Building a hut for the first time.

So, a buddy and me have decided upon building a hut, as at the moment we only have a 2 person portable, and are looking to bring up to 4 more people out with us (So 6 in total). We are looking at building it 8x10, with a wood stove as heat. We will only be putting it on perch grounds, and obviously be keeping an eye out for weather once its on. A few questions come to mind though, what thickness of ice should we be looking at before putting it out? Using chipboard (Decently heavy) with 2x6 runners and 2x4 floor joists and the rest 2x3 for frame work. Also, how should we block the hut, or is it needed? Im sort of afraid of getting in it and knocking it off the blocks (And basically falling on my a##). Anymore tips I should know about?

I'm building an 8x8 right now. I've got 2x4 for floors joists and 2x6 for runners. All the framing is 2x2(trying to stay light as possible. I've got 1/2" ply for the floors and the walls will be 1/4"OSB board

Working on the roof currently. I have a thread a couple down with a picture

Ya its nice! Was gonna do a roof like a house, after reading your thread I'm just gonna do a slanted roof, much easier! How do you plan on blocking it up once its out there? Or are you doing to? I don't know if its needed or not, that's my biggest question

Yes definitely going to block it up probably just cut up some 4x4 posts and lay them under each corner

with a hut that big no less than 10" runners,id prefer 12,if there is snow you wont move it very far without at least 6-8" of clearance from bottom of the floor to ice......trust me,2x2 is fine for walls,2x4 notched in 2x12's for the floor,at least 1/2" ply wood for floor....

at least 7-8" of ice id say

doubled 6" 2x4 for blocks,you do not want that hut sinking in!you will probably have to raise the hut once a week.you will need 4 guys to move and block the hut

In all likely hood I will only make it out about once a week being from Guelph. Was thinking 4 2x4 (8 inches cause runners will be 2x6s, so 2 inches of clearance) 2 foot long pieces under each corner. Does that seem sufficient? What will happen if I cant get up a week and need to leave it for 2 weeks? Will that still be fine? This will be my first hut and I don't wanna screw anything up badly lol.

Make your hut as light as possible. Keep a 8ft 4x4 in your hut to lift it up & block it before you go home. NEVER leave anything valuable in your hut. Keep different sizes of scrap wood to block up your hut as sometimes it,s hard to get them level when you arrive. Leave an old snow shovel & some candles to warm your hands. Paint a stripe around the hut so snowmobiles & friends can see it & find it. Merry Xmas

Awesome advice, so do I unblock it every time I use it? I wouldn't have thought of the snow shovel candles or painting around the hut, thanks!

You need to block (raise it) so the runners don't freeze into the ice - which is a huge PITA. The hut is continually sicking -slowwwly, faster if the weather warms. So lots of spare lumber handy is good. Raising the hut is easy if you have a bottle jack (CTC 2ton $12 at times). A spud is always handy for chipping away ice.

Anchor at least one corner of the hunt into the ice just in case we get a thaw and associated high winds, otherwise the hut could blow recklessly across the lake and into someone's backyard in Beaverton! Easy anchor: push a roped 2x4 18" through an auger hole and tie off onto the hut. Put a couple D-lops outside the hut.

The thickness of ice required is a function of the weight of the machine needed to tow the hut out - not the hut itself. The hut mass to surface area is little.

Get a carbon monoxide detector. Keep the lake clean. Take out garbage.

8 inches cause runners will be 2x6s

do you mean built in skis?if so 2" isnt even close to the clearance you need,if there is snow it will build up in the front and you WILL get stuck(tow end)of your hut while you tow,wont be close to enough clearance to let the snow pass under the hut.......

I'd just like to add something; plan ahead. Way ahead. Make sure you have it figured out how to get your hut and all blocking off the ice when the time comes.

KEEP IT LIGHT, wrap the framing in vapor barrier before putting your outside sheeting on, its keeps more drafts out and allows less insulation to stay warm. dont use OSB anywhere on your hut, it sucks up water like a sponge making your hut extremely heavy at the end of the season.

i built my first hut last year and made all these mistakes and had to rebuild it this summer. also if you are going to have built in runners put some kind of hard plastic or sheet metal along the bottom, it really makes a difference when pulling it around.

i used 2x4 floors and 2x2 walls with 1/2 inch ply for the floor and aluminum for the ouside. for insulation i only have 1 inch stuff from home depot, the stuff with the aluminium foil on it. it works great

you do not need vapor barrier,it causes condensation inside
no need for it at all