Small Cabin

Cabin Forum

Overview of Small Cabin Building Materials

Small Cabin Construction Lumber Image There is a wealth of information available on building materials on the 'Net, at your local library, and from other available sources. I do not intend to have a cabin building material encyclopedia here.
Rather, this page is a collection of the key points relevant to the selection of the building materials I used in the construction of my small cabin.

Spruce Lumber

Spruce is the most commonly used construction lumber and is also the most suitable for your small cabin frame construction.
It is inexpensive in comparison to other wood products, easy to work with, and readily available from building material suppliers and lumber yards.

The most common lumber sizes (thickness and width) used in cabin construction include 2"x4", 2"x6", 2"x8", 2"x10", 2"x12", etc. Typical lengths range from 6 to 24 ft and more.

Keep in mind that these common sizes are generalizations (sort of nicknames). They do not reflect the exact thickness and width of each piece of lumber! The exact thickness and width is 1/2" less then indicated, i.e., 2"x4" really means 1½"x3½".
The length of a piece of lumber, on the other hand, actually reflects the correct sizess, i.e., 8 ft is really 8 ft.

Pressure Treated Wood

You will need to use Pressure Treated (PT) Wood (Timber/Lumber) in cases where the wooden parts of the cabin structure come in contact with the ground, or are in close proximity to the ground.
Regular (non-pressure-treated) wood will rot over time.

See a separate page for more information on Pressure Treated Wood.

Concrete Deck Blocks

Concrete Deck Block Image I used pre-fabricated concrete "4-Way Dek-Blocks" for my small cabin floor frame support.
The design accepts 2"x4", 2"x6" and 2"x8" lumber for stringers, and 4"x4" posts.

Small Cabin Building Materials Breakdown

Floor

Walls

Roofing

Small Cabin Building Roof Shingles Pictrure

Doors and Windows

It is easier to use pre-made doors and windows. I used second-hand doors and windows obtained for free from a local renovation company.


Posts

Buildong Small Cabin Foundation - Cedar Post Image You may choose to use posts as a cabin foundation option (in case of sloping ground), or for the support of the roof in some structures (i.e., gazebo, veranda).
Since posts come in contact with the ground, they must be decay-resistant. Here are some options and points of consideration:
See discussion and link about the use of posts in cabin construction on our Forum.
Tip:
Cedar is a good option if you have cedar trees growing on your property. This was my choice for posts in many cases. Look for them when clearing your site.

Paint

Nails

The most commonly used nail size for framing is 16d. See translation table of common nail sizes.

Other nail points:


<< Building Small Cabin Intro Small Cabin HOME Small Cabin Building Tools >>