Insulation for wilderness cabin

[Mervmaster]

Hey everyone

I'm building a "wilderness" cabin on a 75 acre parcel to use for recreation, relaxation, and overnighting during hunting season.

The wall logs are on their way up this week, and my co-workers and I are thinking on types of insulation.

If this were a home I'd use wool, because I hate fiberglass, but in this application I may consider using fiberglass instead.

I'm building in the scribe to fit chinkless method, so insulation space isn't a problem. Also, winters here aren't as brutal as they are in other parts of the country, below zero temps are rare. This might be lazy mans thinking, but I might just use a little caulk along the inside of the laterals to prevent drafts, and leave the lateral grooves empty.

My question is this: should I bother insulating the walls at all? Can I just shoot some spray foam in the lateral grooves and call it a day? Or, should I treat this wilderness project as if it were my home and insulate seriously?

Please point out any flaws you see in my logic, and give me your thoughts on this matter.


Thanks!

-Merv


I'm never in a hurry, I'm just moving fast.

[fishlkmich]

Logs make great insulation. Forget about the walls and insulate the floor and roof.

[blane]

Have you looked into backer rods? I would insulate those gaps with something or you will feel the breeze
http://www.loghomestore.com/sc30-backer-rod-gasketing-oakum.php

[Timberwolf]

Most of the scribe to fit guys use Emseal

[loghousenut]

The original Log Home Guru of this organization, Skip Ellsworth, would have said to fill the space between the logs with fiberglass. His nemisis, B Allen Mackie, would have said stuff the space with sphagnum moss gathered from the forest floor. Both men would have said there was only one way to do it right.

If you are able to drive to the building site, I'd agree with Skip. If you are truly building in the wilderness, I'd go with Mackie. Either way you'll want to do something to slow down the draft.

Once the walls are tight you will want to insulate the roof and walls also.