How to build a cabin

In ancient days, cabins were built with long tree trunks. People lived in these cabins, as they provided a cozy atmosphere during the harsh winter. Anciently, the corners of the logs were overlapped and fixed by interlocking them together. The older cabins were also very strong. People filled in the gaps between the logs of the woods with moss to make the cabin weather proof and comfortable to live in. As forests were situated in the coldest parts of the world, these log wood cabins were used as better insulating materials than animal skin, boards or shingles. Building a cabin is not extremely difficult and you too can do it by devoting a few hours and some effort. Read the steps given below to find out how to build a cabin.

Complexity level: Complex

Time required: 10-15 hours

Resources required:

1. Hammer
2. Screwdriver set
3. Pliers
4. Level
5. Measuring tape
6. Heavy duty knife
7. Flashlight
8. Metal scissors
9. Axe
10. Handsaw
11. Pencil/marker
12. Set of drill bits
13. Set of nails
14. Set of screws
15. Electrical insulation tape
16. Shovel
17. Power tools
18. Cordless drill/(screw) driver
19. Jigsaw
20. Circular saw
21. Chainsaw (with fuel, bar and engine oil)

Instructions:

1. Unpack the resources and check the leveling of the base:
Make sure that all the resources required are available. Before you start, check if the concrete base is leveled and is square in shape to ensure that it fixes properly to the ground and has no leakages. The base needs to be 10 cm shorter and 10 cm less wide than the measures given in the chart.

2. Start with arranging green tantalize barriers:
Before keeping the wood directly on the floor, put a damp-proof course on the concrete base as it may contain water that may damage the wood. Lay the green tantalize barriers over the damp-proof course. Interlock all the four corners of the barriers by screwing them together. To make sure that the barriers are square in shape, set a square. Fit in the other barriers inside the square-shaped barrier. The outer barriers will help in supporting the wall of the cabin and the inner barriers will support the floor.

3. Start building the walls of the cabin:
To start building the walls, you need to first separate the logs of each wall. Start building the wall by placing the layers of logs one upon the other, making sure you interlock them.

4. Fit the windows and the door of the cabin:
The logs of the cabin must be designed such that there is enough space for the door and windows. Hence, you need to sort out the logs of the cabin, before you start building it. Position the doors and the windows into their slots. With the help of a driller, screw the windows from the outer side of the cabin wall, and finish the rest of the walls by adding the remaining interlocking layers of logs.

5. Place the roof of the cabin:
After fitting in the walls, you can add gable ends to fix the roof of your cabin. First position the gable end and then add the roof beams one by one. The rest of the gables should be fixed to the walls of the cabin using screws; also secure the roof beams with screws. Repeat the procedure for the other side of the cabin roof. Storm braces need to be added to the inside of the roof. The roof then needs to be positioned with the help of nails and interlocked strongly with the help of screws. Don’t forget to fix fascia boards around the cabin. The roof needs to be covered with overlapping shingles to prevent the cabin from leakage.

6. Fix the floor boards:
Add the floor boards on the barriers set for them one by one and nail them. Keep adding the floor board till the floor is covered and your cabin is all ready to be used.

Frequently asked questions:

What kind of wood should be used to make the cabin both attractive and strong?

In ancient days, the trunks of log trees were used. Tree trunks are very strong and also give your cabin a traditional, yet rich look. You could use timber wood and choose a color to polish it. A little polishing of the timber wood will not only make your cabin look more beautiful but will also add more life to it by making it stronger.

Quick tips:

  • If you are using tree logs, use long tree logs only to build a strong cabin.
  • The molds on the tree logs need to be scrubbed with a good quality protector, before joining them to get a durable cabin.

Things to watch out for:

If you are using tree logs, the pillars and post of the cabin should be dug deep enough to give it durability and strength.

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