Today, I got all the walls up, part of the roof, and all the plywood up.

It went from this:

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/1005081221-1.jpg

To this:

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/1005081615.jpg

With a couple of steps in between:

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/downsized_1005081423.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/1005081522.jpg

All in about 4 hours of grueling work.

Anyways, I'm not just posting this thread to brag about my awesome mini-house. I also have a couple of questions.

I need to somehow run electricity to it. I was thinking a really long couple of 1/4" pvc pipe segments that had a really really long extension cable running through it. Today, I confirmed that it actually isn't very far from an outlet on my parents house. So it is doable, I actually did it today so I could saw and drill.

The problem with the PVC idea is that if something breaks along the way in a couple of years, I'm fucked. I'll have to dig up the whole thing, and replace the most of it, and that can be caused by one tiny thing. That's one of two reasons I'm opposed to that idea.

The second reason that I'm opposed to the idea of a pipe is because I also need a way of running water to it. If I run them both in one pipe... well, you can all probably see the problem with that. Any suggestions?

Also, once I put the roof up and work out electricity, all this will be the least of my worries. If anyone remembers my original thread, I want this to actually BE like a house. Yes. A real house. That means heat, kitchen, sleeping area, workspace, water heater, etc…

Once I get the electricity dilemma worked out, most of this shouldn’t be a problem. Pretty much all of these run on electricity, but I had a few concerns.

They are really pretty minor, what I was thinking is one of those hot plate things from Target/Wal-Mart hot enough to boil ~5-6 cups of water? Most people who know me know that I survive on Ramen and Diet Coke, but if I have someone over (IE girlfriend) I want to be able to cook a nice meal. (Yes, I can cook)

Also, I’m worried about overloading an outlet with all my things running, which is another reason I’m opposed to the whole PVC pipe idea. But there really is no alternative that I can think of besides a generator, but that would be too expensive and time consuming to use for everyday living.

And don’t ask, because I know your thinking it, electricity is a MUST HAVE.

Thanks.

EDIT: I also realize that there is no roof on the house in those pictures, it started to rain after my dad and I put it up so I didn't feel like taking a picture.

Is that you in the pic?
A little old to be living in a 2x2M shack out the back of your parents place?


I'd suggest you get in an electrician to sort out everything for you.
Burring the power supply would be the best bet, but don't use extension cords, get a spool of cable and install a socket or 2 in your shack.
then have it running from it's own circuit breaker at your main switchboard.

A good sparky will run you through what needs to be done, letting you hook up whatever you need and just inspecting it and doing the major stuff at the mains.
saveing $$$ in labour

I believe it's called a shed, not a mini house

I believe it's called a shed, not a mini house

You wouldn't call a pool house a shed near a pool would you? :rolleyes:

The power line for my pool is contained in a buried PVC pipe. It will be fine. PVC doesn't biodegrade, and there's nearly no stress on it. Remember, most houses use PVC for waste plumbing, and cracks are extremely rare. Use PVC with cable rated for underground use.

Also, if you weren't already planning it, insulate the place. It's cheap, and offers tremendous energy savings. A hot plate will be fine for cooking, but it might not be rated for continuous use as a space heater. I like the idea of a boiling water heater though. The humidity will certainly make winters nice, and if you want you can turn it up for your own private steam room.

I suggest bolting the hot plate to the counter so it can't fall off and start a fire.

Here's what you should do...

http://i38.tinypic.com/eu4kua.jpg

Green - supports
Yellow - Counters/table
Blue - Outlets

I've built something similar before. If you don't add supports, insullation and decent electrical setup you'll get tired of it

Eh, just trying to help

GOOD POST! Get some shelves....and do some wifi and portable radio / lighting! ....

synkk is right, throw some noggings in their. no lintel above the window either?

looks great anyway tho, good work.

Thanks everyone for the complements and suggestions, especially the person who did the diagram for supports, I'll definitely add those.

And to all those wondering, that is my father in the picture, not me. He has been a great help in all this, he helped me plan and build, and I greatly appreciate that from him.

Anyways, yes I will definitely be adding insulation and electricity, those I've been planning since I got the idea for this.

More to come in the following days...

Anyways, yes I will definitely be adding insulation and electricity, those I've been planning since I got the idea for this.

Good. If you don't you'll figure out what a shithole it is and have wasted all that time effort.

But, if you make it decent it'll last a while and it'll at least make a neat clubhouse for you and friends to do fuckall in.

Mine was similar to yours, ran electricity to it and played playstation/ate poptarts.

lawl

Good. If you don't you'll figure out what a shithole it is and have wasted all that time effort.

But, if you make it decent it'll last a while and it'll at least make a neat clubhouse for you and friends to do fuckall in.

Mine was similar to yours, ran electricity to it and played playstation/ate poptarts.

lawl

That's pretty much exactly what this is for, just replace the word "playstation" with "computer" :D

It also has a loft for sleeping, I'm building the roof at a steep enough angle so that I can crawl up and sleep if I want to.

Pop tarts, playstation, and porn in my man shed. Fuck yes.

synkk is right, throw some noggings in their. no lintel above the window either?

looks great anyway tho, good work.


I was also going to comment on the lack of noggins and lintels aswell. but with something that small you wont need a lintel. the roof won't have enough weight to cause any problems.
as long as when the roof goes on the trusses are kept within 50mm of the studs, seems to have about 600 centers on the studs so it shouldn't be a problem.
What type of roof are you going with?

and with the brace board on every wall. You won't need to worry about noggins, just make sure you gangnail into all the studs.
looking at the pics there seems to be a gap between the ply and studs, could just be a shadow, if it's not get some gang nails all through that shit.


back onto your roof design, you should have made the frame slopping for a skillion roof.
go from front to back (back lowest) at about 22 degrees and slap some battens straight onto the top plate and screw some corigated iron into the batterns
it's a cheap and easy way to make a roof for it.
but if your in a place where it snows you should go for a very steep pitch

that's cool that your dad is helping you build that thing, not to mention letting you erect a something like that purely for recreational use on his property. most parents would say DAMNIT I DON'T WANT THAT IN OUR YARD THATS WHY YOU HAVE A BEDROOM lol.

I saw that the space you have for the "yard" will be ~15 x 15 feet, but how big is the house itself?

I wanna see pictures of it when the loft part starts taking shape. In a small thing like that, having more than one level makes a huge difference IMO. It goes from feeling cramped and pointless to cozey and interesting.

Is it going to have a bathroom? Atleast a half bath would be cool... maybe with a urinal instead of a full toilet, which I assume would simplify the waste line plumbing, and also save space. You could have the urinal fairly close to the floor and then have the sink directly above it. Or are you gonna try and do a full bath (sink toilet and shower)?

What's the current status on the roof? You said you were making it steep enough that you could get up there and sleep in the loft area? Are you doing the skillion type or a normal one with opposing slopes that meets in the middle? If it isn't to late, I think it'd be really cool to use the skillion design (sloping down from the front of the house toward the back), but start the slope 3 or 4 feet from the front, and use the additional space for a small deck. If the tall edge of the roof was 4 to 5 feet high, you could have a nice sized mini-door going out to it. You could make the deck surface 5 or 6 feet deep, and part of it would jut out over the front wall of the bottom story, which you could support in whatever creative fashion you desire, and if it jutted out far enough you could even have a swinging bench (and/or flower baskets bird feeders etc) hanging from it next to the front door. I don't think anyone could mistake a setup like that for a shed.

lastly, are those cinder blocks going to be the permanent foundation for it? I saw a post in here once (I think it was just a basic shed), but they had it supported by some kind of system that made it adjustable using really large threaded rods, hex nuts, sockets, and cement poured like you do to install fence posts. When one side of the shed settled a little, they would just crank the threaded rod a few turns until the structure was level and even again. I don't remember exactly how it worked, but you get the idea. It looked like itd be extremely effective, so I'd consider something like that if it isnt to late. You may even be able to add them after most of the house structure is built (which looks to maybe be the case with yours)

Overall, very cool project. Wish i woulda built one when I had the time and spare cash.

maybe a campstove ? my sailboat has one...

http://tinyurl.com/3w2thz

As an electricians helper, I've seen many electricians who just make a bit of a slit with a shovel, and put the cable in the ground that way. Make sure whatever cable you end up using is approved for direct burial.

I would go with 12-3 cable.
http://www.aermotorwindmills.com/uf-direct-burial-cable.htm

You may want to oversize however, and it might pay off to do some circuit tracing to see what else is on the same circuit as your outside receptacle you plan on running from.

As for water, stay away from copper pipe. Not only will it crush easily, I've had a hose bib fed with copper pipe freeze up twice in the winter time. Needless to say, we said fuck it after the second time, and we now just run a garden hose from the front hose bib to the rear when the need for water arises.

Not to mention copper prices are a bit high, but as of late they seem to be decreasing just a bit.

you could do what i did at my house, i built a workshop, and to run the electricity i installed a breaker box in my shop, not really that expensive, like 40 bucks, and then i just went off my main power at my house and ran the wires overhead using a small light pole, again not very expensive about 50 bucks, as for the water it was fairly easy as well, i ran a water line from the house main to my shop and for the toilet, i ran my sewer line and just tapped into my main sewer line to the septic tank.....it is a good bit of work, lots of digging, but in the end it was really worth it, the most expensive part of this all is the wire, for the 200 ft of barrel roll cable i needed, was over 300 dollars.

Props on that man, nice work. I'd go for one of those DIY solar heaters like we were talking about in the drainpipe thread to keep it cozy in the winter, possibly one of the underground fed ACs too? Whatever you think, but check out the instructables on solar heaters when you're deciding.

And would you want to trade anything just for the ipod shuffle? Obviously it's not quite worth an angle grinder, but if there's anything you're looking for at the moment, let me know. I just got a 16kb ram upgrade cartridge for a commodore if you want some extra speed for your comp... ;)

And would you want to trade anything just for the ipod shuffle? Obviously it's not quite worth an angle grinder, but if there's anything you're looking for at the moment, let me know. I just got a 16kb ram upgrade cartridge for a commodore if you want some extra speed for your comp... ;)

Haha I gave it to my sister. Sorry :D

I can give you my sister, and then you get a slave AND an ipod suffle!

She best be attractive!

Well, some might consider her, but she whines a lot :mad:

Today I finished insulating, and I put up the bottom part of the roof.

I also put in the door and started sealing everything.

I fixed up many things. Added some supports, ect.

Pics coming soon. I'm also finishing the roof tomorrow. Pics of that too.

So far your mini house has rocked, can you please take some more pictures?

Here's some pictures of what I've done this weekend:

I also built the roof today, but I don't have a picture of that right now.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/IMG_1076.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/IMG_1075.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/IMG_1074.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/IMG_1073.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/IMG_1072.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/IMG_1071.jpg

And a video of all my progress, and my lawn:

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/th_MVI_1077.jpg (http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/?action=view&current=MVI_1077.flv)

The roof is currently sitting in my garage.

Looks good. How much longer do you think it's going to take until it's finished?

Looks good. How much longer do you think it's going to take until it's finished?

I've planned it out and everything but the "living" interior (if you know what I mean) will be done in about 2 weeks if I work hard.

The problem is that I can only work on it on weekends

Put up four roof pieces today:

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/1021081725.jpg

Yes, I know that picture only has 3 pieces, but for some reason my picture decided to delete itself from my phone.

Looks good man.

if your door is going to open outwards, as it should to conserve space in such a small room. It's looks like it will foul on the truss overhang

if your door is going to open outwards, as it should to conserve space in such a small room. It's looks like it will foul on the truss overhang

Yeah, he probably should double check the door framing now that I look at it.

Yeah, he probably should double check the door framing now that I look at it.

Yeah, as I put up the roof pieces and decided to go inside of my real house for a meal, I attempted to put the ladder back and realized that it wouldn't open all the way.

I'll just cut some stuff when I get the plywood up there.

If you haven't gone any further then the pic's, consider spinning the trusses 180, eying off the pic's it looks like the overhang at the back is smaller then the front, giving you less drop off.

I still think a skillion roof would have been a better choice.

here is a 2min paint mock up of what you could do with a skillion roof.
If you havn't finnished the roof yet and would like to go with something like this I can help you design it.

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9569/shackai6.png

here is a 2min paint mock up of what you could do with a skillion roof.
If you havn't finnished the roof yet and would like to go with something like this I can help you design it.

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9569/shackai6.png

pretty cool.

Hi everyone!

Sorry about not updating people in a while, I've been preoccupied with other things.

Anyways, here's some new pictures

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1079.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1080.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1081.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1082.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1083.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1090.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1091.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1092.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1093.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1094.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1095.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1096.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1098.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1099.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1100.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1101.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1102.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1103.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1108.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1115.jpg

All of the roof was done today. And I did some general things here and there, like sealing it up, as you can see from one of the pictures. Damn I suck at using sealant.

Probably the hardest part of this whole project was getting the plywood on the roof, especially with such a hight peak. My friend who is 5'8 and 150 pounds of pure muscle came up and helped me lift it while my dad drilled it in from the top floor. It really did suck.

Shingling was probably the most tedious part of this. Rows and rows and rows and rows of fucking shingles. 4 nails in each, and everyone one of them boring. Good thing it only took 1 weekend. And it was hard because of the really high peak.

At least it's waterproof now. Except the sides. I'm doing siding next weekend, and after that I'll be done. Except the interior. Thank god. It's not that I don't like doing this, it's is and was quite fun doing everything, but I'm burned out. At least for now.

Furnishing it is going to be a bitch, since I only have 200 dollars to do that, and it needs to be semi-nice for reasons I don't care to share.

Still though, I'm pretty glad and excited that I'm almost done.

EDIT: I forgot a funny thing that happened while building

My dog:

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/midnightrider384/Mini%20house/IMG_1111.jpg

Came back with a lynx head in it's mouth. It looked as though he had freshly ripped it off it's body.

We're not sure where the body is. Hopefully I can find it to take a picture.

It was pretty cool.

Furnishing it is going to be a bitch, since I only have 200 dollars to do that, and it needs to be semi-nice for reasons I don't care to share.

Not too hard to furnish on that amount. Just find a free recliner and couch on craigslist or in the paper, and you can get scrap material for next to nothing, and read up on sewing and re-upholstering and have someone help you put the new coverings on.

you better post pics of the ladies you hook up with in that thing

you better post pics of the ladies you hook up with in that thing

Look, I founds me one!

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa248/cestlaviejp/Fugly.jpg

Furnishing it is going to be a bitch, since I only have 200 dollars to do that, and it needs to be semi-nice for reasons I don't care to share.

Use milk crates. Free and can be configured in many ways.

I know I'm not helping at all, but you'd really bring a girl there? I'm not sure she'll be very impressed.

I know I'm not helping at all, but you'd really bring a girl there? I'm not sure she'll be very impressed.

lol my sediments exactly.

who wants to fuck in a little 3mx3m shed?

no offence.

Why does the roof have such a drastic peak? Also why are you closing the entire roof section out, you'd think you could make a little attic?

lol my sediments exactly.

Awesome.

I believe it's called a shed, not a mini house


But if he intends to have girls over, then it becomes..

:mad:
A Stabbin' Cabin

Why does the roof have such a drastic peak? Also why are you closing the entire roof section out, you'd think you could make a little attic?

The roof isn't being closed out quite yet, since I am planning on making a nice little attic for sleeping in.

Also, I didn't feel like cutting any wood so it has a huge peak.

It looks quite cool, but I think you should have tried making it a little bigger since you were going through the trouble of making it.

lol my sediments exactly.

who wants to fuck in a little 3mx3m shed?

no offence.

yeah bro, you would get sand in your vagina

It looks quite cool, but I think you should have tried making it a little bigger since you were going through the trouble of making it.

I was actually thinking this a while ago, a 10x12 shed would have been just as easy as an 8x10 shed, because you're pretty much doing the exact same thing, just with longer wood.

Anyways, due to the size constrictions, I may build an expansion to it next summer, I want to add a workshop for all my engines and such, since I just work on them in my garage now.

I know I'm not helping at all, but you'd really bring a girl there? I'm not sure she'll be very impressed.
Hey, if it has a comfortable bed it's better than the back seat of a shitty little beater auto.

Just my $0.02

Hey, if it has a comfortable bed it's better than the back seat of a shitty little beater auto.

Just my $0.02

Good point. Though I don't really remember the OP saying anything about bringing in girls.

When I built a shack like this I actually put a sign on the front that read: No Gurls Alowd

Just for old times sakes... :(

Interesting project man. I'm not sure that I understand the rationale behind building what is essentially just a detached bedroom though. I would have just made myself a beautiful workshop. Then again, you aren't me, something your mother is grateful for everyday, ahaha. :)

This thread has semi motivated me into building my own shack. I recently saw some kid's shack like this also. Now I realize how to make one.

Jojoman, if you do, make sure you have someone to help you with things like lifting plywood. That's really only the thing that you DO need help with, no questions asked. You may be able to lift it on your own, but you won't be able to lift it and drill it into the roof at the same time :D

So ware the fuck is the new pictures

You got me all interested now

You better have some serious progress after this long

What happend to this kid did his mini house fall on him and kill em

Hahaha no, I've actually been living in this for a while now. I probably spend half my time that I'm at home in my shed.

I just ordered 250 feet of Ethernet cable to run some internet to the computer I have out there right now. I've got the electricity, it's just one long extension cord that I run from my parents house to my shed.

It really needs to have the interior be finished, I need carpeting and wallboard. It's quite bare right now, I have a TV and a computer and shelf and some other things in it right now, but they're all scattered around on a dirty floor and on some shelves made out of 2 ladders and a piece of plywood. I've also got my PS2 and I'm going to move my 360 out there.

I'm on a week-long break from school right now, I just finished my first set of final exams, so I have lots of time to work on this. Plus I have spare fuzzy carpet in my basement, and I have lots of furniture I've been hoarding that would have gone to waste, so It'll be well furnished when I put everything in.

I must say, right now it holds heat REALLY well, even though it's not even finished. I accidently left my heater on for about 3 hours while I wasn't there, and when I got back it was sweltering, and the heat stayed for about an hour until it got to a reasonable level.

Meanwhile, the top is sealed up, with a nice little hole so I can go up and sleep up there. The top is just as finished as it's ever going to be right now. I've got my sleeping bad and a couple of pillows up there. If I can find half a mattress, then I'll put that up there, but I don't think that people make half mattresses.

I've also go the door handle put on (Finally) but I need a way to drill a new hole in the door for a deadbolt. That's one of the things that I really want, because the door handle was meant for a door that pulls in, not pulls out, so it doesn't lock, it just holds the door closed.

Right now it's fun to sit in it and chill, but it really needs to be finished for it to actually be comfortable. I need a couch to make this complete, I have 2 chairs but they're pretty uncomfortable, and I have nowhere to actually sit down comfortably, the chairs are made of wood and the back sticks up at about a 100 degree angle.

So I have electricity, insulation, and just about everything a man shed needs, and I have a couple hundred put away to furnish it really well, so I should be good on that front.

One of the only major problems I have with this right now is the lack of more than one power outlet. Since I just ran an extension cable, it means that I have to be careful how much I run at once, especially with a heater going, and that sucks up a LOT of power. I don't wanna blow a fuse or anything, since then I'd have to walk all the way up to my "real" house when it's 15 degrees outside.

I'll get some pictures tomorrow, I haven't really thought about taking any recently. It looks pretty much the same from the outside, just with a door handle and the top is sealed.

Run two 20 amp circuits from your circuit breaker box in your real house to a sub panel in your mini house. Then wire teh whole place up correctly

Run two 20 amp circuits from your circuit breaker box in your real house to a sub panel in your mini house. Then wire teh whole place up correctly

That's too expensive, I would do it but the wire alone would cost about 220 for 2 underground-rated wires long enough to go to my house. Not to mention the circut breaker box, I don't know how much those cost but I'm guessing they're not under 50 bucks.

You said you have electricity in the form of just a long extension cord, which probably should work for a while. Just an idea for if you ever want to bury it, it run it through something like a pvc pipe and just bury that. That way, if it ever breaks, you don't need to dig it all up again, you just basically pull the wire through and slip another one in.

I just recall my uncle telling me about how he did that on his farm, but instead of electricity, it was a water pipe inside of another, larger pipe. It might be harder to run a wire through the pipe a second time than something solid like a water pipe would be, but I imagine it would still save effort in the long run - especially if you were ever going to dig up in the first place.

Great thread! I'm actually brewing up some plans for a mini-house of my own, although it'll be larger than yours. I've got bigger plans for mine--it's where I'll live after I finish my degree! That's a ways off though. So I'm still in the design phase.

On that subject, I've got a few questions: It didn't look like you used roofing felt underneath your shingles; is that true? And do you really have to use it? Also, what did you use for siding, and did you put Tyvek or something underneath? I've been pondering whether or not to insulate the floor on mine, and I'm leaning towards "no" because it looks like you didn't insulate your floor at all, and it seems to hold heat well. Up in the loft/attic, did you put anything between the insulation and you? that is, is there a ceiling, or can you see the rafters and insulation from the attic where you sleep?

To free up some power, you could convert to low-voltage lighting. The heater is obviously going to suck up a lot of power, so if you could figure out a way to keep the place warm without using electricity, that would be awesome. The place looks a bit small for a wood-burning stove, though.

In all, GREAT THREAD! And a great idea. Mad props. Keep those photos coming! Did you already know a lot about construction before you made this? I didn't/don't really know much, so I'm doing a lot of research and reading.

Look, I founds me one!

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa248/cestlaviejp/Fugly.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HKDxP1psns

cool shed brah

Edit, i red on thestar.com some time ago, some man lived in a shed like that behind a hospital/ phyciatric ward/ some shit for a year, need less to say, he managed to make over 100,000.00 that year working there, in the end, he had to pay a 2500.00 fine.

Shit, i wish i could find that damn story

Great thread! I'm actually brewing up some plans for a mini-house of my own, although it'll be larger than yours. I've got bigger plans for mine--it's where I'll live after I finish my degree! That's a ways off though. So I'm still in the design phase.

On that subject, I've got a few questions: It didn't look like you used roofing felt underneath your shingles; is that true? And do you really have to use it? Also, what did you use for siding, and did you put Tyvek or something underneath? I've been pondering whether or not to insulate the floor on mine, and I'm leaning towards "no" because it looks like you didn't insulate your floor at all, and it seems to hold heat well. Up in the loft/attic, did you put anything between the insulation and you? that is, is there a ceiling, or can you see the rafters and insulation from the attic where you sleep?

To free up some power, you could convert to low-voltage lighting. The heater is obviously going to suck up a lot of power, so if you could figure out a way to keep the place warm without using electricity, that would be awesome. The place looks a bit small for a wood-burning stove, though.

In all, GREAT THREAD! And a great idea. Mad props. Keep those photos coming! Did you already know a lot about construction before you made this? I didn't/don't really know much, so I'm doing a lot of research and reading.

No, I didn't use roof felt. I didn't really see a point in it, it just seemed like a waste of money to me. This thing only has to last me four years, so I didn't exactly build it as well as I would have if it had to last me longer.

I haven't put siding on yet, that's saved for when it gets warm again. When I do put it on, I'm just going to use some cheap vinyl siding. It's priced out to be about 150 for siding for me.

You don't need to insulate the floor, the ground will do that fine for you. I was skeptical at first, but I've found that it works fine without it.

In the loft, and everywhere else, there's a weather seal throughout all the places there's insulation. You do need to do that. Hell, I'm building this cheaply and I did it. I don't think I'll ever finish the loft, I'll probably just leave it as it is.

If you do build one to live in, I recommend at least 150 square feet on the bottom, and 2 separate lofts. I'd say that probably 30 square feet would to to the bathroom, and if you're gonna live in it you'll need the bathroom. Try to make a separate kitchen too.

Here:
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/

This is what inspired me and what I'm basing my interior off of it when I do finish the interior.

Good luck!

if you're really after burying cord:

get some garden hose (as in, what you use to water plants) and thread some arctic condition (good from -15 or so) mains flex through it. You can probably buy 100m of arctic condition mains cabling for a reasonable amount, though also check out the prices of normal reel extension leads - certainly from supermarkets etc it can be cheaper to buy extension reels and cut the cable off than buying cable by the 100m roll. Stupid, I know.

You now have reasonably durable cabling that you can bury. Make sure that you put a breaker at the mains supply end, and maybe a distro box with breaker in the mini house, but it should be alright other than that - you may want to run two cables total, from different ring mains in your parent's house, one for heating and lighting, one for electricals.

50M or so of hose can be had pretty cheaply (go to discount stores (£-stretcher in the UK)rather than garden centres / hardware stores, will be cheaper. If you have to do a join, you can use heatshrink, though its probably not advisable.

So a total of 4 lengths of garden hose: one for water, one for ethernet cable, two for mains power. If you're having a sink, bear in mind that it'll also need a drain.... take the pvc pipe outlet from the outlet of the sink, dig a trench, fill with coarse gravel, and take the pipe to the top of the trench. This will help it drain more efficiently than just having a small stream coming out of your minihouse.

Also, don;t underestimate the time and work required to dig the trench to put the cables in, even a few inches x 20m is a lot of work.

The (not as desirable) alternative to burying the cable is to suspend it; fix eyelets to the walls of your and your parents house, run a steel cable between your parent's house and your mini house, and then cable tie mains cables along it. Use decent grade extension leads with arctic condition cable, rather than normal domestic ones, and an rcd or similar breaker at one or both ends.

Urinal or toilet will be a lot of ballache tbh, especially if you don't want the whole place smelling of piss.

looks like a really cool project :)


also, instead of getting a proper matress in there, get one or two of these:

http://www.alpkit.com/airic/ theyre a bit taller than camping rollmats, but way, way comfier. they can be had for about £10 each, and are comfy even on very rough ground, on a flat piece of plywood, one of them + a sleeping bag will be very comfortable :)

Hmm, so if you DID want to make the roof look nice from the inside, how would you go about doing that? (perhaps some other posters who are experienced in carpentry can help out too).

The obvious answer would be to just nail some boards or something onto the rafters from the inside, but this has got me concerned about getting proper ventilation in the areas between the boards you just nailed up and the ceiling sheathing (the plywood or OSB boards over the rafters on the outside). This would be no problem at all if you did not insulate your roof, but if I wanted to build in a colder climate, insulating the roof would be a very good idea, methinks.

Also, I see that you used sheet metal braces to nail in the studs. Do you happen to know how much those cost you for this project? I'm leaning towards not using them, because I feel like I can do a good enough job with plain old nails and a spirit level.

Also, I see that you used sheet metal braces to nail in the studs. Do you happen to know how much those cost you for this project? I'm leaning towards not using them, because I feel like I can do a good enough job with plain old nails and a spirit level.

Trust me mate, use the metal braces. I think I spent ~30 on them, and I couldn't have done it without them. You will want these.

Also, regarding of your question of what I would do to make it look nice, I'd do exactly what you just described. Nail some studs into the roof on the inside and maybe paint them, and get some nice lights and what not.

Also, I see that you used sheet metal braces to nail in the studs. Do you happen to know how much those cost you for this project? I'm leaning towards not using them, because I feel like I can do a good enough job with plain old nails and a spirit level.

It will make you a man if you cut the roof completely by hand, even more badass if you don't use nails.

Wait wait wait a minute...
Did you have a building permit for this? :eek:

It's probably small enough so that a building permit isn't required. Often, building codes will have an exemption like this:

WHEN BUILDING PERMITS ARE NOT REQUIRED
A building permit shall not be required for the following:
1. One story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds,
playhouses, and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed
120 square feet.

the square footage can vary from 120 to 200, depending on the local laws. To be honest, you can probably even go over it, as long as it's obvious that it's not a house. The building inspector in your area isn't going to investigate unless he gets a complaint, which won't happen if you're building a small shed (even if you build a 12x12 shed in an area whose code specifies 120 sq. ft. max). Now, there's nothing to prevent you from sleeping out in your shed, nor is there anything to prevent you from running electricity to it. But if you actually intended to live in your structure (i.e. install plumbing, kitchen, gas, etc), especially if you were building on an otherwise-empty lot, you WILL need a permit.

Thus, my dilemma. I am doing some serious research into local codes in the area I plan to build in, and, while it takes a good deal of determination and homework, it is very feasible to build and plumb your own house. Electrical work is something I'll get a professional to do, and gas lines, if I decide to do that. There's a good deal of red tape to navigate, though. I think they made it so some yuck can't build a shoddy little lean-to and live in it. Personally, if I wanted to build a shoddy little lean-to and live in it, I'd build it in the middle of fucking nowhere, where nobody would find it. Anyways, that's where I am right now with it. I'm drafting a revised set of floor plans (and stud plans, etc) and, once I'm done with those, will make a first-draft of a plumbing and electrical plan.

Great thread! I'm actually brewing up some plans for a mini-house of my own, although it'll be larger than yours. I've got bigger plans for mine--it's where I'll live after I finish my degree! That's a ways off though. So I'm still in the design phase.

On that subject, I've got a few questions: It didn't look like you used roofing felt underneath your shingles; is that true? And do you really have to use it? Also, what did you use for siding, and did you put Tyvek or something underneath? I've been pondering whether or not to insulate the floor on mine, and I'm leaning towards "no" because it looks like you didn't insulate your floor at all, and it seems to hold heat well. Up in the loft/attic, did you put anything between the insulation and you? that is, is there a ceiling, or can you see the rafters and insulation from the attic where you sleep?





You need to use tar paper under the shingles or it will leak. You don't insulate the floor and you can just use some 2x4 insulation in the roof.

A big gust and you'll be living in pancake manner.

throw some bags of cement in there, she'll be right mate.

In the walls?

in the fucking base dickhead.

it's not likely to blow apart, more to blow over.