Step aside, “man cave.” Give way to a fresh trend that is gaining steam all over the world. While men have long had their own “man caves,” women are now fixing up old outside structures into their own special escapes from the world, making it official. The “she shed” movement is well underway. Regardless of whether it is an old outside playhouse, a woodshed, an unoccupied garage, or even a brand new structure, women everywhere are claiming and remodeling their own backyard havens for women only. Some are put together rather simplistic, with maybe some chairs, some books or a couch, and some are considered elegant and have bathrooms and beds and more. Regardless of your style and structure, if you have a “she shed” and want to keep it snug this winter, you’ll want to follow a few simple tips that we at Beavercreek Heating and Cooling gathered to help keep you warm this winter in your special outdoor sanctuary.
KEEPING THE HEAT IN WITH WOODEN FLOORS
Any amount of time you spend out in your haven this winter is most likely going to demand a safe and reliable source of heat. A space heater would probably do the trick, perhaps even an outdoor stove. Whatever you decide upon, you don’t want that valuable heat going out the door, or through the floor. While it is correct that heat rises, a lot of people don’t realize that you can lose a great deal of heat because of your floor as well. If you don’t insulate your “she shed” correctly, the warmth that’s emanating from your heater gets chilled quickly by the wind running under the structure and along the thin and exposed floor.
For this dilemma, there are a few resolutions. We suggest getting some inexpensive carpeting. It need not be the best-looking, and it will require some attention from time to time to keep it clean. However, if you can get a hold of some old carpeting and cut it to the suitable measurement, it’ll go a long way in keeping your “she shed” comfortable when the temperature gets super crisp. To make this suggestion even better, we also suggest obtaining inexpensive cloth, like cotton or felt, and laying it down first, on the exposed floor. When you get it down, kick it into position. You mustn’t leave the borders with much room. Make it really snug to the edges and then put down that carpeting on top. You need not nail or tack or penetrate the carpet. Instead, use items in the shed, like tables or chairs or bookshelves, to hold it in place. Once you’ve done this, check the edges and around the room to make sure no moisture can get in.
INSULATION
Now that you’ve got the floors covered, literally, the next thing you’ll want to do to put some sort of padding on the walls. To do this economically, some suggest applying bubble wrap. Yes, that’s correct, we said bubble wrap.
All you do is begin by measuring the uncovered areas you want to cover and cut the sheets to fit it snuggly. You can staple or nail these into location, and finally, you can get some fiberboard or plywood to cover each area. Once you get your sheets of wood to size, which might require a little elbow grease, you merely screw it or nail it into position. You won’t find a more affordable answer to protecting your walls from the cold.
WINDOWS, DOORS AND MORE
You are likely to lose a lot of precious heat in these key places, so here are a few more tips that will save you a chunk of cash on heating:
- Use some spray foam insulate located at your local hardware store to preserve the inner perimeter of each window. If you find this idea to be unsightly or ugly, you can always flatten it down with a file once it dries.
- Invest in a door sweep or use an alternative cloth for the bottoms of your doors. Also, use weather stripping. This goes a long way in keeping the warm air in and the cold air out.
- Use the shutters on the exterior of your windows. It won’t keep a lot of substantive heat in, but it will help the windowpanes remain warm.
- Fasten up some drapes inside, thick curtains, or a blanket for added window protection from the wind.
- Get rid of any rubble lying around the exterior and clean the area up.
- Finally, use a candle to find any new drafts that might be penetrating your snug winter getaway. All you have to do is turn off any airflow that might be moving the air inside so that is very calm. Light the candle and go around your windows and doors or any other penetrations of the building. If the candle flickers, you have discovered a draft that will need to be sealed off. You can use spray foam, caulk, or any insulation sold at your local hardware store.
For more information or professional help in keeping your unique “she shed” sanctuary warm through another chilly Ohio winter, give us a call at Beavercreek Heating & Cooling at 937-708-8527 or schedule an appointment now online at www.beavercreekheatingandcooling.com/schedule-now/.
