I'm Building An OFF GRID Cabin- The Roof Goes On!

In November 2020, I started cutting the wood for my timberframe Off-Grid Cabin. Since I've been a kid, like a lot of people, I've dreamed about building my own cabin in the woods. A year later, a lot of miles on my vehicle, and even more on my old bones, I finished the roof today. There's still plenty of work to be done on the cabin in the woods, but today was a milestone for me. We'll use the cabin for a weekend retreat while we do some fishing on the lake, hunting in the woods, and as I start to build our home on the land. I never thought woodworking would be something that I'd be comfortable with. But here we are.

[@RedandAprilOff-Grid]

Yikes, that's a steep roof! Looking good! 🙂🏠

[@Shallow-pockets-acres]

Looks good

[@OffGridFromTheGroundUp]

Thanks!

[@thomaswozencraft6577]

Great Red Wing story. Love those shared experiences. Great feeling of accomplishment!!

[@OffGridFromTheGroundUp]

If you don’t own some, get some!😂

[@TheOffGridExperience]

Nice job on roof so far. Cabin looks great! I'm glad to see the 4ft on center rafters and 1" boards provide a sturdy roof. That is the exact design I have wanted to go with on my cabin but I was a little concerned about the spacing. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Cheers!

[@OffGridFromTheGroundUp]

Yeah, I was a bit concerned too, from what I've been told, because of the pitch being 10/12 (or at least steep) it lessens the snow load. I was also told (by the guy who sold me the original beams) that you shouldn't go less than 1". Remember as you're building, mine are a true 1". Store bought stuff will be dried and be 3/4". However, you could easily do something like..a thin tongue and groove, then covered with OSB/Plywood. That was just cost prohibitive for me. Next, the Amish will run 1x4 straps the width of the roof...Then install metal.

[@TheOffGridExperience]

@@OffGridFromTheGroundUp Nice. I will have a fairly steep roof so I should be good. Are you planning to put any 1" foam on roof decking before running 1x4 straps?

[@OffGridFromTheGroundUp]

@@TheOffGridExperience Most people do, I'm planning on it as well. Only because it will be under the metal and impossible to get to if I don't do it now. However, I'm not insulating the walls...I know it sounds crazy, but I won't use the cabin in the winter, I'm planning on starting a house soon, and I'm not willing to cover up the beams with insulation. But, I'm going to put up the foam boards "just in case" those plans change.

[@johnperkins7179]

That looks really good up there. I always found working up on a roof wears me out. Probably the additional adrenaline from...possibly death. When you finish off over the stairs, think about working from the outside on up. Screw in some cleats every 4' or so as you go up. Keep a cell phone in your pants pocket in case you go all spiderman with the safety harness.

[@OffGridFromTheGroundUp]

I was thinking the same thing...Hopefully my wall delivery will come in this week...I don't want to put those roof boards on until I can get the wall boards up...easier to cut the angle of the roof using the sawzall once they're already in place...with my limited skills. :)

[@rustart]

Finished all 54 episodes over the past 2 weeks. Impressive, funny and good info. And of course inspiring. I’m counting you as a friend now. When’s the bbq?

[@MrWaldorfian]

You said you were gonna wear a harness. Where is it? Safety 7?

[@OffGridFromTheGroundUp]

Lol. I haven’t got on the steep part yet.. that part was only a 5/12 pitch.😂