First time building a house...questions.

[Walnut18]

I am building my first house, it will probably be a little rough and maybe lean one way but I had a couple questions if anybody has any advice. I am building a 4x6 and going to heat it with a little buddy heater. I wasn't planning on putting in any vents, is this a bad idea? Another question I have is about a hole cover. Can I just lay a piece of insulated plywood a little bigger than the hole right over top of it? I wasn't planning on putting in a hinged hole cover and was wondering what others do. I have gotten alot of information from the site and the other house build posts is what made me think I can do that. Thanks for any tips.

[Dorkfish]

There are little vents that I have on my house which don't allow any light in and we use the plywood that we cut out of the hole to make the cover

[Mike89]

do both

[Dorkfish]

Where are you from mike I'm guessing that there is one of us nearby that could show you in person the houses that we have created and etc its alot easier to describe things in person lol

[Mike89]

close to The Head of The Lakes resort on Lake Osakis, but I have a nice house. Used an old semi sleeper and revamped it to my likes. Raised the roof, insulater well, vented top and bottom, vented heated, computer fan, car radio, insulated hole door, etc.

[Dorkfish]

I've seen plenty of those out on lakes that people turn into spear shacks or just sleepers

[merkman]

Yes you want vents...

Since propane is heavier than air... you really want a vent on or very near the floor.

That will reduce the chance of propane pooling and becoming an explosion hazard if your propane ever leaks...

Vents near the top are nice too... it all delends how tight your house is.. I have a vent right above the floor for saftey and my door is loose enough to vent there for fresh air.

your buddy heater has an o2 shut off feature... If your buddy heater keeps going out but will run for a whike after you open your door... your shack is too tight and you need more ventilation.

It's best to have more ventilation that you can block off later than to not have enough.

The insulated plywood cut larger than the hole works good As a hole cover... just make sure the mmaterial you use for a hole cover is strong enough to support someone Iif the accidentally step on it thinking it is the floor... a wet boot or unexpected dip in the lake may not go over too well

[merkman]

There are little vents that I have on my house which don't allow any light in and we use the plywood that we cut out of the hole to make the cover

[Dorkfish]

Yea that's it

[Walnut18]

Thanks for the information, I will plan on adding a couple of the vents suggested. I also decided to make a 4x4 just to make it easier to build my first go around, and I almost always am solo out there. If it holds up I can build a bigger shack next year, thanks again.

[lungdeflator]

For the vents...I used a vent similar to a floor vent in your house for the outside wall. They fixed position and are 2$ or so at a hardware store. For the iside of the house, position inline with the outside vent, I use an adjustable vent. This allows me to shut the vent when I am gone and adjust to how much air I think I need. Works great

[Walnut18]

I have the floor and four walls pretty much framed up. I think I know what I am doing for venting. How do I frame out and put in a door? I was just going to cut the plywood and make the actual swinging door out of the piece I cut out but I don't really know how to frame it out. If someone has a picture or explanation that would be great, I will keep on scouring google. Thanks for the help, I clamped the walls and floor together the other night and could actually start to see what it will look like.

[merkman]

How do I frame out and put in a door? I was just going to cut the plywood and make the actual swinging door out of the piece I cut out but I don't really know how to frame it out.

Frame the door out with 2x2's then create a door that fits that hole with 2x2's and your sheeting. Put the door in the framed up hole, sshimit if you need to get it straighter then screw hinges into the 2x2's from the frame and the 2x2's in the door.... then you are done.

This kinda shows how to do it...

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