Building Other Structures
Outdoor Open House Concept
So you have built a small wilderness cabin where you have a bed, small table, some shelving and perhaps a stove.For some folks this small space is exactly what they want – no maintenance and worries, no costs - enjoy your quiet reading, fishing, nightly campfire and other getaway experiences.
Others (like me) would like to add some more living space, to better enjoy your getaway time. Especially if you like to bring your family or friends to spend some time together at the cabin – it's nice to have more living space.
At the same time I'm committed to my decision of having no building permit requirement and low property taxes.
The solution is to build other small functional structures around your cabin.
These may include:
- Outhouse / outdoor toilet
- Outdoor summer kitchen
- Storage shed
- Veranda / Gazebo / resting area
- Dining ‘room' (area for the table under mosquito net)
- Shower
- Firewood storage shed
- Cellar / cold storage
Outdoor Summer Kitchen / Veranda / Gazebo
This is still my work in progress.For the outdoor summer kitchen I have chosen a fairly simple structure – corrugated plastic/fiberglass roofing on cedar posts, surrounded by half-walls (not ready yet). Later I will make some tabletop space inside along the half-walls, a small sink, place for the BBQ, etc.
Posts
On one side of the structure I had a fairly good soil so I was able to dig a post holes ~5 ft deep.On the other side I had some sort of large rock shield – I could dig only about 1-2 ft. Where support post could not go deep enough I've made a "tripod" -type post, to ensure that they stay firmly:
- Dig holes as deep as they go – holes for the main post and at least 2 smaller mini-posts
- Attach mini-posts to the main post at to create a trianle.
- Pour concrete mixture into the holes to create a footing for the main post and mini-posts.
- Let concrete settle, cover with soil.
Tip:
Nail few nails half-way at the bottom each post where concrete will be poured. This will provide stronger holding bond with the concrete footing.
Roof: Wooden Frame + Corrugated Sheets
I used two 2x6" beams nailed well together to serve as main support beams on front and back sides of the structure. A special StrongTie mounting bracket was used to mount them to the top of each posts.
A set of 2x4" studs with 24" spacing perpendicular to the beams was mounted on top of beams.
Another set of 1x4" planks with 24" spacing perpendicular to the studs completed the roof frame.
I used non-pressure-treated timber for this structure, so before fixing corrugated roof sheets on it painted using oil paint to protect it from decay and for better look.
Tip:
It is difficult to work on top of the wooden roof frame (painting, attaching roofing sheets, etc.). You can use couple wide boards to stand and work on, moving them as needed. (Two of them so you can stand on one board while repositioning another).
Finally I mounted corrugated plastic (or PVC, fiberglass, metal) roofing sheets on top of the frame using roofing screws.The roofing screws have a rubber gasket to prevent water from dripping down trough. Screw them on top of the roof sheet as shown.
Summer Kitchen Future Developments
Later I'm planning to add:
- Half-walls around some perimeter sides
- Tabletops
- Some rough and simple cabinetry, in one area
- Sink
- Place for BBQ
Outhouse / Outdoor Toilet
(I guess, by the rate of importance, you already figured out this is should be your first structure on the property ;))
Find a place that is relatively far from the main structure but have easy access.
Tip:
If more then one suitable place available, select one that is further down the typical wind path in your area, to keep odors away. For example, if Western winds prevail in your area (true for most of North America and Europe) place outhouse further East from your small cabin.
Outhouse Hole
If you just dig the hole in the ground and leave it, it will eventually erode and its walls will collapse. As a result the outhouse structure on top of it may become unstable.So you need to reinforce walls of the outhouse hole. This can be done in many ways, for example building a retaining wall using brick or cinder (concrete) blocks. I've chosen simpler and cheaper approach:
- Get a standard household plastic garbage pail (3-4 ft tall / 32 Gallon)
- Gig a matching size hole in the ground
- Cut out bottom of the pail using heavy duty utility knife
- Place the pail in the hole, fill empty areas outside the pail with soil
Outhouse Structure
Make the outhouse structure in a way that it could be moved in the future to another location when outhouse hole gets eventually filled. I.e. do not permanently mount outhouse structure to the ground (if required, use metal spikes that can be fairly easy removed).- Floor:
- I used 3x4' solid plastic skid found discarded – it is durable and will never rot.
- Alternatively you can make a frame from the pressure treated (PT) 2x4" timber and PT plywood. Then cover it with some sort of plastic or linoleum sheet(s).
- Walls:
Wooden frame structure using 2x4"s. Nail 3/8" plywood around using galvanized 1-1˝" spiral nails - Window:
- Find a glass of suitable size (I found one discarded from some old glass shelving)
- Cut opening in the plywood wall (using jigsaw), slightly smaller than the glass you have
- Use small wooden planks and screws/nails to mount glass to the plywood wall.
- Seal with outdoor sealant
-
Toilet Seat:
The simple and inexpensive solution I used:- Get a 5 G plastic pail (You can probably get it for free from the local do-it-yourself wine making place or recycling yard).
- Cut-out its bottom, leaving about 1" around for easier mounting to the floor
- Cut hole in the outhouse floor using jigsaw (make sure its is not too large)
- Mount pail to the floor using screws
- Seal inside and outside using silicon sealant
- Attach a standard toilet seat on top
- Ventilation:
- Keep some top part of the wall not covered by the plywood so fresh air can get in. Cover it with mosquito net.
- I you can, make a vent so odor from the outhouse hole is sucked outside instead of staying inside. A 3" PVC/APC pipe (connecting outhouse hole with roof outside) can be used.
- Paint:
- You must paint exposed non- pressure treated wood/plywood to prevent exterior surfaces from decay – any oil paint or stain will do the job.
- Interior is less important but I would paint it as well
Future Structures around the Cabin
Later I'm planning to construct:- Storage shed
- Shower
- Firewood storage
- ...