My Palm Protection is finished!

ScottyON · Post by **ScottyON** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 4:59 pm

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all your suggestions! This is what I have come up with. The space heater will go inside once it's in my garden. I went with a foam insulator. In one of the pics you can see an opening. I will cover that with a few layers of plastic so it gets some natural light in and doesn't let out too much heat ,hopefully. It's really, really heavy! I just tacked on the sides so I can pull it a part when I need to put in out in the garden when it gets cold.

Let me know what you guys think...

Scott

http://s994.photobucket.com/albums/af66 ... rotection/[/img]

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 5:49 pm

That's a big sucka Scott! I bet it is heavy, hopefully it lasts on more year. Looks good should do the trick just fine.

Bill

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 7:47 am

Looks great

Heavier construction is good, especially if you have overhead tree canopy.

Steve

ScottyON · Post by **ScottyON** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 8:13 am

So I said I was going to use a space heater but wondering if the c-9 bulbs are the way to go (cost wise). How many c-9 bulds would I need. I saw a couple of sets today of 25. Keeping in mind the size of my structure. What do you think? 100 bulbs or so???

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 9:12 am

Energy efficient C9 bulbs are about 3.5 watts each, so 100 bulbs = 350W. The bulbs will also allow you to put the heat closer to where it needs to be.
A ceramic heater on a low setting is 500W, one advantage to a space heater is that the run time will be less than leaving the lights on continuously.

As well insulated as your structure is, 75-150 bulbs may be all you need, but I would still keep a space heater as backup.
(in case bulbs burn out or a cold snap)

If you have the space, load your shelter up with water jugs too. These will add mass and help moderate temperature swings.

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:14 am

How did you attach your styro?
The carpenter used glue on my hut, some panels didn't adhere.
Probably too cold for the glue.

All that's missing in your palm hut is a chair

Nicely done Scot.
Barb

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 3:14 pm

Barb, the cross pieces he put in won't hold it? I built mine a little different, I made my panels so I didn't need wall studs in the middle so I could just pop a 4*8 sheet in. Lighter that way and it doesn't need to be structural anyways. Are you using 2*4 wall studs? How thick is your insulation board?

Bill

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:44 pm

He built with 2x3, and cut the 1-inch thick "fake" styro to fit.
It's not quite a "friction fit", the odd piece of insulation is loose.

A thin bead of spray foam might do for those two or three spots, or stapling some strapping.

He's built houses, so I suppose the studs were necessary in his plan.
Might have been concerned about the OSB vs. plywood sturdiness.

But I like the fact that only three screws hold each panel's vertical corner, and then two more into the sled base at the bottom.
Should be relatively easy to take apart in March.

I'd better not paint over the screws/nuts

I do like your idea of 4x8 panels, easier to fit insulation into.
Barb

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:14 pm

Sorry I didn't post my pictures earlier for you to go off. Your structure is more then adequate, more like on the top ten structure list! Add the spray foam and the strapping to hold it in and you'll be way better off then most peoples structures. Trust me on that, your structure is sound as long as you paint it... LOL!

Bill

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:46 pm

Ya, the hut will do the trick.

I H A T E painting

ScottyON · Post by **ScottyON** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:50 pm

Hey Barb,

I just you some small screws with a washer and screwed it in until it snugged the two together. If you push it in too far it goes right through. Your palm hut looks great by the way!!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:39 pm

Hi Scotty,
Yup we noticed that when tightening the screws.
They would've gone right through the OSB if we had kept turning

Now that this old palm is finally in the ground, and protected, maybe there won't be a winter?

Does yours get lots of light, i.e. south side of house?

It'll be great to compare notes this winter.
Barb

ScottyON · Post by **ScottyON** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:00 pm

Hey Barb,

Would love too. Send me an email scottynichol@hotmail.com...

So the areas that are only covered with the plastic face east. There are many layers of plastic on it to reduce the heat escaping. So it doesn't really get direct sun exposure. It does get about three hours in the morning of sun light. Since I used the white insulation board the structure is extreemly bright inside probably just like yours. The south side of the structure is where the door is. I have been taking it off when the temps were above 5 and it wasn't raining. Send me an email if you want to chat!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 6:20 pm

Mine faces east and gets about 3 hours of sun too.

I like your idea of multiple plastic layers.
While still allowing light in, numerous layers do a lot to prevent heat loss.

I plan to add a false ceiling of 6ml plastic (once I find the stapler)

Our low tonight is -4C (25F).
The door will stay propped open until temps get to -10C (I think).

What was your lowest temp last winter?
Barb

ScottyON · Post by **ScottyON** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:22 pm

The lowest temps we had here last winter were -15 c in the last week of Feb first week of March. Lasted for about 4 days. Usually we get a cold strech like that for a week or so. I think our two climates are pretty similar. It supposed to drop below zero here tonight as well. The reason why I have my palm hut closed is because I have a washie in there which won't stand the cold like the trachy! I plan to have a couple Trachy's in the ground next year. What's your coldest temps there? I thought your climate was similar to the Niagara Falls area? Good growing season for fruit etc...

There is a guy in the Niagara Region who has a similar size Trachy. He usually doesn't let it go below -8 before he heats his. The heater you bought looks similar to mine. I can't set mine lower than 5 c. Can you?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:01 pm

No we're nowhere near as "warm" as the Niagara region, and last winter was the coldest I remember.
We had low of -24.9C in December, bloody brutal (possibly -27 as a low).
Numerous "Siberian outflows" kept most of BC interior shivering.

Forgot which day(s) in December this was:

Niagara is 43N latitude, we're about 52, a big difference in winter.
The Okanagan is Canada's only desert area, hot hot summers, fruit and vineyards everywhere.

I haven't tried the heater yet, but 5C start-up sounds about right to me.
The goal is to keep the enclosure at about 5C.

Barb

ScottyON · Post by **ScottyON** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:06 pm

Wow, that's cold. I thought the interior BC was pretty close to what we had here in S Ontario. Being on that latitude you must get a lot more darkness in the Winter! Your warm summers should help your palm though! Even though you're colder in the winter you can't beat the view out there!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:13 pm

Actually Scotty, Trachys don't like extreme heat or high winds.
That's why it's planted on the east side of house.
Loves the afternoon shade and it's less windy there.

John (okanagandesertpalms) posted some area pics here:

http://www.palmsnorth.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2314

Barb.