Finally some real action!!

After a very enjoyable trip to Colombia, I'm back in Vancouver ready to get started with my project, and it got started on a hurry...

Yesterday I finally signed the documents for the rental/purchase of a 20' shipping container. I will use this container to consolidate ALL the building materials that will be required to complete the cabin - once the cabin is finished the container will be used as a storage 'shed' and as my workshop. I sourced the container from BigSteelBox. I did some research and found two other companies. One which offered better pricing on used containers ($2200 vs $2700). However I was unable to find a site to park the container that would provide constant access to the container. BigSteelBox has a large yard and they'll store the container for a few weeks and allow access to the container. The site is not close to home, but it will do - and there is a Home Depot less than 2 minutes away!!

BigSteelBox will also deliver the container to the site on a tilt bed truck. At 125$/hr is not cheap but I guess that's the extra cost of building on a difficult access site. The plan is to get the container on the truck, load the truck on a barge (around 150$/hr), get the barge across to an unload ramp on the other side, drive the truck to the site and unload the container - while the barge waits - and drive the truck back to the barge to be returned to the mainland. There are two sections of road that are fairly steep and one tight bend that the truck might not be able to do. That's why I'm setting the container as a rental initially: My plan B is to drop the container in the parking area, and once the cabin is finished, return the container (I'm hoping that I wont have to switch to plan B - as this would cost me between $1500 and $2500 extra!).

I ended up not getting a used container. What they sell as used, are really old containers that have been used and abused for years, and that cannot be used anymore for shipping. They are all battered on the outside so the doors need a lot of persuasion to open; they are also heavily rusted both inside and outside (they'd be an eyesore,and the container will be visible from the cabin). Since the price difference is not that significant, my container is brand new, it smells like fresh paint inside, and has brand new plywood floors on the inside.

Since I now have a container I made my first two trips to Home Depot and made two trips worth of dimensional lumber. I was able to use the roof rack on the truck to load the wood. I will need to make several more trips, but I should be able to get all the wood in a couple of days. I'm buying all the materials in reverse order: First all the materials for the roof, then all the materials for the walls, floor and the last I'll get will be the concrete for the foundations. This way the materials that I'll need first, will be the ones on top...

The Andersen Windows that I ordered before my trip are ready for pick up, and the doors will be ready by the end of the week.

I picked up the submersible pump that will provide me with fresh drinkable water out our well, It's amazing how small it is!

I've also done some research on composting toilets, I'm amazed of how dealing with urine and feces can be such an interesting subject!! I believe it deserves a full blog entry (coming soon...).

I'd keep writing but I have to head out to Home Depot to buy more 2x4s!