Rough Living.

[Poppa Phill]

arrived in Maine June 18. raw 2.6 acres on Lower Hotbrook lake.

Stayed there off grid the first year. Moved to this property after Health issues forced me back on the grid. I aint far from the lake property and I intend to build on it after i finish this cabin. Roughed the past 2 winters up here but this last winter was killer after spending last of Oct and Most of November in ICU. Gods Driving the Bus, I aint gitting off it till he says so!

will post more pics of the place after I get em outa this phone. Cant seam to even get Tapatalkawhatever it is to work.

6 in cedar logs slotted and insulated strips on each row. building is 32x20 with the rear being 2 story for a sleeping loft. should be snug stout and safe vrs that stupid shed or my tent..... ya Think?

[bpate4home]

arrived in Maine June 18. raw 2.6 acres on Lower Hotbrook lake.

Stayed there off grid the first year. Moved to this property after Health issues forced me back on the grid. I aint far from the lake property and I intend to build on it after i finish this cabin. Roughed the past 2 winters up here but this last winter was killer after spending last of Oct and Most of November in ICU. Gods Driving the Bus, I aint gitting off it till he says so!

will post more pics of the place after I get em outa this phone. Cant seam to even get Tapatalkawhatever it is to work.

6 in cedar logs slotted and insulated strips on each row. building is 32x20 with the rear being 2 story for a sleeping loft. should be snug stout and safe vrs that stupid shed or my tent..... ya Think?

 

That's gorgeous. But being in Maine why not go for a steeper roof line to shed snow easier, not that it looks like you will have a weight bearing issue. I've wanted to build my own cabin for a while now.

[Poppa Phill]

That's gorgeous. But being in Maine why not go for a steeper roof line to shed snow easier, not that it looks like you will have a weight bearing issue. I've wanted to build my own cabin for a while now.

 

Snow can be your friend if you know how to use it. the roof deck has 1inch blue foam boards under the metal. walls are sealed between the 6 inch logs top bottom inside and out. inside walls have 1/2inch bubble wrap as a vapor barrier , 1 inch furring strips for the utilities to hide behind.

blue board and then a matching 6 inch plank walls inside. floors 2 inches of foam under the finish floor before I start installing kitchen bath etc.

Its a Basic structure with a lot of serious insulation. its going to require forced air ventilation as it is so tightly built

[bpate4home]

Snow can be your friend if you know how to use it. the roof deck has 1inch blue foam boards under the metal. walls are sealed between the 6 inch logs top bottom inside and out. inside walls have 1/2inch bubble wrap as a vapor barrier , 1 inch furring strips for the utilities to hide behind.

blue board and then a matching 6 inch plank walls inside. floors 2 inches of foam under the finish floor before I start installing kitchen bath etc.

Its a Basic structure with a lot of serious insulation. its going to require forced air ventilation as it is so tightly built

 

I understand that snow can have an insulating effect as long as it does not melt due to heat loss through the roof. You've sure got that taken care of though. Well done sir. I'm in Texas now so I don't need to worry to much about snow where I'm looking for land. More so I will be working to dissipate heat LOL.

[Poppa Phill]

I understand that snow can have an insulating effect as long as it does not melt due to heat loss through the roof. You've sure got that taken care of though. Well done sir. I'm in Texas now so I don't need to worry to much about snow where I'm looking for land. More so I will be working to dissipate heat LOL.

 

Being dropped in many God forsaken places for training I learned one very serious thing that I never forgot.

I can make fire, Insulate myself even naked to survive cold. few years back a Dr presrcribed a steroid for me after a muscle injury.

I not suffer heat poisoning as it is called. I cant be out in the heat or I just drop when my BP gets around 220 or so. it just keeps going up till I cool off. you cant stop and get cool if your caught in the heat with no cover, In the cold you can use the snow ice packs and what have you to create shelter burn stuff for heat etc, I have to be in cold country soooo, Ima gonna make da mostess of it !!

Oh and the roof Pitch, 3.5/12 2x6s the center beam to inside wall edge 11ft even, it will hold 6 ft of snow, the ridge beam is 6x12 it too aint even gonna move or droop. we snuggly

[Patch]

Snow can be your friend if you know how to use it. the roof deck has 1inch blue foam boards under the metal. walls are sealed between the 6 inch logs top bottom inside and out. inside walls have 1/2inch bubble wrap as a vapor barrier , 1 inch furring strips for the utilities to hide behind.

blue board and then a matching 6 inch plank walls inside. floors 2 inches of foam under the finish floor before I start installing kitchen bath etc.

Its a Basic structure with a lot of serious insulation. its going to require forced air ventilation as it is so tightly built

 

Oh and the roof Pitch, 3.5/12 2x6s the center beam to inside wall edge 11ft even, it will hold 6 ft of snow, the ridge beam is 6x12 it too aint even gonna move or droop. we snuggly

 

Eh Phil

 

Main and Quebec at one point, late 70's early 89's shared much information with regard to not just the cold weather but the dampness of our building locations. Canada Housing and Mortgage offered many grants back in the day for such developments not sure how many know but our building codes became a worldwide standard which was then and still, dressed up or down to suit local requirements.

I had the good fortune to get in early and in a small part make a mark. Eventually I focused on both passive and active heating challenges, very exciting at the time till the markets crash under Regannomics - OH well..

 

Now I see some flies in the butter. Now you can ask around and likely folks will say na or ya but...

The choice is yours

1st the exterior walls only represent R6 so that is not consider high by any current standard.

The 1/2 bubble rap (sliver reflective?) we'll say adds .5R

The air space between finish surfaces adds another .5R

Now I'm adding another 1R value for the double layer BUT it shouldn't be static air in this case but lets say it is...

That only adds to R8...!

 

True snow and there's plenty up there, heavy and wet the structure as described will hold that load but that is providing you tie the rafters, the 6 X 12" beam will not assist the walls or deflection(s) should the loads spread the walls at the top sill which is what will happen I promise if you are only counting on the ridge which is in compression as a mating plate!! Remember the roof loading aslo must include wind gusts plus snow plus materials: you may view it in simple downward forces but only if you cancel the scissor potential of the rafters!

OK, some will say "well the ceiling joist will take care of that" yes and no; it will depend on how the are tied to the structure, so yes when wind loads smack the broad sides of the walls they will switch to compression and cancel the loads, but not from top loading down! Did I hear you as Why?

 

Kid problems are compounded due to standards in where they are built.

Lets look a one load we know the structure will face. Snow weighs between 1 and 21 pounds pre cubic foot X area sqd. then factor average humidity, and in most cases you are close but not in this case.. So you could ponder this a bit by listing the 3.5/12, the weight of material, snow load plus what else, will this structure have and why... How you deal with the attic area will be very important, actually more like very very very important, so that's my clue to the puzzle

 

Now aren't you glad you shared ...lol

 

Correction square are not area squared!

Edited May 30, 2020 by Patch

[Yama Mama]

Looks like a nice place to me. I am sure Maine is gorgeous. I have only been there one time in my life.

My parents took me fishing somewhere at a lake which I no longer recall the name of.

We never caught any fish, but we had a nice time staying at the cabin we had rented.

I wonder have you seen any Moose? Just curious.

 

Yama Mama

[Poppa Phill]

 

Eh Phil

 

Main and Quebec at one point, late 70's early 89's shared much information with regard to not just the cold weather but the dampness of our building locations. Canada Housing and Mortgage offered many grants back in the day for such developments not sure how many know but our building codes became a worldwide standard which was then and still, dressed up or down to suit local requirements.

I had the good fortune to get in early and in a small part make a mark. Eventually I focused on both passive and active heating challenges, very exciting at the time till the markets crash under Regannomics - OH well..

 

Now I see some flies in the butter. Now you can ask around and likely folks will say na or ya but...

The choice is yours

1st the exterior walls only represent R6 so that is not consider high by any current standard.

The 1/2 bubble rap (sliver reflective?) we'll say adds .5R

The air space between finish surfaces adds another .5R

Now I'm adding another 1R value for the double layer BUT it shouldn't be static air in this case but lets say it is...

That only adds to R8...!

 

True snow and there's plenty up there, heavy and wet the structure as described will hold that load but that is providing you tie the rafters, the 6 X 12" beam will not assist the walls or deflection(s) should the loads spread the walls at the top sill which is what will happen I promise if you are only counting on the ridge which is in compression as a mating plate!! Remember the roof loading aslo must include wind gusts plus snow plus materials: you may view it in simple downward forces but only if you cancel the scissor potential of the rafters!

OK, some will say "well the ceiling joist will take care of that" yes and no; it will depend on how the are tied to the structure, so yes when wind loads smack the broad sides of the walls they will switch to compression and cancel the loads, but not from top loading down! Did I hear you as Why?

 

Kid problems are compounded due to standards in where they are built.

Lets look a one load we know the structure will face. Snow weighs between 1 and 21 pounds pre cubic foot X area sqd. then factor average humidity, and in most cases you are close but not in this case.. So you could ponder this a bit by listing the 3.5/12, the weight of material, snow load plus what else, will this structure have and why... How you deal with the attic area will be very important, actually more like very very very important, so that's my clue to the puzzle

 

Now aren't you glad you shared ...lol

 

Correction square are not area squared!

I wont have an attic. interior walls will have 1 in Blue board as the roof does. all utilities will be between the inside wall surfaces. Imnot trying to be perfect, just doing what I can afford, the ceiling will have 6in Faced Batten and then closed off, with vapor barrier then 1x6 same as the walls with regards to the boards. the floor will have foam under it and 1 inch above it, 3/8 wafer on top of foam board, vapor barrier then the finished floor. My Thinking, It will be better than spending another winter in a shed, and better than this past winter in an old worn our RV. I have 12 cords of seasoned wood, 2 large wood burners, an older pellet stove that works fine after I replaced the blower and rebuilt the feed screw. I will be ok, if all else fails I will come to your house.. after all Im likely one of the best cooks you ever met...

[Poppa Phill]

Looks like a nice place to me. I am sure Maine is gorgeous. I have only been there one time in my life.

My parents took me fishing somewhere at a lake which I no longer recall the name of.

We never caught any fish, but we had a nice time staying at the cabin we had rented.

I wonder have you seen any Moose? Just curious.

 

Yama Mama

Hiya Mama. I have 2 pieces of property up here. The one the cabin is being built on is on HWY 1. The other is very remote. I spent the winter of 18/19 on that property. its 3 miles from the property to where I parked my surburban. I have 250ft of lake front. The p[roperty was Raw when I arrived, no paths no water septic power nothing. I lived ion a tent until Oct 18. They delivered a 12ft wide shed mid oct and I lived in that through the winter. There was only Power there after I stalled the temporary post and passed inspection. They came and installed the Pole and power lines to my Meter Box and I then ran connections for ther breakers and shed. I lived there 3 miles off the grid until June 2019. from the time I arrived until the power came on, I cut 30ft wide x 200ft deep into the lot using a transit. the easement is graded and properly drained. all food fuel pellets propane or whatever was needed I hauled in by sled same as that show living in alaska, No Different.

I hauled my supplies in and hauled my waste out every drop, every bucket. if you live in the wild where 911 cant help you, you had better be clean Or else you will certainly kill yourself. Other than cold, the winter was what I expected it to be I knew it was going to be rough but I came prepared for that. The Lake is called, Lower Hotbrook Lake. It is pristine. I am aclimated. I drink that water straight from the lake. cook with it made my coffee from it etc, no problems, no worries. it is shallow, 16 ft opr so at deepest point, if you drop a quarter in the lake, you can see it clearly on the bottom. I came here prepared for this life and the challenges of making my own way on a raw piece of land, chain saws, military style survival gear based on long term living in the wild. My meals as good as anyone else's and No shirking!!. Many pristine lakes up here. What I didnt plan on was bad health issues. a hit and run accident ruined my left arm, had to have surgery before winter was over, but it goes with the territory. You can it here. this was just before I got the truck out, and I mean I had help as it wasnt about to make the trip. It had been stuck back there for about 6 weeks. Video shows the lake and camp site I built before the snow Fall.

Moose, bobcast, Otter Beaver porcupines Deer all of them all over. The Moose Cows Loved My truck till I couldnt use it anymore, they would come into camp and lick the salt of it.

 

[Yama Mama]

Poppa Phil,

 

What an amazing place to live. Thank you for sharing your story with us. It looks beautiful.

You are a lucky man.

 

Yama Mama

[Poppa Phill]

I lost quitye a bit a saving due to having to pay for certain items out of pocket that were health related beforwe the VA got their butts in gear. In the mean time, Im building out of pocket while I swap labor and engineering blueprints for materials etc, doing it one board at a time, every check, pay the bills, buy materials. as for the Bikes, I swap and trade my way into what ever I decide I wanna play with, My drones have various values, from few hundred to a few $k. but there is no money up here to be made, people are poor, no industry no factories no malls no Nothing, woodsmen and farmers. I cant even Get a rifle Match up here and I was fronting the till for it. so Im building Paycheck to paycheck.

Any suggestiong you have for better insulation or materials will have to wait until I hit the lottery or rob someone with more than I have, and robbery is not an option due to God Making all the rules.

I got out of ICU just before thanksgiving, started walking around un assisted in Jan early Feb. Feel free to show up and Jump right in the foods Great! but the pay sucks..

[Poppa Phill]

Poppa Phil,

 

What an amazing place to live. Thank you for sharing your story with us. It looks beautiful.

You are a lucky man.

 

Yama Mama

Good evening and thank you, Yes Mam I am Blessed to be able to live such a life based on many factors, but most importantly because I chose to do so. when God is For you, no weapon forged against you shal prosper. He saw me through it all I have no doubt. Once this cabin is done and I have rested from thois 2 plus yrs of strife. I will return to the lake lot and build there and stay there.

God Bless you and Keep you.

[Yama Mama]

Good evening and thank you, Yes Mam I am Blessed to be able to live such a life based on many factors, but most importantly because I chose to do so. when God is For you, no weapon forged against you shal prosper. He saw me through it all I have no doubt. Once this cabin is done and I have rested from thois 2 plus yrs of strife. I will return to the lake lot and build there and stay there.

God Bless you and Keep you.

I pray that you get to stay there for many happy years. It is the sort of place I know I would love to be. Things here in the cities and towns have gone a bit nuts.

 

Yama Mama

[Poppa Phill]

I pray that you get to stay there for many happy years. It is the sort of place I know I would love to be. Things here in the cities and towns have gone a bit nuts.

 

Yama Mama

 

As God is in control for those of Faith, I plan on being there through the good times and the bad. It is Beautiful, serene, and quiet. wild game for hunting or trapping and great fishing everywhere a body can find enough water to wet a line. after so many years city to city town to town as a catastrophe specialist, I came to the conclusion that no way in hell would I retire in a city. While My chosen path has been rough do to unforeseen issues, people being in my way or messing things up are not part of the equation hence I continue forward with a smile. Being this far east, the sun rises at 4:20 am EDT. I get up, take my meds, wait for my legs to work, get dressed and get busy. By 2pm Ive already put in a long day. Funny thing, last year a guy showed me a photo of the 87 I now own and asked me what I thought of the Bike. He said to me , why would anyone buy such a hunk of old junk.. Its parked outside, the Burgundy Baby! My last bike a 98 Road Star I sold in 04 when I left Washington state was a vague memory. Now Im back in the saddle for what its worth and Happy to be a part of the VR community for better or worse depoending on what Patch says from one day to the next.. Here I am and shall remain !