Going to build a 16x24 off grid cabin. Anyone have any tips or advise I could use during the building process. Going to use probably use generator for power but not sure about water source.
over the course of a year i inspect quite a few off grid cabins and residences. the water source for most of them are storage tanks that are filled by a truck that hauls water. the electrical service is typically 30-60 amps 120 VAC (no 220/240) from solar panels and batteries, with a backup generator. the appliances are propane.
unless you have a specific question, i offer the following:
many are unsafe in that they lack proper emergency egress, smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, and proper clearance of wood or other heaters and the flue to combustible materials. some are downright dangerous.
you will likely have rodent problems so a proper base, foundation, flashing, sealing, etc. are important.
depending on where you are, you might have to consider winterization of the plumbing so make sure to install the proper isolation valves and drains.
I spend time at a friend's. Solar electric, propane stove, cistern for water works great. Used the quiet Honda generators before solar was in and worked fine but solar is always ready, quiet and allowed switching from a propane fridge to electric. Nicer when leaving it unattended for a month or two.
I have a semi off grid cabin. It has no plumbing, just a hand pump sand point well, but I wish I had put a shower stall in the corner. I made a gravity shower out of a five gallon pail, which works fine but I have to go outside to use it, which is tough when its below freezing. Check local zoning laws to see if you can just drain it to a buried rock pit otherwise put in some sort of holding tank.
We are going with a pole barnish style for ours. Will be 12x24x10 each with a 12x12 deck between and a 4x12 deck out front of each. We will use power poles from the local electric company then frame up a 2”x8” floor off the buried poles. All of the framing from there up will be 2”x8” inside the power poles. also due to wind and snow load for the area we are building. We are insulating the full depth of the 2”x8” then sheeting inside and out then covering with pro panel on the outside but just painting the sheeting on the inside. Planning on a radiant heater for heat and it won’t be plumbed for indoor water.
A few details about the cabin. I had to build trusses/headers and precut material at my house and haul everything up 300 miles to the site. No lumber yard in the area. I reclaimed the windows from a remodel job we did.
It was a big help to draw the cabin in CAD prior to building so I had all my lumber counts and details already completed.
I’ll be installing a Renogy 200watt solar kit - water capture will be off the metal roof for use as needed.
Pro Tip - when building an outhouse, install some galvanized flashing in front and behind the seat. This will keep any pooo and urine from sinking into the wood and cause smells. Also put a clear roof so it’s nice and bright inside
My hunting cabin is 14x14. I added a 8x10 room (bed) this past spring for the wimmen folks that come hunting. Exterior is reclaimed cedar fence boards. Bad mistake.gotta battle with woodpeckers.
cnelk, that's looking like a great place to have the next annual Colorado Bowsiter's meet and greet.
You may want to upgrade the Little House to a two hole'r though. And judging by the advancing age of that crew maybe some arm rests and a grip bar. Or I guess Paul can always help the older fellows out.
Now that I'm not building tightspot quivers anymore, I've been working on some ideas for a cabin some day. Did a bunch of testing on my new garage 'design studio' where I used some new construction idea's. I'm kinda into modern design stuff and this was a super cool video I saw on in-slab, forced air radiant heating for colder climates. YMMV as I'm guessing you'll be doing yours in LA and might not need such a great heating system.
I've never been much of a pier and beam fan as those things are generally super cold up here in Utah to Montana where I've lived all my life. Mine will definitely have something like the 'slab on grade', 'monolithic pour' or Legalett type foundation.
I've attached a few pics of my garage build, which is way over the top for what you're trying to do, but the construction idea with TJI beams instead of a traditional rafter roof can be super cost effective, especially if you want a giant over hanging roof for your porch to hang out on.
I know I'm way out there, but cool idea's are still cool ideas and we can all dream if we want to :)
I have seen a bunch of small buildings or other structures that aren't poured on a concrete foundation or at least a concrete slab that end up rotting, sinking, heaving, and in general turning to junk. I am really curious what some of you have done to get a good stable base to start building on? What gives a small cabin the best chance to last a long time? Really curious to hear about the elevated cabins and why that decision was made?
cnelk, that's exactly what I did. 2X12 treated joists that I salvaged from a foundry roof that was being torn down on top of those. Totally "portable" building with quickly detachable porches.
I built this 30 years ago. I used creosote treated railroad ties for pilings and girders. Underside is completely wrapped in treated plywood. No plumbing, no wiring. Propane stove, and mantle lights. Built by hand, no power, no generator. Just as sound as the day I finished it. No one has stayed there in 5 years. What a waste.
the key is good drainage. a good friend of mine built his on 6x6 treated skids sitting on a bed of sewer stone. its been there about 25 years... no rot whatsoever and hasnt moved an inch. if i can get him to send me some pictures ill post them.
When I was in graduate school for civil engineering, I didn't have any money and still don't, but I did get to build an off grid cabin in Alaska (for someone else) which was a super fun project. We had to barge in all our supplies and plan everything months in advance because there are no trips to the store there. We used screw pile anchors for the foundation that has an adjustable beam hanger on the top if differential settlement did occur, you could just move the beams up or down accordingly. We used these because, concrete is probably $75-$100 a bag, by the time we got it to the site and have to be careful with shipping and storing. If your soil doesn't have many rocks, or roots these just screw in to the ground. We had to dig ours in about 3-4' and then backfill. The bases are about 12" in diameter.
Here is mine in SC . 20x20 , electric toilet and ran on Generator. Sold in 2019. Have to keep the squirrels out of the ceiling. Bear spray works good. Just dont go inside for a bit afterwards. :)
I’ve been in a fair number of hunting/trapper cabins. Storage is always an issue. Always need more places to to dry thing out. The foundation/floor and roof are the more difficult and expensive parts. Go higher if you can. A Loft for sleeping/storage is the cheapest way to increase space.
No matter where you're building, a good overhang and proper drainage will go a long way to preserve your building. As a retired GC, that was the cause of more problems than just about any other.
Built this in the back yard a few years back. It's 16" x 32'. The "man cave" portion is 16 X 20 and insulated. I heat it all winter with one of those oil filled radiators. I use the full loft for storage, but it could/would make a great sleeping area.
I've seen some incredible off grid buildings in Alaska and other spots.
Passive and very efficient construction techniques....and off grid energy from Hydro, Solar...pretty slick. The problem is always wifi and good satellite communication.
Really impressive, every single one. Even more so considering I’ll bet a good fraction of the builders have no background in construction. On here previously I showed my ~8x8 lopsided shooting house, building it nearly killed me.
Not to be a killjoy here, but you might check with your local taxing authority to see what they will allow. Think building code. Built a house about 6 years ago in a rural county in AZ. Some of the things that they mandated were amazing. An example was windows. Had to have certain number, had to be certain height off the ground.
Neighbor put a small deck on one side of his house without getting a permit, the county fined him and made him take it down when they discovered it.
Funny the term “ off grid” there are thousands and thousands of these “camps” in UP of Michigan and Northern Wisconsin built in the 60s bd 70s and they are still gems. Beautiful places guys!
I was there and helped do some of the work, but all the credit for it holding up to this years trip out there with measured and recorded wind speed of 139.8 mph goes to my late friend Roy Roth. Its literally strapped to the side of a mountain and has withstood hurricane force winds like a boom shelter.
Roy pretty much built this one 50 miles up the the Unalakleet River too. I bought material from a previously collapsed cabin up there and Roy, with the help of two retards like myself, built it in two days. Everything was either boated 50 miles up the river from the village or salvaged from around the corner on the river.
Myself and two friends were commissioned to build a small addition to a shack in the tundra 200 miles from nearest civilization. Lumber had been dropped off in the winter on a 14 foot snow bank. When we got there it looked like it was dropped from a passing 747.
This was the beauty of a shack we were supposed to add to. I will give my buddies all the credit, they're construction animals. We looked at what we had for material, what could be stolen from the old shed and decided against an addition and started from scratch.
At the end of 3.5 days we had done all we could do. The tin package that was supposedly delivered was nowhere to be found. 2 years later we found out that it had been delivered on top of the snow and I guess as the snow melted the entire tin package slid the 100 yards to the lake, way out on to the ice, and melted into the lake lol. So we took it as far as we could. Some bowsiters will have hunted out of this camp at Baralzon lake for CBG caribou. Pretty cool what can be done with the right 3 guys. I'm usually the manager, but it was also fun just to be the lackee on this one. I just hauled material to keep those 2 boys fed, and cooked meals to keep the tummies full while hauling. Worked sun up to sun down and I was pretty proud of the whole project. What started out as a 8 foot addition to a tilted shed turned into this beauty of a cabin with running water, electrical, shower, bunks and kitchen.
We hauled a tank way up the hill that gets pumped from the lake. Gravity feed water to the cabin, and dug a pit outside for septic.
We are in the process of reconditioning our off grid place. A couple quick thoughts.
Wire it up as if you were going to have power, that way it will be easy to power with a generator or solar. It doesn't take much, a couple of outlets, and a couple of boxes for switches and lights.
Water system is nice to have, and can be pretty simple. We have a large tank that we can fill in the summer, and we bring 5gal pails in the winter. An RV pump, or a foot pump at a sink really makes it easy to wash up. Plumb gray water drains to a simple dry well.
Think of rodent proofing while you're building. I don't know the answer, but I'm envisioning a lot of hardware wire?
We use a polyurethane paint over plywood at the cabin in Whalepass, Prince of Wales Island. Wet environment with everyone coming in with wet rubber boots and rain gear. Floor is subject to a lot of moisture yet seems to hold up well and is easy to clean.
Another note, insulate it as much as possible. People like to think that wood is free, so they don't have to worry about insulating much. That's true, but the better insulated, the longer the cabin will hold heat when the stove burns out in the middle of the night.
Homemade ladder/stair. Works really well for kids to get to loft. Not ideal for older folks but it takes up the least floor space. Will most likely change to better stairs at some point.
Homemade ladder/stair. Works really well for kids to get to loft. Not ideal for older folks but it takes up the least floor space. Will most likely change to better stairs at some point.
Small kitchen with gas stove. Added shower to bathroom. One bedroom down stairs with queen bed. Loft fits two queen beds. Left everything open on lower level. Will most likely wall off bedroom.
Small kitchen with gas stove. Added shower to bathroom. One bedroom down stairs with queen bed. Loft fits two queen beds. Left everything open on lower level. Will most likely wall off bedroom.
T&G pine siding for most of interior except kitchen and bath.
T&G pine siding for most of interior except kitchen and bath.
Added small wood stove. Will take several lifetimes to run out of wood on our land. Lots of insulation. Still need to insulate the floor joists. This will help a lot. Wired in electrical just in case. Didn't have generator for some years but do now.
Not a bad place to escape to. Have since added solar for all electrical except for well pump. That runs off gas generator. Have added refrigerator, hot water heater, Blackstone griddle and Starlink. This is the game changer. Almost no reason to leave anymore. Hot water heater is a portable one that hangs outside. Not usable in winter time. Wife wants to move here and live year round for our first year of retirement. Will need to get snowmobile or snowcat to make that happen. Its a mile snow shoe walk in after November.
My place is the one on the right. In the end it burned up to within 100' or so. Aspens have flourished since the fire.
My place is the one on the right. In the end it burned up to within 100' or so. Aspens have flourished since the fire.
If you build be prepared for fire. We have had two fires come through in the last 15 years. First one just about got it. We had done a good bit of clearing around the cabin but if not for the FS and BLM fire fighters it would not have made it. Second one past through with little issue. Largely due to first fire. My place borders NF land and every year since the fire we see more and more elk and deer. It has turned into a place where you can walk out the door and be into solid hunting.
Built this 22x24 38 years ago in northern Mn. Beams set on blocks. Wafer board siding. Insulate and 4x8 siding for paneling inside. Oxford tongue and groove floor with deck paint. Insulated ceiling. Barrel stove. Gas range and counter with sink. Haul water in 5 gal jugs. Outhouse. Honda 1000 runs lights and satellite tv. Lots of grouse and deer taken here. And good stories, except a couple of the guys lie. Will post an outside pic and one inside.
Built this 22x24 38 years ago in northern Mn. Beams set on blocks. Wafer board siding. Insulate and 4x8 siding for paneling inside. Oxford tongue and groove floor with deck paint. Insulated ceiling. Barrel stove. Gas range and counter with sink. Haul water in 5 gal jugs. Outhouse. Honda 1000 runs lights and satellite tv. Lots of grouse and deer taken here. And good stories, except a couple of the guys lie. Will post an outside pic and one inside.