Jimmy is one of the makers on instructables.com, a website full of user-created do-it-yourself projects.
From Jimmy’s Instructables page:
“Building a cabin yourself is much more economical than buying a prefab storage shed. The cost of materials for this build, including doors and windows, was around $2,200, which was about the same price as the install would have been on one of this large size if I’d purchased it from a hardware store. I know this for a fact because six years ago I bought a 12×16 shed from a well-known company close to where I live and it cost $2,000 for them to build it and drop it off. Today that same building would cost $4,200. With such a big price increase I decided that if I wanted to add a cabin to my property I had to build it myself.
If you decide to do the same, remember to check with your local authorities to make sure you don’t need a permit. It’s not likely that it’s required for a building of this size, but you never know.
If you would like to see the finished inside of the cabin please click here.
Step 1: Floor Illustration
Here is the 12×20 floor plan showing where the 4x4s and the floor joists would be located.
Step 2: Drilling and Planting the Posts
1st picture: shows my ford tractor and my neighbors’ post hole digger he let me borrow.
2nd picture: shows the posts planted and the bottom 2×10 stringers.
3rd & 4th pictures: show the upper 2x10x12 and the 2x10x16 upper stringers being nailed in at 7 feet 8 inches.
Step 3: Setting the Center Rafter Board
This picture shows the center rafter board. I measured over 6 feet to the center. The roof is going to be a 5/12 pitch roof so the rafter board had to be 30 inches to the top of the board.
Step 4: Making the Angles for the Top and Bottom of the Rafters
1st picture: shows using a quick square. Put the pivot point at the top of the board and turn the square until the 5 on the * COMMON TOP CUT* line graph lines up with the outside of the board. Then draw the line to make the angle.
2nd picture: Once you cut your first angle then you have to measure from the tip of your cut down the length of the rafter to get your measurement for the seat cut. Once you have that measurement then you put the pivot point on that mark and turn the square until you get your 5/12 angle again. Then measure up that angle 2 1/2 inches and draw that line.
3rd picture: shows taking the edge of the square and lining it up with the 2 1/2 in line and turn the square until the tip is lined up with the edge of the board. Then draw that line.
4th picture: shows the angle seat that I just drew cut out.
Step 5: Setting the Rafters
1st picture: shows the rafters being set next.
2nd picture: shows the rafters on and the starting of the purlins being put on the top of the rafters for roof support. This is what the metal roofing is screwed to.
3rd picture: shows the tails all cut to 9 inches long and shows the steel roofing over hanging the roof by 2 inches to support the facia boards.
4th and 5th pictures: show the roofing installed.
Step 6: Adding on a 4 Foot Porch
Here is where it started to get complicated for me. I was looking for a 12×16 cabin, but once i looked at it I decided I wanted the whole 12×16 for floor space so i added a 4 foot porch to the 12×16 to make it a 12×20 total building instead of a 12×12 inside living space.
Step 7: Side Wall and Purlin Illustration”
Click here for the rest of the steps and the full tutorial on Instructables.
Interiors:
More images of the exterior process:
The Finished Cabin
Click here for Jimmy’s other posts and projects on Instructables.
