Floor Plan

I finally got my camera working, so here's a picture of my floor plan. The floor should be pretty solid, since everything else is going to be built on top of it. For that same reason, it needs to be built first. If you click on the picture, you should be able to view a larger version of it.



Also, this week I think I located a little wood burning cook stove that I can get for $50. I've only seen pictures of it so far, but I am going to stop by this guy's garage and take a look at it this weekend.

Note: I realize that my lines aren't perfectly straight, but I'm mostly drawing this for myself. The real life cabin will be much straighter, level, and full of right angles. You'll have to take my word on it.

Besides, as far as drawing goes, straight lines rarely have any personality.

Week 3

I have been working on transporting materials up to the location. So far I have a stack of 2x4 studs and about 10 sheets of 1/2 inch plywood that I've stacked up under a tarp. My plan is to get the floor material up there, so that I can start on that soon.

Also this week I've been reading a book titled Radical Simplicity by Dan Price. Soon I'll type up a little book report for it.

Week 2

I have been playing around with different designs all week and I think I've got things pretty well sorted out.
-There is going to be a foundation (blocks) unless I can find a deal on some treated lumber for skids.
-The floor plan is 8x12. This keeps me within the 100 sq ft requirement, and means I won't have to rip any plywood.
-The height is going to be 12ft along one of the 12ft sides, with the opposite wall at 10ft. This will allow plenty of angle to keep the water and snow running off, and allow me to have a decent sized loft.

Also this week I started researching different methods of power. I do have a few solar panels, which I plan on using eventually, but I am also interested in wind.

I've been reading and studying different framing designs tying to learn a little of the vocabulary that goes with building and to make sure that I am drawing my plans correctly.

Pictures will be posted soon.

Pictures

I ordered a new battery for my camera today, so as soon as it gets here I bill be able to start adding photographs.

Shipping Containers.

I saw an advertisement today for Global Portable Buildings Inc. They're a company that builds ready made dwellings out of steel shipping containers.

Although I do like the idea of security that comes with living in a metal house, I would still rather build something on my own.

The floor plans are the best part. It's interesting to me to see how they have chosen to lay out the interior.

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This week I plan to keep my eyes open to the "materials" section of Craigslist to see if any deals pop up. Also, I am working on trying to meet up with a contractor friend of mine to see if he can look over my plans.

Site Preperation.

I had some time to get up there and look at some of the different areas that I have been thinking about building.

Some of the factors I've been considering are:
-natural protection from the weather/elements
-proximity to water
-scenery
-canopy (I obviously can't build under a thick forest canopy if I'm going to be using a wood stove)
-whether or not I will build on skids, or a permanent foundation.
----legally, skids allow for up to 200 sq feet, while a PF would allow 100 sq feet.
----there is no restriction on height, so a 100 sq ft structure could have two stories.

Interview 1

Today I set down with a friend of mine that works as an engineer. We talked for about an hour about some of the logistics of building a small shelter, and he was able to give me some cost estimates depending on how I decide to build the floor and roof, since those could potentially be the most expensive parts.

I've decided on basic slanted roof design, since It would be the easiest to make and require less material then trying to build in some kind of peak.

Objective

The purpose of this blog is to allow the reader to follow my progress as I attempt to develop and complete a plan that will allow me to build a cabin out in the woods and live in it for one year. Special consideration will be payed to construcing a kind of extended self-education in order to create a “personal renaissance period.”