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charr
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2013 22:39 - Edited by: charr
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Hi all,
I'm in the beginning stages of planning a small cabin in the woods behind my family's house. I've cleared out a little area in between some pine trees and I plan on starting construction as soon as next weekend. The cabin will be used for sleeping, meditation, reading, writing, drinking tea, and enjoying nature.
I have zero experience with this sort of thing, but I'm fortunate enough to have an 85 year old grandfather who could probably build the entire thing by himself in a couple weekends if I let him. As soon as I called him over to come take a look at the build site, he was already drawing up plans and putting together a list of materials! Needless to say, I won't be doing this on my own.
Still, I'd like to do as much research as I can and I'm posting here to see if anyone has any general advice.
Here are some of my considerations:
Dimensions -- 10x12 (max size without a permit)
Foundation -- cinder blocks, raised off the ground slightly. I want to keep it simple.
Floor -- 3/4 plywood, maybe finished, or put some laminate down.
Walls -- plywood, uninsulated. Why? Because it's a 10x12 and I plan on installing a small wood stove. I'm open to suggestion here though.
Heating -- I plan on sleeping here overnight during the winter. I'm thinking a small wood stove. Possibly something like a Jotul 602. Expensive but worth it?
Doors and windows -- I'm not sure, whatever I can find cheap. I think some family members might have extra windows lying around.
Roof -- 4 or 5 grade shingled A-frame. Not sure if this is the right terminology, maybe what I mean is just a regular gabled roof. Also I considered extending the roof to create a small overhang for a front porch.
Furnishings -- very simple, just a twin-size floor mattress for sleeping, a small desk/nightstand with chair, a meditation cushion, and the wood stove.
I'm sure I've neglected plenty of things here -- as I said, I have absolutely no experience with building sheds/cabins so please feel free to give me critical advice or suggestions. I plan on spending $1000-$1500 (not including the stove) and I plan on finishing everything before the snow arrives!
Here is a really simple floor plan here which I threw together on some website:
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Just
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2013 22:52
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I think your budget may be low, unless its all used materials . last one I built that size cost me 2500$
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2013 23:42
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With so small a place, a wood stove will take up 1/4 the floor area. I'd suggest a very small direct vent propane wall heater, which will take up less space than even an unvented propane heater, and will keep you warm throughout the whole New England night. A small woodstove will run out of fuel by 3 am. If you insulate, you'll use far less fuel.
Sounds like a lot of fun. Keep us posted.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2013 23:51
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I would insulate and use a direct vent propane wall heater. I am a big proponent of good, even great insulation. I realize it seems nuts as you likely have available firewood out the wazoo, but it is a fact that small cabins and wood stove heat are a poor mix. They take up lots of space of installed correctly, put out too much heat for a small place, and at the same time won't carry a fire overnight. Note I said direct vent, non an unvented, not ventfree, etc. Direct vent.
IF you had a power grid connection I would suggest great insulation and electric heat.
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Truecabin
Member
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# Posted: 13 Oct 2013 13:33
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some people want a cabin just for the woodstove that i can understand
for a cabin on the family back40 an electric heater just to get the edge off and a woodstove to keep the teacup warm is what i would do
and insulate well
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charr
Member
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# Posted: 13 Oct 2013 20:50
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Thanks for the advice!
Electric heating is not an option. I've looked at the propane but I'm really leaning toward the wood stove for a number of reasons. The stove I'm considering is really small. With heat shields maybe a footprint of 20 feet, which is not bad at all:
http://jotul.com/uk/products/wood-stoves/Jotul-F-602
I usually wake up once in the middle of the night so I could always throw a log on then if it's getting too cold for me at 3 in the morning.
But maybe insulation is a good idea too.
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toofewweekends
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# Posted: 13 Oct 2013 21:59
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x2 on the insulation. It will make the cabin more comfortable year-round. Extending the roof over stairs/porch is a good idea to keep out of the rain and snow when you open the door. Also, it's a little uncommon, but think about having your door swing out -- you gain that much more useable floor space inside for the cost of a little more porch. Also, check with window shops. They sometimes have good windows that were not quite the right size for someone's house project. Often interesting shapes, too.
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bldginsp
Member
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# Posted: 13 Oct 2013 22:02
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Nice looking woodstove, but its big enough to roast you out of your 10 x 12 even with no insulation. Another poster has a cabin larger than yours and he got rid of his woodstove in favor of a direct vent propane wall heater, because the stove was too hot. Check out this woodstove, it's tiny
http://www.marinestove.com/sardineinfo.htm
Also there are tiny tent wood stoves that are not EPA compliant but are very small.
Hate to see you spend a lot of money on a Cadillac woodstove for your small cabin only to find out its the wrong thing. But what do I know, I don't even have a cabin yet.
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dsaw
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# Posted: 13 Oct 2013 22:25
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A few thoughts:
- Foundation: Basic question, how are you keeping this from sinking into the ground? Cinder blocks raised off the ground? How? Are you pouring cement below them below the frost line?
- Heat: That stove is rated for a normal output of 20k btu. I put in a Morso stove last winter rated for 30k btu in a 14x20 cabin; and I had to open windows to keep it at a reasonable temp. in the winter. Granted, I have R-30 floor and ceiling + R13 walls; but be prepared to be overheated.
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charr
Member
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2013 09:48
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I'm considering extending the roof over the porch. And I was also planning on having the door swing out 
Nice tip about the window shops -- I'll look into that.
I've seen the marine stoves, and they look nice. Unfortunately, it can take 4 months or up to a year to get one made -- they are built custom to order.
Another stove I was considering is the Hobbit, which is 14k btu:
http://www.salamanderstoves.com/docs/64/the_hobbit_stove/
Yes it takes a tiny amount of wood and I would have to tend the fire often, but other than that I don't see any downsides.
I would really like to go with wood stove heating if at all possible.
As for the foundation, I was going to dig deep enough to stack 4-6 cinder blocks, I could pour cement, I'm not sure if it's necessary.
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bldginsp
Member
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2013 14:56
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I like that little hobbit. Saw nothing on their site about availability in the US, nor about EPA certification
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