Are there any tradeoffs you should consider aside from what you’ve mentioned (cost, insulation value, appearance)? Access to wiring in the future (for upgrades/changes)? Ability to mount things on the wall, or bring additional utilities (water, sewer, networking) into the space?
To my eye, the cost difference, for something that’ll last many years, is minimal—it may be 3x difference, but still only $766 absolute. I don’t know the value of insulation—what’s the climate like where you’re building? Are you worried only about heating, or will you have cooling needs as well (insulation is critical for both, but planning airflow and mechanisms is a lot more complicated for cooling)?
For me, in the northwest United States (temperate, wet, rarely very hot nor cold), I’d optimize for appearance and access, over insulation. That would be _VERY_ different if I lived in a desert or tundra, or the midwest US which alternates between desert and tundra.
Are there any tradeoffs you should consider aside from what you’ve mentioned (cost, insulation value, appearance)? Access to wiring in the future (for upgrades/changes)? Ability to mount things on the wall, or bring additional utilities (water, sewer, networking) into the space?
To my eye, the cost difference, for something that’ll last many years, is minimal—it may be 3x difference, but still only $766 absolute. I don’t know the value of insulation—what’s the climate like where you’re building? Are you worried only about heating, or will you have cooling needs as well (insulation is critical for both, but planning airflow and mechanisms is a lot more complicated for cooling)?
For me, in the northwest United States (temperate, wet, rarely very hot nor cold), I’d optimize for appearance and access, over insulation. That would be _VERY_ different if I lived in a desert or tundra, or the midwest US which alternates between desert and tundra.
Nice to have, but not critical?
Not planning on water/sewer. I should decide about ethernet and do it at this stage if I’m going to. Probably yes ethernet?
Northeast US. Primarily heating. Climate details: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/67yzoZE88Qd3EjQ8d Not planning for AC, though the window will be able to take a window unit if need be.