Building a Creek-Side Cabin in Canada
By Ryan Moore, Wood-Mizer
Travel across a small footbridge from Andrew Koessler’s main cabin in British Columbia, Canada, and you’ll find his latest creation - a picturesque creek-side guest house featuring a loft with a double bed, a main floor seating area, and a kitchenette with running water. Perched atop a small hill among the scenic forest trees, the 2.75 x 3-meter bungalow with a 5-meter high central beam creates maximum comfort for guests. “We are all tired of sleeping in tents on deflating mattresses,” said Andrew. “I can’t say I have had any friends complain of a sleepless night in my cozy creek-side bungalow.”
To build this unique project, Andrew utilized his Wood-Mizer LT40 Hydraulic mobile sawmill and locally sourced timber. All the wood used for the bungalow make, including western red cedar, Douglas fir, and maple, was harvested and milled on Andrew’s property, and 85% of the project was completed with lumber milled on his Wood-Mizer sawmill. “I built the entire bungalow myself, aside from some help moving the heavier beams into place,” said Andrew.
Andrew first became interested in sawmilling when he needed to repair a footbridge on his property. After some research, the benefits of purchasing a sawmill became clear. “As I started seeing the potential of what was possible, I knew I needed a proper sawmill, and Wood-Mizer was the way to go,” said Andrew. Andrew started with a smaller Wood-Mizer sawmill model, and despite minimal sawmilling experience, he immediately saw how profitable it was to cut logs and make lumber himself. “I dove in head-first, but all has worked out,” Andrew laughs. He soon decided to upgrade to a more powerful LT40 mobile hydraulic sawmill.
With the creek-side guest house project completed, Andrew moved on to the next project. With a renovation of his main cabin and a tractor shed in the works, Andrew shares that he’ll never run out of projects to pursue with his sawmill. However, he does remember to take the time to enjoy what he has created so far. “I love building creative projects, and owning my Wood-Mizer mill has let me and my friends make a little dream world for ourselves,” smiled Andrew.