How to Build a Cabin Foundation

The following steps can help you plan, develop and construct your own cabin foundation with minimal cost, and it can be fabricated by yourself or with a little help from a friend. This cabin foundation is simple to construct and is easily added onto in the future if you would like more living space area in your cabin.

Things You'll Need

• Chain saw
• Ax
• Post hole diggers
• 4-foot level
• Carpenter square
• Claw hammer
• Round-nosed shovel
• Mortar box and cement hoe
• 16 penny nails
• Tamper tool
• 6 to 8 bags of cement mix
• 2 pine 16-foot 2 x 8s
• 13 pine 10-foot 2 x 8s
• 12 yellow locust posts 5 feet long

Instructions

1. Determining the best location on your land to construct your cabin. Things to consider are: access for delivering materials and future needs; is the layout of the land fairly level and solid or stable; do you have a source for a water supply; and what will you use for utilities if desired.

2. Next, layout the overall foundation plan or size on the site location and mark with marker paint so you will know how much area you need to clear of brush, rocks, trees and other debris.

3. Using the chain saw and the ax, clear the site of all brush and trees.

4. Mark all four corners for the foundation and using the post hole diggers at least 24 to 32 inches deep and large enough (approximately 12- to 14-inch diameter) for your locust posts to be installed. (If locust posts are not available, you can use 6 x 6 treated posts; notches will not be required.)

5. Now place the four-corner post in the holes and square up as much as possible. Using the mortar box and cement hoe, mix the cement mix--approximately one-half bag for each post--and pour around corner posts. If the wet mix is used, you will have to allow a day for the cement to harden. This process also can be done with a dry mix, and with this method work can continue the same day. Completely fill the post hole a few inches at a time using the tamping tool to compact the earth around the post to make it solid and secure.

6. Using the chain saw, cut a 2 x 8.5-inch notch on both outside corners of all four corner foundation posts to allow the rectangle frame or base plate to be constructed and installed on the posts. While using the level, the base plate is nailed together with the 16 penny nails to form the rectangle and also secure base plates to the corner posts at a level position.

7. Mark the location of the other foundation posts on four-foot centers for the long sides and at the mid point on both the ends, three on the sides and one each on the ends. Repeat the operation of Step 4, and install the posts. The posts should have the 2 x 8.5-inch notch cut in each one before they are installed in the holes. This will allow the base plate to be secured to the posts.

8. Now, using the dry mix method in Step 5 finish filling the post holes and securing the foundation posts.

9. Cut the post to the same height with the chain saw. Install the remainder of the 10-foot pine 2 x 8s on 16-inch centers for the cabin floor, and you are ready to construct your cabin either with conventional lumber or with logs.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to check into local building codes prior to breaking ground for your foundation, otherwise you run the risk of getting fined.

References

• Learn more about cabin building here

Resources

• Informative resource on cabin building