Building an Off Grid A-Frame Cabin in Alaska - TIMELAPSE - Episode 2

Welcome back!
In the second episode, we will cover the process of sheathing the A's, laying down Ice & Water shield, and installing the metal roof as we rush to ensure the building is properly sealed before the snow sets in.
This footage took place during October, so days were getting shorter and temperatures were getting colder. It seemed like any work that required being up on a ladder brought rain, so it made for some rather miserable working conditions on those days.
Days:
0:05 - Day 17 - 10/4/22 - Sheathing the A's Pt. 1
2:40 - Day 18 - 10/8/22 - Sheathing the A's Pt. 2
5:37 - Day 19 - 10/9/22 - Ice and Water Shield
8:19 - Day 20 - 10/14/22 - Enclosing Pt. 1
12:30 - Day 21 - 10/15/22 - Metal Roofing
15:32 - Day 22 - 10/17/22 - Roof Trim/Flashing
Some of my favorite tools/products that have been crucial in this build:
✔️ Cabins & Cottages, Revised/Expanded Edition - amzn.to/3Snso0u
✔️ Paslode - Cordless XP Framing Nailer - amzn.to/3SqqHzi
✔️ DEWALT 20V MAX* 7-1/4-Inch Miter Saw - amzn.to/4241YUM
✔️ DEWALT 20V MAX LED Work Light - amzn.to/3RYhJrG
✔️ LasGoo Laser Level 3x360 - amzn.to/3S2rllj
Music:
Hallman / do Whatever you like (Instrumental)
Phello / Overcast
Larry Poppinz / TIME TO RESET
Chill Cole / Chillseekers
Tape Machines / By the Water
Cody Francis / Weather Any Storm (Instrumental)
All courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Embark on a captivating off-grid living adventure in Alaska with our A-Frame cabin series! Follow along as we build a 24x16 DIY retreat with a partial loft, optimizing 400 square feet of space. Learn the intricacies of off-grid energy solutions, install a durable metal roof for Alaska's weather, and master the art of heating with a wood stove for ultimate comfort in our extreme climate. Subscribe for precise insights, blending rustic charm with modern convenience in this time-lapse journey as we create our own Scandinavian-inspired Alaskan sanctuary. Your journey to a resilient, off-grid lifestyle starts now!
#cabin #aframecabin #aframe #cabin #timelapsebuild #offgrid #offgridcabin #alaskan #alaskancabin #cozycabin #building #build

[@HoangThiHaoFarmLife6368]

So beautiful. a quiet place and fresh air.

[@johnalveus]

another great vid 💪 thank you for that .. dying to hear your thought process and the narrative of the project , but happy to zen along with your curated visual composition , nonetheless ✌️ great work !!

[@gian1507]

Beautiful work. I will be waiting for part 3 of this building.

[@norsetoalaska]

Thank you very much!

[@sgrvtl7183]

Nice to have help❗️I have watched other young people building their own place in Alaska (raw land) and very concerned for them. Nice grated , gravel area and road is a ++👌❗️

[@norsetoalaska]

It sure is! I've been doing quite a few solo trips now that most of the heavy lifting is done - while it is somewhat therapeutic working alone in the woods it can also get lonely. 🐻

[@user-tc8un8im7e]

Ребята молодцы. В любую погоду стройка продолжается. Удачи в строительных работах. Ждем 3 части)

[@norsetoalaska]

Спасибо! Работаем над третьей частью. Надеюсь, к концу месяца онa будет готовa.

[@petebaldwin6661]

Great progress, it looks awesome

[@norsetoalaska]

Thanks! We think so too!

[@diysolarready]

Great work and enjoyable video!

[@norsetoalaska]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@kingrafa3938]

Well done and great progress on the build. Looking forward to episode 3.

[@WolfgangR75]

same, can`t wait. wish i coud work with u .....woodworking is my dream.

[@PattyPrice-tl7bc]

Awesome awesome job

[@norsetoalaska]

Thank you so much 😀!

[@terrylongmire-wb5hf]

Beautiful

[@norsetoalaska]

Thank you!

[@RoamAboutOutdoors]

Nice work...keep the videos coming

[@norsetoalaska]

Thanks, will do!

[@littlegriffoffgridalberta6837]

It's coming along pretty nice ! you have some good it speeds thing up a bit, lol :) I love the A-Frame, your going to have a nice little cabin when your done :)

[@norsetoalaska]

Thanks 👍. I keep thinking the hard part is over after we got the roofing done, but then I remember what we have left to do. Trying to have it completed by June/July of this year.

[@Adventure-Off-Grid]

Awesome video! I really appreciated how you wrote out each step you were completing. It would be great to see dimensions - I figured it out by just watching what products you were using, but something added to show the dimensions would be fantastic. Great work and thanks for sharing!

[@norsetoalaska]

I will definitely keep that in mind as I've been getting quite a few questions regarding the dimensions and lumber used. I was wary of including too much info in the descriptions (and left them off episode 2 altogether) but it seems like that wouldn't be an issue. Thanks again!

[@cavanineymar2348]

very skilled and skilled....I love the building.....God bless....i m from Papua Indonesia

[@norsetoalaska]

Thanks for watching! I would love to visit Indonesia one day!

[@anthonysandqvist-jv2ue]

This is beautiful

[@norsetoalaska]

Thank you! That's what I like to hear!

[@raycaster4398]

Wow, foundation blocks! Ladders! A helper! Wow, not that dangerous lone wolf stuff.

[@norsetoalaska]

Just ignore me standing on the top rung on occasion. We do bad things when we get tired 🫣

[@kevincerce5056]

If you haven't done so already at the bottom of the floor joists nail 2"X2" cover each joist with cut-to-fit plywood, add insulation then top it off with flooring plywood.

[@norsetoalaska]

Hi Kevin, thanks for the suggestion. This is pretty close to what we ended up doing, without the 2x2s. I know a lot of folks will enclose the bottom with a combination of chicken wire and house wrap to keep out pests, but I was told rodents up here will often eat right through the wire to make nests. Thanks for watching! 🕶️

[@kabalisaulu8157]

Wow, great video!

[@norsetoalaska]

Thanks!

[@joaocarlossilva7323]

Top❤😊obrigado

[@carolynsilvers9999]

I love this presentation. Much better then tons of talking.

[@norsetoalaska]

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback.

[@sk8nchill52]

I also do love it when the talking comes later

[@BrkicM-motoandvideo]

You will have a beautiful house at the end! 🙋🇭🇷

[@norsetoalaska]

I think so too! Thanks!

[@BrkicM-motoandvideo]

@@norsetoalaska we are also dreaming about A frame.... Waitting for your next video 👍

[@cesarosorio1057]

hermoso diseño arquitectónico gracias por compartir ingeniero

[@norsetoalaska]

¡Gracias por ver! ¡Te lo agradezco!

[@thegrassassasin2142]

Awesome job !! Keep up the good work. How are the "A" structures attached to the platform ?

[@norsetoalaska]

Hey thanks!! Good question - each A has a hurricane tie connecting one of the joists in the A-assembly to the beam under it. You can see the metal of the ties pretty good at 3:14 to get a visual of them. We also used nails on the center beam, toenailed into both joists.

[@marthavh2678]

My interested in the Dimensions of this 'A' and how many bedrooms y'all are building....👍😁👏❤

[@norsetoalaska]

Hi Martha 👋! Rough dimensions are 24’x16’, with an extra 4’ of covered deck. We’re planning to have a queen bed in the back left corner and a queen in the partial loft. Both beds will be open to the living area, so not bedrooms per se. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻

[@timber_frame]

저도 A Frame 좋아해요

[@norsetoalaska]

감사해요!

[@Shelleys4Seasons]

This is really great, what size is the cabin?

[@norsetoalaska]

Hello Shelley, thanks! The cabin is 24' x 16' x 16' (LxWxH) with an extra 4' of covered deck. Due to the lumber used and the nature of A-frames, actual interior space is roughly 24' x 13.83' x 13.83'.

[@hill-di2ui]

That design would work well built on a mobile home chassis

[@norsetoalaska]

Probably. It would be pretty difficult to move though at 16' wide.

[@jasonlamoureux4439]

Great build! Looks like the size id like in an A frame. Whats the width and height?

[@norsetoalaska]

Hi Jason! The cabin is 24'x16'x16' (LxWxH)

[@nezircicek3593]

👍

[@jamesl2697]

Could you share the dimensions of the lumber you used to frame. Are those 16’ boards? Thanks

[@norsetoalaska]

Hi James, yes those are 16’ 2x8s for both the joists and rafters. I’ve seen others use 2x6s for the joists, but we went with 2x8s to fit more insulation.

[@user-ii2bo9pi1j]

Take me to be your helper! I wanna know how built this #

[@norsetoalaska]

Come on over! We can always use the help!

[@JohnWesleyAustin]

I've watched quite a few of these vids,"build an off grid cabin", i wonder, obviously you 1st own the land, and it has no restrictions? Alaska is obviously the wild west, but can one do this in georgia? Can I someday get electric? a temporary pole? a mailbox? they won't give you an address without a certif. of occupancy, which you can't get without meeting building codes and having inspections. What about resale value? a house that's "off grid" doesn't add value to a property unless it's air conditioned space? or am i mistaken bout these things?

[@norsetoalaska]

Hi John, that’s correct - the land we own has no restrictions and can be built upon without any permitting/inspections. A quick search of the “landsearch” website in GA shows me several properties without restrictions there as well. On our property electric is nearby, so we could get connected in the future if we wanted to shell out the money for it (likely $8-12k). I’m not sure about the mailbox, the full-timers in the area seem to use cluster mailboxes where there’s several in a main intersection/area. I don’t know what it would take to get a certificate of occupancy, but for our use it’s not needed. As for resale value - the cabin would most certainly add value, and could be regarded as a conditioned space once we have the woodstove in. I’ve seen similar turnkey cabins (in worse shape) go for $80-120k. Thanks for the question!

[@jace7023]

What did you use to attach the frame to the foundation beam?

[@norsetoalaska]

Good question 👍🏻. We used Simpson H1 Hurricane ties to secure the rafter assemblies to the beams. There is a tie on each side, and the rafter assemblies were also toe-nailed to the center beam. 😃

[@chicolaroca9438]

What is the distance between the A´s?

[@norsetoalaska]

The A's are 24"(61cm) apart on-center. We have fifteen A's to get 28' (8.5m) of roof length in total.

[@khaldunazar]

Can you help me to recognize the black martial you use to cover the house in the 12:54

[@norsetoalaska]

Hello, It is ice and water shield (a waterproof membrane). The one we're using is made by Grace, but there's a few other manufacturers as well. Hope that helps!

[@spoint4530]

How much for all material costs ?

[@norsetoalaska]

Around $17k. Which includes a few things we hadn't finished at this point, like the sub-floor and insulation.

[@user-zw7wr3gu6w]

Откуда там в лесу у вас свет!?-от генератора?

[@norsetoalaska]

Да, от генератора!

[@Crayz919]

Whats total cost for material ???

[@norsetoalaska]

I'm all in for $30,000 USD at the moment with it 90% complete. We were at $17k in materials at the end of this episode.

[@pingpingchan4197]

3角支点🌟✨📜

[@norsetoalaska]

🤷🏻‍♂️😁⛺

[@misu60]

That plywood will cause you so much trouble.

[@norsetoalaska]

I'm hoping it won't cause any trouble but I will definitely be keeping an eye on it and checking for moisture.

[@user-dn4cv1im3q]

Интересует почему нижний слой фанера, а выше осб

[@norsetoalaska]

Здравствуйте! Это все фанера, мне больше нравится фанера, так как она более устойчива к влаге.

[@user-tu3bz1yb8y]

Good afternoon! I'm Brazilian, I wanted to know the measurements I wanted to replicate here. Thank you very much for your attention. Translation made for google lol

[@norsetoalaska]

Olá Jonatas, obrigado por assistir! As dimensões da cabine são 4,88 m de largura por 4,88 m de altura por 8,53 m de comprimento. Usamos madeira de 2x8".

[@gersonkasule4846]

@@norsetoalaska , thanks too. Iam from Angola, Africa.

[@user-zw7wr3gu6w]

Ой-вокруг лес такой "пустой"-как то жутковато

[@norsetoalaska]

🌳🌳🏕️🏕️🧟🧟

[@jeremiah4267]

A porta potty cost $100 to $200 dollars...

[@norsetoalaska]

Haven't seen them that cheap if we're talking about the sani-can type, maybe renting?

[@michaelallard9928]

I’ve seen guys build entire a frame houses with what it costed you to buy that grace ice and water shield.

[@norsetoalaska]

Entire house for under $1000? Nice! 👍🏻

[@jay-gl7ib]

Definitely some hillbillies😂

[@steeldragon5867]

Looks easy when you speed it up, l know its not though, good work from Australia 👍

[@norsetoalaska]

So true. My family and friends always say the same thing. The best part is it's harder to tell when we don't know what we're doing 😜

[@DGotti-jy9go]

Чекаємо на 3 частину))👍👍👍☺

[@norsetoalaska]

Сподіваюся, частина 3 буде готова наприкінці місяця! Дякую за дивлюсь!