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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Floor joist direction
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tgillitzer
Member
# Posted: 6 Oct 2020 09:53
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I'm building a 12x36 cabin with a gambrel style roof. For the floor, I am basically building 3 separate 12x12 floors out of 2x6's and bolting them together.

The joists will sit on 8x8x12 "skids" (I got them cheaper than 4x4's), which will sit on cement blocks on the ground.

Normally the "skids" run length wise down the cabin (36" lenth). My question is, can I run the joists length wise and run the 8x8's width wise? I'm thinking the skids will be easier to level that way (but maybe I'm wrong?). Length wise, my pad is about 6" out of level, which I plan to make up mostly with the concrete blocks.

My concern with doing it this way is the the walls and thus the roof will be sitting on the rim joists (no cantilever) or in between joists (cantilever).

Opinions?

Thanks

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 7 Oct 2020 06:23
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Why so long and skinny? That will be like living in a hallway. Have you used an interior layout program to really figure out how wide you should build?

DaveBell
Moderator
# Posted: 7 Oct 2020 08:18 - Edited by: DaveBell
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I think you might run into a problem with frost heave where the 12x12 sections would be stable but the whole 36' length could bend between the sections. This is a pic from a shed factory. The skids are bolted together and then the joists are glued into the skids making a more rigid foundation. You could make those cuts with a chain saw. Then use construction adhesive and Simpson strong ties. The concrete blocks need to be below frost depth, on gravel. Have you considered pouring concrete piers with sonotubes?
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100225_large.jpg


tgillitzer
Member
# Posted: 7 Oct 2020 12:49
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As Dave eluded to, I'm basically building the equivalent of something typically out of one of the Shed factories. The 12' width is pretty common. It is basically a one room building.

Dave, thanks for the thought on the frost heave. I had considered piers but opted to go on the ground with the skids.

Your point plus my concern about the roof load, I think I'll stick to the skids going length wise. I'll join the skids together at their ends with 2x6's across the seams. I may also set the joists into the skids as your picture shows. I was possibly going to do that anyway to assist with leveling

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 8 Oct 2020 06:14
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I think your going to see issues with basically 3 dif skids and it sitting on the ground. Keeping something streight thats 36' long isnt easy with 3 dif skids much less with no frost protection

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