Hello All,
Thanks to Mountain Don, I have been able to figure out how to post these pictures. We started our cabin about 2 1/2 years ago and have had a great time along the way. We picked up a nice 10 acre piece 1000 feet up on a ridge in Charlestown, N.H. Charlestown is on the VT/NH border and our land is 1 1/2 miles from town as the crow flies. As you will see from the following pictures, we had plenty of help from friends and plenty of laughs. We're nearly done the cabin, with just the flooring left to do. I will post updated pictures of the inside in a couple of weeks. Feel free to suggest, comment, or criticize. I must say, that without the suggestions from the members of this site, it would have been infinitely harder to accomplish our goal. My thanks to the administrators of this site and to all the members. Semper Fidelis.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0262.jpg)
Starting to dig the holes for the Bigfoot foundation. The man running the machine is my younger brother Rejean. He is a paraplegic; he lost the use of his legs in a logging accident 11 years ago, but that did not stop him as you can see. He runs an excavating business, fixes ATVs and fabricates metal. Got inspiration?
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0321.jpg)
It's nice to have friends with toys. Russell ( may he rest in peace) helped us out for many days with his skid steer and supervised the concrete work. He was a concrete inspector for many years and insisted we do things the right way!
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0323.jpg)
The holes turned out to be one large one since the ground was so bony.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0325.jpg)
Bigfoots are in and the sonotubes are leveled. (So we thought anyway) A couple were off by an inch here and there, but close enough for govmint work.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0331.jpg)
A nice shot of the sunset.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0334.jpg)
Everything backfilled and rainproofed. Looks kinda eerie, huh?
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0335.jpg)
The deck is done and so are we! It was a good weekend's worth of work.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0340.jpg)
Walls are going up. We did 2x6 construction for extra insulation. The extra cost was negligible.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0343.jpg)
Working on the loft ends
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Note that I used plenty of bracing. Bracing is your friend.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0346.jpg)
This is what we WERE sleeping in. My wife and daughter were not amused.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0347.jpg)
Walls are up and sheathed with 5/8 T-111. It's tough stuff and hard to screw into, but it's permanent.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0352.jpg)
Rafters are going up. We went with 9 1/2 Pitch. It's not 9 and it's not 10. Close enought for gummint work.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0353.jpg)
Electric service is in. In Charlestown, you can do your own. I pulled the permit myself and the inspector insisted that I pound in two 8' ground rods. It was a bear, but it is peace of mind. My friend is an electrician and helped me with the setup.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0354.jpg)
Rafters are done; We tarped it and hoped for the best. The tarp survived a windstorm, thankfully.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0355.jpg)
The eave vents are in. T-111 is really hard to drill through!
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0359.jpg)
Roof decking is done and so was my back. The Larry the Lobster look was the result of the July sun.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0360.jpg)
Sheathed and dried in!
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0361.jpg)
Roof done and temp ramp in.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0363.jpg)
Hey you cheated! Excavators have no place in cabin building. I did mine with a shovel. Looks good though. Seems like that tent could withstand alot. Expecting rain?
Scott, we get plenty of rain there and the contraption we were using kept us dry MOST of the time. We had quite a good time retiring that tent. I cut it up and used it for a tarp. I have more pics, but can't post them because I keep getting a message "maximum character length exceeded" Anyone know how I can post the rest of the pics? Thanks, Tony
Quote from: Woodsrule on April 19, 2008, 08:58:42 PM
"maximum character length exceeded" Anyone know how I can post the rest of the pics? Thanks, Tony
I've never run into that using photobucket. ??? Is that coming up on photobucket or here when you paste in the IMG link?
You could try making a new folder, for the new images, using a shorter folder name folder name on photobucket. ??? ???
MountainDon,
The problem is not photobucket. It appears that my initial post has too many characters and it won't let me post anything after my last pic. I copied the post to Word and did a character count and the count is right around 5000 so far. When I tried to modify the post a warning appeared "maximun character length exceeded." Apparently, I am over the limit. Any suggestions? Tony
OOOPs. Sorry I misinterpreted the phrase. Start a new message (click the reply button) and keep on going. There is a 5000 (?) character limit, including spaces, to each individual message. But you can have as many messages to a topic as desired.
Hope that clears it up
In fact it's better to open a new message by using the "reply". That's because some people make use of the "new" tag that appears when a post is new to the viewer. Same as some use the "Show unread posts since last visit. " link near the top of the screens to bring up a list of new things.
When you edit an existing post message the "new" label does not get turned on. The "edit" or "modify" is best saved for correcting spelling and other small changes/additions.
Basickly there is nothing easy about work except the satisfaction of knowing that you did it yourself and it's finished. Right now I am midstream on both. You have probably learned a great deal so the next one will be easier. ;). By the way I lived in Charles Town for 15 years but in WV.
With all the nice pictures, it's hard to tell that there are 5000 characters there.
As mentioned, just hit reply and start posting pix again in that reply.
Thanks for taking the time to post.
It's great that your brother is going ahead on with what many would deem impossible. More power to him. :)
The characters in the IMG links are counted. They add up
I should have known you'd count them. :)
Thanks for the help everyone. Continuing on, this is a shot of one of the lofts. The pic is misleading; there is about five feet of headroom in the lofts, plenty to sit up in and move around.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0364.jpg)
The windows and doors are now cut in. The little windows in the lofts are "samples" that we got from a friend in the business. They work perfectly and and to scale. We got the door and other windows from a salvage yard. Total cost=$200.00.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0372.jpg)
This is the loft ladder. I made it from black pipe and off the rack hardware. I looked into the library ladders, but the hardware alone was in excess of four hundred dollars. The ladder itself is made from select 2x4's and scrap pieces of oak. Total cost= $20.00. Makes a Yankee proud.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0381.jpg)
A full side shot of the ladder. It glides smoothly and stores against the wall when not in use.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0382.jpg)
The 300' driveway. It's less steep now thanks to little bro.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0391.jpg)
The new and improved handicapped ramp. What?
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0436.jpg)
A view from near the outhouse (one holer). The loo is about 120 feet away and downwind.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0438.jpg)
Little bro's new and improved toy.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0541.jpg)
The real handicapped ramp and small deck.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0548.jpg)
The loft railings are made out of oak, hickory and maple. I drawknife them and then turn the tenons with the Veritas tool.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0553.jpg)
This is the opposite side. I made these from ash and maple scraps that my buddy tried to throw away. Tried.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0555.jpg)
We have beautiful bluestone one the property, so I decided to skirt the cabin with it. The skirting is about two feet wide and serves a couple of purposes. First, it looks nice (pleases the missus) and keeps the wind from howling around under the cabin. Also, I brought it right up to the joists, so it adds structural integrity. The first purpose is the most important.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0568.jpg)
The real ramp is in and most of the skirting is done.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0570.jpg)
The electrical service is now in. We undergrounded it from the pole (only about 45 feet) and glad we did. The orange wire is 10 gauge for the in the wall heater.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0571.jpg)
The aforementioned in the wall heater. It's rated for 400 square feet and is more than up to the task of heating a 140 square foot mini-cabin.
(https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee17/Woodsrule/Charlestown%20NH%20Mini%20Cabin/IMG_0572.jpg)
The walls and ceiling have now been insulated and sheathed with some nice faux maple paneling and the last major undertaking will be putting down a permanent floor, hopefully soon. I will post more pics in a couple of weeks. Take care, Tony
Quote from: glenn kangiser on April 20, 2008, 01:26:49 AM
I should have known you'd count them. :)
Copy it from the write/edit window so you catch all the IMG tags, paste into MS Word, click on "Tools", select "word count". The results list words, paragraphs, and characters with & without spaces. 8)
Hey MountainDon,
That's what I did after your tip. Now I know exactly how long a message I can post. Thx. :D
Cabin looks great, Tony. I really like the rock work.
You can count on Don, our numbers man. :)
Thanks Glenn, I really enjoy stone work. Where I permanently reside in RI I have an abundant supply of stone that seems to "grow" every year, so I have, by necessity built a lot of mortarless stone walls. I take my time and appreciate the fact that the walls will be here long after we're all gone.
Great cabin Tony! :D Very tidy and handsome. Strong too!
I'm a bit concerned that the stone facing may provide a moisture and insect route to the walls and floor system. Is there flashing and shielding that is not obvious in the photos?
Tony
Good job really like your railings. I'm not to far from you over in Milford. Isn't Charlestown where Carlton Fisk is from. Pretty country and nice site.
About that stone are you going to return it along the eve side I would consider splash as well as what John said if you haven't already.
Mike
John, I did not think of insect invasion, so I will look into some type of flashing. What type do you suggest? I believe I have some aluminum coil left overs, would that be stapled to the underneath or what? Mike, you are correct; Carlton Fisk is from Charlestown and I got to meet him when I was a kid. My dad played in a softball league and Fisk showed up one time to meet and greet. He still holds the record for home run distance in the area. Reportedly, he once hit one nearly 500'. Sounds like a fish story, but there you have it.
I remember helping on one stone facing project on a log cabin with a full concrete foundation. We were able to devise a sloped cedar 2x as a water table to carry water running down the wall to the outside of the stone facing.
The problem with doing this on a single wall house is that you will probably have to do a saw kerf into the siding and get a bend of the flashing up in there. Otherwise water running down the grooves in the siding will get behind any flashing you might put on top of the siding. You do not want to rely on caulk as I show in the trim on this diagram. This is a two piece trim detail that covers the ugly flashing made out of gutter coil aluminum.
(https://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/jraabe/sill.jpg)
A water and termite shield is a sheet of material with a steep turned down lip over open air so that an insect or water drop can't make it over the lip and up onto the topside.
I'm not real happy with this detail (which is shown on the beam side of the house), but you may be able to use some of these ideas and find something that will work.
Check locally on what termites, carpenter ants or other critters you have in your area and what works to stop them from getting into the house.
Already I can see an improvement to this detail by making the trim board come all the way down the back of the water table board. The trim board 2x can then be nailed (and perhaps glued) into the back of the water table board forming one strong installation piece. Stronger and easier to nail to the house.
Tony The metal termite shield is normally set with a 30 degree slope. Supposeably they cannot make the 30 deg and fall off. At least that is what I was told.
John and Redrover, Thanks for the tips. Next chance I get I am going to look at what I have got and with your directions printed out and handy, will devise something that will divert water away from my gingerbread house! Thanks and keep the suggestions coming. Tony 8)
Even an air gap - maybe an inch between the rocks and wood should help - then watch for soil or termite bridges.
At the risk of sounding dumb, ??? what a soil or termite bridge? Thanks, Tony
The proper term would be termite tube. Termites need to be sheltered when moving from soil to building. They build mud tubes or tunnels. Links have some pictures...
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/termites/#tubes
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef604.asp
Thanks for posting your pics Woodsrule, the cabin looks great! Just about the style and size as I would like to build this summer. Please post more pics as you finish out the interior. I have a couple of questions for you,
How did you build the deck, it looks like you have vapor barrier, paper, and one or two sheets of plywood?
Did you use 2x6 or 2x8 for rafters?
It looks like your siding overlaps your joists by 4 inches or so, I assume your T-111 sheets were left at 8' to eliminate cutting, what length are your wall studs?
This question may be answered as well by others too, is there any consideration that should be given to build a cabin with a gable end facing into a typical northern wind hoping to distribute a more even snow load on both sides of a roof? (as opposed to facing gable ends east and west and creating a heavier "drift" on the south side of a roof)
Thanks again for posting the pics.
place looks great. keep up the good work
Thanks Nasmeyer, we built the deck with double rim joists and 2x6's 16" on center, followed with a vapor barrier and tarpaper. There is one layer of 3/4 plywood on top and soon we will have another layer of tarpaper on that, then the finished floor. My rafters are 2x6 (plenty strong, according to the neighbor who is a framer) and we roofed with tarpaper and 25 year shingles with eave and ridge vents. We did leave the T-111 8' long so we could overlap and not have to cut any; you are observent. Our studs were kept at 8' so that we would have room in the loft to stand, but this was a compromise in headroom in the cabin. We're rather "vertically challenged", so the 6'3" ceiling height in the cabin is not an issue. As far as the roof is concerned, no snow accumulates due to the pitch, and since Charlestown suffered the snowiest winter in decades this year, and no problems were encountered, I suggest that the 2x6s are plenty big enough. Oh, dmlsr- thanks for the compliment.
Mountain Don, thanks for the links - I will check them out in depth. Thanks all, Tony
do you have any pic's and info on the out house???
Dave
Hey dmlsr,
I do not have any pics of the outhouse, but will include them in my next posting. We built the outhouse at home and trailered it up to N.H. in sections. It was made with 5/4 x6 decking that my friend tried to burn when he built a new deck with plastic wood. We dug the hole about 5 1/2 deep and put lime in the hole each time we use it, so there is NO smell whatsoever. I will take some pics soon and load them here, hopefully by next week. Take care, Tony 8)
Quote from: Woodsrule on April 29, 2008, 12:07:17 PM
Hey dmlsr,
I do not have any pics of the outhouse, but will include them in my next posting. We built the outhouse at home and trailered it up to N.H. in sections. It was made with 5/4 x6 decking that my friend tried to burn when he built a new deck with plastic wood. We dug the hole about 5 1/2 deep and put lime in the hole each time we use it, so there is NO smell whatsoever. I will take some pics soon and load them here, hopefully by next week. Take care, Tony 8)
A friend of mine puts in buttermilk or sometimes a huge container of plain yogurt. This adds bacteria to help speed up the composting. Never has a problem with odor!
Hey John_M - I never heard of the buttermilk or yogurt idea, but seems to make sense to me. Those items are breeding grounds for bacteria and a logical conclusion would be that they would speed up the break-down of material. Good tip! Thanks, Tony [cool]
Use soured or spoiled milk in my septic system about once a month or so. Just leave a large glass of milk out until it sours and pour it down the drain.
Redoverfarm, I will use your suggestion as I have priced those "miracle" products that seem to be a scam. Tony >:(
We have used the Miracle Products and totally plugged things up and had to have it pumped.
Pumper said it was not a problem though. It was his bread and butter. d*
hmm Hmm -- Bread and butter and Curds and whey -- we almost have a meal here.
I've got a question that I hope doesn't offend: How much have you got in this cabin so far, materials only? I'm not talking land or well or anything like that. Just what you'd buy at the lumber yard, window store, etc. Thanks
Jared
Jared, far as I can estimate we have spent about $3500.00. That includes concrete, framing lumber, insulation, roofing, windows and doors, interior paneling, handicap ramp and small deck, electrical panel and wiring, in the wall heater and a few other incidentals. The only expense left is the flooring, which I estimate to be about 300 bucks. If you have any specific questions about what I paid, just ask and I will reply if I can remember! Take care, Tony ;D
Woodsrule, have you had any issues with a ridge vent used in a high snowload area such as yours? does your ridge vent only vent the roof through the soffit vents, or do you somehow vent the interior though the ridge? Please feel free to post any finished interior photos if you have them.
I too would be interested in seeing more photos!
The cabin looks great! Can't wait to see some interior pics.
Yes they are called mud tubes - you can find some info & pics on them here: http://www.getridoftermites.net
Great looking cabin. Im orginally from the Claremont, NH....just down the road from you. Matter of fact, I have family in Charlestown. If you go to Morningside Garage......tell Steve and Cidy that their newphew said hi. Cant wait to see more pics as they come. That yankee inginuity comes in handy.
I am also in the AO up in Acworth! ;D