So a bit of backstory, I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and we have some really nasty cold winters (anywhere between -30 to -35 Celsius or -22 to -31 Fahrenheit) and I'm also a pipe smoker who lives in a household where I'm not allowed to smoke indoors. Normally I would just deal with not having a pipe during the winter but the household I now live at has a unique structure. This unique structure I am referring to is a small canopy like structure for my father-in-law's vines to grow on and create a cool, shaded area for the summer months. Once I saw this structure I immediately asked if I could work out a small project to use tarps and a heater to make a warm-ish shack for the winter months for everyone to enjoy (especially myself) to which he of course agreed. Due to my father-in-law being very strict on power consumption however and with me being sort of short on funds I purchased a kerosene heater to heat this small "shack", I also have this surrounded on all sides using tarp with the exception of the roof it has vapour barrier under sheet metal so that if snow begins to melt on the roof it doesn't seep through the seam. Now comes to my issue, the heater is more than enough to heat the space as it's only 8' x 5' however it's only fall and the heater is having a bit of an issue keeping up. I understand of course that it's encased in tarp and not plywood which significantly reduces the R Value of the walls but I'm wondering if maybe there's a solution that I've overlooked that could make the shack a bit more cozy as I'm afraid that with the aforementioned temperatures there's no way this shack and heater as it stands now would be able to make that space at least somewhat comfortable. I did do some research into a lot of different materials like insulated tarps, however this I don't think is a good option as although it's 8' x 5' this is of course a rounded up measurement and the roof is slanted to provide a pitch to allow snow to run off. I have also considered doubling up the tarp to add another layer but I am not sure if that would be a step in the correct direction. Any help or insight is greatly appreciated and I would like to thank those who give me some helpful insight into my little project beforehand so to those who contribute thank you. via /r/DIY https://ift.tt/2D3E9Ty
