Compact Cabins by Gerald Rowan

Author:Gerald Rowan
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC
Published: 2009-08-30T16:00:00+00:00

GETTING THE MOST FROM BUILDING MATERIALS

WHEN BUILDING A CABIN, EVERYONE WANTS TO KEEP THE COST TO A MINIMUM. THE TWO MAJOR COST FACTORS ARE MATERIALS AND LABOR.

And the amount of labor a cabin will require is determined, at least to some extent, by your decisions regarding building materials. My strategy for getting the most from building materials follows five rules:

1. Plan/design well. The old adage is “Measure twice, cut once.” I add the mantra, “Design, design, design.”

2. Shop well. Finding materials is as much a part of design as is drafting plans. I tend to look for odd lots, off-color lots, and surplus materials, because they are available at prices well below retail. It pays to put in the time to look for just the right materials at just the right price. The Internet can be helpful here — you can use it to check prices of any materials or fixtures you’re considering to make sure that you’re getting a good deal.

3. Stage the project. Don’t be in a hurry to purchase everything you need all at once. Instead, purchase the materials you want when you can get them at a good price, then store them until you need them.

4. Buy used materials and fixtures when possible. Used or recycled materials can cost less than new ones. It makes ecological sense to work with them rather than having new materials manufactured. And sometimes “used” can equate to an interesting period-piece fixture or authentically timeworn material.

5. Make your own labor cost-effective. You most likely will be doing some of the work yourself. Plan well, get cost quotes from contractors, and know your own skills so that you can make cost-effective decisions about which parts of the work you should do yourself and which parts should be left to contractors.

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