Any suggestions for building plans for a small cabin?

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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Looking to build a small cabin on my parents property. Loft (just for storage really), sleeping area, small kitchen area, small living area, bathroom, front porch, maybe a basement. A little bit bigger than a two car garage. Debt has reared her ugly head, but she's mine, so I can't leave her out in the cold, she has to be taken care of. Unfortunately, its at the detriment of my savings, so no house down payment now, it's all going to debt. This cabin is a good alternative right now.

Does anyone have any websites or books I should check out, hell, for something to look at, ponder if this is what I want to do? Any suggestions? Basically will pay off materials and utilities while I live there, better than 5 bills for a crappy apartment in a bad part of B-more. I will just be a grunt, my father knows a hell of a lot more about masonry and carpentry than I do, which isn't saying much, but nevertheless, he is talented. I will have a pro do the electric and water.
 
I've surfed the .edu for lots of building plans, plus those cute catalogs at the lumberyard/Lowe's/HomeDepot/magazine rack.

No way you can't find something - choosing one will be the problem!
 
Look for a book called "Building Small or "Small Houses" that should give you some ideas. Houses don't have to be big and expensive.

Also there a book called simply "shelter" written in the 1970's that covers all sorts of shelters from around the world.

I can tell you this as my parents built a house in the woods, unless you like mice and other critters, I'd build either a 4 foot slab perimiter wall above grade, or build it on poles, pylons or similar.
 
I have helped a friend build two cabins in the mountains and we just just used multiple pier blocks for the foundation and then regular framing for the rest of it. We put metal roofing on it and made the peak a sharper angle becuase of the three plus feet of snow that falls each winter.

I worked in construction for about three years and also learned alot from my dad about framing, insulating, rofing and hanging siding and rock.

Do you have any construction skills? Or do you have any friends that do? If I lived close to you I would be right over. I built my shop and all of my outbuildings, I love that stuff!
 
you can buy a log cabin kit for a good price-
my stepfather sells them and ive done work in a few-
no insulation,studs, drywall paint ect ect on the outside walls-

do just the basics inside and the cost is real sweet per sqaure foot-you can upgrade down the road-

just tiled a nice one done as a hunting cabin,500 sqft 1 bd with a loft and front porch- no basement though-owners did zero work themselves -

keep in mind that a basement aint cheap either- but if you get one have a extra coarse added so when you finish it the cielings are at a standard height
 
rosconey2 said:
you can buy a log cabin kit for a good price-
my stepfather sells them and ive done work in a few-
no insulation,studs, drywall paint ect ect on the outside walls-

do just the basics inside and the cost is real sweet per sqaure foot-you can upgrade down the road-

just tiled a nice one done as a hunting cabin,500 sqft 1 bd with a loft and front porch- no basement though-owners did zero work themselves -

keep in mind that a basement aint cheap either- but if you get one have a extra coarse added so when you finish it the cielings are at a standard height
Click to expand...

Rethinking the location of the cabin, I think I'll pass on the basement. Just a slab.
 
As much as I hate Home Depot, I have to say that they might have what yer lookin' for. Check out their sheds and you'll see one that is two-story for just under 8 grand. A few mods and it could be what your looking for.

Jim L.
 
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