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SuzannahK
Member
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# Posted: 27 Jun 2021 21:26
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Hello, all. Long-time lurker, first-time poster. I did search this topic first but have some questions and thought I'd throw it out there.
I just closed on 6 acres in western MD. The plan is to eventually build a 24' x 24' off-grid, one-room cabin, but that's a lot for one person all at once, so I am thinking to build in stages. First project is to build a 24' x 24' platform (camping), then build a 16' x 16' room (essentially), then eventually add on to the edge of the platform and build another deck.
Questions about the 16' x 16' cabin:
1. Is a shed roof with an 8-foot back wall and a 12-foot wall enough of a slope for the type of snow we get in western MD (similar amount as Pittsburgh, but I don't know how/where to find the exact "snow load")?
2. I think the best rafter size is 2 x 12 for extra strength (based on what I have read here). Thoughts?
I built a tiny house with my kid a million years ago, but I seem to have offloaded all of the construction knowldege I acquired doing that, so small words are best. 
And thanks. I will have more questions. I know I had more than this, but the second I started typing this I forgot all of them.
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 27 Jun 2021 23:48
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Quoting: SuzannahK 1. Is a shed roof with an 8-foot back wall and a 12-foot wall enough of a slope for the type of snow we get in western MD (similar amount as Pittsburgh, but I don't know how/where to find the exact "snow load")?
I built the same (8-foot back wall and a 12-foot) in West Va about 30 minutes from you. Remembering Snowmageddon, Snowpocalypse, Snowzilla of 2010, I used the snow load tables in https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IRC2015/chapter-3-building-planning.
Quoting: SuzannahK 2. I think the best rafter size is 2 x 12 for extra strength (based on what I have read here).
Find the span tables in the above link. My span is only 9 feet with 1 foot overhang backside and 2 foot overhang frontside. I used 2x10 grade 2. Can't remember the species.
My Cabin is 12x16 and I will enclose the whole size once floor is poured with concrete. I put the 4x4 posts in allowing 9 foot span just to cover that snow load. (ICC, care to join in?)
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Steve_S
Member
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# Posted: 28 Jun 2021 08:01
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Building your Base Platform at 24x24 is fine and going "modular" in steps is OK too but with very careful planning & consideration to allow interconnecting the "modules" when your ready to do so, to maintain structural integrity.
To simplify things, work in units of 4', and my suggestion would be to look at it as 4 12x12 blocks or 2 12x24 blocks. For cost-effectiveness given the current Lumber Insanity which is nothing more than Organised & Fixed Gouging the 12x24 would be cheaper technically.
Some very handy tools to quickly figure out framing material, mark outs etc.
-> Wall Framing Calculator:
https://www.blocklayer.com/wall-framingeng.aspx
* NOTE can also do the slope walls for the sides by adding the RAKE ANGLE from which if you are doing a 4' rise over 12' is 12:12 or 45 degrees.
-> Rise Run Calculator: https://www.blocklayer.com/riseruneng.aspx
-> Skillion Lean-to Roof Framing Calculator:
https://www.blocklayer.com/roof/skillioneng.aspx
Now being an offgridder solar guy, I gotta just say, remember to look at the orientation of your build and consider optimal orientation to be able to make use of the Sun's energy and not just for generating solar energy but for the passive uses it can have to warm water and more, as well.
BTW: I'm up near Algonquin Park, Ontario Canada, we get snow, lots of it ! My place is 24'x20', roof pitch 10:12 and it is a Metal Roof installed in a Cool-Roof method which REALLY WORKS WELL See attached PDF'S. I used 2x8 rafters, 24" overhang & eaves. The angle is the key to get the snow off.
Hope it helps, Good Luck
Steve
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SuzannahK
Member
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# Posted: 28 Jun 2021 16:32
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@Steve_S, that was a lot to take in. It started out nice and slow and then picked up speed.
Thank you for the links and info. I will take a closer look.
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