Build a Cabin - The 12 Step Process

HOW TO BUILD A CABIN - THE 12 STEP PROCESS

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Approached with proper planning, budgeting and design selection, building a new cabin can be a rewarding undertaking. Your cabin will be the base for all sorts of great experiences and memories. The construction of the cabin itself should be one of those.

Building a cabin from a flat pack cabin kit streamlines and eliminates several steps associated with traditional building techniques. The result is a quicker build time and reduced potential for error. You might be one of those confident and skilled individuals who takes on the construction yourself or you might work with a local contractor. Whatever the case the process from purchasing the right property to budgeting, planning and building is fairly straight forward and will leave you with a great sense of accomplishment. An accomplishment you will enjoy for many years to come.

Building a Form & Forest flat pack cabin from start to finish is essentially a 12 step process. Obviously there are many details within the 12 major steps that go beyond the scope of this summary . If you don't find the answers to you questions on this site we are always available during the planning and construction process to help assist you with any questions you may have as you embark on the journey of building your cabin.

1. Land

You can’t build without land (unless your building a float home of course). So you need to find your piece of paradise. There are many things to think about from right of ways to septic tanks but 3 key considerations are essential to enjoying your cabin long term. These are Affordability, Proximity, and Recreation. These three factors are interconnected and influence each other to a degree. Ultimately you want a place that is within reasonable driving distance from where you live, meets your recreational needs when you get there and fits comfortably within your budget.

2. Select the Perfect Design.

This is going to be easy especially when you see the plans we’re developing. You will want to take into consideration how the design works with the lot you’re building on, and the number of family, friends, and long lost relatives who will be sharing the space with you.

3. Develop a Budget

Once you have purchased the construction plans and placed your deposit on the building kit it is time to sit down with your contractor and itemize each individual cost that the project will involve. It is important to be as comprehensive as possible at this stage so that there are no surprises down the road. Those surprises will not feel rewarding in any way.

4. Financing

In the eyes of most bankers a Form & Forest prefab cabin kit is viewed in the same manner as a conventional stick framed house. Therefore your building project will be eligible for a construction loan which is converted to a traditional mortgage upon completion.

5. Secure the building permits

Building codes vary from municipality to municipality. You must submit your plans to the local authorities in order to secure your building permits. Plans may also need a local engineers approval. Our representatives will be happy to support you through this process by answering any questions you may have. However it is up to you or your contractor to work with your local authorities to secure the necessary permits.

6. Order Your Prefab Cabin Package.

With the planning, budgeting and bankers out of the way it is time to order your prefab cabin package. Our sales people will place your order with the plant and schedule the delivery to arrive at your site once the foundation is in place.

7. Site preparation

At this time you will prepare the lot by clearing boulders and scrub where appropriate, connecting services to site (water, waste, and power), and installing the foundation. Once the site is prepared you are ready to start standing the walls of the prefab cabin kit.

8. Stand the Walls

Things really start to take shape with the arrival of the truck carrying all the materials you will need to complete your cabin to the lock up stage. In some cases more than one truck will be needed to deliver the cabin. We will time the second delivery with your construction schedule so that you do not have any extra material lying around your site to be potentially interfered with by rain or squirrels. Your cabin will shape up quickly as the prefabricated wall panels are stood on the foundation and roof trusses are fixed in place and sheeted. Visualizing your impending cabin life will be much easier at this stage as you will start to see the views framed by the generous windows of the unfinished rooms.

9. Rough In the Utilities

Now that you have walls, a roof overhead and a door to walk through, it is time to bring in the electricians and plumbers to install your wiring and plumbing. Your heating system will also be installed at this time whether it be wood stove, electric, or gas. Hmmm… running water and electricity the cornerstones of comfortable living.

10. Interior Finish

So the water and electrons are flowing through their respective pipes and wires. It's time to get the interior to a livable state by installing the drywall, hanging the doors, installing the flooring, painting the walls, installing the mill work and setting the fixtures. At this stage you will be confidently bragging to your friends back home about the "little" place you built in the woods.

11. Furniture Selection

Buy new or dust off that Hans Wagner Ch25 easy chair currently languishing in your basement? These are the questions you will face at this stage. So be experimental. Cabins are forums for improvisation and innovation using simple and natural materials. This stage will go on forever and promises to be as entertaining as your cabin life itself.

12, Move In

The Most important stage of all.