I wanted a place to sleep and keep tools and such while working on my Michigan hunting property. Eventually we will have a small cabin and this project gives me storage and some basic indoor sleeping comfort year round. No power or water yet but it is super insulated and can almost be heated with a couple candles. It is 12 by 16 to stay under the 200 square foot threshhold for permits but it is built better than many "cabins" you see in the area.
The idea was to pre build as much as possible at home in the garage where the tools, power and supplies were and then safely transport and final assemble on site. It took some planning and was finished on the property with the a genset, air comp and hand tools.
2x6 framed treated deck built 12 inch on center and insulated. Decked with 3/4 inch decking then the 12 by 16 deck was carefully reinforced and cut into two pieces for transport. Without question, the toughest part of the entire project was the loadout of the decks, walls and material for a single trip using a flat open trailer and my old pickup! It took some real planning and securing of the load.
Walls were built traditional house framing style with 2x6's and framed small slider windows for later installation. The two gable ends were a bit of a challenge but careful framing and cutting allowed for transport. The rear wall was built in two pieces and stacked on top for install. The front was also designed to be transported in the bed of my old pickup along with lots of other stuff! Between the truck and my open trailer tugged behind the motorhome, we were a full load!
Once on site and the deck site prepared, structural decking blocks used for deck projects were set and care taken to ensure level. The blocks have the recessed cross formed in them as they are mfg. so it was important to allow the deck to match the layout so each frame met the insert properly.
Once those 12 blocks were set it was straightforward. Secure the two deck bases together and build the walls normally. The rafters were precut at home along with the ridge. I used a 8/12 pitch too help shed snow and give the inside open ceiling a bigger room feel.
The roof decking had been precut at home and numbered for easy install at the site. Saved a lot of time and waste at the site. Shingled with a continuous ridge vent and full vents under the eaves in the soffits.
Pre primed cedar was later transported up and my wife finished stained the entire thing in a weekend after we hung the windows and door.
I prebuilt a 12 x 6 treated deck out of 2x6 for a small porch again at home and transported it later. It is also on several structural blocks and two 4x4 posts secured in the sandy soil.
I am finishing the inside of the small work are with plywood and two bunks are being built. I will post some pictures of that next for to see.
I was able to use my old Allis Chalmers D-14 (1960) tractor and old Case 580 CK Backhoe to do all of the site prep and heavy stuff.
View attachment 286413
The idea was to pre build as much as possible at home in the garage where the tools, power and supplies were and then safely transport and final assemble on site. It took some planning and was finished on the property with the a genset, air comp and hand tools.
2x6 framed treated deck built 12 inch on center and insulated. Decked with 3/4 inch decking then the 12 by 16 deck was carefully reinforced and cut into two pieces for transport. Without question, the toughest part of the entire project was the loadout of the decks, walls and material for a single trip using a flat open trailer and my old pickup! It took some real planning and securing of the load.
Walls were built traditional house framing style with 2x6's and framed small slider windows for later installation. The two gable ends were a bit of a challenge but careful framing and cutting allowed for transport. The rear wall was built in two pieces and stacked on top for install. The front was also designed to be transported in the bed of my old pickup along with lots of other stuff! Between the truck and my open trailer tugged behind the motorhome, we were a full load!
Once on site and the deck site prepared, structural decking blocks used for deck projects were set and care taken to ensure level. The blocks have the recessed cross formed in them as they are mfg. so it was important to allow the deck to match the layout so each frame met the insert properly.
Once those 12 blocks were set it was straightforward. Secure the two deck bases together and build the walls normally. The rafters were precut at home along with the ridge. I used a 8/12 pitch too help shed snow and give the inside open ceiling a bigger room feel.
The roof decking had been precut at home and numbered for easy install at the site. Saved a lot of time and waste at the site. Shingled with a continuous ridge vent and full vents under the eaves in the soffits.
Pre primed cedar was later transported up and my wife finished stained the entire thing in a weekend after we hung the windows and door.
I prebuilt a 12 x 6 treated deck out of 2x6 for a small porch again at home and transported it later. It is also on several structural blocks and two 4x4 posts secured in the sandy soil.
I am finishing the inside of the small work are with plywood and two bunks are being built. I will post some pictures of that next for to see.
I was able to use my old Allis Chalmers D-14 (1960) tractor and old Case 580 CK Backhoe to do all of the site prep and heavy stuff.
View attachment 286413
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