Short answer: you're the first, welcome to R&D Robert. Long answers below.
> 1. Is there an "ideal" thickness of Thermax HD to use? I will have > significant snow loads to deal with in the winter and the more > insulation I can get, the better. But the 2" boards are already $53 > each and sound like they will be more than a handful to manipulate on > site. > 2" sounds pretty reasonable. 1" is warm, 2" will be warmer, and stronger. > > 2. Given the inevitability of LOTS of snow, should I necessarily use > the Pentayurt design? Or will the greater rigidity of Thermax HD > allow me to use a regular Hexayurt? > Remember these are foam panels. I'm not *at all* sure that even a Pentayurt in 2" thermax will survive three feet of snow - you're talking about a ton or more of snow over that roof area... I used to live in Chicago, I've got some notion of the kind of conditions you're talking about. Foam. > > 3. Are there more weatherproof seam-sealing solutions than using tape > or will the tape withstand repeat exposure to cold and wet? If the > tape won't withstand such exposure, how have others protected it from > the elements? > I think the tape would likely be fine for a couple of years, once it's stuck on the glues last. Go with the more expensive tapes if you want to be more certain of the glues, of course. > > 4. I happen to have a concrete slab already in place where I plan to > build this... Any suggestions on anchoring? I have a friend who is > well-versed in conventional building techniques, so I know that he can > help me drill the slab and put in anchors - just tie to these instead > of using stakes, etc.? > Yep, that's how I'd approach it. > > 5. Has anyone experimented with combining the increased strength of > OSB with Thermax HD? That is, still using the Thermax in a structural > role rather than only as insulation? > Yep, Dylan and Scott did one that way, and it was very successful. There's a video. > > If these questions seem trivial, please realize that I have many ideas > of my own about each one but I would prefer - whenever possible - to > hear the advice and learn of the experiences of those who have gone > before me. I haven't found detailed answers to any of these on the > web, but if you have a URL that I haven't found you are more than > welcome to send it to me along with the standard, "RTFM!". > Not trivial *at all* Robert. I'm only sorry we don't know the answers! But please write up what you do and what you learn, and we'll get the whole thing figured out over time, a building at a time. Thank you! Vinay -- Vinay Gupta Free Science and Engineering in the Global Public Interest http://hexayurt.com - free/open next generation human sheltering http://hexayurt.com/plan - the whole systems, big picture vision "In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer" - Albert Camus Twitter/Skype/Gizmo/Gtalk/AIM: hexayurt UK Cell : +44 (0) 7500 895568 / USA VOIP (+1) 775-743-1851 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "hexayurt" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hexayurt?hl=en.
