Shelter/cabins/tempory and permanent

Well, lets see if there is enough interest in this to maybe start a seperate section on the forum....I am looking to build a 600sf cabin with loft...looking at some plans on a web site, but still have a millions ???? I will be building it on cement piers, with cement pads underneath those...curious about depth of footings, gravel depth, etc..... I know different locations/soil types have different requirements, but just the basics is a big help....As this is at 10,000 ft in Colo, i am planning on building a "double" wall that will allow me to have a foot thick insulation capability.....as heat will be harder to get than cooling.... But, just to get the ball rolling, any ideas or suggestions would be REALLY appreciated....rsbhunter

 

I did double wall on my house 25 years ago.....good way to go. Now I'd spray soy based foam in rather than fiberglass, but it wasn't around then ( at least locally ).

Pier/post construction is a good way to go in the south, but in CO, at 10,000', I'd think you'll have to close in the foundation just from a standpoint of temperature, and by the time you do that, you might be money ahead to just pour a continuous foundation and have a full basement/fallout shelter.

 

I can second what BTPost says about the stove needing outside air. You can gain almost 10% more effeciency by drawing outside air into the stove for combustion. It keeps the stove from having to suck air in from the inside of the structure (the negative air pressure) and effectively pulling it through the walls. So not only does the stove burn faster and hotter, but doesn't induce the cold air permieation through every crack and crevice. Some stove manufacturers have cold air kits to install for their equipment just for this.

 

Outside air !!!!!!!!!

See, it's already been worth the price of admission to start this post!!! I honestly NEVER would have thought of the negative pressure situation....As far as a full fondation and basement, that is way above my pay grade(and pay check) My property is 12 miles from the closest town, and probably 41 miles from where i might have concrete delievered..i'm guessing i'd be looking at $10-20 thousand just for excavation work and forms and crew to pour...This is a poor mans cabin....but i appreciate your input, and IF i had the money, i'd sure like to do that. What are the thoughts of a plastic vapor barrier on the bottom of 2x12 floor joists, and then sprayed in foam? I know the kits can be bought, but i read that it is cheaper to have a company do it (spray insulation)...plus on the roof and walls, it makes a draft proof barrier (again, just what i read).Now, if i come across as ignorant, GUILTY!!!!! I did some plumbing for a living for a while,and watched alot of houses being built, even helped my brother in law build his 2 story house, from the foundation up...but there's alot of difference between helping and doing. I'm not daunted by the project, just want to do it right....i also like the offset stud idea with the 12" sills and top plates(hope thats the right words! Thanks, and PLEASE keep the ideas coming, i'm filing this stuff in my brain...rsbhunter

 

energy nosebleed

BTPost, REALLY good point about the wall studs not touching each other, read the book on cordwood/masonary housing (what i was going to build) and how important it is to have nothing that can conduct the cold outside air into the inner walls....Another point that anyone building in a cold, or ultra cold climate needs to pay attention to...Thanks for bringing that up...rsbhunter

 

Concrete block for a cabin is good. You can set your crawl space at any level and could concievebly have 2' of insulation before you hit her roof line.

 

About those peirs

In very cold areas, like say, the arctic, frost jacking is a very real issue.

SO, your piers should go well below the frost line. Your local ag agent should be able to tell you how deep that id.

To prevent frost jacking, even on well done sonotubes, look at using a bigfoot system for prevention
(Concrete construction tube footing forms save time, money on house repairs, decks, renovations & new builds) for the tube.

You can do the tubes one at a time as money permits, sackcrete don't do well with outside storage, so a on-site shed might be your first bit of warm up construction. You can store wood in it later...

 

Big Foot

These are the EXACT things i was hoping to have surface...everyone(almost) knows about sonotubes, but i had never heard about the bigfoots....that might be THE thing to use.....This is getting incredible with the info coming out....amd yes, a shed is a must have...thanks for the tip.....Thanks to all...rsbhunter

 

we built an earthship, walls made of 235x75x15 tires, filled with dirt, stuccoed on inside, facing south, large windows, built into the side of bank and a slab on grade. back filled on all side with earth. An earth bermed home. Started in Taos, NM. By a hippy doctor. check it out. just search earthships. That is if you are interested in alternate building styles

 

2' overhang on roof to shade windows in summer. We live in WV so more and larger windows on the south side for winter sunlight, lower sun in the winter so the overhang doesn't block or shade the windows. Thermal heat, heavy curtains at night to help prevent heat loss as well as 2 or 3 glass windows.

 

Consider SIP panels

Sometimes buying a product is less expensive than the purchase of separate bits and building it yourself.

Structural insulating panels (SIPS) provide industry leading insulation values and tight joints yielding phenomenal savings throughout the lifetime of the structure. By adding high insulation value polyurethane closed cell foam and wrapping it in a foil vapor barrier we provide you with 4 ft by up to 12 ft modular insulating panels. A 2x4 wall provides and insulation value of R26 @ 50 degrees. A 2x6 wall provides and insulation value of R42 @ 50 degrees. A 2x8 wall provides and insulation value of R52 @ 50 degrees.

You can find any number of kits or prepac SIP panels suitable for cabins or other structures. Cheaper than log cabin kits, better insulation that log s and usually tighter than you can build.

FWIW.

 

You are going to get a lot of ideas on this project from all different views and from all different parts of the country. You need to find out a few things from the county where you are going to build, and determine the depth of the footings. Remember, you walk on your feet, so , the most important thing to keep in mind is the feet of the cabin. If they are not deep enough or substantial enough, you will "limp" . Or, your cabin will pitch and yaw like a boat only in slow motion. In the case of your cabin, if even one of your footings is not really below the frost line, it could heave when winter gets going, raising it above the others and causing your cabin to kati whompas so to speak, blowing out windows and reandering doors useless. Your wife/girlfreind makes a cake in the oven and it comes out lopsided.,,,,,,,, Feet first and most important.

 

Footings

I know that this is the important part, what everything else is based on...i'm not sure , but i hope that Alamosa, Co. has a rental place where i can rent a small back hoe, then i can"easily"dig the footers deep enough to go below frostline. If not, then it will have to be plan "B"...although i don't have a plan "B" yet....This is not going to be a large, fancy place, but my goal is of course sturdy, super weathertight, and insulated, and easy to heat in the winter months......i'm still thinking about BTPost's statement about the 2"x8" footers and sill plates with 2x4s offset ...would make for a 8" thick wall, without a major jump in lumber costs...but alot will depend on what the building code stipulates.....I meed to keep costs down as much as possible, paying for this out of mad money...and it ain't much!!!! Did order the solar modules today...so the project is becoming a little more real......plus that it is a 5 hour drive to get there, everything is planned as well as i can....What is everyones feelings about the spray in foam...im thinking 2" (2 $600.00 kits) and 6" fiberglass or cellouse.????? Anyway, thanks for the help and ideas...rsbhunter

 

Avatar

Finally got a pic of my land to use as an Avatar...also have pics in my photo album..Just in case it helps with suggestions....Thanks, rsbhunter

 

If you elect to use "blanket" insulation between the floor joists staple cheap chicken wire to the bottom of the joists. That way if mice/snakes get in (they will) they will not cause the insulation to fallout. Be aware that if you trap moisture by turning the insulation the wrong way it will rot your home. Moisture barriers go to the inside. A bud built his home using the staggered 2X4 system and triple glazed windows. I use foam quite often instead of putty. Be careful if you use expanding foam--give it room or it will push things around. Keep us posted as your project goes along. We all would be very interested in your progress and building techniques.

 

Foam

I will keep all informed as to progress...it will be slow, like a lot of folks, the money is only as i can save to do stuff...First of course is the piers on footings...The foam (from a little research) is supposed to be great....what i'm guessing is that it stops ALL drafts, and that is what makes it so great.....time will tell....rsbhunter

 

cabin

I have been looking into the building method of walls versus the insulative properties of each...from SIP's to 8" sill and top plate with offset studs, to double walls...alot of people (builders on web sites) believe that you are as well off building a reg 2x4 wall (on 16" ctr) with a hard back foam insulation board on the exterior(then siding) and then 3-1/2" of any of the popular insulations , foam, batting, celluose....Saying that the foam stops the nosebleed from the studs.....It would certainly be the cheapest way for me to go, but is that "the" way to go where it gets below zero alot of times, and wood heat is your heating choice? 2X6" or 2X8" a better option, even figuring on the increased cost? Thanks , rsbhunter

 

your new place sounds just like mine is now. built on piers with bigfoot.. down 5 ft to be below frost. hasnt sagged or rose yet.. I,m in northern ontario canada and -40 is common. 2x6 walls with pink batts. floor insulated with batts and plywood covering underneath. no rodent probs. 12" ins in the ceiling.. roof is 4/12 pitch with aluminum sheeting. snug is us.

gord