building the first cabin

 After years of designing and building high quality, custom crafted, energy efficient houses I decided to try a new concept:

 build the same  quality into a cabin small enough to be able to be moved so it can be used at a temporary location (or installed on a permanent foundation)

I am currently building the first one, 20'x15'very well insulated(6"cellulose in the walls, 14"in the ceiling), on a root cellar foundation on our property.

It has a detachable porch, full kitchen and bath, 8' high wood paneled ceiling, lots of built in storage, and a window seat that can double as a bed.

I am using locally sawn natural edge poplar for siding (on top of OSB for structure and housewrap for air sealing), bamboo flooring, and enameled steel roof.

all interior trim and cabinetry is custom crafted in natural pine.

All the envelope sheathing is nailed and glued to the frame, and so is the drywall inside, to avoid cracks

during moving and also provide a very tight envelope.

This cabin is being built on top of a poured concrete walkout  basement on our property, to be used as root cellar and storage space. I also plan to build a greenhouse on the south side of the of the basement and a small summer kitchen.

 I hope to develop a business of designing and building custom cabins, or "pods" to order (on a spot next to my woodworking shop), to be moved by truck and trailer to the desired location, where they can sit on their  skids or attached to a foundation.

Being that they are built to order, there are lots of options- on or off grid, configuration of doors and windows, rooflines, porches, etc.

They can be used as studios,  guest houses,  and also can be built with future expansion in mind, like added bedrooms, even two story additions.

Cabins can be built from as small as 8'x12'  easy to move "microhouses"(that can be built attached to a trailer if desired) to comfortable 15'x26' (390 sq.f) one bedroom house.

The limitations for transportation are 16' wide and about 11'high.

Cost of construction  and transportation will vary of course with size of cabin and distance and location

of move.

                               Here are some steps of the building process-

Building the walls

Bonding the sheathing to the frame

Installing the trusses

Roof decking

Installing metal roof

Walls are insulated with cellulose

Interior work includes bonding drywall to frame, painting with zero VOC paint, trimming windows, doors and corners with wood.  ceiling is solid T&G pine.

  Next step is installing lots of built in shelves to maximize use of space. 

The kitchen cabinets are built in as an integral part of the structure and trim. Built in microwave and vented range hood save space.

Built in closets and window seat also maximize utility while keeping the space open.