Buying and building a new cabin is among the most exciting projects you'll ever undertake. It can be fun for the whole family but you want to do it right so it lasts for years. With a careful eye and careful planning you can have everything you dreamed of and more. The first question to ask yourself is what will your new cabin be used for? To some extent the answer to this question will impact all others. Is it to be the primary residence on your property or a secondary structure for guests? Does it need to be built by a certain date like a family reunion or wedding? Will you use it all year round? Will it just be an occasional bunkie, used primarily for storage? Consider making a list of all the purposes your new cabin will serve as part of the planning process.

The most important tip we can give? Contact us at any point in the planning process! We'll provide you with as much help as you need. For the rest of our advice, read straight through or jump to the relevant section with these links below.

Choose the Cabin Site | Interior Cabin Design & Exterior Impression | Cabin Size | Cabin Materials 
 Cabin Roofing | DIY Cabin Kits | Selecting a Cabin Design

Choose the Best Site on Your Land for your Cabin

Location - the practical and the pretty. There's a lot to consider here. If your new cabin is to be a secondary structure, maybe you want to run electricity and plumb your cabin for a sink, toilet, bath or shower.

Think about the pros and cons of your preferred site in all four seasons. The surrounding foliage (and weather) can be very different from one season to the next. Some people want to maximize sunshine all year round and build atop of a hill. Others want shade in the afternoons at the height of summer when windows magnify the heat. They may tuck their cabin behind a copse of trees that blocks the sun in the afternoons.

Do you want an attractive location or one with the easiest access? Somewhere in the middle? If your property's large, how far from the road do you want to be? If it's a busy road, the farther the quieter but what about parking? Is there a lot of snow in the winter and will you need to dig your way through? It may make sense to lay a parking pad while creating a foundation (more about this below).

Once you decide on a site, choose a size that'll suit your needs (see the next topic below). Here's a great tip: Stake out your cabin on the chosen site. Ensure that it fits and that the location is harmonious with your landscape. Try walking there from where you'll park, keeping in mind that you'll often be carrying heavy bags late at night and in bad weather.

Zoning - check twice. Decisions about the size and location of your cabin are not entirely in your hands. Check with your municipality to ensure that you are meeting the local zoning and permit requirements. If your cabin is under 100 sq. ft. you will not likely require a permit however, there are usually some restrictions. Things like a 2- or 3-foot setback from your property line (see zoning and permits for more information). Some areas have specific regulations regarding structures built near water. Check first and then check again! Inspectors will make you change things if you contravene local bylaws.

Grade - You want your cabin to last forever. While there are other options, we recommend a concrete foundation to ensure stability. While you're pouring it, you can maximize value by also creating a parking pad. If you're installing plumbing, it's wise to create a slight pitch at the back of your cabin to ensure better drainage.

Interior Cabin Design & Exterior Impression

Once again your list of cabin uses will help determine how to design the interior. Is your space to be open concept or will you divide it into rooms with partitions to allow privacy for yourself and guests? Are you considering a loft? If so, you'll need some extra space to create a staircase to it.

Allow plenty of space for storage. Consider cupboards, shelves, mud room, sunroom, porches etc. See our suggestions for interiors. There are so many design options, unique to Summerwood cabins, to suit to your tastes and needs. Our cabins are available as single floor, 1 1/2 floor (lofts), and even 2 story designs. Our cabin design team are literally pros at this, so use them when designing your cabin kit. You'll save time and ensure that you get exactly what you want.

With all the sumptuous styles of cabins that we offer, you're sure to find what you want here. Check out our favorites to benefit from the thinking that others have done before you. Select the style that fits your landscape and reflects your taste best. Then customize the cabin to address any functional issues and to add your own personal touch.

Consider too, how you'll "decorate" the area around your new cabin. Shrubs, flowers and running vines entwined through a trellis create an earthy English garden feel. Or perhaps you'll want to clear the front for a nearby fire pit. (Be sure it's far enough from your cabin for safety.) Would you like a path of flagstone to lead to the front door? It's the little things that personalize and make your cabin uniquely yours.

When you're ready, select a style from below or go straight to our Custom Design Center. Don't forget that you can involve our design team at any stage.

How Big Will Your Cabin Be?

This is always a bit of a tough one. We like to tell customer like you there is no wrong choice. But that is, before you build it! What we really mean is there are no rules, except what you need for your circumstances.

What you need to consider. Clearly the key is to ensure that your space is large enough for its intended purposes, while remaining proportional to the setting. How many people do you need your cabin to sleep? Do you want a porch to sit and watch the world go by? Is it just sleeping space or do you need to apportion other rooms to read, dine in or just pass the time with a card game when the weather's foul? Keep all the purposes of the cabin in mind while planning its size. Are you thinking storage and sleeping space? A dual-purpose cabin doesn't have to be big, providing you assign different uses to different spaces and incorporate some thoughtful and inventive design into your plan. Be sure to view our sample floor plans and utilize our floor plan grids. They're a huge time-saver.

What you need to know. Remember that in most areas, structures of less than 100 sq. feet usually don't even require permits. Maxing out at about 80 sq ft of living space, our Canmore Bunkie is designed just for that. For many that may be a bit too "cozy". It all depends on your needs. Again, check with your local municipality for permit requirements. This library of regional listings may well have the local government office you should contact.

Once you've decided on a size, it's a good idea to test it. Place some stakes in the ground and outline the sides of your proposed cabin with a string. It sounds odd, but for most people it's hard to get an idea of what they need until they do it. This mock space gives you opportunity to experiment before you've laid out any money. Adjust the stakes until you're happy with the size and record the dimensions.

Build Your Cabin for Life with Fine Materials

It's not uncommon for people to love their cabin more than their primary residence. They want it to last for life and pass it on to loved ones. That's why Summerwood only uses the finest materials on the market. Most of our cabins are constructed from a premium grade of western red cedar. However we also offer our structures in durable and attractive Canexel maintenance-free wood fiber siding in a variety of vibrant and outdoorsy colors.

Different materials create different looks. Remember that when you're adding new structures on your property. You can have them complement one another or be a little eccentric and let them stand on their own. There's no wrong decision, just interesting ones! Learn more about our materials and siding choices.

Cabin Roofing Considerations

Shingles - Available at your local hardware store and can be installed on any of our cabin kits, but there are other choices. Whatever you choose, be sure to follow the installation instructions closely. Please refer to the shingles on our website to determine the quantity of shingles that you will require.

Roofing - In most applications we use 4 x 8 x 7/16" OSB sheets for sheathing. You may want to upgrade to fir plywood, or consider cedar for a more finished appearance.

Trusses and rafters - In most applications we use spruce (dimensions vary depending on size and style). Other materials such cedar may be preferred.

For detailed information on all our material choices click here.

Will You Build the Cabin Yourself?

Summerwood cabin kits are a do-it-yourselfer's dream come true - even if you're only dreaming about becoming a do-it-yourselfer. There's a detailed, step-by-step set of instructions and live help is always just an email or toll-free phone call away. Just be sure that you have the time, energy and tools to complete the project. Our cabin kits make building a cabin a project anyone can do, whether you're handy or not. Learn more about its assembly and required tools.

Or if you think you'd rather have someone build it for you, this 'how to hire a contractor' package is very helpful.

Selecting a Summerwood Cabin Style

Choose your favorite cabin style - we love them all! Remember, our buildings can be customized to your own personal requirements. They range in size from as small to as big as you want. View many of these cabin styles below in 3D.

Summerwood Cabins:

Canmore Cabins - With its generous front porch and soaring loft area, it's no wonder the Canmore is a favorite with our customers. It's the look that says bring on the weekend!

Kepler Creek Cabins - The Kepler Creek's gently sloping roof provides a roomy open loft. The optional dormer adds charm and the extra light is welcome all year round.

Mansfield Cabins - Large cabins never had it so good. Mansfield cabins provide a great solution for enjoying the great outdoors. With their 1-1/2 storey design, gable roof and walls of windows it's the perfect solution for a perfect view.

Creemore Cabins - Perfect for families, Creemore cabin designs offer an extra half storey of ample sleeping and storage space, great for families. The banks of windows upstairs and down brighten your days and make nights more romantic.

Invermere Cabins - Ranging from 300 to almost 1200 square feet, Invermere cabins can rewrite family histories. This unique cabin design offers an overhanging roof that creates a beautiful porch living space and also offers a perfect, and spacious, loft hideaway. So get out of the city and enjoy the lake like you’ve been dreaming about with our Invermere cabin kits.

Breckinridge Cabins - There's a down-home simplicity to the Breckinridge that seems to instill calm. The gable roof provides much needed upper storage space. Customize the Breckinridge to suit your tastes.

Cheyenne Cabins - Its steep gabled roof provides the Cheyenne's owner plenty of loft space. Its rustic charm is enhanced by the cozy porch and overhanging roof.

Mountain Brook Cabins - Practical and charming. The gently sloping 7:12 pitch roof offers extra space for storage or sleeping. Speaking of sleep, relax and spread out on the 4 ft deep porch.

Glen Echo Cabins - An attractive favorite for cabiner's. The canopy created by the 2- or 3-foot overhang provides welcome shade on a sunny day and protection from the rain on a cloudy one.

Telluride Cabins - Its steep gabled roof provides the Telluride's owner plenty of loft space to store camping equipment or use as a sleeping area. Its rustic charm is at home in any setting.

If you're not sure, view our cabin favorites for inspiration. See how others in your shoes have modified Summerwood styles to make them their very own.