Tiny Off Grid Cabin Made from Pallets & Reclaimed Lumber

This cabin is mostly made from pallets and reclaimed lumber from dumpsters and local landfills. I started this cabin on November 7th of 2014. I have enjoyed building without any plans. I use the material that I had and figure it out as I go.

I have bought the 4×4’s that support the frame of the cabin. They are concreted into the ground. I purchased the treated 2×4’s that make up the roof and floor structure, and I bought Advantech sheets (4×8 Sheets) for the flooring. The rest is pallet wood and reclaimed lumber. I got a great deal on the metal for the roof; a local hardware store was going out of business, and I bought all they had. I used it all on this project. My three dogs and I have built every piece of it. We’ve done it all.

The cabin is 12’ft x 12’ft, and I squared it up by laying like pallets on the ground, and then I just dug holes for the 4×4’s beside the pallets as they were on the ground. I set the 4×4’s in concrete, and then I let the concrete cure for a few days, and on November 9th of 2014, I laid the first pallets for the frame. The framing is larger than normal pallets, 8′ to 10′ ft in length, and about four ft wide. I got all the framing pallets from the landfill. The pallets are set on concrete blocks that were leveled. I attached the pallets to the 4×4’s, and I attached the pallets using 2×4’s.

Once I got the frame up, I then started using old decking wood as the siding I got from a friend that replaced his deck around his pool. Once the siding was on, I added the roof. I got the window on the front of a friend that recently replaced their windows on their house. The front porch is one big pallet from Lowes. It’s made up of landscape timber on the bottom and 2×4. I used reclaimed lumber I had to put on top of the pallet. It turned out just right to set a rocking chair on.

Then I added the frame on the floor and put the Advantech sheets on top of the floor’s frame. I then started on the lean 2 I added. I once again purchased the 4×4’s and set them in concrete. The roof’s frame on the lean 2 comes from a large pallet from Lowes’ and the local landfill. I added a large pallet for the back wall under the lean 2. Just something to block the wind because this is where I’m going to be BBQ’n.

I then added the front door, and the door, believe it or not, was found in a dumpster. It was an awesome find. This is where I’m at. This weekend (Feb 14), I am taking some broken down pallet wood to get planed to the same thickness to install on top of the Advantech sheets. It’s mostly red oak and should make a beautiful hardwood floor. Then I will be insulating the walls/ceiling, adding a wood stove, pallet furniture, etc…

So, I hope you check out my Facebook page to keep up with the updates.