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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Cabin foundation questions

Author	Message
Mkobzey Member	# Posted: 6 Apr 2020 10:35pm Reply  Hi, I'm looking to build a 16x20 maybe even 16x24 or bigger cabin. But getting concrete and water into site to build pier footings is going to be a pain. I was thinking of leveling the ground and using concrete pads like those 24x24inch ones. Is 16x20 to big for those?
Princelake Member	# Posted: 7 Apr 2020 06:44am Reply  If you build any size of cabin on just pads I would expect movement. Your cabin foundation is what everything is sitting on and is one of the most important pieces of your cabin and it's not something to cheap out on. Do it right the first time.
sparky30_06 Member	# Posted: 7 Apr 2020 07:31am Reply  depends on where you are building and your soil type. Down in the south houses have been built on pier and beam forever. Long before we had concrete houses where built on the ground. you just need to make sure you have enough piers going down to the blocks to support the load and big enough beams to carry the load. A pier and beam structure will require leveling ever 1 to 5 years.
Brettny Member	# Posted: 7 Apr 2020 08:41am Reply  A pain to get in? Does that mean you have to hike everything in or fill a 55gal drum with water and drive it in? What's your frost line?
Mkobzey Member	# Posted: 7 Apr 2020 10:35am Reply  Thanks for info guys. Best to do it right.
Aklogcabin Member	# Posted: 7 Apr 2020 12:05pm Reply  Hello Mkobzey and welcome aboard. I built a remote 16’x24’ cabin with 3 sided logs. For us, my beautiful wife n me the allure of being remote was a draw. And having to freight supplies strategically was just another part of the build. Build what you’re dreams are. Conquering problems is part of the fun. And many will be unique to your situation so there is no one size fits all. I used used power line utility poles that I sourced from a local company that does this work. These are cedar poles that have been treated to withstand the elements and have a fairly large diameter to use as a footprint. And I could cut them to 8’ and get them out on a freight sled in the winter. We have to fly in in the summer and then two miles to the cabin across muskeg so as I wrote earlier planning is essential. But I really enjoy that part. Why I’m here, to learn. Set up batten boards to hold a straight line and drilled the holes with a two man hand held auger to 4’ that the machine would dig. Got it down through overburden and couple feet into rock drainage base. Compact bottom a bit with a spruce pole. Wrap a couple times with tar paper because I had some although I question the need. Some say it allows the frost to slip around the pile or avoid direct soil moisture contact. I have seen no effects of any damage. Backfilled with redimix concrete that we melted snow with. My thoughts that it would compact around the poles and surrounding earth better and keep water from the poles. You may notice the almost 4’ overhang that keeps the drip line away from the base. I have always planned on going back and putting a cement cap per say around and up the base of the pole where it goes into the ground but haven’t got there yet. But I’ve kept a good eye on things and can see no damage to the poles. I used 5 poles set in 3 rows so effectively 6’ on center 8’ apart. I built ours 3’ off the ground for several reasons. Wanted the widows high enough so the bears couldn’t reach them mostly but keeps the snow off the cabin. We get lots of snow. 5-6’ of snow on the building’s. And we don’t have to dig down to get to the door. And to handle the weight of the logs. Was easy to cut level across the top. Snap a straight line exactly where it squared up the cabin so I could cut a should into it . To except a 4”x 12” x 14’ beams that I got from the sawmill who cut my cabin logs. Then fastened to the pilings with 1/2” galvanized bolts. Ending up with 3 rows of 4” wide 28’ long. There is a 4’ deck on front and it also allows the roof in front to have a 2’ overhang to keep the snow off the decks. As they stick out far enough to hold the roof. This cabin has really been a blessing to me . There were plenty of challenges. Took 5 years just to get everything there to get started. You can read more on my thread. Overcoming the challenges is rewarding. I’ll be glad to offer any positive advice I can for you. As will others who make this place a great site. Btw thank you to whoever does this. The many dreams that danced through my mind as was freighting fifty thousand pounds of cabin across the beautiful Alaskan wilderness was rewarding in many ways. But sitting back and watching the flames dancing in woodstove . Dreaming about going out and hunting moose antler drops with my grandkids or calling in a huge bull moose so I can be there to help my kids harvest there first moose or bear or wolf. Or trap a lynx. Only drives me harder. You’re going to enjoy this ride man ! Pilings Current photo My sons first moose 58-1’2” Dream dream dream
Mkobzey Member	# Posted: 7 Apr 2020 12:34pm Reply  very nice! thanks for the info
sparky30_06 Member	# Posted: 8 Apr 2020 07:45am Reply  Quoting: Aklogcabin Dreaming about going out and hunting moose antler drops with my grandkids or calling in a huge bull moose so I can be there to help my kids harvest there first moose or bear or wolf. AKlogcabin that the stuff dreams are made of!!! My personal dream is to harvest a big bull moose, but the price tag keeps going up and up so not sure if I'll ever get to fulfill that dream. I can still remember the first time I visited Alaska in '92, I was 16. Caribou hunting down towards the end of the peninsula, we flew into Cold Bay then off to base camp. Those memories still flood my mind. Such a beautiful state and your cabin is amazing. Enjoy it with your kids and grand kids. Those memories are ones you can't buy and most people will never understand!!!
Aklogcabin Member	# Posted: 8 Apr 2020 10:07am Reply  Thanks Mkobzey. And yes those mosquitoes are vicious. My point was kinda meant to be inspirational towards the thoughts that first there’s nothing in this world that you cannot do . My dad instilled this in me. And as Sparky so eloquently pointed out. Too many wants at times. I kinda feel that if you wait until you have the time and money you , or me mostly, probably won’t do it. I know I don’t have a lot of either. I also don’t see many use the utility poles. I believe that they worked very well. This little cabin only lost a couple cans off the shelf’s after the last large earthquake of 7.2 . Hope you’re all doing ok.

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