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How to Build a 12x20 Cabin on a Budget

by coolbeansbaby68 on June 11, 2012

Table of Contents

How to Build a 12x20 Cabin on a Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: How to Build a 12x20 Cabin on a Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Floor Illustration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Step 2: Drilling and planting the posts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Step 3: Setting the center rafter board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Step 4: Making the angles for the top and bottom of the rafters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Step 5: Setting the rafters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Step 6: Adding on a 4 foot porch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Step 7: Side wall and purlin illustration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Step 8: Lag bolting the outer joist to the 4x4 poles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Step 9: Hurricane studs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Step 10: Floor joists and insulation and floor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Step 11: Rough sawn lumber for 8 inch board and batten siding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Step 12: Studding in the porch ceiling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Step 13: Studding in the front wall and door frame. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Step 14: Gable ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Step 15: Finished cabin structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-12x20-Cabin-on-a-Budget/
 Author:coolbeansbaby68 www.redneckgadgets.weebly.com
Just a normal guy trying to make it in life .Good paying job but mindless sometimes .I enjoy making things in my garage to keep my mind going .. Its fun
making something new but its more fun taking something and making something different..

Intro: How to Build a 12x20 Cabin on a Budget

I wanted to have a cabin on my property for quite some time now but with the economy, The prices of having one built has more than doubled... So i had to build it myself
. Six years ago i bought a 12x16 shed from a well known company by where i live. It cost 2,000.00 for them to build it and drop it off. Now that same building would cost
4200,00 dollars.After i was finished with this building with the door and 3 windows the total amount i spent was 2200.00 dollars.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-12x20-Cabin-on-a-Budget/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. 30inches to the top of the rafter board to the top of the upper joist 1. pivot point
2. line up the 5 on the common line with the edge of the board and draw the line to
make the angle
3. common top cut line
4. cut angle

Image Notes
1. pivot point
2. 5/12 pitch
3. 2 1/2 inch line
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-12x20-Cabin-on-a-Budget/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-12x20-Cabin-on-a-Budget/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-12x20-Cabin-on-a-Budget/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-12x20-Cabin-on-a-Budget/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-12x20-Cabin-on-a-Budget/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-12x20-Cabin-on-a-Budget/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-12x20-Cabin-on-a-Budget/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-12x20-Cabin-on-a-Budget/
Step 1: Floor Illustration
Here is the 12x20 floor plan showing where the 4x4s and the floor joists would be located.

Step 2: Drilling and planting the posts

1ST PIC* Shows my ford tractor and my neighbors post hole digger he let me borrow.
2nd pic * shows the post planted and the bottom 2x10 Stringers.
3rd & 4th pic* Shows the upper 2x10 x 12 and the 2x10x16 upper stringers being nailed in at 7 foot 8 inches.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-12x20-Cabin-on-a-Budget/
Step 3: Setting the center rafter board
This picture shows the center rafter board . I measured over 6 foot 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 .

Image Notes
1. 30inches to the top of the rafter board to the top of the upper joist

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 till the 5 on the * COMMON TOP CUT* line graph lines up with
the outside of the board and 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 21/2 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 cut out i just drew.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. pivot point 1. pivot point
2. line up the 5 on the common line with the edge of the board and draw the line to 2. 5/12 pitch
make the angle 3. 2 1/2 inch line
3. common top cut line
4. cut angle

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-12x20-Cabin-on-a-Budget/
Step 5: Setting the rafters
1st pic* shows the rafters being set next .
2nd pic * shows the rafters on and the starting of the purlins being put on the top of the rafters for roof support and is what the metal roofing is screwed to.
3rd * pic 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 *pics show the roofing installed .

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Step 6: Adding on a 4 foot porch.
Here is where it started to get complicated for me . I was looking for a 12x16 cabin but once i looked at it i decided i wanted the whole 12x16 for floor space so i added a
4 foot porch to the 12x16 to make it a 12x20 total building instead of a 12x12 inside living space .

Step 7: Side wall and purlin illustration

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Step 8: Lag bolting the outer joist to the 4x4 poles
I had to screw in (36) 3x3/8 inch lag bolts to all the outer joist into the 4x4s for stability.

Step 9: Hurricane studs

pic #1 Shows the (20) 13 inch hurricane studs with the 5/12 pitch angle cuts
pic#2 shows them installed.

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Step 10: Floor joists and insulation and floor
picture 1 &2 show the (14) 2x10x12 floor joist installed

Pic# 3&4 show the 1x2 furring strips nailed to the inside of the floor joist 1inch below the top of all the joist.

Pic#5 Shows the 1 inch Insulation board between each joist before gluing and nailing the floor to the joist.

Pic#6 shows my Dad lending a hand nailing down the floor.

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Step 11: Rough sawn lumber for 8 inch board and batten siding
1st & 2nd & 3rd pictures show my dad cutting the siding boards to 8 foot long.

4th&5th and6th pictures show the boards up on the wall and the soffit and the facia boards being put on.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-12x20-Cabin-on-a-Budget/
Step 12: Studding in the porch ceiling
This picture shows the studding in for the porch ceiling . 16 inch centers and 4 foot long studs.

Step 13: Studding in the front wall and door frame.

Studding in the front wall and front door frame ..

It was a hot day !!! Here's my doooraggin Dad!! Just had to take a picture of this !! he he he

2nd picture my friend Josh came over for a day to lend a hand on the mitre saw...

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Step 14: Gable ends
Here are the gable ends finished with the batten strips attached ... All thats left for them are the Two vents

Step 15: Finished cabin structure

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