a door didn't exist there and work my way into the pile over the course of the hard winter. I don't know if any of this helped you at this point or not.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

@@jasonbourne1596 we used 10’ walls and 8’ ceilings to have more height upstairs. We have two big wood sheds now. One is 12’x20’ and the other is 10’x20’

[@jasonbourne1596]

@@MitchellsInAlaska I watched the one woodshed video tonight, that you temporary used stacked wood for walls on.

[@DavidGonzalez-op3ox]

Watched the video,to darn long !

[@Greenacres1958]

Disagree. I was hoping it was longer. I’m building my own house too. Looking for expert opinions. I was going to use 2X8’s on 12’ centers! Ummmm. No.