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Emma
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2025 02:44am
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Hi,
I’m new to the forum and would love to hear what is the cheapest cabin you have built, especially if you did the labor all yourself?
I’m planning to build a small cabin hopefully soon. The cabin will be for me and my dogs to live in and I have the land to build it on. I have some construction experience and am planning on doing as much of the labor myself as I can. I’ll have to learn some more skills too.
The big issue is cost. I am thinking of building something about 16 x 20 with a loft. I could go smaller if the 16 x 20 is too expensive. The plan I was looking at says the building materials would cost around $6000. This doesn’t include the foundation or interior. Does that sound roughly realistic? I know eventually I will need a material list and get a more accurate estimate, but it’s tricky committing to a plan when I am very unsure of the cost.
If I could build something for $15,000. or less, that would be ideal. I will use restore materials whenever possible.
Thanks!
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2025 06:08am
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Quoting: Emma The plan I was looking at says the building materials would cost around $6000. This doesn’t include the foundation or interior.
So that's just the framing, siding and roof?
We are at roughly $26k. I did everything my self with the help of friends and family. This price includes the foundation, R21 walls, R42 ceiling, R21 floor, all interior finishes, the windows and doors along with the solar system and mini split
I bought most of the materials from auction houses and Facebook marketplace. I think I spent less than $5k at big box stores.
One thing I can say is buy your windows and doors before your plan is even complete. Windows get expensive when you have to buy a specific size. Those large windows are 3'x6' there new low e argon filled and I paid $125 each.
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paulz
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2025 08:45am
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Good points Bret. My windows and doors came from recycle yards, size not critical, frame to suit. Local wood supplier always had lots of framing lumber on sale. My property is heavily wooded, I bought a mill and made my own siding, decking, railing… roofing shingles Craig’s leftovers.
This was well over a decade ago so prices not relevant anymore, prices crazy now!
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2025 08:54am
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This is weird.....I swear Ive read this lead post before somewhere?
That said:
Ime take your best estimate, around UP to next thousand and triple it.Thats just the structure if you dont have to hire Anything done.
If you must comply with zoning, building codes, etc to have an 'occupancy permit' and have to have a septic, well and grid power to even start, even if you own the land already you may find you are broke before putting a stick up.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2025 10:47am
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Quoting: gcrank1 f you must comply with zoning, building codes, etc to have an 'occupancy permit
Mine has a CO and all the proper inspections for NYS. No septic or well.
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Emma
Member
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2025 12:16pm - Edited by: Emma
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Thanks for the info. How big is your cabin? $26,000 is definitely more than I’m hoping to spend, but that’s better than some costs I’ve seen
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Emma
Member
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2025 12:19pm
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Building permits are what I’m looking into now. I plan on doing solar and catchment water, and septic tanks would be required. I tried to post on here about a year or so ago but I don’t think my post went through
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jsahara24
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2025 01:03pm
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Depending what your soils are like could cause you some financial hardship on the septic installation. Do most folks around you have sand mounds or in ground septics?
If you need to do a sand mound then 25k would be a reasonable assumption, they normally come with a pump which would require power and will play into your solar system sizing. If an in ground system you may be able to get away with something under 10k, or less if you are able to do it yourself.
The money adds up fast, do you have a driveway? Do you need to do any site work? Lots of things at play and i'd hate for you to start something you aren't able to finish. Having said that if you are resourceful and buy restored items it can be done for a reasonable price.
Good luck with your project...
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2025 01:37pm
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Oh, yeah....the driveway thing
I never envisioned having to spend over $2k for a driveway to be able to have Real access, not just for us but for big truck stuff, like delivering lumber, etc. Bring in a board at a time would be troublesome.
Btw, ours needed to widened, fill put in, they crushed 3-4" base topped by crusher run limestone gravel.
A good friend and I were able to do the widening and fill too. Good thing I got a deal on a tractor.
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Emma
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2025 02:55pm
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I think most people here do in ground septic tanks. They are a new requirement in my state, so I don’t know much about them. The soil is a silty clay, and it is pretty deep here with few rocks.
Depending where I build on the property I should not need a driveway. I’m planning on doing the site work myself. It’s currently a cattle pasture.
Yes, I don’t want to start a project I can’t finish, or have unrealistic ideas of what it’s going to cost. I’m willing to get a small loan if needed, but I don’t want to go to high.
The other option is expanding and improving an existing cabin/shed on the property. That might be cheaper, but there are some downsides too.
I keep thinking maybe I just have to wait and save more money, but I’ve been thinking that for awhile and I’m going to get old if I continue down that path
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2025 03:08pm
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You may be surprised how quickly a steady used '2 track' becomes a poor 'driveway', and they keep getting worse as time goes by.
But ya gotta start somewhere and if a 2 track works to get going, so be it, that the way ours began.
You may want to look into variances for the septic thing; some jurisdictions (Ive heard) are becoming more lenient to options like composting toilets. Ours is a diy outhouse version and works great. It would also be great as an indoor 'closet' unit if one had the floor space for such.
Also, since we have No indoor plumbing we had no septic permit required.
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Emma
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2025 04:01pm
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Oh I should have clarified, there is a driveway that we improved a few years ago so as long as I build near that I won’t need one.
Good point about the composting toilet - that might be a good option and I can put in a septic tank further down the road. It’s drought prone here so the less water I need the better anyway
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DRP
Member
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2025 05:14pm
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Does the old building have a well, or good foundation?
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Emma
Member
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# Posted: 16 Jul 2025 03:00am
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It has an ok foundation. One corner needs repair, but it’s not extensive. It does not have a well. Wells aren’t really feasible in this area, but it does have a catchment tank for water
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 16 Jul 2025 07:50am
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Quoting: Emma willing to get a small loan if needed
Dont do this. Use cash and work on projects when money comes available.
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DRP
Member
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# Posted: 16 Jul 2025 07:57am
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That sounds like a potential savings. Have you weighed the issues with rehabbing it?
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Grizzlyman
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# Posted: 16 Jul 2025 11:07am - Edited by: Grizzlyman
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On the subject of windows… check marketplace. Lots of contractors recycle old windows that are still in decent shape when replacing them. I bought some huge windows for $50 each on marketplace regardless of size. I spent 450 on windows in my cabin and it would have cost me probably 20 grand if they were new for the same ones.
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jsahara24
Member
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# Posted: 16 Jul 2025 11:27am - Edited by: jsahara24
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Quoting: Brettny Dont do this. Use cash and work on projects when money comes available.
I agree with this and it's how I built my cabin, but it sounds like she is planning on this being her primary residence. If that is the case I don't think it would be unreasonable to get a small loan so she can get it done in a reasonable time.
But I'm interested in the existing cabin/shed you referenced? Do you have any pictures of it?
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Emma
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# Posted: 16 Jul 2025 11:58am
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Yes normally I am very reluctant to get a loan (never have), but at this point I am also reluctant to keep waiting and waiting. However, I was only thinking of getting a loan that I could pay off in the next couple years - so I suppose the other option is to build slowly and simply use the money I would have used to pay off the loan to buy building supplies as I can afford them..
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Emma
Member
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# Posted: 16 Jul 2025 11:58am
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Thanks for the tip. I’ll definitely try this
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Emma
Member
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# Posted: 16 Jul 2025 12:08pm - Edited by: Emma
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The existing cabin is attached to our rain shed/tractor shed storage area on one side. That’s one downside - no peace and quiet here!
The “ugly” tar paper siding can be removed. It’s built primarily from Eucalyptus lumber milled on my family’s farm (we don’t have the sawmill anymore) so the wood is extremely hard.
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travellerw
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# Posted: 16 Jul 2025 04:15pm
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We built a 16X28 cabin with a 2/3rd loft. We built most of it at the height of COVID. Our costs for just the completed cabin were around $65K cdn. The cabin was built following all local building codes. Those costs would include EVERYTHING in the cabin(wood stove, refrigerator, mini split, building materials, insulation, ect ect). Many of the items were bought second hand or for a deep discount. This price does not include outside siding (as its not finished yet). However, I am in Canada and things cost more here. It probably would have been 40-43K in the US!
However, we really didn't skimp on much. There are areas where we could have saved a significant amount of money if we had done things different. As an example, the interior is completely finished out like a house (drywall, mud, tape, paint, plank vinyl floor, tiles, ect). We could have choose cheaper finishings and saved at least 3-5K. Another area is the Gambrel roof with full stand up loft. I estimate that drove up costs another 5K.
Here are some things that add up quickly and can really reduce costs if you get them second hand.
1. Windows (as already mentioned)
2. Exterior door (shocking what these cost)
3. Cabinets (kitchen and bathroom)
4. Shower stall ($600-1000 if bought new)
5. Insulation
6. Roofing material
I would start looking for these items ASAP. Kijiji, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and second hand stores are gold mines. Around here Habitat for Humanity runs second hand building stores (branded as ReStore) that are amazing. My wife was part of a bunch of "Freecycle" groups on Facebook and scored us and entire kitchen worth of cabinets in good shape. That alone saved us thousands.
Personally, I don't think you will be able to build a decent livable cabin for $15K (at least of that size). However, you can absolutely build the shell with siding and insulation for that. You could start there and then continue adding slowly over time. Buying used or discounted as you find them!
P.S. Here is a picture of our cabin (the solar system is not included in that price)
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 16 Jul 2025 07:00pm
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Maybe look at the 'garage kits' for the square footage and lumber list. It is easy to stud out the garage door(s) as a regular wall.
They dont have a floor, they typically go on a poured cement slab with a footing around the edges. Cement is Expensive! you can price out a typical floor joisted deck to put the 'kit' on. Any lumber yard 'builders desk' can help you price that all out.
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DRP
Member
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# Posted: 16 Jul 2025 07:28pm
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If you're going to live in it. either way there needs to be a foundation under it, whether it is a monolithic poured slab (slab and foundation all in one pour), or a crawlspace or basement foundation with a wood floor system above that.
Personal aside, I'd just as soon pour a thin "rat slab" in a crawlspace foundation to vapor seal from the ground... and pythons, etc. And if you do a basement a slab is part of the wall reinforcement. Where I'm going in that is, don't count out a slab foundation but if you do one put it up on a "pitcher's mound" as far as site selection, drainage away in all directions. The existing outbuilding looks like it has drainage issues from here.
We ate the elephant a bite at a time. I think we built 45 or 50 houses before ours was done...ish. Eucalyptus, where are you?
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Brettny
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# Posted: 17 Jul 2025 07:49am
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Quoting: travellerw I would start looking for these items ASAP
This is a good point. I had quite a bit of material at my house before I even bought property, like the metal roofing and wall studs. Becids those items I sourced material for almost 3yrs before I put a shovel in the ground and well prior to making a building plan.
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Emma
Member
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# Posted: 17 Jul 2025 03:03pm
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Quoting: DRP Eucalyptus, where are you?
Hawaii. So the good news is that insulation and snow considerations are not an issue, and the bad news is everything is more expensive here.
Quoting: travellerw would start looking for these items ASAP. Kijiji, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and second hand stores are gold mines. Around here Habitat for Humanity runs second hand building stores (branded as ReStore) that are amazing. My wife was part of a bunch of "Freecycle" groups on Facebook and scored us and entire kitchen worth of cabinets in good shape. That alone saved us thousands.
We also have restores here. I will start looking.
It sounds to me like I should figure out roughly how many windows I want, and what size, find them - and then design a cabin to fit them. I was looking at a house plan on Etsy and one of the reviews complained that the custom size windows added a lot of cost.
I am fine with the idea of building a shell first, and then slowly finishing it as I can afford it.
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply and share their experience and thoughts. It’s given me a lot of good info and things to get started on
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Emma
Member
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# Posted: 17 Jul 2025 05:31pm - Edited by: Emma
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This is the house plan I was looking at on Etsy. If I don’t get this exact one, I’d probably design something like this. I really want a loft and porch
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DRP
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# Posted: 17 Jul 2025 07:18pm
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In the 3rd pic, loft, notice the roof line beyond the pillow... there is no room for one's head on that pillow before striking the roof. That loft it just about unusable as drawn. At a 12/12 pitch I can walk upright right under the ridge on a 16' wide building. Then floor the entire upstairs and access with a pull down ladder. Explore attic trusses that spring from the overhang, that would effectively make the roof 18-20' wide potentially with more useable room upstairs.
Likewise, that foundation is insane. This was not drawn by a competent individual but it does have good points. Take the good, fix the bad.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 18 Jul 2025 07:43am
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You can buy 16x20 sheds. Have you priced out both buying and building?
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travellerw
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# Posted: 18 Jul 2025 11:54am
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Quoting: Brettny You can buy 16x20 sheds. Have you priced out both buying and building?
We just tried to buy a shed recently and I was SUPER disappointed. They were so poorly constructed I would never buy one. 2x3 construction, fiberboard for sheathing, 1/2" OSB flooring, everything stapled. Just under built everywhere.
I couldn't find anything better unless I hired someone to build a traditional shed for me. At that point, I just built it myself.
Maybe its different in other locations, but that is what I found here.
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