8x8 micro cabin on concrete piers?

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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / 8x8 micro cabin on concrete piers?


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Leighd Member	# Posted: 19 Feb 2026 12:49pm - Edited by: Leighd Reply Hello cabin community!! New here and have a few questions about building an 8x8 off grid cabin in the woods. Some background on the location - it’s quite a hike to get into, so getting any heavy equipment to the site is almost impossible. The ground is full of shale - as is the entire mountainside we live ln. I’ve measured the slope and over 10 feet (the area I have marked off for the cabin) there’s a 13-inch slope. The cabin will not have a loft, a simple sloped roof (tin) but may have some heavy furniture in it. It’s only going to be used here there - a weekend retreat kind of thing. My question is - being it’s such a remote location, but it is on a bit of a slope, should I be digging out the high side to make it as level as possible? It would be hard but dooable…and then would I be okay to use concrete Deck blocks with PT 4x4 posts to level the base? I tried those helical piles from homedepot but only made it about 6” before I hit rock and they became unusable. So my plan is to dig down to native ground, a good base of gravel, tamp that down good, and then place 9 blocks under my 8x8 foot print. If I can get it level I might not need the 4x4 posts to bring up the low side…but I’m not sure I have the muscles to level it perfectly. My biggest worry is the entire cabin sliding… Looking forward to your replies! Thank you Leigh

gcrank1 Member	# Posted: 19 Feb 2026 02:08pm Reply Dont dig down the high side to level it, that will only make a pit for melt/rain water to get under the cabin. If you want/need to build up the low side do it with local fill from nearby. Imo a small shed size structure like that doesn't need posts or foundation, nor will it be very heavy even with furniture unless you make it all from heavy iron LOL. Put down good sized blocks (like the biggest size you can haul in so each has a good sized footprint) followed by an asphalt shingle at any wood contact and use pressure treated lumber for the beams and joists.