16x32 in Missouri Ozarks

[SpoonyG]

Hello All,

I thought I'd post a few pics of my progress on a 16x32 retirement cabin.  I finished the piers, frame, and floor last summer and covered it over winter.  I spent a week getting the walls up and started to get the loft floor down.

I previously haven't attempted to build anything other than a small shed.  However, after lurking for almost 2 years, I've gained lots of knowledge and "how to's" from this site.  Hopefully my work will stand the test of time until I can move there full time.

Thanks.



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[secordpd]

What an incredible view SG, does that face west, so to watch the sun set?  Great job, I noticed you used different size sonar tubes.  What was the reason for that?  Just curious..    And welcome to the forum 

Helen

[Redoverfarm]

SpoonyG      and what a great location to look out to from retirement.  Don't know if some braces would be required from front and back to the middle pier.  You are elivated some might not hurt.  Although I am not personally a big fan of P&P foundations I have noticed some of the comments by others concerning this.  Maybe sopmeone more familar will ping in on your post and let you know.  Is the tarp a flue area or just a doorway that went aray in the wind?

[SpoonyG]

What an incredible view SG, does that face west, so to watch the sun set?

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The downhill side faces west and affords an incredible sunset.

I noticed you used different size sonar tubes.

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I started with 12" tubes and discovered, through this forum, that I need more support.  I used 8" tubes as fillers.

Don't know if some braces would be required from front and back to the middle pier.  You are elivated some might not hurt.

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I plan to backfill the whole area in order to provide additional stabilization and also keep the big critters from under the cabin.  I camped there last week and a neighbor's dog chased something under there and scared the #%$^&* out of me.  I started to reach for my 6-shooter and then heard the dog bark a few times.

Speaking of neighbors, mine are, in a word, awesome.  They keep an eye on things and even let me stay over a few times when it poured down rain.  I've read many posts regarding good neighbors and echo those stories.

I'll note that there are no inspections or permits required.  I plan on doing all the trades work myself...a good learning process.

Thanks.

[SpoonyG]

More progress pictures.  We put up a sliding door, tipped on edge and used as a window.  I plan to put a eating counter under it.  I have a second one for the loft and hope to put it in a shed dormer.  We started to put up joist ties, but it was just too hot and decided to call it quits and head home (2hr drive).


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- My 14yr old exploring what will be the loft.

[MountainDon]

  SpoonyG. Nice site.

As for bracing the piers, it all depends. Depends on the soil type, if it gets saturated and so on, how deep the piers are, the footings, plus the loads on piers. Loads mean not simply weight, but transfer of wind forces. It never hurts to cross brace in both the length and width directions.

Looking forward to watching your progress.   

[poppy]

What a setting and view!  Looks like a great place for a retirement home.

I'm having trouble understanding your floor framing.  Do you have joists spanning the full 16'?  If so, what spacing and size? I don't see any piers down the center. 

They're already there but the extra piers appear to be overkill to me.  12" piers on 8' centers provide moucho support unless they don't have a spread base or are not very deep.

Another thing that I don't understand is backfilling under the cabin and why it is so far off the ground in the first place.  Which also raises the question for me on what the underside looks like, any floor insulation, or underside sheathing?

Truely, I'm not trying to second guess your design or construction; just mostly curious.

[SpoonyG]

Do you have joists spanning the full 16'?  If so, what spacing and size? I don't see any piers down the center.

I have 2x10x16s on 12" centers for the main floor and 2x10x16s on 16" centers for the loft floor.  I have piers under the centers of the gable ends, but will add a full center beam because the floor feels a little bouncy in places.  The loft floor sits on interior walls and feels firm.

12" piers on 8' centers provide moucho support unless they don't have a spread base or are not very deep.

The piers are only between 2-3 feet down due to rock.  I had to dig the holes using a wrecking bar in order to dislodge the rock.  I added 8" piers to add more stability, and already added 2-3 feet backfill on the downhill side of the frame and let it stabilize for a year before building.  The height was required due to hill slope.

Which also raises the question for me on what the underside looks like, any floor insulation, or underside sheathing?

I'll add underside insulation and some type of covering after I get the roof on.

[poppy]

Thanks for your patience in answering my questions.  I am always interested in other builder's approach.

I too am using 2x10 joists but they are reclaimed from an old house and are the full 2x10.  My piers are inset so the joists don't have to span the full 16' and if my calcs. are right I can get by with 24" spacing.

I still intend to insulate the floor from above after the cabin is dried in, but I still haven't decided what underside covering to use.

[SpoonyG]

Hello,

It's been tough finding time to work on my project, but finally have accomplished enough to warrant additional pictures.  The lake in the first photo is a bit deceiving.  It is actually about 700 yards away and about 300 feet lower than the cabin.  I hope to have a roof on before snow.

[Bobmarlon]

Cabin looks good.  It looks great there.

[glenn kangiser]

Looking good.

[Arizona Highlander]

Looks great!

Million dollar view. 

[SpoonyG]

Progress photos from this weekend.  We hope to finish the rafters next weekend, weather permitting.  It's slow going, but rewarding seeing things go up.  I originally was going to have a shed dormer in the central section facing the down the hill, but decided to raise that whole wall to 7' to get big picture windows along the entire length.  Funny thing is, I spent about a year thinking of what I'd like in the cabin, only to make changes as we build 

[poppy]

Funny thing is, I spent about a year thinking of what I'd like in the cabin, only to make changes as we build 

Welcome to the club.  Sometimes changes just come up as you build; nothing to beat yourself up about.

[kenhill]

A Wheel Horse garden tractor!  We had a 1962 1055 Wheel Horse that never quit.  To bad they were purchased and destroyed by Toro.

[SpoonyG]

I finally got the roof on and papered.  It took 4 weekends and I still have some trimming to do on the sides and overhang.  That will have to wait until it gets warmer.  I have plenty of lumber to make scaffolding and will cover the sides with tar paper.

[RainDog]

Hey, SpoonyG!

I'm lovin' the photos, as yours are the exact dimensions I'm currently trying to sell my wife on. She's concerned that it'll be too narrow in the living area.

Watcha plannin' on doin' upstairs? Two bedrooms? Half bath?

Waiting with bated breath for your next photos,
Parks

[considerations]

"She's concerned that it'll be too narrow in the living area." 

Raindog, you two can rent my place for a week in the spring.   She'll love a 16 x 32 then! 

[Woodswalker]

For a novice builder, you're sure doing well.  Neat to see your use of the sliding door glass for a couple of great picture windows.  I did exactly the same thing in a house I built in Mpls in the early 90's.  Adding a center beam, along with the 12" joist spacing on the lower level should make for a very solid floor.  I built my 16' wide cabin with a center beam and 16" joist spacing, which produced a sturdy floor.  Like yours, my cabin has a great view.  You'll enjoy it even more when you start using the place.  I still find myself stopping work on the cabin quite often to stare at the view.  Makes shingling the roof go slower, but still, time well spent.  Look forward to more pics as you progress.

[SpoonyG]

Hillbilly scaffolding  .  My scrap wood works well on the uneven ground.  The gable end scaffold required 3 levels.  All those button cap nails...man, that's tiring!!

[Redoverfarm]

You sure you never lived in WV. .  Yes the button nails do get tiring.  A contractor that uses them all the time has a air nailer made to drive them.  At least now you have it to where it will shed water.  Good job.

[SpoonyG]

Start of the metal roof.  This is the first and last roof I'll every try.

[astidham]

Looking real good SpoonyG

[stadia]

Is that ivy bend?