Need help renovating a three-season home.?

Question

I have recently inherited my family's three-season summer (house, cottage, cabin, camp - depending on your vernacular) on a lake in New England. I am thinking about possible renovations that will make it more useful for my family.

It's a true three-season spot - no insulation at all, and constructed on pilings, rather than a foundation.

It needs to have a well drilled, and I am looking for advice on the best way to install water lines for a three-season cottage that will not be heated in the winter. I am assuming I will need to put in some sort of a system drain to drain when winterizing each year.

Also, any thoughts on whether it would be worthwhile to build a concrete block foundation under it to create a crawlspace ?

Answer 1

The system will have to be drained each winter if the house/cottage/etc. does not have insulation.  If you don't, your pipes will burst during the first winter.  An option may be an above ground water tank (although not aesthetically pleasing) which can then be removed and reused once more permanent plumbing is installed.

As for installing concrete block, you will have to check with the local building code authority to see what the frost line is in your area as a block wall will require a concrete trench footing for the length of the wall.  While the idea of a block wall and concrete footing may sounds more intensive, it will be a great way to insulate the house (and utilize permanent water lines!).