Tips for Siting Your Cabin

 Photo: Francesco Carta / dreamstime.com

Cabin dreaming is fun, but deciding where a cabin should go can be the most important and challenging part of the building process. That’s because each parcel of land has its own character and personality. Which is why, presumably, you chose yours. But even if it was love at first “site,” don’t rush into construction. “Spend as much time on the property as you can,” advises Robert Knight, AIA, Maine architect and author of “A House on the Water: Inspiration for Living at the Water’s Edge.” His recommendation? “Camp out. After awhile, you’re going to know where the house should be.”

 

Yes, the views are tantalizing. But lower your eyes and focus on the ground around you. Some initial questions you can contemplate:

• Is it hilly or flat? A level area is easier (and cheaper) to build on. A gentle rise usually offers good views and a gravity-friendly site for a septic drain field. Steep slopes are more likely to erode, and construction costs can skyrocket.
• Are there rocky outcrops? You can blast through rock to build the foundation, but it takes money and time. Building around boulders preserves the site’s character.
• Dips or gullies? Low-lying areas are often the coldest and wettest on a site; building here may result in a wet basement, rotting sills or problems with a septic system.
• Is there surface water? If so, is it year-round or seasonal? Steer clear of flood plains. The water table will be too high to install a septic system, not to mention your Shangri-la will be periodically knee deep in water.
• What’s the soil like? Cabins and septic systems need good support and drainage. Building restrictions may apply in areas where clay blocks water from seeping through, or in sandy areas at risk of erosion.
• What about access?  How far from the road do you want to be? You may have to weigh privacy against digging out in winter.
• If the property is steep, will the driveway approach from above or below?
• Can the garage shield the cabin from the elements?  Where will guests park, and will a path lead them to the main entry?  When planning driveways and walkways, remember that curves look more natural than straight lines.
• Where will power lines go? Meet with utility companies on-site to determine the best placement for power lines.
• What makes the property special? Every cabin-worthy lot has special features worth preserving and celebrating, whether it’s a mighty oak, a sunset over a lake or meadow songbirds. You’ll want to site interior and outdoor rooms so you can enjoy these sights and sounds. But if “capturing” a view from one favorite spot means disrupting the landscape, consider other vantage points.

 

How you orient the cabin to sun and wind can go a long way toward increased comfort and energy efficiency. Siting with an eye to passive heating and cooling will also make your second home more economical. Visit the property at different times of day, and in different seasons, to track the sun’s passage. In the South, blocking the sun’s heat and glare is important. But in most parts of the country, a southern exposure is ideal, so the majority of windows are designed into the south side of the cabin. Site the cabin leeward of prevailing winds, but open to summer breezes. An exterior space such as a courtyard can create a sunny, wind-free space. Snow may also have an impact on siting. If possible, place paths and driveways where gusts will blow away snow. A north-facing deck or driveway gets less direct sunlight in winter and hence ices up more quickly. In regions with large accumulations, take note of where snow will drop off the roof. “We have the insulation technology to make any cabin shrug off cold winter winds,” says Knight. “But if the form and the siting don’t suggest that it is doing this, the cabin, while physically warm and secure, won’t look comfortable on its site.”