With an existing concrete slab, the only real way to help with insulation is to dig down around the perimeter of the cabin and add rigid insulation to help eliminate thermal bridging from the adjacent soils. If you’re ready to convert a seasonal cabin, start from the bottom up by addressing the foundation. Is the area around your cabin just a summer community that might lack amenities in the off-season, like restaurants, cultural events or neighbors? A winter weekend spent at a hotel near your cabin could help you decide the best course of action. Is the road to the home plowed regularly? If you have a lakefront site that is very narrow, what would you do with snow plowed out of your driveway?Īdditionally, if you can get there, consider how your time spent there would be different than in other seasons. If these factors apply to your cabin or cottage and you think that being a year-round getaway would increase your retreat’s value (and your quality of life), be sure you can actually get there in the winter. It could also need to meet other zoning or setback requirements. A cabin might be considered seasonal unless it has an approved wastewater (septic) system, a supply of drinkable water and access for fire safety. The structure’s foundation matters too: It may have been built on an open foundation, piers or an uninsulated concrete slab.įinally, look into how your local municipality classifies residences. Even if you could heat the place enough to enjoy it during winter weekends, you might have to drain all the water lines every time you leave.Ī three-season cabin may not have insulation in the walls or roof, or, if it does, it may not be up to code. These seasonal homes might lack central heating or a water source that’s protected from freezing temps. This generally refers to a structure that’s not livable in the winter for a variety of reasons. Here’s what to know.įirst, let’s define what is described as a “three season” cabin. If you can relate and are wondering what it would take to transform your cabin into the type of place you could visit all the time, we have corralled a few factors to consider. You love your cabin, so why not spend some time there in the off-season? For many cabin owners, the answer is that the getaway spends part of the year buried under a snowbank with no running water.
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