Building a light weight permanent house...

[rooney5150]

I know the topic has been discussed before and the articles that I was using for my reference points are now gone - apparently there was some "cleanup" done to the forum on or around the first of the year.

I am looking for some ideas in building a lightweight permanent house. The post I mentioned above were of a guy that built a 8x8" permanent that tore down into 4x8 sections so that the house could be stored.

Another design I am considering is a 5x7 floorprint with "benches" and then walls and a roof off of that, kind of in an A-Frame type design. This would be designed this way so that it would fit in my 5x7 utility trailer similar to the following design: 5x7 Fish House

Does anyone know of any blueprints or detailed pictures I could acquire for this? Willing to pay for them if the price is right...

Thanks!

[Sandmannd]

I would love to see plans if you find them. I've been looking for the exact same thing.

[Kyle Sandberg]

Here are some ideas I've used to make my house lighter. Use 2x2s instead of 2x4s. With the smaller house you have in mind the intergrity should be good. For the siding or inside, use Lauan board. Its roughly 10 bucks for a 4x8 sheet and is very light and workable. Great way to keep weight down. Good luck and hope it comes out OK!

[L_Cappo]

wow that 1 has some major eves lol if you going to put skids on it do not use treat lumber it way to soft and itwont last very long.gotta use solid oak for skids.

[smurf]

How about using steel studs like you would use in commercial buildings. You would want to ask around to make sure they would be strong enough. Then spray foam insulation.

[Bulldoggr]

 Originally Posted By: smurf

How about using steel studs like you would use in commercial buildings. You would want to ask around to make sure they would be strong enough. Then spray foam insulation.

Steel Studs would be the best way to go. you can get 2 x 2 Steel studs. Wind brace the corners to ensure walls are square. Then what ever you put on for sideing, and wall covering just makes the wall even more stronger.

Spray foam would also be the best. It fills every crack and cranny. It also makes the walls that much more stronger.

[Sandmannd]

Anyone know how you could/or if it's feesable to build a perm house you could take apart to store and put together out on the ice. I have no where to store a house but would really love to have one out on the lake.

[brady_d]

One drawback to the steel studs is that they will draw in the cold from outside a lot more than wood studs. Something to consider.

[brady_d]

How big of a house are you talking about Sandmannd?

[TUMBLEWEED]

I built a take down house. It's an 8X8. It all stacks up on

a old two place snowmobile trailer. Set up is about twenty

minutes. The walls are made from 1x3 studs that are gusseted

on all the corners and centers of the wall. To this we attached 5mm plywood sheets (glued and screwed). We added styro insulation

between the studs. The door is also lauan (an inner paasage door)

To keep the moisture out we put a couple coats of exterior stain

on all exposed surfaces.For the floor (the beefiest part of the design), we used treated 2x4's with plywood. To this, we bolted

2x10's that we use as skids or runners.Have not had one break yet and we have towed or pushed the thing across lots of lakes. We put 6 inches of styro in the floor. All the walls have an

overlap, so when you put it together, seals out the cold. Each

wall has a couple c clamps that hold them together.The walls arre attached to the floor with a bolt running through the floor. The roof is made up of 1x8's that we cut down gradually to form a slope.We put a sheet of roof rubber over this and it sits down on top of the walls, again held down by c clamps.We also found a window company that had some of those small demo windows. We used one on each wall. Turned out really nice. It is extremely light. One guy can pull it if there isn't too much snow. It is usually the fist "permanent" on the lake.

Off season it stays stacked up and tarped to stay off the

rain. So if you have a place to keep a snowmobile trailer,

you can have a "permanent" house too...

[L_Cappo]

steel runners r great but,you gotta becareful so you the house dont run in to the back of your truck.i seen this happen 3 times on lake of the woods.

[Sandmannd]

Tumbleweed, that's pretty close to what I'm looking for, though I might have to shrink it a bit so it fits in my trailer. Do you have any pics of it or how it's designed?

[solbes]

Yup, I'd also be interested in seeing pics of Tumbleweeds house. Also I'd really like to know the estimated weight.

I was thinking of a design very similar to the 5x7 house that was pictured. 2x2 steel studs, spray foam, aluminum siding, 2x4 treated floor&Plywood. I had the same bench idea in mind, but instead of the gable roof I was thinking of just a sloping flat roof. Tall side for the door, and the short side just high enough to sit comfortably on the back. Weight would be important as I'd like to be able to move it around short distances with 1 or 2 people. Would long skis work as skids, or would they not support the weight?

My backup plan would be the Attack Shack by Banks Outoors (pictured in their HSOforum). Essentially the same thing in molded plastic. The downside is that apprarently you have to use long plastic sleeves to fish through the benches.

[MuleShack]

N-iceshack manufactures a house that you pull out in a sled/box form and unfold it on the ice.

I thought it was kind of cool...it says they have insulated walls and all.

( Note from admin, edited. Please read forum policy before posting again, Thank-you. )

[solbes]

 Originally Posted By: MuleShack

N-iceshack manufactures a house that you pull out in a sled/box form and unfold it on the ice.

Good find, I took a look at it. Guess that's another option for me. A bit heavy, but I like their "Plug" system for the holes. Perfect size too, I love that bench system.

[Sandmannd]

Looks like a cool idea. Probably be a little heavy though.

[tigerbalm2424]

Some animal barns have insulated side doors that open and close for ventilation. About 5 years ago a friend and I built an ice house out of these for the floor, walls, and ceiling. Its about 2 inches solid foam wrapped and sealed in thin aluminum. Panels were 6'X 10' I believe. Butt all joints together and attach 2X6's(or thin aluminum plates). Walls are plenty strong to screw into for hanging or attaching anything inside. Put it this way, it was light enough for the wind to knock it over before we put furniture in it! Just need to find another farmer replacing his doors!