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How to Build Your Dream Cabin in the Woods: The Ultimate Guide to Building and Maintaining a Backcountry Getaway
Now, everyone can have the refuge they want—a getaway beside a trout-filled stream, near a bass-laden lake, or by a mountain trail with a breathtaking view.
This ultimate resource includes photos, blueprints, and diagrams, and covers the steps to constructing the cabin you've always wanted such
For generations, nature lovers, writers, and sportsmen have found an escape from their day-to-day world in living closer to nature. J. Wayne Fears offers a complete guide to building without the hassle of a construction crew or outrageous costs.
This ultimate resource includes photos, blueprints, and diagrams, and covers the steps to constructing the cabin you've always wanted such
For generations, nature lovers, writers, and sportsmen have found an escape from their day-to-day world in living closer to nature. J. Wayne Fears offers a complete guide to building without the hassle of a construction crew or outrageous costs.
- GenresNonfiction
248 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2002
47 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 17, 2020
As the owner of a "Dream" (somedays "nightmare") cabin in the woods, I skimmed this more to see how his experiences compared to mine, and in hopes that there would be some kind of plans for smaller sleep camps.
Overall I would say that it's a good checklist for all of the things that you should consider in building a remote cabin, but even though I had the most recent edition, it's pretty dated. No mention of the current inexpensive and efficient LED flashlights and lanterns as a safe and reliable lighting option, instead of kerosene lamps or Coleman lanterns. No mention - that I can recall - of solar systems for lighting, water supply, and refrigeration.
As I said, you could use it as a checklist - and then go to other references on each of the topics or just research online. If you're going to build a cabin, first learn something about building - unlike the wazoo who built ours - so even if you don't quite meet the building code you'll have a solid building.
Overall I would say that it's a good checklist for all of the things that you should consider in building a remote cabin, but even though I had the most recent edition, it's pretty dated. No mention of the current inexpensive and efficient LED flashlights and lanterns as a safe and reliable lighting option, instead of kerosene lamps or Coleman lanterns. No mention - that I can recall - of solar systems for lighting, water supply, and refrigeration.
As I said, you could use it as a checklist - and then go to other references on each of the topics or just research online. If you're going to build a cabin, first learn something about building - unlike the wazoo who built ours - so even if you don't quite meet the building code you'll have a solid building.
January 3, 2023
Read in Spring 2022, overall a good primer to building a cabin but pretty dated and left out modern options especially in regards to electricity.
November 14, 2018
Practical advice about buying land and constructing a cabin that fits your needs. Goes over different structures, on/off grid options, and solutions for water, heat, maintenance, etc. Fun to daydream. Most examples include Fears' experience with hunting cabins in Mid-Eastern America.
March 22, 2022
Best book of this type that I have found so far.
February 5, 2024
A little dated but full of practical advice and knowledge. It's still a good jumping off place for sure.
December 15, 2011
So many of us have a dream cabin in the woods envisioned in our minds—I do, too. Most of us never do get to realize it, but it can still be fun to dream. Actually, as I write this, I seem to be nearing the realization of my dream, and so I picked up the Kindle version of How to Build Your Dream Cabin in the Woods to learn more.
There is much to learn. This is not the first such book I’ve read, but it would be a great choice as an introduction to learning about log cabins. J. Wayne Fears writes in a manner that is easy to follow and understood by anyone, not just someone practiced in construction. But then, the book isn’t really about the actual construction (a glossary does list log cabin builders and kits). It is more of an introduction to the dream, familiarizing the reader with all the considerations to be made going into such a project.
Not least among such considerations, the author notes, is thinking through if one truly appreciates a life of solitude and seclusion. Log cabins tend to be built in secluded areas of wilderness, and that does not mean a life of convenience transported from the suburbs. He suggests trying out such a lifestyle if even for a short vacation, to be sure that one is comfortable with it. There are trade-offs to be made, but the benefits can be tremendous. He recounts the story of a couple who longed for a log home in the woods, built one, moved in, only to find they couldn’t bear the disconnect from the life of convenience and social connection to which they were accustomed.
Fears also makes it clear that this book is not about log homes. It is about log cabins. Anyone who has started to even scratch at the surface of learning about log cabins knows that it is difficult to find anything about actual cabins, that is, 1,000 square feet and less. Paging through contemporary magazines about log homes, one finds log McMansions, not cabins.
If, however, one does want a cabin, and a true wilderness lifestyle, Fears goes over many important considerations. He writes about choosing a good site and how to go about buying it, what inspections to get first. He writes about different kinds of building materials, pros and cons, from logs to roofing materials. He writes about the benefits of wood stoves over fireplaces, and encourages not installing electricity at all, but gives advice if one does want to plug in from time to time.
And more: how to split wood, how to install good lighting and not cause cabin fires, how to create a shooting range that is safe. He also writes about how to have a good water system, but once again, staying with the wilderness experience, he leans toward the outhouse, explaining how to keep it relatively maintenance free and always clean with a few simple moves. Composting toilets got their coverage, too. The author even covers cabin cooking, more times than not done outdoors on a fire ring, and he includes plans for building the perfect bench by the fire. Not to be missed are rules for visitors and preventing vandalism when you are back in the city.
Photographs are beautiful and helpful, often showing cabins the author himself has built, and quite a few simple blueprints are included, mostly for cabins 400 to 800 square feet in size. Links are embedded in the text, especially convenient in a Kindle version, and I followed up on several of them, learning even more.
Smart, clearly written, sensible—this is a book to take the dream into reality. Enjoy.
There is much to learn. This is not the first such book I’ve read, but it would be a great choice as an introduction to learning about log cabins. J. Wayne Fears writes in a manner that is easy to follow and understood by anyone, not just someone practiced in construction. But then, the book isn’t really about the actual construction (a glossary does list log cabin builders and kits). It is more of an introduction to the dream, familiarizing the reader with all the considerations to be made going into such a project.
Not least among such considerations, the author notes, is thinking through if one truly appreciates a life of solitude and seclusion. Log cabins tend to be built in secluded areas of wilderness, and that does not mean a life of convenience transported from the suburbs. He suggests trying out such a lifestyle if even for a short vacation, to be sure that one is comfortable with it. There are trade-offs to be made, but the benefits can be tremendous. He recounts the story of a couple who longed for a log home in the woods, built one, moved in, only to find they couldn’t bear the disconnect from the life of convenience and social connection to which they were accustomed.
Fears also makes it clear that this book is not about log homes. It is about log cabins. Anyone who has started to even scratch at the surface of learning about log cabins knows that it is difficult to find anything about actual cabins, that is, 1,000 square feet and less. Paging through contemporary magazines about log homes, one finds log McMansions, not cabins.
If, however, one does want a cabin, and a true wilderness lifestyle, Fears goes over many important considerations. He writes about choosing a good site and how to go about buying it, what inspections to get first. He writes about different kinds of building materials, pros and cons, from logs to roofing materials. He writes about the benefits of wood stoves over fireplaces, and encourages not installing electricity at all, but gives advice if one does want to plug in from time to time.
And more: how to split wood, how to install good lighting and not cause cabin fires, how to create a shooting range that is safe. He also writes about how to have a good water system, but once again, staying with the wilderness experience, he leans toward the outhouse, explaining how to keep it relatively maintenance free and always clean with a few simple moves. Composting toilets got their coverage, too. The author even covers cabin cooking, more times than not done outdoors on a fire ring, and he includes plans for building the perfect bench by the fire. Not to be missed are rules for visitors and preventing vandalism when you are back in the city.
Photographs are beautiful and helpful, often showing cabins the author himself has built, and quite a few simple blueprints are included, mostly for cabins 400 to 800 square feet in size. Links are embedded in the text, especially convenient in a Kindle version, and I followed up on several of them, learning even more.
Smart, clearly written, sensible—this is a book to take the dream into reality. Enjoy.
August 14, 2015
So glad this was my first book to read
I would recommend this book to anyone who has been contemplating renting or building a cabin and doesn't know the first thing about how to get started. I was thinking about living in a rural area and commuting to work until retirement and wanted to consider both cabins and tiny homes. But I couldn't determine how to begin planning and searching the internet wasn't much help. I bought the kindle version of this book based on the number of reviews being more than other books with "cabin" in the title and so glad I did since the book was a pleasure to read and really organized my thinking on how to begin planning. Plus the additional guides in the appendix put this book into the 5 star category.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has been contemplating renting or building a cabin and doesn't know the first thing about how to get started. I was thinking about living in a rural area and commuting to work until retirement and wanted to consider both cabins and tiny homes. But I couldn't determine how to begin planning and searching the internet wasn't much help. I bought the kindle version of this book based on the number of reviews being more than other books with "cabin" in the title and so glad I did since the book was a pleasure to read and really organized my thinking on how to begin planning. Plus the additional guides in the appendix put this book into the 5 star category.
Read
March 25, 2013It was a good book in regard to different types of cabins and how to build them. Much peripheral information that would be useful to others didn't pertain to me. For instance, how to find land, kit homes, log siding, digging wells, purifying water, naming a cabin, preparing for downtime, special guests, liability, etc. In other words, the first half of the book was much better than the second half.
December 26, 2015
Poor formatting
The subject was of interest to me and the author is clearly an expert. The writing would have been clear and easy to follow but for the huge number of copyediting errors that found their way into the e-book. They were a major distraction and caused the author's meaning to be unclear in places. If the publisher treats e-books as second class, it will become known as a publisher of second class e-books.
The subject was of interest to me and the author is clearly an expert. The writing would have been clear and easy to follow but for the huge number of copyediting errors that found their way into the e-book. They were a major distraction and caused the author's meaning to be unclear in places. If the publisher treats e-books as second class, it will become known as a publisher of second class e-books.
August 26, 2009
"A cabin is a work in progress, and should never be finished." This book explains why one should build a cabin, and does not provide the deatails as to exactly how it should be built. It advocates rustic, simple, cabins, that are easy to build and gives good advice and tips on how to build, and enjoy a cabin.
September 10, 2016
When you’re ready to go off grid, you could do a lot worse than consult J. Wayne Fear’s practical and interesting guidebook. He does a thorough job of covering the important factors to consider when investing in property, but tailors the book beautifully to the back country get-away. Very detailed, but also accessible and engaging.
Read
August 15, 2010I loved this book! It was written in a knowledgeable manner, but in a relaxed, comfortable style. It was quite thorough and I think I could make good decisions regarding the purchase of rural property and building a cabin.
March 21, 2021
A little outdated
Most of the companies mentioned in the building part are defunct or moved, requiring investigation or just googling for your own providers. But the payouts are still helpful, as is all the stuff in the sections not about building.
Most of the companies mentioned in the building part are defunct or moved, requiring investigation or just googling for your own providers. But the payouts are still helpful, as is all the stuff in the sections not about building.
October 28, 2015
Many have the dream of building a cabin in the woods all by themselves. Fears presents a guide with photos and blueprints covering all the steps.
August 13, 2012
Great resource.
December 16, 2013
Basic
pretty basic information. I wish they had more like links to other resources or dealers. the illustrations are a little rough too. overall it's not a bad book for price.
pretty basic information. I wish they had more like links to other resources or dealers. the illustrations are a little rough too. overall it's not a bad book for price.
February 18, 2016
Read first time Nov. 15, 2014
March 25, 2015
The photographs could've been more professional, but it is a helpful gathering of information.
January 16, 2016
Nice practical well-rounded book on basics of building and using a cabin in the woods.
Something I'm hoping to experience in the next decade.
Something I'm hoping to experience in the next decade.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews