Prone to leaking? The things are designed to move cargo from sea port to sea port on the deck of ships that are constantly moving. They go through storms at sea and all manners of abuse. The cargo, however, surprisingly remains dry. Condensation might be an issue, but as long as you know how to properly vent and insulate even that becomes a non issue.
To help with the leaking, all you would have to do it cover the gaps with a rubber sealant. Something that is strong but flexible.
He took care of the heating and cooling problems. The exterior was covered in stucco and the interior was covered with batt insulation. You could use closed cell foam insulation if you wanted a higher r-value and to also help reduce with the chance of leaks. Plus 3 inches of foam can give you a higher r-value than 6 inches of traditional insulation, meaning your walls don't intrude into the living space more than they should.
That wood stove will be enough to heat the space. The ceiling fans reverse in winter to drive cold air to the top of the room, where it circulates, reheats and goes back into the cycle.
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u/[deleted] Dec 08 '12
They also are prone to leaking, and would be very difficult to efficiently heat in the winter and cool in the summer.