Building A Log Cabin Retreat: A Do-It-Yourself Guide [Paperback]

Michael Mulligan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2002

If you've ever dreamed of building a rustic log cabin to use as a weekend hideaway, hunting lodge or even an emergency retreat, this book tells you how to make it a reality. This step-by-step guide is chock-full of tips and advice culled from author Michael Mulligan's decades of experience. Specializing in do-it-yourself projects that use improvised materials and avoid bureaucratic hassles, Mulligan first shares invaluable insight on finding your land and negotiating the shark-filled waters of real estate deals. Then, in straightforward terms that even a novice can follow easily, he walks you through the construction process, from selecting and preparing the logs to erecting and chinking the walls to building the roof and finishing the interior. He also includes a chapter on dispensing with public utilities in meeting your water, sewage, heating, cooking, lighting, power and refrigeration needs. Finally, for those who wish to tackle a scaled-up version of Mulligan's basic design, he presents the formulas necessary for calculating the parameters and selecting the proper material.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Mulligan has built a career in engineering while pursuing hobbies centered around the reproduction of American frontier artifacts such as the Kentucky rifle and, above all, the log cabin. He began more than 30 years ago by building a full-size home from locally cut pine trees and went on to construct a series of smaller log buildings, including vacation and hunting/camping cabins. Mulligan is currently involved in the research and development of improved ways of supplying remote locations with economical and reliable solar electric power.

Product Details

• Paperback: 92 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581603142
• ISBN-13: 978-1581603149
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #526,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not very helpful, January 24, 2003

By 

R. Adams "doctor mom" (Corvallis, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Building A Log Cabin Retreat: A Do-It-Yourself Guide (Paperback)

The preface and first chapter are a bizarre rant against municipal governments, building departments, and utility providers. I haven't seen so much name-calling since my first marriage. The remaining chapters discuss building techniques, but not in enough detail to be useful for someone attempting to build a cabin. The only valuable information was the final chapter's formulas and tables for engineering larger structures.

The author has a big chip on his shoulder.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money, July 29, 2004

By 

Book Monger - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building A Log Cabin Retreat: A Do-It-Yourself Guide (Paperback)

What a lousy book. I must have been daydreaming when I purchased it and missed the other review stating how utterly useless this book is. Instruction like 'use a chain saw to notch the log so that it matches the other one' is not particularly inspiring or helpful for me. And I too could have done without the government-bashing, build-a-cabin-in-the-woods-to-be-ready-for-WWIII message this person actually paid to publish. I can't believe I spent any money on this thing!

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, November 26, 2010

By 

Justin Maynard (TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Building A Log Cabin Retreat: A Do-It-Yourself Guide (Paperback)

I watched a movie about living in Alaska. The guy built a cabin and lived for many years. Peaked my interest and wanted to know what it would actually take to do it. This book will guide you well.