ManCamp cabin

Well, this is my first blog so be patient with me. This is a cabin I built with my son Nic and friend Robbie that we affectionately call 'ManCamp'. Its in the woods on the family farm in Ohio and accessible only by 4-wheel drive. Off the grid, and built on the side of a hill surrounded by forest, it's a place that probably appeals more to men than women. Nic and I set 16 treated 6"x 6" posts in 300# of concrete each in the clay soil in the summer of 2009. We built a deck using 2"x10"s on 16" centers and 1" x 6" decking. All of the wood was treated and we stained it with all weather stain to get it through the winter. The cabin walls are 2"x 4" studs on 16" centers and covered with 7/16 OSB, 1" foam and T-111. Inside, we insulated between the studs and paneled with 8" wide t&g pine. The ridge beam is 14' high supporting an 8/12 pitch metal roof made of 2"x8" rafters hung on 24" centers. The cabin is 16' x 24' with a 6' wide front porch. I've always wanted a cabin in the woods where time stops and the warmth of a wood fire and beans on a wood stove slows everything down so you can appreciate nature. Now, when at ManCamp, you're on cabin time where you can leave your troubles behind.

This is Nic, my youngest son. We started our cabin
with a post hole digger and spud bar and began digging
our foundation holes.

Plenty of opportunities to rest and reflect on progress.

Once foundation completed, it was stained. Sitting on the "porch" of
the cabin started early in the build. We could just imagine what the final
results would be at this time.

Putting up the first framed wall was a big achievement for us. It started to
bring the vision into perspective. Still hard to imagine what the finished
cabin would feel like at this point but could easily envision our view.

This is Robbie. He has been with us on the project since the beginning.

Lots of overkill in our construction technique when framing since
we have no clue what we're doing. At least the bathroom door is going in
a solid frame.

We now understand why people actually get paid to roof houses. Getting
the paper down to protect the sheeting was our primary objective at this point
because we had no idea when the metal for the roof would be bought for installation.

First winter of construction shut the job down. Pretty difficult getting to the
site and then once there, too cold to work most every day.