This is an update from Joe Chipman builder and designer of the Hermit Deluxe, the Bunkhouse and the Hermit. You can purchase the Hermit Deluxe plans here: Hermit Deluxe Plans
July 2011
Over the winter 2010/2011 I finalized the high and low voltage rough wiring, finishing with the 12 volt main panel under the desk, boxes and piping for the batteries, solar panels connections and charge controller connections.
Wanting better insulation then fiberglass, I install foam insulation with R16 in the walls (3 in. foam) and R24 in the ceiling (4 3/4 in. foam).
Then I foil taped aluminum foil to the face of the foam and left a 1/2 in. air gap between the foil and the backside of the wood paneling to reflect most of the outgoing heat back into the Hermit DeLuxe. I am hoping with the high R-value of the foam insulation and foil reflection effect heat the Hermit DeLuxe quite easily even in the coldest winter days.
I am also working on a rocket stove design to heat the Hermit DeLuxe. I will be building this design or something very similar in the next couple months. With the rocket stove design in mind I custom built the roof thimble and installed in the ceiling right before I finished the paneling on the ceiling.
In the spring, as soon as the weather allowed, I installed the last three windows and trim. I am amazed the amount of light I have in the Hermit DeLuxe with the 8 windows, better then I hoped! I installed the interior window jam extensions and insulated around the windows and door jam.
In preparation for the summer camping season, I updated the rain water system and sawdust toilet at the solar camp. It is so much better having 110 gallons of water available instead of just 35 gallons. This sawdust toilet is what I will be building in the Hermit DeLuxe.
In May, I located and obtained a nice pile of free pine and poplar boards (stored outside for 3 years and turning black) heading for the burn pile. In the last couple months I have been milling these boards into the tongue and groove and when needed end match paneling. This has meant a lot of long days in my mom’s work shop planing, using the table saw and buried in sawdust, but it is well worth it. The wood paneling installation is proceeding well and I hope to have the final wall completed this month and on to building the upper bunk framework, upper closet and shelves.
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