Thinking About Building a Cabin...

[John Gusmano]

My wife and I are looking into purchasing a home possibly before next Christmas. We will stay local, but we will maintain and expand our home gardening and raising of chickens and possibly meat rabbits. While we were talking about it, I brought up that once we move that I would like to start looking for some land to purchase, land for my cabin.

Fellas, my dream is to have a little place to escape to in the woods, tucked back, and away from all of this modernization (quite frankly the BS). I want a cabin that is built like the true old style trappers , heated by wood and having an outhouse. Call me crazy, but I want it to feel as if I have stepped “back in time”, so to speak.

This brings me to my next thought. I have no idea where to begin learning about HOW to build a cabin. Can any of you, gear me in the right direction? Possibly a good book, or maybe a web-site? Any information to start to get my gears turning would be most appreciated. The goal is something rough and rustic….

This is still in its dream phase, however, I am prepared to put in the time and put in the effort to achieve this dream.

[rendezvous]

I don't know if you had ever watched,  Alone in the Wilderness. I have watched it several times on PBS, the guy is incredible! I'm pretty sure you would like it...

Here is a preview of the show and DVD availability. Keep checking PBS, they show it time to time.

www.wimp.com/alonewilderness/

[wheelervillejerry]

John, I went through a similar process recently. Due to my situation, I went with a kit and am very happy with the results. This approach allowed me to get started and get a structure up with a tight budget and just a few weekends of construction for the core structure. Been working a lot over the last year to enhance it but mission accomplished.

[John Gusmano]

Oct 16, 2014 21:19:14 GMT -5 wheelervillejerry said:

John, I went through a similar process recently. Due to my situation, I went with a kit and am very happy with the results. This approach allowed me to get started and get a structure up with a tight budget and just a few weekends of construction for the core structure. Been working a lot over the last year to enhance it but mission accomplished.

Is that your cabin in your profile pic??? If so, VERY nicely done!

Where did you purchase your kit from?

[wheelervillejerry]

Hi John,

That is my cabin in the photo. It took a while to get started, but once I got the ball rolling its been a Godsend. There is nothing more therapeutic than a day or two up at the cabin, when I get back to 'civilization' it seems like I've been away for a week or more. Its bow season now and I'll be up next weekend.... trouble is I'm not sure if i'm more excited about hunting deer or working on a couple projects around the cabin, not bad choices in my book! 

Here is a link to the folks that we bought the kit from; jamaicacottageshop.com/ - a hint for these folks (or others like them) is to look for 'clearance sales' during the holiday weekends. This past Columbus day they had some serious discounts going, 40 - 60% off list. I'd give Jamaica Cottage Shop high marks, they are great people to work with and given the face that I basically stole the kit from them during a clearance sale, they have provided great support. The materials and plans for the cabin ran me about $7,500. They do ship around the country so worth a look. 

[John Gusmano]

Oct 17, 2014 8:33:14 GMT -5 wheelervillejerry said:

Hi John,

That is my cabin in the photo. It took a while to get started, but once I got the ball rolling its been a Godsend. There is nothing more therapeutic than a day or two up at the cabin, when I get back to 'civilization' it seems like I've been away for a week or more. Its bow season now and I'll be up next weekend.... trouble is I'm not sure if i'm more excited about hunting deer or working on a couple projects around the cabin, not bad choices in my book! 

Here is a link to the folks that we bought the kit from; jamaicacottageshop.com/ - a hint for these folks (or others like them) is to look for 'clearance sales' during the holiday weekends. This past Columbus day they had some serious discounts going, 40 - 60% off list. I'd give Jamaica Cottage Shop high marks, they are great people to work with and given the face that I basically stole the kit from them during a clearance sale, they have provided great support. The materials and plans for the cabin ran me about $7,500. They do ship around the country so worth a look. 

Thank you very much for the advice, I really appreciate that!

[wheelervillejerry]

BTW John, I'm not a carpenter at all but was able to teach myself enough to get 'er done. On the main build weekend, I did benefit from having a crew of friends there to help, one of whom is a carpenter... although I would say it's not a requirement, having someone there who had some experience was very helpful when it comes to making sure, for example, everything is squared up properly and the like. The key is committing and getting started, I'm sure you could figure out the rest.

[SkFarm25]

Johnny im a journeyman carpenter. I charge 3 beers an hour. Just gimme a call when your ready and I'll come down and get it framed up in a weekend

Seriously though. Sweet idea and that's not a bad price at all! This is on my list of things to do as well. But still a few year away at least. I can afford it money wise. Just not time wise.

[ctwatertrapper]

I would shy away from purchasing a kit. If you're going through the effort of building it yourself its not too much more effort to cut the wood to length. This will save you alot of money. Definately get a plan. I like jamaica cottage shop plans too. They include a material list you can just hand over to you local saw mill.
Good luck!

[wheelervillejerry]

Oct 23, 2014 5:14:25 GMT -5 ctwatertrapper said:

I would shy away from purchasing a kit. If you're going through the effort of building it yourself its not too much more effort to cut the wood to length. This will save you alot of money. Definately get a plan. I like jamaica cottage shop plans too. They include a material list you can just hand over to you local saw mill.
Good luck!

Agreed ctwatertrapper, in my case it was more an imputus to get off the schneid and get started. With limited time (at least that is I thought at the time) it helped to have the lumber delivered as it was one less thing for me to worry about and one step closer to a build date. I was getting impatient as I had owned the property for over 25 years before building last year. It seems that I have gotten much more creative carving out time for the cabin and your approach would have worked fine and saved me a bit of coin along the way. I'm already contemplating some expansion and will be probably be doing it as you suggest above.

[austin351]

Here is a pretty cool forum regarding small cabins. Maybe just not trapper style log cabins but it also has a bunch of ideas regarding water, power, sewer, etc.

www.small-cabin.com/forum/

Good luck!