Hello,
I am constructing a tiny cabin measuring 8' x 12', built on skids and resting on concrete piers over a gravel foundation. It will feature a shed-style roof and a front porch.

The tallest wall reaches 11.5 feet, and I'm considering whether to use 2x6 lumber for the framing. I initially planned to use 2x4 for the rest of the structure, but I'm uncertain about the taller wall's ability to support the shed roof.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

At the behest of some users who use this plugin for large agricultural buildings, I will be adding at couple more options for large trusses. Specifically a "Quad Howe" and a "Penta Howe" common truss option. The "Penta Howe" truss is suitable for trusses that measure up to 100' in span (or greater). I had a little fun with this:

The barn I show with the tractor has a 92' span truss with a 36" raised heel. Top and bottom chords are 2x8 with 2x6 webs. The trusses are double ply (3" width) and spaced at 4' on center.
After I modeled this, I thought, what could a guy do with a garage like this? Okay, realistically I don't need an aircraft hanger for a garage, but 36'x36' sure would be nice.

Well its been a while, we sold the house, the foundation is in one piece and the house has not moved, which in comparison to my ex neighbors is a complete success. The responce we got from this site was much apreciated and helped so much during the planning and build..

Since I was a busy poster, the family and I have settled in Spain, built a restaurant in an old garage, and have been busy getting that up and running, we are in year 2, with it doing well every month since opening, thanks to my wifes cooking and control. Me I'm just the maintenance guy, profesional plantain and avacodo shopper and recycling expert, I now have time to spare.

I will be shortly posting a new thread, hopefully with photos that last. Its something diferent but probably aplicable.

Site- mountainside, but within a village, 400 year old dry stone terraces with solid rock below....Will need input again for foundation, as I'm not planning on chisling away tons of solid rock !

Best wishes to all

Quote from: Medeek on April 04, 2025, 03:36:14 AMYes, that is a Killer Whale.  The fellow that did these renderings actually used my artwork in his model:

www.wilkersonart.com

I like that.   

Tutorial 32: Square Cut Truss Tails (7:43 min.)

Version 3.6.8 - 04.07.2025
- Enabled square cut top chord tails for the following truss types: common, attic, scissor and cathedral.

Version 3.6.7 - 04.06.2025
- Added collar ties for symmetric and asymmetric gable rafter roofs.
- Fixed a bug with gable wall cladding for all truss types.



Note that the height of the collar tie is measured from the bottom of the ridge board.  A zero height puts the collar tie against the bottom of the ridge board.

Version 3.9.4 - 04.04.2025
- Added the following Simpson Strong-Tie header hangers to the door module: HH4, HH6.
- Enabled header hangers for all door headers.





This update per customer request.

Note that Simpson only manufactures two standard header hanger sizes (HH4 and HH6).  However there are quite a few more options for CFS framing.  If there is any interest I can add those hangers as well upon request.

Quote from: MountainDon on March 31, 2025, 08:20:45 PMImpressive renderings!

Is that a whale?

Yes, that is a Killer Whale.  The fellow that did these renderings actually used my artwork in his model:

www.wilkersonart.com

If you're looking for a simple house build and doing most of the labor yourself, focusing on material efficiency and cost savings is key. I went with a slab-on-grade foundation for my build since it eliminated the need for a basement or crawlspace, reducing both labor and material costs. For walls, structural insulated panels (SIPs) were a great time saver, quick to install and energy efficient. Roofing was another area where I cut costs by choosing a low-pitch design with asphalt shingles.

If you plan on holding the property long-term, you might benefit from a cost segregation study to maximize tax savings. I came across this option through https://costsegregationguys.com/, and it can be a big help in getting more cash flow from your investment.