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Grizzlyman
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2021 04:35pm - Edited by: Grizzlyman
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Hi all. Long message here. Will be frequenting this site for ideas- wish I would have found it sooner! Just thought I’d share my story thus far.
I bought some land last year in way north MN on a water access only property. It’s Canadian Shield rock and am in the process of building a 22x28 cabin. Cabin will mostly be summer but I hope to get limited winter use as well.I started last fall and got the foundation built. Biggest challenge has been hauling materials. My land is fairly steep and I’ve had to carry all material myself across the lake in a 16ft lund and then up a 50 ft incline and a 150 yard trail to the build Site. It’s taken a lot of work to get as far as I have thus far- and I calculated I’ve made over 300 trips up the trail just to get the base done. Soon I’ll be making a few more weekend trips this winter and pulling all the rest of my materials across the ice. I have a 30 ft bluff and I hope to be able to winch everything up the bluff in a day or so. This will save a ton of work as I’ve spent more time hauling than actually building!
It’s Canadian Shield rock so it very uneven ground and i have 20†cement pads for foundation right on the rock with a 16†poured block on top of that. Rebar was drilled into the rock to provide some additional connection. Foundation is post and beam with joists on the beam.
Here are a few pics thus far as well as my ultimate plan. Looking forward to great insight from this forum.
Ready for winter
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Plans
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2021 05:16pm
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Welcome!
Wow, that is going to be nice.
After having built one 'in the woods' years back and now having one close to the woods on the west may I suggest you trim back any trees (big and small) now. They only get harder to deal with, in the way, and eventually may fall on the cabin too (btdt).
With such an ambitious undertaking Id be interested in hearing a bit more about yourself and what has brought you to this point.
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rockies
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2021 06:20pm
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What is the height clearance in your loft? Will you have running water/bathroom? How are you heating it?
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lburners
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2021 06:46pm
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Looks good,
I have some hauling on my project as well but not by boat! You must handle stuff a dozen times from store to install.
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Grizzlyman
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2021 07:20pm
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Quoting: rockies What is the height clearance in your loft? Will you have running water/bathroom? How are you heating it?
Loft is 5’7†at the peak. No water. Outhouse. Wood stove to heat. May put a water system of some sort in down the road but no plans yet
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Grizzlyman
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2021 07:26pm
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Quoting: lburners Looks good, I have some hauling on my project as well but not by boat! You must handle stuff a dozen times from store to install.
Yeah the boat is an extra step- but I was planning on that..and really more than anything it’s been the trail/elevation. There were days where al I did is haul stuff- too rugged for any sort of atv- and an atv would have to get there on a boat anyways.Hauling things REALlY killed my time on the project. Figure 10 minutes round trip- so 50 bags of cement is 500 minutes!! Good thing we have ice in MN! I figure if I can get my materials across ( and god willing up the bluff) the I’ll be in a great spot to actually build instead of just haul!!
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Irrigation Guy
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2021 07:38pm
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God bless you, this is a lot of work! How far from home to your launch point? And how far from launch to your site?
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Grizzlyman
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2021 07:46pm
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Quoting: gcrank1 rhaving built one 'in the woods' years back and now having one close to the woods on the west may I suggest you trim back any trees (big and small) now. They only get harder to deal with, in the way, and eventually may fall on the cabin too (btdt). With such an ambitious undertaking Id be interested in hearing a bit more about yourself and what has brought you to this point.
I’ll Definitely take the advice. I cleared all trees about 10-20ft away (minus that little maple in the picture..)+ anything large in the vicinity. but I do have lots to do yet. I cleared a lot of really large trees anywhere within 100 ft of the cabin just in case... broke my heart to do so but that’s the deal I guess better than it falling on me!! As far as the project I’ve always wanted to do something like this - built a lot of things I. The past and are a big outdoors family and have been saving/ waiting for the right property at the right place- which this definitely is. When done it’ll be a remote lake cabin that we’ll be able to enjoy for the rest of our lives!... and being in the woods I don’t have to mow the lawn at my cabin 
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Grizzlyman
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2021 07:51pm
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Quoting: Irrigation Guy God bless you, this is a lot of work! How far from home to your launch point? And how far from launch to your site?
It’s exactly 3 hours from front door to the boat launch. We’re in minneapolis so 3 hrs isn’t bad at all considering most people will do 2 hrs easy to cabins and most of those cabins/lakes within 1 1/2- 2 hrs are more or less completely developed. Launch to land is 1 mile.
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willywilly2020
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2021 09:57pm
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Nice work! Seriously what an effort! Can't imagine the effort to haul that much concrete.
Since you solicited advice (some of these probably already know)....
(1) Did you treat the beams under your platform? If not, I highly recommend treating w/bleach and water in the spring, and treating the wood with some sort of protectant. Frankly, the underside of anything I recommend straight up painting, but if you want that wood aesthetic, I recommend a couple coats of a sturdy stain. I'm sure other folks here can recommend better than I.
(2) My whole family has built little cabins, and I'm the last in the family so I got to benefit from their advice. Couple of things they learned the hard way: (a) design you interior with furnishings in mind, including couches/ladders/stove/etc. (b) build in multiples of standard lumber (i.e., 8 or 12 ft studs, 4x8 plywood sheets, etc., ) to increase efficiency and decrease cost. (c) build a ladder/stairs you feel great about getting old with
(3) Cut some trees down now, and cut log rounds to rest/season. Takes a lot of time to season wood, and a hearty supply of well dried wood for splitting is something you'll appreciate in the future but perhaps is not top of mind when you're lugging wood to the build site.
Can't wait to see how things progress!! Good luck hauling your supplies out this winter!
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ICC
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2021 11:31pm
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Nice wooded country.
It sounds like you did tie the footings into the underlaying rock okay.
The third image shows a beam partially assembled with a splice in the center layer that does not occur directly over a support. All splices in builtup beams need to be fully supported. The next splice appears to be close to the support pier, maybe it is actually more or less centered over the post. It is readily apparent that the 2x with the adhesive applied to the side also does not have a support under the splice that will be made there.
The construction adhesive may have been a waste time, effort and money. Construction adhesive is great at reducing squeaks caused by subflooring moving on joists, but the IRC does not mention use of adhesive when constructing a builtup beam. It may not do any harm, but it cannot be said to be contributing any strength.
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Grizzlyman
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# Posted: 24 Jan 2021 12:13am - Edited by: Grizzlyman
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“. It is readily apparent that the 2x with the adhesive applied to the side also does not have a support under the splice that will be made there. “
You’re 100% right. The other joints are all fully supported except for the one you pointed out here. I just couldn’t get the math to work out and had to have one lay in the middle. I added the 45 degree supports for this reason and lagged them in. but also- frankly- am just going to see how it goes and if need be I’ll add support there. It’s very rock solid right now, but it also does t have thousands of pounds on it either. There is only 8 ft between the posts- so I calculated the actual weight on that joint to be very minimal. but I am not an expert.
Thank you icc.
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beachman
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# Posted: 26 Jan 2021 11:54am
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Grizzlyman. Didn't think anyone would be in the same "boat" as us. This sounds so much like our place in New Brunswick, Canada. We have about the same drive, built in 2011 with no grid/water, and about the same size. Had to lug everything in by boat and buy a generator to run tools to build the place. So pleased with results so far, propane appliances, wood stove, sleeping loft, solar, etc. Sounds like a great project. Good luck!
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Ol Slim
Member
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# Posted: 26 Jan 2021 12:21pm
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Looking good ! Keep us posted !
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Grizzlyman
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# Posted: 26 Jan 2021 12:57pm
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beachman
Sounds exactly like what we’re doing! Do you happen to have any pics?
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Nate R
Member
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# Posted: 26 Jan 2021 03:32pm
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Quoting: Grizzlyman Do you happen to have any pics?
Looks like beachman had a thread on the build here: https://www.small-cabin.com/forum/6_1426_0.html
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Grizzlyman
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# Posted: 22 Feb 2021 09:18am
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Thought I’d provide an update! I finished getting all my materials on site! Long post here. But may be useful if you’re trying to accomplish something similar.
This past weekend was go time for me getting materials. We had to push back several times due to the extreme temps the last few weeks (it got -40 in N minn). This weekend we had teens and twenties so it was great weather- maybe even a bit warm for all the work we did. Did most of it in just a sweater.
I ordered all the materials- framing, steel roof, siding, insulation, septic tank... all of it for the cabin, outhouse, and utility shed. Menards delivered all the material to my landing and we pulled all the material across the ice to my land. Here how we did it:
We hired out a 4wheeler with tracks on it and it was able to pull a full sized trailer with a pallet or two on it through the snow across the ice no problem- it was incredible the pulling power of tracks!! We put special trailer skis on the trailers wheels and it was no problem. That was a half day only!
We dropped the material below my 30’ bluff. I put an extension ladder against the bluff to be able to get up and down easily. Tied the top of the ladder to a tree to keep it from slipping and used the other end of the rope on the bluff to arm rappel down easily. This made it easy to get up and down.
Then we hooked a 120v ac electric hoist from harbor freight around a big red pine and ran the cable to the edge of the bluff. A generator powered the hoist. I used a hoist instead of a winch due to the speed. The hoist has a lower pulling power but is much faster. The hoist can handle 660 lbs vertical- we pretty much filled up the sled every trip and didn’t have any issues with power. Each pull was less than a minute. The Cable was only 36’ so we extended it with a chain down the bluff. That was hooked to a big sled I built with a big heel on the back. We then loaded material on the sled and hoisted it up the bluff. The heel helped immensely as we didn’t even need to strap down any of the large material Like plywood- only needed 1 strap across bundles of dimensional lumber. The chain length was fashioned so that it kept the cable from ever contacting the rock face to keep it intact.
I’d load the sled and the hoist operator would start pulling it up. I’d run up the ladder and help guide it up. Then wed unload and sent it back down and I’d arm rappel down to load again. I don’t know how many load but it was probably around 100.
We worked all day both days and We finished the whole thing on day 2 right at dark. It was incredible!
Surprisingly this whole process was smooth as butter! With no real issues!
A few pics to help visualize.
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mj1angier
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# Posted: 22 Feb 2021 09:52am
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LOL when I read the first part of your post about the trips from lake to build site, I thought "I wonder if he could wench it up the trail" Looks like great minds think alike!
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Nate R
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# Posted: 22 Feb 2021 10:20am
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Nice work getting the materials there! Hope you have everything you need as far as big stuff.
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Aklogcabin
Member
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# Posted: 22 Feb 2021 11:07am - Edited by: Aklogcabin
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Looking good man . Our cabin is also remote. 1-1/2 hour drive with everything you can load on to a trailer and in the back of my truck. Then 8 miles of cross country Alaska on a snogo in the winter. In non frozen times its a 1-1/2 hour drive north then a 1/2 hour bush plane ride then a 2 mile hike to the cabin.
Took a few winters to freight everything in. And still hauling more.
Our cabin is 16'x24' , 10' walls so we can have bedrooms upstairs. 4' deck on front .
Hauling many loads of freight gave me lots of time to dream about how great it would be to hang out with our family n friends at the cabin. It's better than I imagined !
Good luck, stay in touch.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 22 Feb 2021 11:11am
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Wow, Ya'all make me feel like a slacker.....
Kudo's and High Fives to all you (obviously) high-performance folks who make dreams come true!
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Grizzlyman
Member
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# Posted: 22 Feb 2021 02:51pm - Edited by: Grizzlyman
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A few additional pics from our setup this weekend.
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Grizzlyman
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# Posted: 22 Feb 2021 02:52pm
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Quoting: Aklogcabin Hauling many loads of freight gave me lots of time to dream about how great it would be to hang out with our family n friends at the cabin. It's better than I imagined
This looks sweet! What’s that outbuilding?
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Aklogcabin
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# Posted: 23 Feb 2021 11:00am
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I assume you mean the start of the woodshed. I have a 8x12 generator shed in the back of the cabin. It's insulated so I'm installing an air conditioner to make it a walk in cooler . Mostly for moose. I hauled a couple loads last year that had some lumber to build a 8x12 wheeler shed. I now have 3 rigs there that the bears like to explore.
Having a cabin this remote can be difficult. But seems that its just that much more enjoyable. But not extreme for AK standards.
I have spent 3 months there at a hitch. If we weren't building a new home this year. We may have moved out there.
My beautiful wife regularly mentions how she would like that. Never know just might happen.
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Ol Slim
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# Posted: 23 Feb 2021 12:25pm
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Very nice ! Thats putting in some work !
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Grizzlyman
Member
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# Posted: 24 Feb 2021 09:57am - Edited by: Grizzlyman
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Also- my initial Plan:
I had materials delivered for 3 buildings: the cabin, a 10x8 shed, and an outhouse.
My plan is to build the shed 1st. Since this is off-grid I am tenting while building. My plan is to build the shed and basically move in to the shed. Then I can keep my sleeping bag, small mattress roll, some food, etc... at the site instead of having to set up every time. In addition it should make crawling out in the morning much easier after a day of hard work . I should be able to get the shed done in 1 or 2 days at the most. Then I’ll build the outhouse 2nd as I have to have that done and inspected before building cabin. Will start construction in mid-May likely after ice-out. I unfortunately lose April for building even though the snow will be gone and weather may be decent due to sketchy ice conditions on the lake . Ice-out is usually mid may.
Attached are shed plans as well as outhouse. Outhouse looks odd since in MN we are required to use a vaulted outhouse (septic tank) where I’m building. The tank needs to be a certain type- and since I’m building on rock I need to build the outhouse AROUND the tank. I haven’t had a chance to really looks at the actual outhouse site yet- so I may be able to dig it in to the ground a little but it won’t be all the way- that’s for sure. The tank is a 4’ sphere.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 24 Feb 2021 10:35am
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Would that be a holding tank?
Got a link for info & pricing?
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Grizzlyman
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# Posted: 24 Feb 2021 10:46am
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Quoting: gcrank1 Would that be a holding tank? Got a link for info & pricing?
I’m not sure I get your meaning 100%: But it is a tank designed specifically for septic. In MN zoning will only let us use specifically designed septic tanks- they even have a list from which to choose. They kind of have you bent over when it comes to this. They don’t even care about inspecting your structure- just the septic.
I’m not sure what makes this tank septic specific but like I mentioned you have to play ball with their demands.
If you’re interested in a similar tank though-the brand is norwesco. This is a 200 gallon and was $375. They also make a 300 spherical but the diameter is 5 ft I believe. I’m sure you could just google and find this.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 24 Feb 2021 11:13am
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Thanx for the info; I dont remember seeing a ball tank before.
Around here a septic tank is the first part of the septic system wherein the solids settle and break down from anaerobic action and the liquids are baffled to flow off into a drain field and perc down. It requires that the soil can actually 'perc' this a perc test has to be done first to determine if the proposed location will work.
A holding tank is just that, a tanks that holds everything, does have some break down but needs to be periodically pumped out.
If that ball doesnt have an outlet to a drain field my guess is its a holding tank. If so how are you going to pump it and dispose?
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Grizzlyman
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# Posted: 24 Feb 2021 11:20am
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You’re right then. Just Getting hung up on terminology. It’s a holding tank. No other options where building. Soil too shallow- only way to do it.
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