A frame country house measuring 3 by 3 meters is an excellent option for arranging a comfortable living space in a small suburban area or just a shed for storing garden tools, items for outdoor recreation, etc.
But even the independent construction of such a small frame structure requires the preliminary development of a construction project, calculation of the foundation, building materials and roofing structure.
Does it make sense to build a change house with your own hands?
Panel change house for a dacha
A change house is something between an outbuilding and a residential building. Its direct purpose is temporary housing. Change houses are used when the foundation of a house is being built or for rare overnight stays in the country. This structure has minimal comfort and often serves as a workshop and warehouse.
In this capacity, ready-made construction cabins, trailers, and prefabricated panel houses are used at the dacha. However, more often buildings are erected independently from timber, boards and sheets of WWS.
The advantages are as follows:
- the wooden structure is very light, it does not require a foundation;
- you can arrange a mini-house with a veranda exactly to suit your needs;
- a wooden change house with your own hands retains heat well and does not need thermal insulation;
- the cost of construction is minimal.
If desired, the change house can be made mobile. To do this, install a wooden house on a frame made of a profile pipe and equip it with wheels.
Advantages of erecting frame buildings
Even a large residential building using frame technology can be built from foundation to turnkey by an experienced construction team in just 3-4 months. And a 3x3 meter building can be erected in a few weeks, and on your own.
The speed of construction of houses and technical buildings using frame technology is determined primarily by the fact that such structures do not require powerful buried reinforced concrete foundations. And wooden structures practically do not shrink at all during operation.
The construction of frame buildings requires significantly less building materials. Such projects are obtained several times cheaper than concrete and brick analogues.
The building consists of 80% elements made from natural wood. Therefore, such structures are environmentally friendly for the environment and human health. The only chemical components of the structure are special protective compounds that are used to treat lumber from the negative effects of moisture, rodents, etc.
Typical frame building projects, as a rule, provide for thermal insulation of the entire frame structure (floor, walls, ceiling). This allows the owners of such buildings to significantly save on heating in the winter.
The layout of the premises of finished frame projects can be adjusted already at the stages of building construction. For example, if the future owner of the house, already during the installation work, decided to distribute the internal space of the building differently, this issue is resolved without any difficulties and significant financial costs.
Materials and approximate estimate
The frame change house is sheathed with OSB sheets.
How much and what materials are needed for a 6*3 change house depends on the type of structure and height. There are several types.
- Panel board is the simplest and cheapest option. Includes a primitive frame, essentially a frame made of boards and panels. After the need for temporary housing disappears, the change house is dismantled. For example, formwork is made from panels.
- Frame - a little more complicated, but stronger and more durable. The frame of sections is constructed from timber or double boards and the house is sheathed with plywood, OSB sheets, chipboard, and clapboard. Sometimes the frame is even sheathed with corrugated sheets or sheets of metal, but this is not the best solution. Iron conducts heat very well, so in the spring it will be cold in such a house, and unbearably hot in the summer.
- From timber. In this case, the timber acts as a building element, like a brick. The bars are stacked on top of each other to form walls. Construction will require significantly more material, so a log house is much more expensive. The change house weighs more, so you need to build a shallow or columnar foundation for it.
Calculation of material for a do-it-yourself change house 3 by 3 meters is made taking into account the type of structure. If it is a frame, the timber is needed only for the frame: the lower and upper ligaments, vertical posts. You will also need boards for the rafters and cladding material.
If the change house is made of timber, the costs will be much higher. To calculate the required amount of material, it is necessary to divide the total area of all walls minus the window and door opening by the area of the front side of the beam. After calculation, the value is increased by at least 15%, since damage is inevitable during construction and transportation of materials.
Pros of houses 30 sq.m.
The advantages can also be attributed to the reasons why many choose houses of 30 sq.m., so there will be some repetition:
- 1) The construction and repair of such a house will require less materials and costs
- 2) Less will be spent on maintenance and upkeep
- 3) For many housewives it will be a plus that there will be less tidy in a small area
- 4) Such a house is well suited for construction on your own land plot
- 5) A small area is heated faster, the heat lasts longer
- 6) Rearrangement and change of design of a house of 30 sq. m. m can be done more often, because it will take less time and money
- 7) With the help of a thoughtful design, you can use the space very ergonomically, and such a house will not be inferior in its characteristics to a large cottage or a spacious apartment
Selection of materials
It is recommended to sheathe the change house with coniferous wood.
The estimate for a 3x3 m change house also depends on the chosen wood.
- Pine is an affordable and quite beautiful wood. It is recommended to use pine, as it contains a large amount of resin, which makes it more resistant to dampness and rotting. In addition, it is very easy to process and cut.
- Larch - it is taken when the change house is going to be used for a long time. Larch is not only resistant to water; under the influence of high humidity it only becomes harder. Larch is not as beautiful as pine, but it is harder and more durable.
- A temporary shed can be built from spruce. The wood is also resinous, so the structure will last for several years in the rain. The quality of spruce is worse than pine: it contains too many knots and is less resistant to high temperatures.
It is not recommended to build cabins from hardwood. Only wood of medium and high density, such as oak, beech, hornbeam, is resistant to water, and is very expensive. Soft wood - poplar, apple tree - are prone to rotting. Such buildings need additional protection.
How to decorate rooms in a house of 30 sq.m.
It is better to insulate the kitchen if possible. You can use hanging elements for cutlery or dishes, this will help save space. It is better to use a compact table, ideally if it is a transforming table
The living room can be combined with the bedroom by placing a transforming sofa there. Decor items will help create the coziness and effect of a room for receiving guests
The kitchen can be combined with the living room. A kitchen set will help separate one part of the room from another. In this case, kitchen appliances are built into the set
For the bedroom, the space can be separated by a partition, and the sleeping area can be marked with a podium. The area for the bedroom is chosen as far as possible from the front door
The children's area can be allocated at the parents' wedding. Of course, this option will be suitable while the child is small.
In the bathroom, it would be more practical to replace the bath with a shower. Mirror tiles on the walls or a mirror will help visually expand the space
There is no need to allocate space for the corridor, but the hallway needs to be designated. A small shelf for shoes and a hanger, as well as a mirror, is enough for this.
A work area or office can also be in the bedroom. A large window sill is often used as a table.
Step-by-step instruction
Columnar foundation for a temporary shed made of timber.
The step-by-step diagram for assembling a summer cottage made of timber is simple. Most often they make a frame structure, since it is much cheaper.
Foundation
It is not needed for a frame temporary structure. However, contact of the tree with the ground must be excluded. For this purpose, a platform is created for the temporary hut. Remove 1 shovel's worth of soil from the selected area, fill the space with a 10 cm layer of sand and 10 cm of crushed stone. Fill it with cement mortar. You can concrete the area, but it will take longer to dry.
A block measuring 3x3 m can be placed directly on the prepared base. You can simply compact the earthen area, build supports from a couple of bricks and install the structure on them. This option is allowed in areas with a dry climate.
If the temporary shed is completely assembled from timber, a columnar foundation is erected. The step-by-step instructions are standard: dig holes for supports - usually at a distance of 1.5–2 m, compact sand to the bottom, put formwork and fill it with concrete. It is allowed to make columns from bricks.
Frame assembly
The frame of the building
Building materials for the change house are treated with an antiseptic. If necessary, impregnation is done twice. Assembly instructions depend on the type of foundation and structure.
- If the temporary shed is placed on a platform, the lower frame is made of timber with a cross-section of 150*100 mm. The connection is simple - half a tree, doubled with metal corners. If the cabin is on a columnar foundation, a grillage serves as the frame. In this case, when installing the columns, anchors are built into them, then the supports are waterproofed with roofing felt and the columns are connected with a massive beam, securing it to the anchors.
- They install corner posts - from timber with a cross-section of 100*100 mm or double boards.
- For load-bearing racks, take a slightly smaller beam - 100 * 50 mm. The verticality of the racks is checked with a level.
- The top trim is made by laying a beam with a cross section of 100*100 mm on the ends of the racks and tightening it. If a roof is being built, it serves as a mauerlat.
- The vertical posts are fastened with horizontal and diagonal cross members according to the diagram. For fixation, 80 mm nails are used.
- Install a frame for window and door openings.
- The roof in a change house can be single-pitch or gable; in the first case, the opposite walls have different heights, and the entire roof structure is reduced to a series of boards installed vertically on the top frame.
For temporary buildings, a gable roof is sometimes constructed from timber. To do this, the boards are cut at selected angles and trusses are assembled. You can do it simpler: temporarily fix the ridge at the desired height with clamps and attach it directly to the metal corner of the rafters on one side, and on the other, cut them into the Mauerlat.
The roof is laid with slate, corrugated sheets, galvanized iron. Sometimes they use cladding material - chipboard sheets, for example.
Cozy house on a narrow plot. Basic principles
When purchasing a house project for a narrow area, it is important to consult with a specialist who will help take into account fire breaks and all the necessary distances between buildings. The architect will soberly evaluate all the features of the site, tell you how to minimize the negative aspects and make the most of the positive ones.
It is preferable when the end walls of the house can be oriented to the east and west. This technique will ensure uniform insolation of residential premises throughout the day. It is good if the northern side of the plot is adjacent to the road. Then it becomes possible to place the entrance and garage in the northern zone, building the living room on the sunny southern side. If the access area is located in the south, then the matter becomes somewhat more complicated.
As a rule, in order to save space, house designs for small plots involve the construction of a two-story dwelling or a house with an attic. This is the best option to save scarce space. The exception is small country houses that do not require permanent residence.
On the ground floor of a two-story house you can place a living room and all utility rooms: bathrooms, dressing rooms, and so on. On the second floor there are bedrooms and other living rooms. And, of course, it is very important to properly design the premises. It must be remembered that a room whose length is twice as wide seems uncomfortable.
It would be a good idea to think over the interior of a house built on a narrow plot. It is important that furniture and appliances do not clutter up the space or narrow it visually. Although, of course, everything here depends on the individual tastes and imagination of the owner.
Finishing work
For cabins, shed roofs are more often used.
When building a frame house, it is recommended to first build a roof, and then lay the floor and ceiling. This is a feature of this technology: here the frame is not part of the floor. However, in some cases it is more convenient to do the floor right away.
- On the bottom trim or inner frame. If there is one, they fix the logs and lay the floor with boards.
- If the roof is gable, it is recommended to fix the ceiling joists and sheathe the ceiling from below. If it is pitched, the roof protrudes like a ceiling.
- The walls are covered with: OSB panels, plywood, chipboard, clapboard, ordinary tongue and groove boards.
- If desired, the house can be painted and the lining can be varnished.
If necessary, the temporary shed can be insulated. In this case, mineral wool, hydro- and vapor barrier films are laid in the space between the beams and the walls are finished from the inside. The floor will also have to be insulated.
How to zone a house of 30 sq.m.
The simplest and most radical method to zone space is walls. But in a small room they will take up a lot of space. Then partitions will come to the rescue: they are lighter and smaller, but create the same effect.
It is best to separate the kitchen with a wall or partition. If this does not work, a kitchen set or sofa, as well as a dining table, can serve as a delimiter.
Instead of partitions, you can use screens and false walls. The most budget-friendly and easiest way, of course, is to divide the room using furniture. Partitions can also be cabinets with shelving.
Tips for building cabins
The cabin is equipped with its own shield, the wires are hidden in plastic boxes.
Manufacturing construction cabins according to drawings does not require specifications of materials, but does imply compliance with fire safety rules and some construction recommendations.
- A wooden temporary shed is a fire hazard. It should not be placed next to other wooden buildings or a warehouse with flammable materials.
- If electricity is supplied to the cabin, you need to install your own panel and correctly calculate the load.
- Wires in temporary sheds are hidden in metal or plastic boxes.
- It is recommended to reinforce the fastening points with additional cross members.
- The change house should not be combined with a toilet or shower. However, it is allowed to install a tank for a summer shower on the roof.
A do-it-yourself temporary structure at the dacha often turns into a stationary structure. Here they store equipment, store materials, spend the night, and relax after work. In addition, temporary housing can later be converted into a sauna, auto repair shop, or even a guest house.
How to properly arrange furniture and use decor
Furniture in a 30 sq.m house is placed around the perimeter. It is important to use the corners: they are good for placing a closet or sofa. For greater ergonomics, you can use transformer furniture. For example, a sofa that turns into a bed, or a table-bedside table.
Photo of a house 30 sq.m. shows that it is better to do without shelves and wall cabinets on the walls. Their absence will give the space lightness. And if you want to use decor, it’s better to do it with bright accents.
