A generous crawl space will help control moisture issues.
Constructing a small house with cinder blocks is a cost-effective option for home ownership. You will need to take precautions concerning the porous nature of blocks; however, the hollow spaces of the blocks actually provide an insulating factor. By using the right support materials for walls and flooring, you can construct a snug, safe house. The cinder blocks provide a fire-resistant building material and strong walls fairly impervious to strong winds. By creating a pleasing visual design, you can build a cottage that will work well over time.
Instructions
1. Sketch the cottage design in detail. Use graph paper to draw each exterior and interior facade, along with a bird's eye view of the floor plan. Remember to allow for the width of the blocks in your drawings. Use standard 8-in. wide blocks that are actually 7 5/8 in. Include concrete lintels that will form support beams across window and door openings of the cottage. Sketch a living room open to a kitchen, one bath and one bedroom to create a cottage that will measure at least 18 ft. square.
2. Design a crawlspace area 4 ft. deep. Construct the floor joists over the crawlspace, allowing for plenty of room to get under the cottage. Plan to check out the crawlspace at least twice a year to look for plumbing leaks or other issues. Keep in mind that a crawlspace too shallow will make it difficult for soil moisture to escape--and for you to get under the house at all. Build the crawlspace walls on footings 8 inches deep around the cottage perimeter.
3. Plan the basic house building steps. Construct the exterior walls of the cottage by laying cinder blocks. Plan to build a basic A-frame roof from 2-by-6-in. lumber boards. Cover the roof joists with 1/2-in. plywood and install asphalt shingles over tar paper. Be sure to add guttering, downspouts and splashblocks to move water away from the foundation areas.
