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Small Cabin Forum / Member's Projects and Photos / Looking to build ....so..lost :)
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JCinAZ
Member
# Posted: 29 Dec 2011 18:59 - Edited by: JCinAZ
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Hello, I'm new to the forum. I am so glad that I found this site...I have seen so many cool little cabins...I have been telling my husband for years to build a small little cabin on our property. I think getting started is the hard part. I started clearing trees last year and put in a water tank and septic tank...the land is not very big..about an acre and a qurater. Still nice and away from the city...I have seen so many cool little cabins...my husband and i are wanting to do most of the work ourselfs...just hope to get some tips from all of you pros out there. here are some pictures of the land and my kids on it...

JCinAZ
Member
# Posted: 29 Dec 2011 19:04
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Forgot the pictures
the land in winter
the land in winter
we camp out in tents for now
we camp out in tents for now
making breakfast
making breakfast
hoping to build here-cleared some trees
hoping to build here-cleared some trees


neb
Member
# Posted: 29 Dec 2011 20:24 - Edited by: neb
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I wish you the best in your venture. There is a lot of good help here on this site. You ask the questions and you will get a reply. It is nice to have that get away place. Thanks for the pictures.

Malamute
Member
# Posted: 29 Dec 2011 20:50 - Edited by: Malamute
Reply 


Nice place.

Are you Dineh?

Are you going to build a square place or a hogan? I liked seeing the hogans in Navajo country, thought it would be interesting to build one.

hattie
Member
# Posted: 29 Dec 2011 20:52
Reply 


Welcome to the forum JCinAZ....It looks like you have a beautiful spot. There are great people on this forum so hopefully they will be able to give you some advice. Good luck and keep us posted as you progress.

turkeyhunter
Member
# Posted: 29 Dec 2011 21:06
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welcome to the forum---- looks like a great spot for a cabin.....

JCinAZ
Member
# Posted: 29 Dec 2011 21:14
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My husband is Dine..and my children are half..we spend alot of time on the Rez..:)

JCinAZ
Member
# Posted: 29 Dec 2011 21:17
Reply 


Thank you, to all of you.. I will have some questions...right now just wandering if we would go with a cement base or up on the wood beams, elevated like I see on some of the cabins I saw on here..my place is actually in Apache County AZ..just east of Show Low.

Malamute
Member
# Posted: 29 Dec 2011 21:22 - Edited by: Malamute
Reply 


Cool.

I lived around Flag 20-some years ago, knew some Navajos there, and spent some time around Ganado. Good folks and good times. Knew a white guy that was a Christian missionary, met many folks thru him.

Know any nice Navajo ladies that would go to Wyoming? The people down there were always trying to marry me off to their sisters, cousins or aunts. Many times I've thought I may have made a mistake in not paying more attention.

Malamute
Member
# Posted: 29 Dec 2011 21:35 - Edited by: Malamute
Reply 


You could do concrete piers with a footer form under it. I built a small log cabin on concrete piers. They work well. The forms are called sono-tubes, and perhaps other trade names, but everyone knows what you're talking about if you ask for sono-tubes. You could mix concrete yourself on the site by hand to save money, or get pre-mix bags if getting a truck in isnt practical and you don't want to mix it by hand from bulk components. You could rent a mixer to do it yourself with the bulk components (big bags of Portland cement, a dump or pickup truck load of sand, and gravel, mixed in proper proportions, and water added)

Do you know what the frost line is where you are? That determines how deep you need to go to keep from having frost heave problems.

JCinAZ
Member
# Posted: 29 Dec 2011 21:54
Reply 


not sure about the frost line. I grew up in a tropical area....my husband might know. About the Navajo ladies..there are plenty out there looking for an honest man :)

steveqvs
Member
# Posted: 29 Dec 2011 22:06
Reply 


Welcome JCinAZ, looks like a great place. I am in Missouri and just a couple of weeks ago a guy was telling me how nice Show Low is! My family took a vacation out west last year and we really loved it. Gotta get back. Sedona and Jerome where among the favorite places we went to.
For your cabin, really look around and see what others are doing locally. Find a local resident or a local builder, craftsman, tradesman and just quiz them on how they do things. In different parts of the the country some building things make sense and some do not. Be sure you know if your local area requires permits. Those can be a headache for some people. Good luck.

JCinAZ
Member
# Posted: 29 Dec 2011 22:18
Reply 


This all great information we actually have had to get some permits. we have one for electric right now and also got one for the septic tank we put in. I imagine I would need one for the cabin as well.
electic pole and water tank in ground
electic pole and water tank in ground
camping out...
camping out...


naturelover66
Member
# Posted: 29 Dec 2011 22:23
Reply 


Welcome.to the forum! I look forward to seeing your progress in beautiful Arizona! You have a lovely family.

Lisa

oldbuddy
# Posted: 1 Jan 2012 01:09
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Welcome to the club! You'll find many professionals on here as well as people like my son (Old Buddy) and I (Old Old Buddy) who have kind of learned as we went.

If your cabin will be off the ground my best recommendation is to make sure you Insulate the Floor! Other than that.......I'm sure you'll be fine. I've heard that's the biggest mistake a lot of people forget to do.

We are off-grid so forget about septic or electric poles for us. We have a dusk-to-dawn light and the cabin is wired but its powered only by the generator. If you have any questions we'd be glad to offer our "unprofessional" advise. Believe me......it will be one of the most enjoyable times of your lives...and especially for the kids!

Old Old Buddy

JCinAZ
Member
# Posted: 6 Mar 2012 18:29
Reply 


Hello everyone..I have been just hanging out looking at everyones comments and advise...I am finally going to get my cabin/shell on my land this week. I will upload pictures as soon as I can..hopefully this weekend. So as the day gets closer the hubby and I are going around thrift store and looking for "rustic" items for our new place...attached is my new Toilet Paper Holder ..I know..I'm silly but I really got a kick out of it...anyone have any good toilet paper holders?
Toilet_Bear.jpg
Toilet_Bear.jpg


trollbridge
Member
# Posted: 6 Mar 2012 18:48 - Edited by: trollbridge
Reply 


Hello!

Silly is good! I basically received the same one (only a black bear) as a gift for our cabin and like it a lot!!!

I have been shopping thrift stores for a couple years now...our cabin is not done but getting a little closer and the day I bring everything up I will be like a kid on Christmas morning!!! I honestly don't remember everything I have bought, but I do know I have spent very few $$$ and got a bunch of stuff I really love that I could never find at the mall!!!

This is a very exciting week for you I'm sure! I am looking forward to seeing your pictures and hearing your tales. Congratulations!

Just
Member
# Posted: 6 Mar 2012 20:42
Reply 


the kids are going to have a great summer.good luck

JCinAZ
Member
# Posted: 7 Mar 2012 22:17
Reply 


Hello, here is picture of my cabin/Barn still on the dealer's lot..we will follow it tomorrow 180 miles to our land. Will post more pictures as I am able to..
PICT2329.JPG
PICT2329.JPG


hattie
Member
# Posted: 7 Mar 2012 22:23
Reply 


Love it....Love it....Love it.....Keep the photos coming!!!

JCinAZ
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2012 00:36
Reply 


As promised...pictures
Cabin arrives
Cabin arrives
Back it up
Back it up
Anthony and the kids are helping
Anthony and the kids are helping
cabins sits at Show Low Pines Unit 2 lot 848
cabins sits at Show Low Pines Unit 2 lot 848


naturelover66
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2012 07:54
Reply 


Congrats! Its awesome !

PA_Bound
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2012 08:34
Reply 


Congratulations... your place looks great!

We'll have to compare notes as you complete your build-out, as I purchased a very similar cabin for my land in PA. I'm just a few months ahead of you.

Viking
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2012 11:23
Reply 


Awesome! I am so envious that you can just drop a prefab little cottage on your lot! Over here in Ontario it would be a cold day in hell before that happens..



sparky1
Member
# Posted: 19 Mar 2012 13:25
Reply 


very nice---i just bought 10-x-16. No porch. will do solar panels, for 12 volt lights & insulate.

ErinsMom
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2012 09:33
Reply 


Congrats. You have many days of work and pleasure ahead.

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2012 21:25
Reply 


JCINAZ, first time i saw this thread. That is fantastic. I saw the picture of your kids and though to myself, better get a cabin built ASAP, they will grow up fast. And a few post later, you have it done. That option isnt a bad way to go at all. With power and septic in place before, you are up and running.

JCinAZ
Member
# Posted: 10 Feb 2013 20:42 - Edited by: JCinAZ
Reply 


Hello my fellow forum members and followers. I had not been able to post pictures or comment for a while. I had lost my password and today after almost a year I just sat and typed in my password and it was correct! Go figure! Anyway...I have updates!..new pictures...still working on the place. I had to stop for a few months due to needing surgery. I am feeling great and ready to get back to it. We have had a very cold and snowy winter in the White Mountains in Arizona.
Winter
Winter
Checking out the electric pole
Checking out the electric pole
Hubby boarding up windows
Hubby boarding up windows
We were snowed in for the night
We were snowed in for the night


JCinAZ
Member
# Posted: 10 Feb 2013 20:45
Reply 


We are still a few months from having power but we have a phone and an official address out in rural AZ.
we have a phone line at the cabin
we have a phone line at the cabin
Phone box on house
Phone box on house


JCinAZ
Member
# Posted: 10 Feb 2013 20:51 - Edited by: JCinAZ
Reply 


More pictures of snow and the dogs
Dogs were cold
Dogs were cold
Lots of Snow in Jan
Lots of Snow in Jan
Next morning
Next morning


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