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Small Cabin Forum / Member's Projects and Photos / My 100 sq. ft. "cabin" in Southwestern Ontario - Lake Huron
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Aklogcabin
Member
# Posted: 12 Feb 2019 09:56am
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Bushbunkie, beachman, others . Since we have to charter a bush plane to get to the cabin carrying water was a real issue. I was born in the fifties guy so I can feel the pain also. We bought a MSR ,I think, water purifier pump . Now we can get water from the pond or creek or anywhere . We collect it in older water bottles, we bought these when we were building our first home 38 years ago, and pump it to new clean water jugs. No more carrying water ! This made a huge difference in our ability to get to the cabin. We keep dehydrated soups mashed potatoes coffee and such at the cabin and only have to take fresh foods . Basically a backpack. Blessed as that is moose , smoked salmon .
Your thread is nice, thanks for the visit. Ak .

beachman
Member
# Posted: 12 Feb 2019 01:24pm
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Loud 'n clear on the water thing except we can get to our vehicle by boat. We are lucky enough to have an old dug well on the property that we can tap into for most things and have drank the water on occasion. No one has died or gotten sick ---YET. We mostly carry in water to drink by boat (and any other supplies, food, etc...) and it is a lug.

If we could drive in we would bring a ton of stuff. Have to be selective. I am a product of the late 40's so the pain is becoming an issue. Watched a Ray Romano thing on Netflix the other nite and he described how he woke up with a sprained ankle - welcome to my world!

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 12 Feb 2019 06:44pm
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Too funny, Aklogcabin and Beachman...I thought I was the old guy! ....I'm a 1960 guy, so headin toward 59...and I think we're on the same page...do things smarter...I've had my days of bravado, I just want to stay healthy and enjoy the cabin with my honey. Did I mention I have never had a left hand?....so I gotta do everything I can to keep the arthritis out of my right arm / hand. Years of weight lifting and chainsawing have started taken it's toll...but I'm still farther ahead then many . The Ray Romano clip is hilarious and boy do I get it...the other day I turned funny to get into my truck and tweaked my lower back...I just thought..."you gotta be kidding!"

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 10 Jun 2019 08:58pm - Edited by: bushbunkie
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hal·le·lu·jah!! My cabin passed the municipal Insulation and plumbing inspections last week and now I can start putting up walls!! I installed a deep well pump and now have running water including two outdoor taps. Installed the indoor toilet last week, much to the pleasure of my wife who no longer has to venture outside in the middle of the night! Had to upgrade the generator - still have my beloved whisper quiet Yamaha 3000 inverter genie for most things - but needed more power for the deep well pump. Found a Firmen 10000 genie online with electric and remote start and very happy with it so far...a higher end yammie or Honda was just too much $$ for what I needed. Our latest project was a old Farmer's porcelain kitchen sink which my wife found on KIJIJI. It was so beat up that the lady actually gave it to us for free. This is how it looks one week later after the overhaul and she is pretty pumped to add it to the kitchen. She also found a clawfoot in great shape...and if you begin to notice a theme...seems like everything she finds is free but weighs 200 lbs and needs to go into my truck!!! The height from the ground to the back of my truck seems to get higher every year!!
new tank
new tank
indoor plumbing finally...
indoor plumbing finally...
the sink
the sink
new genie with remote starter
new genie with remote starter


Aklogcabin
Member
# Posted: 11 Jun 2019 10:29am
Reply 


Hello all. Bushbunkie the tub and sink look great . Nice to see you moving forward.
Does anyone know how to refinish these or do most like the worn look? I wasn’t able to get any freight to our cabin this last winter. So now I have to disassemble a 3 wheeler to get it to our cabin in time for moose season so I can get it into a bush plane. Hopefully.
Have a great day all. Remember, take one make one!

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 13 Jun 2019 05:52pm
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Hey AK! Hope all is well! We were going to refinish it if it was brutal...two ways I believe you can go...pick up a do it yourself enamelling kit for @ $80.00 or send to professional and they sandblast it and they re-enamel it....big bucks!
Hope it helps.
Hey...why you needing a three wheeler...thought you had an ol King quad up there already?

silverwaterlady
Member
# Posted: 13 Jun 2019 09:05pm - Edited by: silverwaterlady
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We just left ours as is.
It's a rustic cabin. I like the worn look.
Our sink is from the 1920's.
The tub. I'm not sure. It is a odd size claw foot very long and a little narrow.
Very nice for soaking almost up to the neck. I can lie down fully and I'm 5'8".
I'm lucky it's shaped that way because the two people that looked at the tub before me couldn't buy it because it wouldn't fix in their bathrooms due to the length.
I've read some bad reviews on the DIY enamel kits. They start peeling. That would look a lot worse than just leaving it as is.

babybruce
Member
# Posted: 1 Jan 2020 11:12pm
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Hi BushBunkie!

First, thanks so much for all of this great information. I originally found your post via another thread about the 1000 sq foot minimum in the Bruce, and reading all this has been really helpful.

My husband and I recently bought a 1.5 acre lot over near Lion's Head, just up the road from our family cottage, which my grandparents bought in 1950 and where I've spent the past 38 summers. Being a family cottage that we share with 6 cousins + all their kids, my husband and I are looking to carve out our own little spot. The family cottage is very much a cottage - built on a "foundation" of piled rocks, no insulation, about 700 square feet. We were hoping to build something about the same size on our own property and were surprised to find that while we must first adhere to the NEC rules about environmental impact (which we are a-ok with as we really just wanted a small cabin), the municipality told us our design was too small. Seems a little contradictory to on one hand tell us we need to make minimal environmental impact, and on the other hand say we need to build bigger, but what can we do?!

We are playing by the rules, and planning to build a 1000 square foot cottage. We're working with an geotechnical engineer now to do a full site survey (required by the NEC) and we already have septic and a well on the property. The cottage itself will be built on bare bedrock.

Long story short, I have a couple questions that I'd love your advice on. First, our hope is to build a garage first this summer, and then wait a year to start the cottage (to make things more interesting and money more tight, we're expecting our first child in March, so that might slow things significantly). Our understanding is that we can do this, so long as we have the permits for the cottage in place. Do you agree?

Second, we would LOVE to have the name of the builder you used for the cabin foundation and shell. We are DIYers, and plan to do something like you have with getting it watertight and then doing the rest on our own over the next several years. We'll work with Liverance to get materials, and our plan is to use one of their "Beaver Homes" designs, but we'd love a recommendation for a reliable builder that would be ok with just doing the foundation and shell and leaving the rest to us.

Any other advice you have, would be much appreciated! On another note, I grew up in Point Edward Small world -- love the Refined Fool sign!

Thanks!

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 2 Jan 2020 09:36pm
Reply 


Hi babybruce! I am up at the cabin in front of the wood stove as I write this. We’re getting a garage built and just brought up the window that my wife got off Kijiji...another great find... for our builder to put in...same guy who built our place. Name is Brian Shearer... great guy...honest and does great work at reasonable price... great local reputation and he is here in Lionshead. Happy to fill you in when I get home and help and share some of our learnings along the way. We are Sarnia, where are you guys?

babybruce
Member
# Posted: 4 Jan 2020 11:06pm
Reply 


Thanks so much! That's super helpful, I will look him up. We are in the process of submitting our final docs to the NEC now, so fingers crossed, we'll be able to start this summer. Our plan is to build the garage first, and then maybe wait a year or so to start the cottage.

We have been in Toronto for a few years now and we are so looking forward to having a little place in the Bruce to escape to. My whole family is still in Lambton County and our goal is to move back that way sometime in the next few years.

Aklogcabin
Member
# Posted: 5 Jan 2020 12:41pm
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Happy New Year Bushbunkie ! I just went back n reread your thread. Really inspires me. Deep down. You set your goals n went n got em . Always moving forward. And introducing your kids to the dream you and your wife created . And now them introducing others and teaching them about the wonders of outdoors. You’re living the dream man !
And yes I do have a 2000 king quad at the cabin. Traded some guns for it that I got through other kinda barter things. But stuff happens. My cabin quad, we have a 93 n a 92 k q also. Have over 8500 miles of rough riding on the 93. My beautiful wife found the 92 this summer on Internet. Ad said it ran . I got it for 500 bucks. With a plow. Rebuilt the carb with a 18 buck kit. Nice ride now. I call it momsquad.
As I started earlier I wanted a backup ride at the cabin because stuff happens. Well it happened. As my daughter n me were on our way to get the 3 wheeler . That my beautiful wife put on a really groovy camo paint job on. I’ll write about it on my thread. Good story.
Anyhow just going through n having coffee this morning, wishing I was at the cabin, n saw your thread.
May the Good Lord watch over you and yours.

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 6 Jan 2020 08:05pm
Reply 


Hey AK...great hearing from you and thanks for the kind words...as you well know it has to be a labour of love for both of you to make it work! I showed my wife a pic of your place and she said “very cool”...we can picture the bears stopping by for a visit now and then! I just popped over to your thread...when you going to tell us your latest story??😀

Mattmcd
Member
# Posted: 17 Feb 2020 11:41pm
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Hey Bushbunkie - was directed to your thread. I really enjoyed reading through your story/progress over the years. I find myself in a similar position, requiring a 1000 sq foot build. Would I be able to pick your brain about a few things? My email is matt.mcdowell253@gmail.com

Thanks

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 22 Feb 2020 12:49pm
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Sure Matt...will email you.

Mack
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2020 10:41pm
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Hi bushbunkie... I'm on a bush acreage w/Huron shore - in the vicinity of Lion's head. I'm an ex Yelllowknifer...small world! Not really ex...I go back every summer to help friends out with their greenhouse/landscaping business. Have been here for several years enjoying 10X10 bunkie w/ fire pit & composting toilet life. Now, I'm ready to build a log house...the logs are arriving in late September. I'm looking for recommendations for contracting locally for foundation work, construction of the log house - just looking at getting the shell up and I'll do the rest over time... and the dreaded septic system - which I don't know anything about.. Would appreciate recommendations! Many thanks! My email is mackenzie.kilts@gmail.com

meloj
Member
# Posted: 2 Jun 2020 11:53am
Reply 


Hey Bushbunkie,
It looks like you build your shell based on the Beaver Homes Fulmore plan? I had a few questions if you don't mind about working with them on a version of one of their plans.... melochejohn1@gmail.com

In North Frontenac and so far my dealings with the local Home Hardware has been excellent and they supply everyone in the area. Wondering how realistic their pricing is on their site considering no basement, built on tiers and some modifications for a cottage vs full time residence. A family member built his shell at about 1/3 of their listed price though he did a custom plan not with them.

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 9 Jun 2020 07:20pm
Reply 


Hi meloh, our cabin wasn’t a kit, we designed it with input from our contractor. Glad we did too because he gave us cost saving advice and we still got what we wanted. It was pretty reasonable and all to code with 2x6 exterior walls, etc. on the 4ft foundation.

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 9 Jun 2020 07:22pm - Edited by: bushbunkie
Reply 


My wife made sure there were lots of windows for light. A bedroom off to each side then open concept that looks right through to kitchen and living room fireplace with a sliding glass door at the back. You walk in and see the forest across the room through the sliding door. Makes the room feel larger.

NewToTheBruce
Member
# Posted: 5 Sep 2020 09:54am - Edited by: NewToTheBruce
Reply 


Hi there. We have some questions about your journey, can you send me an email so I can pick your brain? My email is reneecator@gmail.com. Thanks!

NewToTheBruce
Member
# Posted: 5 Sep 2020 09:56am
Reply 


Hi there. We have some questions about your journey, can you send me an email so I can pick your brain? My email is reneecator@gmail.com. Thanks!

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 7 Sep 2020 08:01pm
Reply 


Hi New To Bruce...will drop you a line.
BB

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 7 Sep 2020 08:09pm - Edited by: bushbunkie
Reply 


This has been a busy year getting projects done but it's all about the journey, right? Dreams are suppose to be hard to accomplish...that's why they call 'em dreams.
Thank the lord my wife and I can still laugh at and with each other through out the years. Don't know if we;ll ever get to the final vision, but we'll have fun tryin'!
new outdoor shower
new outdoor shower
pond and rock garden
pond and rock garden


bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 7 Sep 2020 08:13pm - Edited by: bushbunkie
Reply 


...few more
new garage
new garage


bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 7 Sep 2020 08:30pm
Reply 


Sorry folks...other photos not loading tonight. Will try later.

babybruce
Member
# Posted: 13 Feb 2021 11:53am
Reply 


Hi Bush Bunkie!
We connected about a year ago on this forum (I'm from Point Edward) about a cottage I'm building over in Barrow Bay. You gave me the name of Brian Shearer as a contractor to reach out to, and we are finally getting ready to build this summer. I tried to find contact info for Brian on the internet, but haven't had any luck. Any chance you can drop me an email with his contact info? Thanks so much! lesmcbeth@ gmail.com.
Cheers,
Les

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 13 Feb 2021 09:02pm
Reply 


I read the whole account today, what a splendid journey; well done!

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 1 Mar 2021 07:50pm
Reply 


Thanks for the kind words, gcrank1! It has been a time!

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 1 Mar 2021 08:03pm - Edited by: bushbunkie
Reply 


Went up last week to a winter wonderland! Sweet!
Discovered a fox has taken up winter residence under my shower shed...maybe some kits around this spring?
Stay safe and healthy, all!
Woodstove going...
Woodstove going...
Wood supply looking good...
Wood supply looking good...
Foxy...
Foxy...
cosy looking out...
cosy looking out...


bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 1 Mar 2021 08:06pm
Reply 


...sorry, can't rotate 3rd photo of fox hole for some reason
.

scotto
Member
# Posted: 22 Jun 2021 10:21pm
Reply 


bushbunkie
Hey bushbunkie, not sure you're still around here... but I just bought some land off Stokes Bay and wanted to ask some questions about temporary cabins, etc.

Thanks! My email is contactscottorr @ gmail
_-Scott

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