Building an Off Grid Cabin in 12 Days
In the summer of 2016, a family in Saskatchewan, Canada, bought a lakeside property to construct an off grid tiny cabin. Amazingly, they could finish their cabin in just 12 days despite having a deadline to finish it before winter.
The home’s owner films the entire design and construction process on his YouTube channel Hay Woods and Wetlands. He also films his family’s various off-grid excursions on their lovely property.
How Did They Build It?
The family spent most of the summer months planning and saving for the cabin. They finally started building the cabin towards the end of fall. They kept the following factors in mind:
- Building on a modest budget necessitated the use of numerous salvaged items.
- The finished hut needed to be less than 100 square feet to avoid paying for pricey development permits. The property had to be tiny to prevent its zoning from changing from agricultural to residential, which would have significantly impacted property taxes.
- The family of four needed to have enough room to sleep.
- A wood stove would be put in place so the property’s timber could be used to generate heat.
The family’s weekdays are occupied with work and other activities because their permanent dwelling is located away from the property. Thus the cabin construction would primarily take place on the weekends. Most of the work was completed alone, with sporadic assistance from friends and relatives.
Framing the Off Grid Cabin
They initially leveled some dirt to build the cabin’s 8-by-16-foot base. A 4-foot deck lies in front of the cabin, 12 feet by 8 feet.
By September, framing had started after the base was constructed and the floor was insulated. The loft and most of the framework were finished in one day. On day two, windows and doors were installed.
Finishing the Cabin
The installation of the metal roof and the finishing of the windows and trim came next. The cabin’s exterior was then completed and sealed in time for the first snowfall of the year.
The opportunity to work on the cabin’s inside, including insulating the entire interior and framing the pantry and bathroom, arrived just in time with the arrival of the snow in October. The interior trim was done, the wallboards were installed, and wiring for a potential solar power system was added.
Final Thoughts
These people did a fantastic job of thoroughly documenting the construction of their cottages. For information on each stage of construction, as well as an updated cabin tour, see the films below. If you follow their off-grid travels, subscribe to Hay Woods and Wetlands on YouTube.
We adore watching individuals who demonstrate to the world what is possible when one has a desire, makes proper preparations, and is determined.
