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Sunroom for winter

Posted:
Sat Sep 29, 2012 4:58 pm
by loaderman
I live in an area where workers live in rv's year round, Including winters that get to -40C Usually around -30's (Celcius) , so about -22Fahrenheit .
thinking a sun room would be good. Has to be movable within 24hrs. would love 12' wide by 16' long, but could live with 8' wide.
A few thoughts:
- make it 8x16 then it can be moved on a trailer without permits.
- Make it 12X16 out of panels of some design
- Are there winter tents that could have a sun room portion idea?
Any help appreciated.
Winter is what got me interested in foamies!
Re: Sunroom for winter

Posted:
Sat Sep 29, 2012 5:38 pm
by GPW
A clear plastic “room “ sealed all around , in the Sun , and you could bake in it ...

That’s how a Solar Cooker works ...
Re: Sunroom for winter

Posted:
Sun Sep 30, 2012 4:04 pm
by loaderman
The clear plastic would be good on sunny days.
Looses to much heat and night or on cloudy days.
Also thinking about putting a small wood stove in there.
Re: Sunroom for winter

Posted:
Sun Sep 30, 2012 4:12 pm
by GPW
Well , you did specify Sun room ... which only usually works when the sun is out ... After dark ,then you go inside where it’s heavily insulated ... like a Foamie’ ...

Re: Sunroom for winter

Posted:
Sun Sep 30, 2012 5:07 pm
by loaderman
LOL
Problem is sun sets here at 4:30 in winter.
Northern BC Canada
Re: Sunroom for winter

Posted:
Mon Oct 01, 2012 5:07 am
by GPW
Wonder how difficult it would be to make a thick Foam Igloo ... that might be Practical ...

Re: Sunroom for winter

Posted:
Mon Oct 01, 2012 9:36 am
by loaderman
Igloo out of foam would be easy. It has been done sort of, called a Hexayurt

There are different varieties, shapes.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=hexayurt&hl=en&prmd=imvnsl&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=srJpUPr4CqXyigLxhoDoCg&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1091&bih=740But I do not think it would be allowed, although a yurt is a tent? and portable! HMMMMMMM
A hexayurt with the south wall plastic removable panels? Got me thinking!
Re: Sunroom for winter

Posted:
Mon Oct 01, 2012 9:46 am
by loaderman
Saw one was over 13' long and 24' long, Hand "rounded" (multi angle) ends. With 8' walls plus cathedral ceiling. Could shorten to say 6'-6" walls.
Add a panelized insulated floor.
Wrap each section in canvass and paint for durability.
Also remember seeing a smaller one that was foldable.
Re: Sunroom for winter

Posted:
Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:40 am
by loaderman
GPW _ I HATE YOU!!!!!!!!!
You got me thinking, I just got off a night shift and have 2 more and I need my sleep but I can't! LOl
Build a 8' by 24' or sorter hexayurt on a trailer, angles (rounded) end and front for sure and back if go more than 16'. Could add some plywood stiffeners if thought needed, but i doubt it. Covered in canvass and paint, quick easy build.
Then do a sun room hexayurt sorta addition that you can put up and take down the panels.
Probably easier to do 24' trailer hexayurt and put in windows on one side. use insulating curtains at night.
Re: Sunroom for winter

Posted:
Mon Oct 01, 2012 3:51 pm
by GPW
L, you’re definitely Not the first ...

Try counting Sheep ... or mentally calculating the value of Pi to 10x -23rd power ... ZZZ ... ZZZZ... ZZZZZ !!!!
crumbs for thought , you can make it all foldable ...

Ever see this ?
http://tnttt.com/VintagePlans/foldingtrailer.pdf
Re: Sunroom for winter

Posted:
Wed Oct 03, 2012 10:40 pm
by Wobbly Wheels
Hey loaderman,
I'm going to be making up some test panels for an idea I have for a new side business.
I figure I'll use 1" foam with thin ply glued to both sides and a cedar perimeter frame. Most will be square but a some will be trapezoidal but it will ship on a 4X8 pallet without weighing much and be set up quickly onsite by on person.
I've picked up the materials to do the first panel as a test section so I'll start a thread when I get to that point.
I would think it would be pretty straightforward to set double pane glass units into a 2" foam wall for your purposes. You'd be able to bust it down and pack it flat. Even if you had to stack other stuff on top of it, it wouldn't hurt it as long as there was nothing to puncture the panels. A bunch of identical (4X4 ?) panels would give you plenty of options to configure it however you wanted and would be easy to transport, set up and take down.
I've got some waterbased contact cement for gluing up the panels. Others have had good luck with 3M 30NF but but apparently it's a US-only product. I haven't checked out cross border shipping yet. The counter monkeys at the usual outlets here look at me like I have two heads when I try to order it...
Re: Sunroom for winter

Posted:
Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:46 am
by loaderman
How would your system work for the roof?
The join between panels?
Join between panels and roof?
Re: Sunroom for winter

Posted:
Sun Oct 07, 2012 1:41 pm
by Wobbly Wheels
What I'm thinkingof is having long backets for the inside corners of the floor-wall, wall-roof, and roof ridge joints. I'm working to a 4X6 footprint, so I think the brackets will be 4' and 6' long aluminum. They will screw into wood perimeter framing of the panels.
That's the plan, anyway...