so the time has come for me to design and build my Sullys outdoor home and I have a few questions. Since I got him a couple of years ago I have been watching threads and gaining ideas and tips for the big build.
Now I'm researching supplies for the build and reading up on insulation but there is a lot of mention and mixed opinions on a thing called an 'AIR GAP'. I'm no professional and not great with technical terms but am pretty good at turning my hand to DIY and enclosure building however this is my first big outdoor build so want to get it right. So what I can figure out about this air gap is that it is a space between the insulation and the outer wood and that this gap prevents moisture from seeping through to the insulation causing damp (I think??) .
Do any of you have outdoor builds and have experience or knowledge on air gaps? Obviously in the uk it gets very wet but I thought several coats of a varnish would prevent this but it does make sense not to have the cold outer wood pressing on the insulation. I'm leaning towards the foam foil boards btw. I previously just assumed that as much insulation as possible was crammed into this space.
The other thing I'm not sure about is ventilation. I'm looking to make it fairly large as he will have to spend most of winter in it but the door will be open through the day for him so do I need to cut vents? My worry with this is any stress about insulation will be wasted as the heat will just go out the vents. Do you guys ventilate?
The size I'm looking at is 3meters long by 2.2meters wide by 120cm tall at front and 105cm at the back (sloped roof). Will this be tall enough when he is fully grown? Don't want to heat wasted space if possible.
TIA
Now I'm researching supplies for the build and reading up on insulation but there is a lot of mention and mixed opinions on a thing called an 'AIR GAP'. I'm no professional and not great with technical terms but am pretty good at turning my hand to DIY and enclosure building however this is my first big outdoor build so want to get it right. So what I can figure out about this air gap is that it is a space between the insulation and the outer wood and that this gap prevents moisture from seeping through to the insulation causing damp (I think??) .
Do any of you have outdoor builds and have experience or knowledge on air gaps? Obviously in the uk it gets very wet but I thought several coats of a varnish would prevent this but it does make sense not to have the cold outer wood pressing on the insulation. I'm leaning towards the foam foil boards btw. I previously just assumed that as much insulation as possible was crammed into this space.
The other thing I'm not sure about is ventilation. I'm looking to make it fairly large as he will have to spend most of winter in it but the door will be open through the day for him so do I need to cut vents? My worry with this is any stress about insulation will be wasted as the heat will just go out the vents. Do you guys ventilate?
The size I'm looking at is 3meters long by 2.2meters wide by 120cm tall at front and 105cm at the back (sloped roof). Will this be tall enough when he is fully grown? Don't want to heat wasted space if possible.
TIA
