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Trooper61
Member
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# Posted: 25 Jun 2025 02:23pm
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Hello all, I’m new here and have seen some very impressive builds. I’ve been involved with some construction with my dad when he was alive, and he taught me a lot about building. Even though, I’ve learned so much more here since joining this forum than I could have ever imagined. I’m currently my mom’s live-in caregiver. She just informed me that she is going to move into an assisted living facility due to her increasing health issues. Now I am going to be able to build my cabin. I have two versions in mind, and whether or not I decide to send my girlfriend a plane ticket and bring her here or not is going to be the determining factor as to which one I build. She wants it to be a 13’ x 17’ frame built cabin that I designed. The way it’s set up, it would work for two people although barely. I’m seriously considering enlarging it to 15’ x 20’ but I’m concerned about the increased cost to do that. I really would like some feedback from forum members about what I should be looking into because I’ve never been at this point in my life before. Thanks and God bless.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 25 Jun 2025 02:57pm
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Fwiw, just us 2, 'recreational' but we could go long.
We built our 1st as 12x24 with a high peak on the long side so we had a centered 12x12 loft we could stand in.
Next was by a prev owner on a new site, it was 1 story, 16x25 and we really liked that size, still kinda tight but we sure liked the extra width and not negotiating the loft ladder.
Last, since 5-2024 is a log prebuilt at 12x28. Our sq ft is almost what the 16x25 was, just longer/narrower. I would have liked a 16 wide but they couldn't move a prebuilt in that wide. If I had stick built it would have been that.
As is, we 2 really like the space we have. though there isn't much for storage; ya gotta live 'small'.
Yes, the larger size will cost more but you will gain so much more livability and wont regret it, imo and e.
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 25 Jun 2025 04:32pm
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Work with dimensional lumber (off the shelf) sizes ( reduces cutting and waste), use the building code (engineering already done, safety, and insurance), use best building practices ( 16" OC vs 24" OC). Mock up in MS Excel or other drawing software. Post here for review. Get permits. (the building inspector can save your azz) The most important part is the foundation. Look at site drainage. Avoid toe nailing (Simpson Strong Ties) Look at average wind direction for placing wood stove.
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DRP
Member
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# Posted: 25 Jun 2025 08:50pm
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The pics below are from a community project for a neighbor who was burned out. 3 of us had sawmills so we did it with dimensional lumber, we just made the lumber. An engineer donated the okey dokey letter.
Because of the slope a full basement with walkout on the downhill side was a good fit. A level site would have probably been a crawlspace or even a slab. The footprint was 16x28. The basement is a walk around, there are no interior stairs. The roof is a 12/12 with a fully sheathed floor and pull down stairs for access. 16 wide is nice. The attic is wide enough that I could just walk upright down the center. The main floor doesn't feel cramped, the basement was just a bonus, room for a washer and tons of storage. That required 2x12 joists on both levels, and since we were making it we did 2x12 rafters as well. I was providing option of calling the main floor ceiling the insulation plane, or the roof, or both. At the moment the main floor ceiling is the thermal envelope and the attic is "outdoors".
patrick6.18.jpg
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patricksframe2.jpg
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Patrick1st_side.jpg
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MtnDon
Member
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# Posted: 25 Jun 2025 10:37pm - Edited by: MtnDon
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Nice, DRP.
We are 16x30 (actually 15'10" wide at the floor framing) and are very happy we chose that. A basement would have been nice. No loft.
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Grizzlyman
Member
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# Posted: 26 Jun 2025 02:23pm - Edited by: Grizzlyman
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Trooper congrats on you getting started. Like most things in life getting started is the hardest part!
FWIW- there’s a balance between too big and not big enough. Unless you’re talking about a huge cabin I don’t think many people ever wished they would have built smaller. Much better to build bigger than regret not having built bigger later.
15x20 is ~50% more space. If it were me I would do the 15x20. The cost difference is going to be more but you’re adding 50% more floor space.
Hope this helps and good luck! Keep us updated on your build.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 26 Jun 2025 02:56pm - Edited by: Brettny
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We built a 20x32 2 yrs ago. If ibeas to do it again I would make it 20x34 or 36' start with a interior layout and figure out how big things really are in your current house.
We are only 3 people and 2 dogs too.
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MtnDon
Member
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# Posted: 26 Jun 2025 04:24pm
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I used cardboard sheets cut to size as well as sime large cardboard boxes to simulate furniture, counters, stove, etc. We used these to make an interior layout on the driveway. It was easier to relate to sizes than looking at a paper drawing. We started idealizing at 12x20 and it grew.
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Trooper61
Member
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# Posted: 26 Jun 2025 05:23pm
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Thanks so much for the advice, now I have a better understanding of what would be best for my and my fiancés needs. Greatly appreciated guys!
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 27 Jun 2025 12:17am
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If you can, find a woodstove with external air intake. So the fire draws air from the outside instead of around doors and windows pulling cold air into your living space. I think the inside exhaust pipe is single wall and the outside pipe needs to be double wall.
Your in North Carolina? Hope you post pictures of the build.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 27 Jun 2025 09:03am - Edited by: gcrank1
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Regarding wood stoves in small cabins, ime, they take up a LOT of floorspace with the clearances required for safety and some insurance wont cover anymore.
The stove is just the beginning, then there is the expensive Class A required chimney plus a hole in the roof (Do Not do a wall hole with 2 90* elbows).
That leaves elec IF you have grid, LP or diesel heater, both of which require Outside Venting.
We went LP and dont regret it, come into a dead cold cabin, fire it up and within minutes we have 30k Btu's pumping out so the temp rise is Quick, unlike my old wood stove that took some futzing to get going and time to start kicking.
We love the 'extra' space too.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 28 Jun 2025 06:53am
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Trooper61
If your anywhere close to the mason dixon line or south I would do a mini split even if you dont have grid power.
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