Ice House Build

[wallywalleye]

I'm building an ice house and can't decide what's the best material to make it out of. I thought aluminum might be best (light weight and strong,also won't rust or rot)Has one draw back (price) it cost about 2 bucks a pound! Second choice was wood it's cheaper and easy to work with, but it's heavy and can rot. A steel frame surrounded by tin could maybe work but would rust and be heavy as well. So I'm stuck not knowing whats the best choice. I'm thinking the ice house will be 7 feet wide by 12 feet long and 6.5 tall. I'm not sure if that's too big but I would like a lot of room. ANYONE who has a suggestion please tell me what you think. I would like to get this project started soon so I can have it done before winter!! Thanks!!

[This message has been edited by wallywalleye (edited 08-15-2004).]

[This message has been edited by wallywalleye (edited 08-15-2004).]

[Aqua Eye]

I would probably choose the aluminum siding in your situation although I myself choose to use steel at this time. Aluminum may not rot, but I know of two people who bought "kits" and discovered road salt had eaten holes in their aluminum siding, after less than one year. In defense of aluminum siding...it is much easier to install than the way I put my steel on. Which is something to consider also. There are times when I ask myself if the added strength of steel is really worth the labor and cursing. I really don't want to start any arguments here on which is better because what works for one person just plainly does not work for the next.The choice is yours to make. I hope you are successful with your project and get it done in time to use it this year. I firmly believe in a good strong frame first off and go from there. Troy

I just re-read your post and realized your question may have pertained to what material to use for studs. My vote goes with wood (less sweating between the interior and exterior walls.

[This message has been edited by Aqua Eye (edited 08-15-2004).]

[hanson]

wallywalleye,

You didn't mention if your building a house on a crank down trailer or if you're looking to do one on skids.

I've got a 7'x12' going together right now. The floor and skids are done. It will look more like a house after labor day weekend! I'm doing 2x2 wood studs, pole barn steel siding for the walls & roof, 1.5" pink rigid insulation throughout (floor, walls, roof). Its going to be a nice little house, it may be a tad heavy but we plan on doing more sleeping in it than fishing so it'll probably stay in one spot all year. Hoping to sleep 4, it'll be cozy but we can do it. This is my first house so I'm winging it but I have an architectural design background so I think I've got a handle on a lot of the details.

[wallywalleye]

It will be a trailer so I can haul a four wheeler inside, and move around some when I get to the lake. Another question I had was how thick does the ice have to be for a 7x12 ice shack? 10 inches?

[icehousebob]

I've built a couple using 2x2 wood framing and 1/4 inch plywood, inside and out.Good compromise between strength, weight and price. One suggestion I would make before you start building. Using tape or chalk, outline the interior size of your proposed house. Then make your floor plan. Mark the door, heater, storage, etc. Then set up chairs for the number of fishermen that will be using it and have people sit in them. Do you have room to fish? How many people have to move when someone wants to go out the door? I tried this and came up with a totally different arraingement for the holes.

[Windy]

I went with 1" tubing for the walls and the roof and then used 3/16 paneling on the inside walls and ceiling and then i had it urethaned on the outside and underneath. WOW, is that house warm and very light!

[woodyjdh]

Hanson, drop me a line if you would....woodyjdh at yahoo dot com thanks

[tdk]

hey Windy, I've been thinking about using one inch tubing too. When you built it what did you use for the floor, did you use anything on the outside to cover the sprayed insulation, I have a lot more questions about your design so maybe(if you don't mind you could post your e-mail address

[korn_fish]

windy - where did you get it urethaned at? Did they urethane it and then put some sort of epoxy over the urethane to give it a little more durability? What was the cost of getting it urethaned?

[deeky]

This wouldn't be quite as nice as one with all new materials, but has anyone used an old aluminum pick up topper as a roof? It would be pretty water proof and take care of the windows that would actually open for ventilation. Not much for insulation though. What do you think?

Deeky

[Windy]

tdk and korn fish, i had a local welder make the frame for me and then i finished it but i believe he used 3" angle on the floor at least on the outside edge. I then used 5/8" plywood on the floor. My house is 10x16 and it cost about $900 for the urethane. I also had him urethane the plywood from underneath and wow is that nice and warm! You wouldnt believe how light this house is. The axle is off center but i can lift the front of the house and hook it up to the 4-wheeler no problem. I used regular Ace paint over the outside but you could use something better i suppose. Any more questions e-mail me. taggart at wiktel dot com.