Cabin insulation is not the most exciting to write about or look at for a cabin, but it's still a pretty major step in our build. Last time I posted we had finished off the electrical wiring, interior framing, and the loft floor. The next step to closing in the cabin was to add the insulation to keep some heat inside! Cabin Ceiling insulation For the ceiling, we used five inch thick foam insulation. We bought it used off kijiji so it's a little dirty and torn, but it still works fine. Tony cut ... continue reading...
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Cabin electrical wiring, framing, and a finished loft floor
Over the last week or so we finished the flooring in the loft, the interior framing, as well as the cabin electrical wiring. Last time I posted, I said I was going to try and finish the exterior siding before moving onto the interior finishing. We've changed our minds on that though, and have decided to wait to do the siding until the spring. There's too much snow on the ground and I'm a little concerned about falling off the ladder. Plus, it's cold outside. So in the meantime, we've been ... continue reading...
Phase 3: Housewrap, cabin windows, and exterior door
Over the last few weeks Tony and I worked more on closing in the cabin, including housewrap, the cabin windows, and the exterior door. A few weeks ago I left you off with our cabin looking like this, with the exterior framing and aspenite almost finished... Housewrap Over the Christmas holidays we finished off the exterior framing, and then wrapped the cabin in typar that we got from Morrisburg Building Centre. The purpose of typar housewrap is to add weather and waterproofing to ... continue reading...
Phase 3: Tin roof and tiny cabin exterior framing
Last time I posted we had just finished the roof rafters and floor joists for our tiny cabin. This week we started the tiny cabin exterior framing, and finished off the tin roof a few days ago. The next steps after the rafters and floor joists were to finish off the tin roof, frame the exterior walls, and start closing in the cabin. We did these steps all at the same time, so we're swiftly moving into phase 3 of the cabin build. Tin Roof We decided to go with a tin roof mostly ... continue reading...
Cabin phase 2: Roof rafters and floor joists
Once we built the main post and beam structure for our tiny cabin, the next step was to do the roof rafters and floor joists. Roof rafters We bought rough cut pine lumber from Country Lane Fine Wood Products in Berwick Ontario. For the rafters, we used 2" x 6" lumber. We cut the top at an angle, and then cut three bird's mouth notches in each of the rafters. These notches fit right on the three beams of the roof. Once everything was square, we nailed them into the beams. Then we also ... continue reading...
Cabin phase 1: Pond and driveway
The last step in the site prep and excavation phase of our cabin build was to hire a contractor to dig us a pond and raise up the level of the driveway. Pond We hired B. Moore on Grade as our contractor. He came last weekend and spent a day digging the pond. The reason we wanted the pond was mostly for the fill. The driveway to the cabin was quite low and got very muddy and wet in the spring and fall. We needed fill to raise it up, but rather than buying it we decided the most economical ... continue reading...
Cabin phase 2: Post and beam cabin construction
We're still waiting for our contractor to dig the pond for us, but in the mean time we've started the post and beam cabin construction framing stage. This is the part we've been looking forward too. The prep work for a building project generally takes a long time, and you don't really see results. But framing, that goes fast, and it is pretty satisfying. Post and beam construction Post and beam framing is basically how it sounds. It uses heavy timber to make a frame that is all supported by ... continue reading...
Cabin phase 1: Basement room, gravel pad, blocks, and beams for the cabin
The next step for the cabin after the trench was to build a bit of a basement, lay a gravel pad, level some patio stones and blocks, and build the beams. Basement Room The "basement" room is approximately four feet wide, eight feet long, and five feet deep. This is where the electrical and water line come up from the trench and into the cabin. This will be where the water heater goes, and some other equipment that won't fit in the cabin. It is right underneath the bathroom, and the ... continue reading...
