Pioneer’s Cabin
16×20
Living Room, Kitchen, Bathroom, Loft Bed
Front & Back Porch
12/12 Roof Pitch
PDF format – 41 pages – $9.95
These framing plans contain the plans and drawings for a tiny cabin. The base structure is 16′ x 20′.
The walls are use standard framing with 8-foot interior walls. The 12/12 pitch roof uses standard framing. The porch roof pitch is 3/12.
Sample Pages & Illustrations
Free Updates
Today the plans are complete but over time I’ll make improvements and additions as reader suggestions are incorporated. When I do I’ll send out a link to the free update to everyone who has already purchased the ebook in the past. So in many ways purchasing an ebook from me is really more like subscribing to an expanding design resource.
Please Note
Before building any structure be sure to check with your local authorities. In many communities permits are not needed when building tiny buildings like sheds but the rules range widely so it’s best to research your local restrictions before building anything. Also please note that these plans were not prepared by or checked by a licensed engineer and/or architect. Build from these plans at your own risk.
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How much will one of these run…I live in Hawaii and rather then build a huge home I’m thinkin small one would be better…
I’ve not done the math yet. I may include that in a future version of the plans.
cost would be nice.
How would you add a second floor with your “Tiny house”? It seems to me that the cheapest square footage is the second floor (not just a loft)…maybe a loft above the second floor??? Your thoughts?
This has a loft over the first floor. The headroom is lower than a normal second story because the walls are just 10-feet tall. You could make them taller but you’ll probably need fire-blocking for walls over 10-feet (check local codes). Another thought… different from the balloon framing in the plans… would be to frame the first floor with 8-foot walls and then add a knee wall to the second floor and a pitched roof on top. That would give you more height and solves some of the weaknesses of balloon framing. These are lots of advantages of balloon framing… but for tall walls/houses current codes support 8-foot walls.
Another idea would be to add dormers… shed or gable dormers. Shed dormers are much easier to frame for novice builders and would help keep the look of a steep pitch while recapturing the height in the second story lost to the steep pitch.
Lastly… sometimes going up is a cheap way to get more space. But you have to factor in the extra weight into the foundation etc. In some areas there are looser codes for single story homes with lofts too. So I think I’d stick with a shorter home with a loft and build onto the house on the ground. As we all get older we’ll also appreciate the lowered reliance on stairs and ladders too.
-Michael
I’d like to order this plan. Couldn’t I just recieve the plans through the mail?
Great suggestion. Currently I don’t have anyway for folks to buy printed plans. I will look into this.
Thanks!
Michael
Can two loft beds be built in this cabin by utiliizing the front portion along with the back portion of the loft? I really want this plan and if I can afford a printer before you start selling the plans through the mail I will download it. Thank you so much.
The loft can be easily extended to cover the open area. I’ve uploaded two additional views to give you a better view of the space. The loft floor framing would just need to be extended and a hole cut to allow ladder access.
http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Pioneers-Cabin-16×20-loft-view.jpg
and
http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Pioneers-Cabin-16×20-loft-detail.jpg
I’ll work on the print option today and see if I can find an easy way to offer that. Stay tuned.
So how do you get to the upper level? I was kinda thinking about having a lift of some kind rather than steps or a ladder…?
If printer cost is a problem, you may be able to print at your public library, especially if the plans are on 8 1/2 x 11″ paper. Most libraries offer black and white printing for around 10-25 cents per page. Some even do color. Copy shops and office stores like Staples may also print from files and charge by the page. I hope that helps!
Thabk you for this piece of information. That’s a neat idea. However I just started back to work and I’ll have a printer very soon, I want a hobby collecting different plans, but this is the cabin I’m gonna build because I can easily add onto it from the back so my adult children will have more room when they come to visit. I won’t have to pay much labor because I have several friends to help me build it. Thanks for your input.
It’s me again! It may not be a good idea to add an extra loft bed, but what about a walkway and closet? You wouldn’t have to close the cieling in all the way for a nice looking closet. Is that a great idea?
Definitely a great idea. If you keep the walkway down the center (under the highest part of the pitch) and put the closets on the sides where the headroom is shorter you’ll have the best use of vertical space too.
ikea for wall mount closet.is it just me or are most people trying to get 2300sq ft out of 700sq ft?
maybe instead of tini houses we could do medium tini,large tini and xl tini.
or how about taking the exsisting plan and blow it up to different sizes.700sq.ft,1400sq.ft,and the xl 1800sq
Actually Tom we’re trying to use the ‘right’ amount of space and stop wasting our time and money on the extra space we don’t need. Logical eh?
Every day I check my emails. Won’t someone else comment on this wounderful little cabin/house plan?
While this is a great plan for a really small house, there is a book out with full plans for a 2 story 600 sq ft house called The Little House.
It has many variables in it and complete material list with drawings and pencil sketches. I am not discouraging use of this plan presented here, but if you are looking for more room Little House might be a possible solution.
I would like to get my hands on this book. Could you tell me who the author is?
The book was originally written by Leslie Armstrong. She is a architect of much renown. Originally when she wrote it she was just starting out. It was published by Collier books NY in 1979.
I am a great fan of little houses by anyone and found this one to be really good due to its ability to be modified and expanded. Hope this helps
Thanks Carl… I had looked but couldn’t find it. It looks like it’s out of print but used copies may still be available. Sounds like a great book from the reviews on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Little-House-Armstrong/dp/0025032305
Shirley,\
I believe I might have an extra copy and some drawings sent to me by the author. If you cnt find it after exhausting all other possible venues, will give you the spare copy. I have long been a fan of houses measuring 20×20. I have some drqwing previously run in the early 70′s in Ladies Home Journal on a house tow story with a trumbalt wall that is easy to build but two story and plenty of room. If yo want I can copy these drawings (the only set I have) and send you those alos. I wold probly have to chrge you 3-4 dollars for the copying and postage. Let me know.
Carl
Yes I’d like that. Thank you. Here’s how to reach me:
email hidden; JavaScript is required or 936-637-4877
Although cabin building is not in the stars in my immediate future, it is on the bucket list! Just purchased and downloaded this and I’m already thinking about how to maximize storage in a tiny house (afraid I’ll always be a bit of a pack rat, but I’m getting better!) Someday this may be the ‘house in the country’ for me, or perhaps just a guest house on my own little plot. Thanks Michael for the additional pics of the extended loft- every square foot helps.
Mr. janzen,
I just purchased your plans and they are exactly what I have been looking for! I plan to build 6 of these adjacent to my bottom field greenhouse operations and offer agri=tourism as an option for our customers. I intend to use a composting toilet and a solar heated hot water system for bathing. Additionally the cabin will be lit by a combination of a very few LED 12 volt lights from a marine catalog and a deep cycle marine battery charged with a solar panel and kerosene hurricane lights. In other words…off the grid and very primative…LOL.
I have one question, how is the loft accessed? I have looked several times and do not see a stair or ladder. Am I missing something? Thanks Laird
I haven’t included a way to get into the loft at this time. It wasn’t an oversight but seemed like something folks would want to choose themselves so I left it out. I may add options in the future. Thanks!
I can’t thank you enough for this wonderful plan. I’ll be getting my printer up and running next Thursday and I can’t wait to purchase your plan. As for me, I intend to have an upstairs ballistered isleway leading to the two side closet areas and every year I’ll be adding on until my heart’s content. Thanks-a-Million and God Bless!
Thanks for the super fast reply. How hard would it be to include an option or two for stairs/ladders? I just love your design Michael !!! I know nothing about what you have to do to provide this and I certainly am not complaining about the value we received in this set of plans! You are our hero of the day. I am not putting in the washer area. Could that be used for a stair? Thanks my new friend!
Stairs are tough because they take up a lot of space when built to code. Luckily because the loft isn’t a full second story many places will allow a ladder. I may add ladder designs in future versions with the caveat that they may not be legal in every community.
As far as location and direction, it would be easier to put the top section of the stairs parallel with the loft joists – and an ‘L’ or ‘U’ shape might work best because the upper landing has to be toward the center of the upper level due to height hight.
The easiest stairs to add would be a small circular stairway.
Michael, I’m plaining on a built-in ladder instead of traditional stairs since I want my cabin to be comfortable yet a little playful.
Can this house be built on stilts?
Hi Chris… I don’t see why it couldn’t be but I bet you’d probably want to hire an engineer to work out the site-specific details.
Yes, this cabin can be placed on stilts, or piers as some people refer. Depending on where you are in the country, you can use 8×8 PT (pressure treated), 8″ round, precast concrete or 10×10 PT. You could also use concrete block piers if you don’t have any wave action or water pressure from flooding. Normally built about 8′ high, to allow for parking, but check flood elevations in you location, it could be higher. Most building codes will let you use the smaller piers no more than 8′ apart – the closer the better. You may not really need an engineer if you check with your local codes, although an engineer’s review is always good. Some states may exempt the tiny cabins from specific parts of the building codes – check! I’ve been designing coastal cottages for many years along the eastern seaboard and each location is different with building codes (and ordinances too). Also check to see if it would be allowed as a primary residence or a secondary detached structure. The Pioneer’s Cabin is a great design, with much room for personal detailing!
I really would like a building supply list.
I really liked your Pioneer cabin alot but I can’t buy the building materials and cut them to fit without a list and cutting schedule. I wouldn’t mind paying extra for this. I’m totally sereiouse about this plan.
Hi
I just received your cabin plans and like the layout of the kitchen/ bath with utility and washer/dryer space better than any other plans I have seen, and I have seen a bunch of them.
I would like to see the cabin extended by 4 foot.
This would make the cabin 24 foot long instead of 20 foot long.
This would allow for a stairway and give more living area space as well.
I don’t see why extending the length of the home would change any structural strength.
Do you agree?
The other thing I would like to do is replace the rear porch with bed room addition and make larger than the porch, say 8 foot wide.
Do you offer any such modification service for this plan?
Thanks, John
Hi John,
Excellent suggestions, and yes I agree the structure could easily be lengthened since it would just lengthen the roof/walls/floor.
Sorry, I don’t offer any modification services, but will consider adding these in future versions of the plans.
-Michael
Thanks for the reply Michael
John
God bless you. I’ve got what I was looking for from another compant so you can take my name off your list now. Go with God!
would you be able to power this house and its contents with solar power?
Sure… but to be honest I think you could do that with any house. The size of the system is determined by you needs. The only think PV solar power doenst do well is heating and cooling.
Ok thanks and I’m going to have a wood stove so it won’t use any electricity
Has anyone priced out the materials to build this cabin yet? I’m looking at going off grid and building it in the spring.
I’ve not added the materials list (or cost estimate) to the plans yet.
My husband and I have been on the hunt for some Tiny house plans for a while now and I love this design. However, I’m finding with most Tiny house plans that there is barely any room for a closet for clothing.
We live in a 4 season climate and my husband wears suits to work = a lot of clothing – and nowhere to store it.
Nice cabin, I want a basement though, with 2 bedrooms upstairs (none on the first floor) Do you have any 20 x 20 plans with stairs?
Not yet… but it’s in the works.
I’m planning on building this cabin in summer 2012. anyone have any advice? Would love to see some pictures of finished cabins if anyone can share!
Paul
I’m going to be moving in six more months and I really hope to have a building supply list for your pioneer cabin by then.
I have a concern I purchased plans and it doesnt have a framing plan. I think i should purchase yours but, I would like to have the same lay out and additional bedroom on the back. Its a simple a frame house.
Cute, but need a bedroom downstairs, stairs to hard let alone ladder. How do you get the bed upstairs?