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philpom
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2025 07:39pm - Edited by: philpom
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We started building many years ago but we did capture some photos along the way, I'll try to go back in time here a bit and update with new projects as they come along.
For disclosure, after looking back at some of the pictures, my timeline from my introduction post are a little off - time moves a little faster than I recall.
In 2007 we broke ground, had a road put in and terraced of a chunk of land from the hill. We built a 92' block retaining wall and backfilled that to create a nice level area for a future garden.
We trenched and boxed in a foundation for the wall, added rebar and filled with cement. We left long rebar runners out of the footer and stacked the blocks over those. Before we capped it we back-filled many of the voids with more cement. That was 18 years ago, the wall did develop 1 crack in it but it is stable, hasn't moved in many years. Once done we planted rye grass in the area to help with erosion, a nice grassy piece of yard at this point.
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philpom
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2025 08:34pm
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At the same time we put the wall in and had the dirt work complete we built the very first structure, the all important outhouse.
Before I go much further, I want to say, I am not a tradesman, never worked on a crew, I'm not a wood worker, and I only have basic tools. I don't build from plans, I make everything up in my head but I did take classes back in the day for framing both wood and metal and welding. I have been a handy guy that has completed many hundreds of DIY projects, I'm not afraid of anything weather an engine rebuild, breaker panel replacement, or a structure build. With that said, I may not always use conventional methods or materials. If anything I probably overbuild and I'm ok with that.
For me the outhouse had to be a double seater, at times back in the day we had large crowds out to the property and would run big tent cities for a week or more at a time. I dug the hole 6' deep, 4' long and 3' wide. The 4'x8' building had a stall on each end. The entire super structure is made from treated wood. The 4x4 posts were set directly in to the soil. The floor was a single sheet of true 3/4" marine ply, the heaviest piece of plywood I have ever handled! Can't have anyone falling through down the road was the thought.
I recall it was very hot on the days we built it, many of us took turns sitting on the bench determining the ultimate height for the bench. The cold air coming out of that hole felt amazing. We finished it with screen doors, a glass moon window and some good paint. That building still stands strong today with plenty of "capacity" left in it but it's for the guys only these days. I did replace the top of the bench and the seat a few weeks ago actually.
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philpom
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2025 08:37pm - Edited by: philpom
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More build photos of the outhouse. Skirting was trenched and built in to the dirt, back filled with soil and packed. The entire area was covered with gravel for a nice clean finish in the end.
Ended up so much better than a luggable loo. After 18 years even I am shocked how well it has held up. Once it reaches capacity we will likely convert it to a composting model. I have since framed in a bathroom inside but as stated in an earlier post, that's for the ladies.
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philpom
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2025 10:19pm - Edited by: philpom
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Fast forward 4 years, we had continued to tent camp on the land during this time but we had a horrible winter storm blow through the year before forcing us to abandon ship. Never again, the cabin build began. We built the foundation from 100% treated lumber to make sure there was never any rot. Using a gas powered auger we set 25 cement piers in the side of the hill. We put up a 24'x28' deck that would be home to a 24'x16' gambrel 2 story barn. Every joint had liquid nails plus deck screws. That was the foundation for the cabin. We ordered it from the local Lowes, their crew stood it up.
Both lower and upper cross framing were 2x10 treated lumber and the sub-flooring 5/16th treated ply. We insulated the cavity underneath.
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philpom
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2025 10:48pm - Edited by: philpom
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We took out the back half of the roof and extended it over the rest of the deck. This provided us a 12'x24' covered patio. We also added a deck on the front and worked it around the existing hickory trees. Those are as bad as a hail storm at certain times of the year.
We made heavy use of old railroad ties to shore up walk ways and frame out the gravel foundation for a 2 car carport. The carport was used for years as a material staging area, very useful. Now its great for parking and I have a few smokers under there. They get a new home soon.
It's starting to look much closer to the way it does today. I'll dive in to interior details in future posts. It has been a very long journey and it ain't over.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 6 Dec 2025 09:23am
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When I saw the block work right off I thought this wasn't gonna be just a little weekend cabin.....
 
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