A complete 'do-it-yourself' guide on how to plan, build and enjoy your small cabin -- in simple terms

Easy to build - no special skills required

Use of readily available building materials

Low cost

Simplicity of cabin design and structure

Short construction time

No building permit required (optional).

To have a feel of the great outdoor living and wilderness experience.

Selecting the right property

Preparing and clearing your site

Building material selection

Building cabin structure:

Foundation Flooring Walls Doors and windows Roof Interior finishing and design

Building additional structures, to make your small cabin feel more like home:

Outdoor summer kitchen Storage and firewood sheds Outhouse/toilet Veranda / resting area Outdoor Shower

Small cabin off-grid living

Power source Water supply Heating options

Small cabin living - enjoying the great outdoors

Picture gallery

Safety tips

Discuss your own project with others like you - ask questions, share experiences, and post pictures of your own cabin!

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This web site is a collection of personal experiences and useful resources I have found when building my ownin the wilderness.I hope it will be useful for people who want to do the same -- so they will have a quiet retreat or hideaway spot to enjoy their weekend or vacation.My family and I love the outdoors. We have enjoyed many camping and nature exploration trips, hiked trails, and visited nature conservation areas and wilderness parks.Building a small cabin in the wilderness was a natural extension of our outdoor pursuits.When I started to build my small cabin I searched for information, but could not find one concise, clear and complete guide on how to build a small cabin or a small cottage using only my own skills and resources. This web site aims to be such a guide., but I will mention particular resources, tools and materials I used.I built my small cabin from scratch, using materials readily available from local building material suppliers, and without any special skills or training. But before I started, I did my research homework! Advance planning will save you time, effort, and money.On this site you can find information on how to build a small cabin and other related matters:Please keep in mind:. I am constantly adding new information, tips and experiences as I learn new things and continue building. I also aim to add many comments and suggestions as possible from web site visitors - other small cabin builders.Also, if you are considering a larger structure, like a- conceptually it is similar to the building of a small cabin as described here. So you can use most of the information on this site. To build a small cottage you still need to know how to build a foundation, walls, roof, etc. The difference is that you may want to have more rooms and acquire services like electricity, which require building permits.I've tried to make this site as easy to navigate as possible. Use the links on the left side navigation bar to dig into details, or follow page-by-page links at the bottom of each page.Start planning, building and enjoying your own small cabin somewhere in the wilderness... And don't forget to share your thoughts in our Small Cabin Discussion Forum - you're sure to find many like-minded people there.I hope you will find this web site useful.Happy small cabin building!