Well I’m starting this thread in response to another members request on another thread that may or may not be out there. I know that there are going to be many opinions on how to do this or that and I welcome all of them as I am not near a professional and need as much help as I can get; however, please don’t turn this into an argumentative thread. I’m just posting what we’re doing and will update as things come along. I’ll post as many pics as I can during that time so you can all see how we’re tackling this project.

Anyway, the Mrs. Someonelse and I are building our own BOL, and this thread is going to be kind of like a journal of our experiences and trials throughout the build. Our initial plan is to have the cabin completed up to the point of having a shell done by winter, while only working the weekends and a two week chunk in the middle of summer. The basic floor plan is going to be two bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and a loft. The foot print is currently at 30x40 and will be on a pier foundation. The piers are going to be on 24 inch round by 8 inch high footers under the frost line and the piers will be 12 inches round and extend 2 feet above ground. We’re going to eventually get solar and maybe wind for power but for right now it’s a generator and propane lamps. For water we’re going to dig a well or have one dug for us. We’ve researched the “dig your own well” sites online and we’re seriously looking into that. Right now our water is from our 350 gallon storage tank and two 55 gallon drums to fill it. Power is to the property line; however, we don’t really want to get on the power grid at any time. Four walls, a floor, windows, doors, and a roof will all need to be completed before the first snow of the year…that’s the plan for now. I know it’s a pretty big order for such a short amount of time, but we feel like we can get it done by early October.

We looked for about 6 months for the right piece of land before deciding to go with the lot we have now. For about a year prior to and during that time we scoured the internet and local ads to find windows, doors, and tools for the project we were going to undertake. Some of the tools we purchased from Northern Tool, local Farm and Ranch stores, Home Depot, Lowes, private sellers, and auctions. We purchased draw knives, axes, adz, post hole diggers, shovels, chainsaw, buckets, come along, rope, chain, 5k generator, and a couple of thousand on a gift card for Lowe’s during their tax day thingy for the extra 10 percent . The only reason we’re going with Lowe’s is because I’m military and they give a 10 percent discount as well as some other reasons like the proximity of a store to our land.
We purchased a small chunk, about 10 acres of undeveloped land in the hills in the middle of April 2011. The day we closed was the first day we started clearing the area we decided to build on. Since it was undeveloped and we had been up there prior a few times, we were able to walk the land and get a good feel for where we’d like to place our home.

ETA: I'll be posting pictures once I get home. For now you can see what we've got going thus far here

WEEK 2
Week two proved more productive since we actually knew more of what lay in store for us during those two days. We arrived at the property around 0730 the first morning and started the burn pile and the clearing of the land. After thinking about the original plan of where to put the house, we made a small modification to the location and moved it about 30 more feet into the wood line. This will allow for a bit more of a yard on the east side of the house as well as leaving the trail open to access the back side of the land by vehicle if needed. While 30 feet doesn’t sound like much, it sure has proved more than enough work and more than enough trees to clear and use for the cabin. We fell around 30 more trees to use for the cabin and cleared all 30 feet into the wood line. I’m going to continue the cut another 30 feet or more to give us some defensible space around the house and some room to work.
The wife got a dozen more logs peeled and they’re stacking up around her. We’re going to have to find another place to stack the finished logs so they can continue to dry and to give us more room to work. That is one thing that I wish we would have planned better but then again this is a learning experience. The slash pile continues to shrink but then more trees fall and more land is cleared and that equals more crap to burn. The wood we’re not using for the cabin is bucked up and stacked for future firewood as we’re going with a wood stove for heat.
Well, another change to the plan as we’re looking at our funds and ways to save money. We’re not going with standard trusses as initially planned. We’re going to use some of the smaller timber for those and this will save us around $800, enough to let us get a metal roof rather than the asphalt shingle we were planning.
Next week we’re going to cut more into the wood line and hopefully start on the fun of pulling stumps, clearing, and leveling the land a little bit to get ready to pour the piers. We’ve calculated the total number of 80# bags of concrete at 120 bags. Now for the decision of can we rent a bobcat with an auger to dig the holes or will we do it by hand? It all depends on the funds we have at the time we need it.

I look forward to your future posts and wish you well on your endeavor!

A couple of things.... I would personally go ahead and bring power to the place, even if your long term goals are to be off grid. If the power is to the property already, I think you would find it tons easier to both build and use the BOL with grid power. My opinion.

Also, I don't know what experience you have building a cabin (I have none, but dad and I each have one in the works, at least on paper) but I can imagine you will learn a lot as you go! Whatever your budget is, allow plenty of room for error and miscalculations. As a rule, go bigger and more overengineered than you think you need. You will never say "gee, we have way too much room", but you may well wish you had more. (Ask me how I know... the house I built with cost-savings in mind could be alot bigger in hindsight). Kudos on using recycled materials when appropriate... keeps cost down.

There is a lot of great reading material available on energy-efficient alternative home designs, some with old-school, radical ideas. THINK about every step of the cabin before you finalize it...

Definitely a great idea with the metal roof. Probably the best single investment I made. Lasts a lifetime (at least mine), and visually 'fits' the cabin. If you can, it will be worth it to go with standing-rib roofing that eliminates exposed screw holes / potential leak points.

Best of luck!

ETA: if you can, become good beer-drinking buddies with someone who has a portable sawmill! They can be indispensable for projects like this.

Well all the depends. We've had snow some where in the state every month of the year so your guess is just as good as mine. We're hoping to have the shell done some where during the first two weeks in October. Just in time for hunting season and before the serious snow.

Tagged for awesomeness!

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Keep up the good work.

I agree with the water thing and we're definately looking to get more water storage up to the property. We've looked at some rain water catchments that another individual has at his property and it looks like it'll be pretty easy to build. We're going to end up getting at least one more 350 gallon tank but for right now we just need to get the house up. Luckily there is a public spring filling station in the closest town so we can at least fill up our barrels to refil the tank.

Looking forward to the great story this is going to be.

tag for updates

Research the water tables for your area from the USGS before you dig.

Cool thread, I admire your initiative. Great call on the metal roof. That is the way to go... lasts forever and the snow comes off it WAY easier. Have you put any thought into what way to face your cabin? If you can I recommend trying to face the front door south east.

Keep us updated.

ps, I've killed tens or hundreds of thousands of trees and I don't feel the least bit guilty... dang hippy indoctrinated kids these days!
*fist pump at the sky*

Old School Tag, this is very interesting to me...