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renee
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# Posted: 1 Dec 2012 07:53am
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So this is kind of a brain dump. I have been designing tiny cabins for my own amusement for the last two years, ever since I start to believe that another great depression was inevitable and I felt that I didn't want to have to move back in with my parents or in-laws when the SHTF. What am I to do if I live in an apartment? Why, buy a tiny piece of land and build a tiny cabin!
I'm mostly in the planning stages of situation, as I have not purchased the land. I have found what I want, I'm just saving up the money for it. I don't want a bank loan, so the seller will do financial with $1500 down on 3 acres for $5000. The reason this land is so cheap is because it isn't technically "build-able" (100ftx1400ft, strange size) but I can do under 200 sq ft in my state without a permit, so I'm hoping to avoid any paperwork. I really just don't want to do anything on the property that requires local government involvement, so it will be totally off-grid.
So, I have been designing with that 200 sq ft in mind with a 14'x14' cabin design. I've also been thinking about needing to house other members of my family in a BOL scenario, so I've also created designs that have alternate floor plans for different residents.
Since I'm thinking that I may have to house a contingent of family members, I'm toying with the idea of building a sort of "family camp" set up. Mini Cabins for family groups, with a dining hall, kitchen and bath house as separate buildings as to avoid building codes.
Each cabin will have its own composting toilet inside, but the bath house will be for bathing to save on space in individual cabins. If time and money run out before SHTF, the composting toilets in each cabin might need to be reduced to a portable set up that can be dumped into an outhouse. I plan to have a couple of outhouses too, not a septic system, but these wouldn't be in use at all unless totally necessary, as in the case of a total financial or societal collapse where I needed to house and care for lots of family and friends. In that instance, regulations be damned! But until then, no one wants to use an outhouse.
To start, I hope to purchase my land before year's end, and then start purchasing and storing all of the various tools and building supplies I will need to make an individual cabin for my husband and I, plus the bath house and a storage cabin that can be converted into another individual cabin when the need arises. I want all of the cabins to be of the same general design so it is easier and easier to build the more I make.
Attached here is the couple's cabin design and the singles. Each includes a dining nook, mini built-in couch with storage, small kitchen/storage area, half bathroom and sleeping loft. I'm also working on a design for my parents and in-laws that eliminates the couch and replaces with a bed so no need to climb the ladder. Most of the storage will be built-in, so I can get the maximum space without actual furniture.
Each cabin can accommodate two singles or a couple comfortably (I think) and more could be added, but they would feel crowded. But if it is the only safe place you have, can you really complain?
Couple's Cabin
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Single's Cabin
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Anonymous
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# Posted: 1 Dec 2012 09:52am
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Quoting: renee I can do under 200 sq ft in my state without a permit, so I'm hoping to avoid any paperwork.
Well if the crap really does hit the fan a lot of government rules may no longer apply at all; or they could get worse. Nobody has a real job and the government feeds the masses in exchange for their squealing on anything and everything....
But to the quoted part of the OP. Many places have an exemption to building permits for 200 sq ft or less, or perhaps even a lesser figure. But if the fine print is read and understood it can often be plainly seen that the intent is for these buildings to be used for just about anything other than a habitable space. I would check on that very carefully before starting. Then you can do whatever you want or think you can get away with. At least then won't have any surprises later. Same thing on the multiple buildings trick to subvert the 200 sq ft thing. Same with what the government will call multiple dwellings on the one property. They can have rules against that.
Get the facts straight so you know for certain what you face in case the crap does not hit the fan with the velocity you expect. G/L
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renee
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# Posted: 1 Dec 2012 10:05am
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Well, thanks for the warm welcome. This is going to be a BOL, so no habitation will be happening for a while. Fine print has been read, I'd just rather ask forgiveness than permission, if you know what I mean. That is, if they even find me. The entire property is completely rural, wooded and at the end of a private road.
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PA_Bound
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# Posted: 1 Dec 2012 10:58am
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Renee... Welcome to the forum! A first word of advice... be wary of anything posted under an "Anonymous" username. Sometimes the post is good information, posted by good people, who simply forgot to Sign In before posting. Othertimes it's just someone trying to be a tool. You can decide for yourself which applies to the responses you have received so far.
But... in my thinking... the 09:52 post is a good one to consider. Governmental agencies seem to like making habital cabins difficult to build- just about everywhere. Make sure you understand the rules then decide how to apply them (or not- that's your personal choice).
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renee
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# Posted: 1 Dec 2012 11:03am
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Thanks PA, but regardless, Anonymous just reminded me why OPSEC is a good idea. I admit, I should have left out most details and simply focused on cabin building. I might come back when I have photos, but my initial experience with someone who doesn't have the courage to sign in or create an actual account has already soured my perspective. My request for to delete the thread still stands.
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PA_Bound
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# Posted: 1 Dec 2012 11:27am
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Well Renee...
... not let one opinion ruin your experience. There is a LOT of really good information, and good people, here. Everybody on this forum has a different set of experiences, perspectives and requirements. Some I personally understand... some I personally don't, or don't agree with. But everyone has something to contribute, and in the end ability to make their own choices.
Best of luck with whatever direction you choose.
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Montanagirl
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# Posted: 1 Dec 2012 01:28pm
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Renee, I like your ideas! Not sure about all the building code stuff as mentioned, but I'm also very interested in the tiny/small house movement. And I'll gladly proclaim I'm in the WTSHTF clulb! (It's why I live in NW Montana) Don't be discouraged by someone's negative comments. . . . When we (my brother and I) decided to improve our 80 year old family cabin, instead of bothering with an architect or plans to increase the size we opted to go with seperate buildings. We started with a bunk house. I always thought it would be fun to have a bath house (although we will probably just opt for an outdoor shower) but also thought we could turn the main cabin into a sleeping cabin and move the small kitchen it has to a "camp shack". We too have an outhouse. . . it's not as bad as a lot of people think it might be. Of course we are only there in the summer.  We did not need a building permit either so it depends on where your property is I reckon . . .
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renee
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# Posted: 1 Dec 2012 01:38pm
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I'm in your neck of the woods, thank goodness for the American Redoubt!
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Montanagirl
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# Posted: 1 Dec 2012 01:52pm
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I had not heard that term so just looked it up! I grew up here, moved to Arizona for 25 years then moved back as my elderly mom needed help. . . Soooo, moved back and am happy as a clam. Of course not making the $$ I was in Phoenix, but am happy to be around like minded folks and the scenery is drop dead gorgeous. . . .
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 2 Dec 2012 11:43am
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How cruel "anonymous". Nobody is asking you to agree with this poster plans or their thoughts. I think a little self reflection may be good for you.
Everybody has the right to have a dream and seek out and gather information and everyone deserves to be treated with respect and I believe should feel a warm welcome by the rest of us. What a boring forum this would be if we all had the same thoughts...and what a "typical" forum this would be if the rules of respect were not lived by it's members.
Please consider staying Renee. I cannot be the only person here who will enjoy following your post, watching your determination and seeing what you are able to succeed at doing. You appear to be a person with a very large heart...we should all be so lucky to have a relative willing to provide a home to us if ever need be.
Best of luck to you and WELCOME!!!
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CabinBuilder
Admin
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# Posted: 2 Dec 2012 03:00pm
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Housekeeping...
Just clean up this thread a bit.
Welcome to the forum, renee 
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oldbuddy
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# Posted: 2 Dec 2012 03:49pm
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Hi Renee and welcome to the forum. Back to the cabin.....I would consider a 12:12 pitch roof so that you can utilize a loft with as much headroom as possible. I don't believe you need to count the square footage of the loft since most of the space isn't livable. You might check that out but the loft leaves a lot of storage space to store "stuff."
I'm anxious to see some photos of your "startup." Old Buddy and I have put a ton of pics on our thread because I like going back about three years to when we first started going to the property. Building this small cabin has been one of the most enjoyable things I have ever done. I have a feeling of complete tranquility while I'm there, whether I'm working or just "laying around." We have talked to a LOT OF FINE PEOPLE ON HERE! Stick around......I think you'll enjoy it
Old Old Buddy
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renee
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# Posted: 2 Dec 2012 06:21pm
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I'm actually wanting to do a lean-to roof, oriented for solar panels, so the window on the north of the loft can be long. More sunlight, but not direct light to the loft. I'm designing the cabins oriented according to the lay of the land and sun. The road runs on the East border, so the doors is there. Small windows on the south for dining and cooking, while minimizing glare in the living area. I'm also thinking of protection, thus the big windows are high up with no line of sight to living quarters and the smaller windows at ground level will be too small to crawl through if broken into.
If you are familiar with the book "Compact Cabins" by Gerald Rowan, the profile will be similar to the Endless Mountains Micro Cabin on page 16.
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BlaineHill
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# Posted: 3 Dec 2012 10:51pm
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Renee,
I have the book you mentioned and have enjoyed looking through all the designs. Thank you for posting your plans. I really like the angle on the loft edge in your design. It adds a little bit of technical difficulty, but has a great impact on the overall design. I am sure your plan will take a future cabin builder in a direction they had not thought of before. You have designed an excellent use of space and I will enjoy watching your plan come to reality in the months ahead. Thanks for posting.
BH
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renee
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# Posted: 3 Dec 2012 11:23pm
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Thanks. My plans for land and housing have changed so many times over the last two years, I have probably accumulated or 100 mini cabin designs, with about half of those being my own design. These may change before spring, but I think I'm getting close to the best use of space for a small space while still trying to make it feel larger than it is.
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Malamute
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2012 09:43pm - Edited by: Malamute
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Quoting: Montanagirl ..... to increase the size we opted to go with seperate buildings...... I always thought it would be fun to have a bath house.....
I did too. When the time came to add a bathroom to my little cabin, it was raining constantly, I didnt want to cut into the roof of the cabin to add on, so I decided to do a bathouse. It's 8x12, the back 8x5 is the bathroom, with running water, claw foot tub, etc, the front is the pantry, and temporary reloading room. Its not bad at all, tho the walk out in a winter storm is a bit interesting. I also built a small shop (10x16), and later will build a larger shop/barn.
Outbuildings are nice, and I have an idea why most older places consisted of many outbuildings (besides doing it over time), instead of everything all together. If one has a fire, you wont lose everything at once with spread out outbuilings. Fire protection was weak or non-existant in the past. It could be in the future if a natural disaster happened, or some other calamity befell you.
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Montanagirl
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2012 10:27pm
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Malamute--have you posted pics of your bathouse? I'd LOVE to see!!!
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BigDuke6
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# Posted: 9 Dec 2012 11:22am
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Malamute, I also am always looking for good idea's for a bathouse, and would love to see some pics of your setup. Thanks.
Renee, I fully support the idea of having a place to go when the SHTF! Keep us updated please.
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MichelCleark
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# Posted: 21 Dec 2012 05:15am
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I hope the project is still going on in a full swing and there will be a lot of progress in building bathouse. Well, I will glad to see some pics here if you have to post.
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MichelCleark
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# Posted: 30 Dec 2012 11:35pm
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I have finished some of my white kitchen cabinets renovation. I am planning to paint it again with white and changing a countertop with brown granite. Done with a kitchen flooring and kitchen lighting.
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