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jsahara24
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# Posted: 21 Apr 2020 10:57am
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Hello all! Considering I am not allowed to leave my property I have been trying to stay busy servicing all my machines, mower, atvs, cars, etc. Problem is I have mostly run out of repairs, a good problem to have I suppose...
Our state has extended the stay at home order until May 8th, and even then it seems like its going to be a very slow restart to normal life. So I've been following this forum for about a year now and have wanted to build something at our property. This felt like the perfect time to contribute a build thread to the forum. I have already constructed a larger (to code) cabin about 4 hours away, however we decided to do something on our property back at home. A place for guests to stay if they visit, the kids to hang out with their friends, campfires with our friends/family, etc. The goal is to keep it simple and safe, but to also not overthink the whole process.
We have 100 acres and have been trying to decide where to locate the cabin/tent. I have plans to incorporate some sort of micro-hydro setup, so we knew we wanted it to be along the stream. After many four wheeler rides around the property scouting the perfect location, we finally settled on a high spot just off the creek that is very unlikely to flood.
Our plan is to use as much free/scrounged material as possible to build it, and now my hoarding issues are finally paying off! We started off by cutting down a couple trees, scraping off the leaves/debris and building a firepit.
There is an abandoned single wide trailer that was used while our sister in law built their house with a 12x16 deck. We are currently trying to get rid of this trailer (if anyone wants a free trailer let me know!) and a perfect first step was getting rid of the deck, so I decided to attempt to move it down to the build site and use it as a platform. I couldn't get the full size deck down our trails without removing a lot of trees, so I cut it in half. Luckily the way it was built made this pretty easy as I didn't have to cut any joists or beams, just disconnect the joists from the beam running along the center.
So we got it disconnected and I used the forks for the bobcat, along with some PVC piping to extend the forks, and a chain and come a long setup to secure it and move it down to the build site. Redneck 101!
I went back and forth on how to handle the foundation, and we decided that we were going to keep this build simple with the goal of having it completed by the end of the quarantine.....So i just buried blocks and set the 4x4 posts on them. I am going to attach it to the ground with a mobile home strapping setup. I do realize we will need to re-level this occasionally.
So after getting it down to the build site, reconnected, set on blocks and leveled. I started to reinforce the structure as it wasn't the best built deck I've ever seen and there was some rot, especially in the deck boards from leaves laying on it for years.
So that is where i'm currently at, next up is replacing the deck boards and framing it. We have acquired some large billboard tarps, and plan to temporarily use them for the roofing and siding while we finish the inside. I have access to a sawmill so we are going to be cutting lumber for rough edge horizontal lapped siding, and i'm currently scrounging up enough metal to put on the roof. But for now we are going with a hybrid tent/cabin that we will eventually close off more formally.
The deck is 12x16, we are going to make the "cabin" 12x12 with a 4x12 covered deck overlooking the stream. We are going to frame and finish the front wall overlooking the deck/stream with a door and 2 windows immediately.
So I know I wrote a lot, but figured id explain my thoughts for this build. Feel free to criticize if you see something you don't like, but realize I know its not going to be perfect.
Here are some pics of our progress, along with a sketch of the plan/structure.
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jsahara24
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# Posted: 21 Apr 2020 11:05am
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pics attached..
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jsahara24
Member
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# Posted: 21 Apr 2020 11:09am
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more pics...
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AK Seabee
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2020 09:40pm
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Sounds like a fun project. Keep us updated on your progress.
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jsahara24
Member
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# Posted: 24 Apr 2020 07:03am
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Thanks!
I worked on the mini-cabin Monday and Wednesday evening after work (I am lucky to be able to work from home). Monday I shimmed the posts to get everything as level as possible, and then put in a lot of nails in the posts and joists to make sure this thing isn't going to fall down.
Wednesday I put 45* braces between the posts and the rim board, it really tightened the structure up. I'm also 3/8" from being perfectly square, corner to corner, i'll take it on this project especially after moving that deck! Then we started installing deck boards, ended up being a few short.
Of course the generator pull cord broke in half during the project, so I had to run up to the house to make my cuts. I was trying to figure out what I could temporarily replace the rope with to get it running. Found some old thick weedwacker line, installed it and we are back in business!
Thursday I made the first purchase for this project. A bunch of deck screws, 60-2x4s, 16-2x6s and a couple PT deck boards. 368$ invested so far.
I also scrounged up some more PT 2x6s, and old 16' LVL beam (ridge beam perhaps?) and a bunch of other lumber to have around....
I have my brother and his GF lined up to help build this Saturday. Hopefully tonight the rain stops so I can move all the lumber down to the build site with a tiny yard trailer behind the ATV. While I love the location (except for the slight flooding concern) it has proven to be difficult to get supplies there.
Today i'm going to pickup some billboard tarps from my stepfather, and then i think i'll have everything we need to get this "dried in". The pictures really haven't changed much at this point, but after the weekend the structure should be built and i'll update the thread.
On a side note, I was using my dewalt air framing nailer and the thing is acting really weird. Has air coming out of it all the time and actually shot a nail without me pulling the trigger. Very scary. I put it away and i'm afraid of it, was looking at picking up one of the battery powered nailers, but it looks like Milwaukee doesn't have theirs ready yet. I'm also sure its going to cost a small fortune. I think i'll put this together with screws, and then borrow a nail gun and toe nail everything after its assembled.
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jsahara24
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# Posted: 29 Apr 2020 07:41am
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Well I made good progress on Saturday, but sunday was a washout....My brother didn't get there until 1030 on saturday and left around 5. I was up at 530 and working by 7, and stopped work to relax around the campfire around 730..
Got the walls up, ridge set and rafters installed....then braced everything up and ran out of time/energy....
Worked on it Monday and Tuesday evenings, adding supports, collar ties, nailing everything, installed stairs and doing some interior layout design...Just making it secure and safe...
Found some used windows local so I need to go check those out. Talked to my neighbor about using his mill to cut siding boards, that will get done this summer at some point.
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jsahara24
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# Posted: 29 Apr 2020 07:42am
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Pics attached....
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