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General => Owner-Builder Projects => Topic started by: Brainerdboy on August 17, 2007, 11:51:46 AM

Title: 20x24 Log cabin
Post by: Brainerdboy on August 17, 2007, 11:51:46 AM
While searching for information on ladder access to a cabin loft I came across your site and found it quite interesting.  I am in the process of building a 20x24 "log" cabin.  The walls are made from 6x6 "D" logs and I am putting conventional parallel cord trusses on top of that at 10:12 pitch.  One half of the cabin has a loft and one of the long sides includes a covered porch.  I had 11 cords of logs hauled to the site and a gentleman came in with a portable mill to saw the wall logs along with much of the dimensional lumber used for things like the 2x6 loft floor. Although I am not done yet I am getting closer every day and would be happy to share my learnings.    
(http://i10.tinypic.com/4xzthc5.jpg)
(http://i9.tinypic.com/67xp1fs.jpg)
(http://i18.tinypic.com/6az55js.jpg)
Title: Re: 20x24 Log cabin
Post by: glenn kangiser on August 18, 2007, 02:05:52 AM
Welcome to the forum.  We'd really like to hear more about your experiences and see more pix.  Yours is similar to the one Chatycady and Co.  built. :)
Title: Re: 20x24 Log cabin
Post by: Brainerdboy on August 18, 2007, 08:40:15 AM
I started this project just over 1year ago with the building of a "wood" shed to store my logs.  Following that we sawed logs and the rets is history.  It is amazing what one person can accomplish in a short period of time.  I have worked just about every weekend and vacation for the past year on this project.  I was lucky whith respect to weather, Minnesota experienced a warmer than normal winter last year, if the temp was above 15 degrees I was working.  The few weekends that were too cold I built an outhouse in my garage and hauled to the cabin site which is 45 minutes away.  Inoticed many questions on your site about foundations.  I have lots of clay so choose to put down 12 inch round concrete piers to a depth of 70 inches.  On top of the piers I bolted two rows of railroad ties.  In addition to tie runners on both long walls I ran a row of ties down the middle so the 2x8 treated floor joist only span 10ft.  The floor is insulated with 5 inches of rigid styrofoam between the joist.
Title: Re: 20x24 Log cabin
Post by: glenn kangiser on August 18, 2007, 09:09:54 AM
Thanks for the foundation inf.  We always have members asking and my area has no frost depth to speak of.

Nice out house.  I could really get comfy in there. :)  Looks like blue stain pine.

Can you still get Sears catalogs for the proper operation of the outhouse?

Ode to the Little Brown Shack Outback (http://realmgantra.ballardsbytes.com/mus/ode.wav)
Title: Re: 20x24 Log cabin
Post by: Sassy on August 18, 2007, 10:38:04 AM
Very, very nice!  That outhouse is too cute!
Title: Re: 20x24 Log cabin
Post by: williet on August 18, 2007, 07:02:15 PM
QuoteThanks for the foundation inf.  We always have members asking and my area has no frost depth to speak of.

Nice out house.  I could really get comfy in there. :)  Looks like blue stain pine.

Can you still get Sears catalogs for the proper operation of the outhouse?

Ode to the Little Brown Shack Outback (http://realmgantra.ballardsbytes.com/mus/ode.wav)

I haven't heard that in years. Thanks for posting it. :)
Title: Re: 20x24 Log cabin
Post by: glenn kangiser on August 19, 2007, 09:39:42 AM
It's one of my favorites. :)
Title: Re: 20x24 Log cabin
Post by: MountainDon on August 19, 2007, 05:39:49 PM
Yes, the outhouse is superb. Is that an electrical cord snaking thru the snow, or cable TV?
Title: Re: 20x24 Log cabin
Post by: John Raabe on August 19, 2007, 05:45:29 PM
Might be the electric seat warmer? :)
Title: Re: 20x24 Log cabin
Post by: MountainDon on August 19, 2007, 07:04:36 PM
That would be most welcome in MN, wouldn't it?
Title: Re: 20x24 Log cabin
Post by: Brainerdboy on August 19, 2007, 08:35:20 PM
Glad you folks like the outhouse, as I mentioned it was a winter project, I had a 300 gal tank installed before things froze up.  The day we moved it to the site it was -15 without wind chill, needless to say we did not try it out that day. Building in the winter can be a challenge the picture below was the coldest day of the year that I did any log raising. It was about 14 degrees, I had to be careful not to strip out the 8 inch screws that went from one log into the other as some had enough moisture that the screws would strip if countersunk too much.
(http://i17.tinypic.com/4m37cx4.jpg)