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Small Cabin Forum / Member's Projects and Photos / 12x16 Off-Grid Cabin in Central NH
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NhLiving
Member
# Posted: 20 Nov 2014 08:36pm
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I have been on this forum for about a week now and i am addicted already. It is great to see everyone's projects and have so much knowledge so easily accessible. So i decided i should probably post up some photos of my little project.

I started this in late October 2010 with my brother and best friend. My father had 10 acres that we never really used.. So then one day at age 21 i got the bright idea to build a little cabin out there. The cabin is set in a wooded area about 1/4 mile from where i park my truck. So everything had to be carried out there by hand... I think that was the hardest part but still enjoyed every minute of it. It has been a slow process, since sometimes i don't go there for 2 or 3 months at a time. And sometimes I'm there every weekend for 2 -3 months straight. I would say i did about 75% of the work on my own, help from friends came when possible. Enjoy the photos.
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NhLiving
Member
# Posted: 20 Nov 2014 08:47pm
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Here are a couple more photos.

I also forgot to mention.. Tons of the materials i used in this project were purchased cheap or free via Craigslist or through word of mouth. Also working on large construction sites is a plus, lots of extra materials get offered to me from time to time. I did not follow any particular design, it started out simple and i just kept adding things to the list. I am sure a lot of you can relate to the addiction. I think it helped give my little cabin a bunch of character and helped set it apart. Not that it matters, there is nothing around for miles in each direction haha.

There are still many many things i plan to do inside an out. I will be spending the entire month of march collecting and boiling maple syrup on my 10 acres with roughly 100 trees to tap. So installing the wood stove is very important, Hopefully next weekend or the following. It sure is getting cold in NH these days. But hey it beats sleeping in a tent when its 15 degrees like when i started this whole project.
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turkeyhunter
Member
# Posted: 20 Nov 2014 10:08pm
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very cool camp....reminds me of Maine

bldginsp
Member
# Posted: 20 Nov 2014 10:40pm
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Wow- you need snow shoes just to get to the privy- now that's what I call pioneering spirit.

Nice place.

Steve_S
Member
# Posted: 21 Nov 2014 06:06am
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Quite the cozy little "shack in the woods" ... 2nd BldgInsp comment on Snowshoes or is it X-Country ski's ? Interesting placement of the Fire Extinguisher though...

Wilbour
Member
# Posted: 21 Nov 2014 08:18am
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I like your gravity fed water over the sink

NhLiving
Member
# Posted: 21 Nov 2014 01:57pm
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Thanks for the kind words. It really is a cozy little shack, and i love it. The walk to the outhouse is about 300 feet away, it's always refreshing.

The gravity water system surprisingly had a ton of pressure. If i point it out the window it shoots over 10Ft with a solid stream. The 7 gal tank is only 4 feet over the sink. Someday ill make a small water tower and have pressure for all sorts of stuff.

And for the fire extinguisher, that is just a temporary spot while I'm still in the construction stage. I have two in the cabin, a Carbon monoxide and smoke detector as well. Better safe than sorry.

Steve_S
Member
# Posted: 22 Nov 2014 10:58am
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I just chuckled @ the fire extinguisher cause it's next to your solar controllers... as if a pending doom of something frying itself...

Yes... something I noted that no one seems to mention... Smoke Detectors & Co2 detectors... PLEASE BE SAFE EVERYONE regardless if your in the city, country or bush, these can save your lives.

tcmatt
Member
# Posted: 22 Nov 2014 03:54pm
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Great Cabin!!! you're right, very similar to mine. I'm going to steal the gravity feed water idea. what kind of tank is it? I've got a few 5 gallon blue colemans, but not sure those would work. Do you have any close up pics of your hose connection to the tank? Also, is that an RV stove?

nice work. long live the 12x16's

NhLiving
Member
# Posted: 22 Nov 2014 11:19pm
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Steve_S i second that, Everyone should purchase these if they haven't already.

And Tcmatt, Thanks. I don't have any close ups of the connections but i just bought the blue 7 gallon AquaTainer from walmart and connected the proper size male threaded pvc with the female threaded end. Then screwed in the same sized barbed end, slipped on a piece of hose and put a nozzle on the end.Soon i will run the pipe in a hidden spot and connect it to my faucet, should be more than enough pressure.
And yup, i pulled the stove out of my old 88 rockwood RV, Thing was virtually brand new! 4 burners is great compared to when i only cooked on the fire.

Bret
Member
# Posted: 23 Nov 2014 06:57am
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Looking good. Would you share your solar setup. Componenrts etc. Thanks Bret

NhLiving
Member
# Posted: 23 Nov 2014 08:08pm
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Quoting: Bret
Would you share your solar setup. Componenrts etc. Thanks Bret


I built the solar panel myself(First soldering experience so that says enough) Using a kit of cells i bought on Ebay. It only held up for about a year and then the cells and solder started breaking apart. I plan to purchase a decent size panel to replace the now totally useless DIY trial.

NhLiving
Member
# Posted: 4 Dec 2014 10:15pm
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Spent my first weekend up at my cabin in almost 2 months! It felt so great to get back in the woods and the snow after 6 weeks in an air cast! I even got the base for my hearth built too! Here is a photo i took when i arrived.
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nscampgirl
Member
# Posted: 10 Dec 2014 09:48pm
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Looks awesome! I want to do a 16x16 and I'm just wondering his tall your walls are and pitch of roof to have your little loft there?

NhLiving
Member
# Posted: 11 Dec 2014 12:27pm
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Hey thank Campgirl.I wish i did a 16x16, but i guess this size will have to do. My walls are 8 feet tall and the peak is 5 feet from the top plate. So all said and done there is enough from in the loft for me to sit indian style without hitting my head.

nscampgirl
Member
# Posted: 12 Dec 2014 06:10pm
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Ok that sounds doable I want a loft but was worried how complicated it might get.

NhLiving
Member
# Posted: 13 Dec 2014 08:34am - Edited by: NhLiving
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It really isn't difficult at all. I just ran 2x6's from one side to another on the top plate of the walls. Then nailed into the roof rafters. Makes for a sturdy loft no doubt. Plus you kind of need something there to hold the 2 outer walls from pulling apart with the pressure of the roof coming down on them in an outward angle.
I attached a photo of the loft to kind of give you an idea of the space.
Iphone_147.jpg
Iphone_147.jpg


Wilbour
Member
# Posted: 13 Dec 2014 08:44am
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I lowered my loft by attaching 7' 2x4 s to the original studs. Then running the rafters across on top of them. Gave me 7' ceilings and almost 5' loft in the center. It's just for sleeping anyways.

Wilbour
Member
# Posted: 13 Dec 2014 03:22pm
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I should clarify that I effectively doubled up my studs. So i have 8 footers holding up the roof and 7 footers right beside holding up the loft. All the loft weight is directed to the floor.

tichalet
Member
# Posted: 14 Dec 2014 10:10pm
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This is the sweetest little cabin!

It looks just like a gingerbread house - so appropriate for a sugar shack in NH.

NhLiving
Member
# Posted: 21 Dec 2014 12:20pm
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Quoting: tichalet
This is the sweetest little cabin!

Thanks a bunch. It makes me so happy to walk out in the woods and see it any time i make it up there. But when there is snow covering everything, it's 10x more exciting.

beachman
Member
# Posted: 21 Dec 2014 03:15pm
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Yes! Sweet! nscampgirl - definitely do the loft. You won't regret it. If you are going 16ft, I would go with 2 x 8 joists. I built a shed 12 x 16 in our backyard with a steep roof and two lofts for more storage. I ran 2 x 6's for joists and they were OK for 12 ft. 16 feet is a long span without some support from posts or a beam below - which can disrupt the downstairs layout.

nscampgirl
Member
# Posted: 25 Dec 2014 07:54pm
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Thanks beachman! I'll have to have a closer look at it.

NhLiving
Member
# Posted: 26 Dec 2014 03:21pm
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Good points beachman. The 2x6's i used were plenty strong enough for the 12ft span, 16 ft would be a whole different story.

Quoting: nscampgirl
Thanks beachman! I'll have to have a closer look at it.

When are you planing to start building?

nscampgirl
Member
# Posted: 28 Dec 2014 09:06pm
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Late spring is the plan as long as I pick up lots of shifts over winter and get my home renovations done too. Busy times ahead.

NhLiving
Member
# Posted: 28 Dec 2014 09:51pm
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Best of luck to you, better busy than bored!

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