INSULATING a Tiny House with Expanded CORK CLADDING

Рет қаралды 11,811

Жыл бұрын

Insulating a tiny house is a complicated affair. There are so many options! From internal insulation to external insulation, there are many ways to keep a tiny house warm in winter and cool in summer. And we’ve decided to go for a cork house!
We chose to go for double insulation for our tiny house build, using expanded natural cork to clad the outside of the building, and rockwool insulation on the inside.
Watch our step by step cork insulation installation process, as we apply expanded cork panels to the exterior walls of our cabin in the mountains. This expanded cork cladding is chemical free, naturally anti-fungal, anti-fire and hydrophobic too. And we think it looks great!
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We're building a 8 sqm tiny house, to serve as a temporary home as we renovate the stone barn in Spain into the home of our dreams.
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[CATCH UP]
- CABIN BUILD SERIES PLAYLIST: • Building an Off Grid C...
Check out some of our recent videos, and catch up on the cabin build process:
OUTER WALLS, LAYER #1: • NO EXPERIENCE, NO PROB...
INSTALLING OUR WINDOW & DOOR:
Window: • DIY WINDOW INSTALLATIO...
Door: • DON'T MAKE THIS MISTAK...
About Us:
We're Danny and Kate. In 2015 we moved from the UK to Barcelona, and after a few years enjoying the busy city, sunny beaches and snow-capped mountains it's time for a new adventure. We've recently bought land in Spain, in the mountains of Catalunya, to build a mortgage free tiny house and start a self-sustainable off-grid homestead to live off the land.
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Пікірлер: 83

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Hi All, thought we should leave a few videos that we watched as inspo for the cork cladding. We aren't too worried about it for now... we will see! But thank you all for the comments & concerns :) Hope you enjoy the videos! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ms-mhN1mlpe8ppc.html kzfaq.info/get/bejne/b5aIkplqnd6WoWg.html kzfaq.info/get/bejne/n76Jkslex7CoqXU.html kzfaq.info/get/bejne/isCeaKuFnq64Zps.html

@mindsetmentor681 Жыл бұрын

I'm a contractor in Canada. Try to make sure you don't let water touch the MDF. It will fall apart. Seal any open edges... Great progress...

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Thanks. We do intend to go through an fill the gaps with a glue cork mix. The MDF if supposed to have a water resistance treatment so should be better than the standard stuff... we hope!

@leonardlorriman7095 Жыл бұрын

The cork looks great I would never have thought of that to cover the outside of a building like that, But its a good idea - looking forward to the next video.

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it!

@gaetaneboelens4940 Жыл бұрын

Look at this beautiful lil' cabin you made! It is so impressive! There must've been so much hard work and tough conditions to "play" with, yet you make it look so "fluido" (as they'd say here in Spain)... Love the energy you convey in your videos: clearly your natural kindness, humor and mutual support are part of your recipe for success! Keep it going! Didn't know about the expanded cork, will check it out! Also interested in the lime morter, I'd love to eventually cover my interior walls with it... Much to investigate on, still! Thanks for showing the way, you're a true inspiration!!

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! We’re really starting to feel quite proud of what we’ve achieved, as two complete beginners!! The lime mortar is a specific type with microfibres in it, to help it bind. It has a few different uses. We’ll get the info together to share in more detail. It was quite nice to use, once you got used to the right consistency.

@callanderbarbers Жыл бұрын

great job guys

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Thank you 😁💚

@babetteplaisted2663 Жыл бұрын

Yes! A video on costs of materials would be awesome

@old_con Жыл бұрын

Great progress, and the cork looks good too. Nice that you have had some help from friends and relatives,helps keep the moral up as well as pushing things along quickly. It’ll soon be a cosy home ! 👍🏽😎

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

So great to be able to invite some friends and family to come and help ❤️

@danielf3511 Жыл бұрын

You are doing a great job, so fun to watch the progress. You have the same cold as I in Sweden❄️ Keep up the good work👏👏👏

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Thank you 💚

@isahogan Жыл бұрын

Fabulous!

@vswild7005 Жыл бұрын

I love this!!! It's beautiful and just disappears up against the terrain 👍 it's really turning into a little house now 😍

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Thank you! We LOVE the way it’s starting to blend into the land too 😁💚

@mmanut Жыл бұрын

SOLID JOB GUYS ‼️ Vinny 🇺🇸

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@Patmofar Жыл бұрын

Hi Danny and Kate, that cabin is wonderfully well built and is a credit to the two of you. I really like the cork panels because, apart from the advantages you outline in the video they also look really well. I am looking forward to seeing the fitting out of the inside and I hope you find the door handles soon. It is great to see Paco supervising the build too.

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! The door handle will come eventually

@marthamaeda8257 Жыл бұрын

Hello from Tanzania 🇹🇿 This type of cladding is new here but love your progress well done🤗🤩

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

It would be great to see it being used more widely worldwide. It’s a great product!

@naomigoldbergwebman8691 Жыл бұрын

Hi from Tel Aviv. I love what you're doing, and especially how you're so willing to learn new skills as you go along. The cork is beautiful! It might be quite warm in the summer as it's very dark, but maybe you'll be able to paint it white with some sort of lime wash. Keep the videos coming!

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Thank you. If we can do it, anyone can 😁 We’re hoping the natural insulting properties will help it from not getting too hot in the summer, and it will lighten a bit over time in the sun too!

@alisonearll2474 Жыл бұрын

Wow amazing progress. Well done guys!

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot :)

@StudjoInfinity Жыл бұрын

That looks great! Great to see you guys moving forward!

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

💚😁 Thank you!

@mafish7962 Жыл бұрын

Fantastic job! Congrats so far! Laura ❤

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Thank you Laura 😁💚

@karlroyston8453 Жыл бұрын

Looking good , a great job done, that's going to be a very cosy cabin.

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Thanks 👍

@heathermorgan2265 Жыл бұрын

I absolutely love ❤️ it

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Thanks ☺️

@kingfisher5150 Жыл бұрын

That looks brilliant!!! xxxx

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

We love how it’s turned out 😁❤️

@Balya-Malkan Жыл бұрын

Admire your good work-regards from Tokyo😊

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊

@wuttmodel3232 2 ай бұрын

So nice i loved ❤❤❤❤❤❤

@SmithsdaleFarm 2 ай бұрын

Thank you 💚

@joansheppard6576 Жыл бұрын

I have never seen this type of use for cork. Very interesting.

@joansheppard6576 Жыл бұрын

I enjoyed watching the video on cork. Thanks for sharing. They should use cork over in the states .

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed the video. It really is a nice product and we love how it turned out!

@oakolive Жыл бұрын

I thought I recognised the mountains in your videos, turns out we lived in that area for a few months! You chose a beautiful place to live in :) Although it is drier in your area than in Portugal, MDF warps soooo quickly in the humid winters, it really isn't an ideal building material. Our neighbours have to replace all their MDF work they used in their house after a few years now because its expanded, warped and rotten. For your future house, definitely don't use it there. Also definitely cover that cork up with a vapour barrier and some sheet metal - or you'll not have built it to last.

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Ah you'll have to let us know where you stayed?? And why you didn't hang around (PM us :). The MDF is treated for water resistance so should be better than standard stuff but it's still not great & definitely won't be using it again. The cork should be fine as an external cladding, we've seen a few videos of it being done around Barcelona and it gets "more" rain there. Well add some videos in a pinned comment or something.

@Rostha846 Жыл бұрын

Se ve muy bien, estéticamente pega muy bien con el ambiente rustico

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Muchas gracias 💚 Estamos muy contentos con cómo se ve 😁

@101life9 Жыл бұрын

1st timer? Who would believe? Job well done 👏! Moving in next week? How's the olive grove? Are they growing back? There are trees all over but couldn't tell what they're. 😁😍

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Hahaha thank you. Definitely a lot of mistakes along the way.. but that’s how you learn right?! 😁 The olive trees had an off year last year so we’re hoping for some olives this year - they pattern in on (good yield) and off (bad yield) years. We have a mixture of olives, carobs and pine trees mostly.

@101life9 Жыл бұрын

@@SmithsdaleFarm 😁😁👍

@breedjack 10 ай бұрын

and most important of all you don't have to cut down the trees!!

@jarilyden Жыл бұрын

If you need to open a door or window and you do not have the correct tool just usexa large screw driver or similar blade that fits diagonally into the square slot.

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Good to know! There hopefully won't be a next time...

@NATALIE_W_ Жыл бұрын

Good on your for giving building a go. Those MDF panels will continue to absorbs moisture and swell/mishape. The cork will eventually fall off as the adhesion surface moves and dislodges. I would overlay the cork layer with a water tight/proof cladding like tin/corrgitated iron. Water resistant is totally different to water proof.

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

The cork should be fine as an external cladding, we've seen a few videos of it being done around Barcelona and it gets "more" rain there. We´ll add some videos in a pinned comment or something.

@NATALIE_W_ Жыл бұрын

@@SmithsdaleFarm Just my imput as materials are so expensive now, it pays to do it right first time and not have expensive repairs a little down the road.. MDF should never be used if there is any chance of moisture exposure as its will expand, loses its integrity and fail. The joins between the cork will let in moisture and trap it and the MDF will soak it up and swell. Also creating the perfect environment for mould to flourish. I've renovated 2 houses, project managed 1 new home build and on my 2nd tiny house build atm.

@colonynaut1627 6 ай бұрын

@@NATALIE_W_ Not to rub it in for the Smiths but... you were totally right. An alternative for the Smiths as they found osb and ply too expensive may be to brace the structure with steel strapping and use battens to attach the cork to the steel framing, but they should really shell out for a vapour barrier...

@LunaLucie3911 Жыл бұрын

❤

@suzziew2931 Жыл бұрын

Great job it looks brilliant. how long has it taken to get permissions from the local council for residential dwelling ? or are you not planning on living there permanently?

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Thank you 💚 We know now what all the processes and steps are, but we haven’t started the permission request yet for the stone house. We’ll share an update when we start it all.

@garyreneau6166 7 ай бұрын

did you guys not use a vapor barrier? I'm afraid water will always get through to warp that MDF. Hopefully not, I know you guys have put a lot of hard work in.

@SmithsdaleFarm 7 ай бұрын

Keep watching…… 😬😩🙈

@FollowingMyStyle Жыл бұрын

Hi guys, I watched a few of your video's and you really inspired me! I had a question: which real estate company did you use? I am going to Barcelona in 2 weeks and I am on the hunt for a property/land. I do not speak Spanish however and I remember you mentioned that you had an English speaking agent. Let me know and good luck with finishing your tiny house! 😃

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

In case you haven’t seen it yet, we made this video all about our research and buying process: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rM2RpciA37ybdWQ.html In the description there are some useful links and the names of the agencies we used back in 2020 to buy our land. Bear in mind that our property is about 2 and a half hours south of Barcelona, in the Tarragona region. So the agencies around the Barcelona area (if that’s where you’re looking) would likely be different ones. But you should still be able to find properties and agencies on sites like buscomasia. Good luck! 💚

@hemlock40 Жыл бұрын

Looks great. What is the lime adhesive product that is available in Portugal? Is it a weber product?

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Pretty sure it was the SecilTek isovit e-cork

@emadabdolmalaki Жыл бұрын

Hi there I wish you success on your journey. May I ask you who helped you find your farm after all or how you found it? I want to do the same but no clue where to start😊😊😊

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Hi. We made a video all about it last year - talking through our process of searching and buying the land, and shared some links in the description of that video. Hope you find it helpful ☺️ kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rM2RpciA37ybdWQ.html

@stephenwalford774 Жыл бұрын

Hi been watching all the progress..well done. question off topic. is it possible to get insurance on a rural property where you are..damage and contents etc ? cheers Steve

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Hi thanks for watching! TBH we haven't looked at insurance yet. I kind of feel like there should be a possibility, but would have no idea on cost etc. When we do I´ll try remember to mention it

@Fabio_Costa_Music Ай бұрын

Could you have fixated the panels with nuts and bolts?

@SmithsdaleFarm 26 күн бұрын

In the end we did. We used some glue rather than mortar (more flexible) and screwed them in for some physical anchor. I think when they use cork for external insulation they have larger bolts so you don’t go into the cork.

@Fabio_Costa_Music 26 күн бұрын

@@SmithsdaleFarm cool! Thanks

@Nali_Verse Жыл бұрын

is it allowed to build a cabin in spain like that? what are the restrictions

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

Depends on where you are, each village town has its own rules.

@shedboy18 Жыл бұрын

I love watching people work but the wife and lodger keeps dancing when the loud Muzak interludes happen.

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

And what’s wrong with a bit of dancing?! Good for the soul 😁

@MrGwizyadig Жыл бұрын

Guys, you used MDF as sheathing? Help me understand why. lol. That stuff warps bad when it gets wet. OSB is much better

@SmithsdaleFarm Жыл бұрын

At the time we bought it, materials costs were increasing hugely, and the OSB had almost tripled in price compared to normal. We couldn’t afford that to cover the whole cabin. This MDF is a water resistant one. And the cork cladding is the protective layer that will stop it getting wet. Time will tell. It’s all a learning curve 🤷🏻‍♀️ Some people have bottomless bank accounts to build with only the best materials and highest quality tools. Unfortunately we don’t, so we’re just sharing our own experience as we go 🙃

@pedrofmc0000 Жыл бұрын

You have to cover the cork against the rain or it will get garbage in few time. Water and cork don't get on well at all... It works as isolation well and it's a natural, but keep water away man... We know the cork well in Spain... Indeed, we produce most of the cork you can find in the market...