SpyderAnn01
Active member
The house looks great but it is still in Michigan. All of that rain and cold and lack of sunshine is precisely why we left.
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The Log House Project
- Thread starter NancysToy
- Start date
NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
Still Struggling
As promised, Friday my son and I drove the 425 miles to Wisconsin Rapids, exchanged the log corners, and drove back home. Other than being a long trip, and almost buying the farm in Chicago on the way home when some idiot turned in front of all of us from the left lane to hit our exit and a semi had to lock it up in front of us, it went well. Long day, though, at a 16 hour road trip. Saturday I unloaded the 12' long, square corners by myself. They sure were heavy! They put the pump in Friday, and made a huge mess of things with the water they pumped. It was better today, but the rain stopped progress in drying things out.
Today we were worried when there was nobody there when we arrived. About an hour later the builder showed up and we went over some things. The carpenters then showed for a couple of hours to take care of some details. They had some loose ends, and spotted a problem with the roof overhang that they corrected. We should be ready for a framing inspection soon. They also covered the garage entry door to prevent damage when they pour concrete. The flatwork contractor showed up as the rain began to pour heavier, but he was able to move the sand into the garage and level and compact it. He finished as the rain and following rain/snow turned to plain snow. Big flakes and low visibility on our way home! We are all set to pour a floor...if the weather ever permits. The driveway is a mudhole, so I don't know if we can even get concrete trucks in there for a few days. Maybe while the ground is frozen during the next day or two?
As usual lately, I shoveled, moving fill and digging drainage ditches. The latter is a constant battle, as the traffic messes up the ditches and creates new low spots daily. I also did some caulking. Nancy dug a little, but spent more time sweeping and cleaning up. That was pretty impossible lately with so much going on and the crews there so late most days. The house is quite cold, with open soffits remaining, no front door, and no garage separating wall and no garage doors. The basement is pretty comfortable, though, with the insulated floor and foundation walls, and the windows and doors closed. I am pretty certain that the water system will be OK for a week or two, once they activate it.
As promised, Friday my son and I drove the 425 miles to Wisconsin Rapids, exchanged the log corners, and drove back home. Other than being a long trip, and almost buying the farm in Chicago on the way home when some idiot turned in front of all of us from the left lane to hit our exit and a semi had to lock it up in front of us, it went well. Long day, though, at a 16 hour road trip. Saturday I unloaded the 12' long, square corners by myself. They sure were heavy! They put the pump in Friday, and made a huge mess of things with the water they pumped. It was better today, but the rain stopped progress in drying things out.
Today we were worried when there was nobody there when we arrived. About an hour later the builder showed up and we went over some things. The carpenters then showed for a couple of hours to take care of some details. They had some loose ends, and spotted a problem with the roof overhang that they corrected. We should be ready for a framing inspection soon. They also covered the garage entry door to prevent damage when they pour concrete. The flatwork contractor showed up as the rain began to pour heavier, but he was able to move the sand into the garage and level and compact it. He finished as the rain and following rain/snow turned to plain snow. Big flakes and low visibility on our way home! We are all set to pour a floor...if the weather ever permits. The driveway is a mudhole, so I don't know if we can even get concrete trucks in there for a few days. Maybe while the ground is frozen during the next day or two?
As usual lately, I shoveled, moving fill and digging drainage ditches. The latter is a constant battle, as the traffic messes up the ditches and creates new low spots daily. I also did some caulking. Nancy dug a little, but spent more time sweeping and cleaning up. That was pretty impossible lately with so much going on and the crews there so late most days. The house is quite cold, with open soffits remaining, no front door, and no garage separating wall and no garage doors. The basement is pretty comfortable, though, with the insulated floor and foundation walls, and the windows and doors closed. I am pretty certain that the water system will be OK for a week or two, once they activate it.
NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
All that heat and desert and lack of trees is precisely why we stayed. :roflblack:
No, I have a builder experienced in log homes. I retired 8 1/2 years ago, so I had very few contacts left in the business, and my experience was in public works construction, which is very different. I probably spend more time on the job and do more than I should, but I am the architect and engineer, so I seem to be in demand every day. Besides, I get a bit of satisfaction from getting my hands dirty.
MarkLawson
RT-S PE#0031
I sure enjoy watching your home come together. How high is the garage ceiling?
Jeriatric
Thinks out loud
Drilling
Can't even imagine building in the weather conditions you're dealing with. Well done, and, it's looking good you guys! :thumbup:
"Today they drilled our well. They found a good water bearing formation at 143 feet, after hitting 40 feet of solid clay from 70 to 110. They had never seen that much clay that deep before. We are mostly sand and gravel SW Michigan. "
Good news, and beats the heck out of my last well drilling experience. Down, down, down they went for three days, through solid granite. All told, 800 feet later we had a 100 gal.(+-) per minute producer, with a static level in the thirty foot range. Budget, what budget :roflblack:
Can't even imagine building in the weather conditions you're dealing with. Well done, and, it's looking good you guys! :thumbup:
"Today they drilled our well. They found a good water bearing formation at 143 feet, after hitting 40 feet of solid clay from 70 to 110. They had never seen that much clay that deep before. We are mostly sand and gravel SW Michigan. "
Good news, and beats the heck out of my last well drilling experience. Down, down, down they went for three days, through solid granite. All told, 800 feet later we had a 100 gal.(+-) per minute producer, with a static level in the thirty foot range. Budget, what budget :roflblack:
bruiser
New member
You have spare time?? :roflblack:
Pennyrick
New member
Scotty.... this is an awe inspiring project and you and Nancy are accomplishing something to be very proud of.
If you are planning to come to Spyderfest next year, Penny and I will buy the drinks....(maybe even dinner) to toast the the job you guys are doing (will have done).
Once the house is done, can you turn your attention to the Affordable Care Act website next?
If you are planning to come to Spyderfest next year, Penny and I will buy the drinks....(maybe even dinner) to toast the the job you guys are doing (will have done).
Once the house is done, can you turn your attention to the Affordable Care Act website next?
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
It is great to watch someone following their dream. :2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs:
NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
It should be about 11'6", but that is a guess. They poured the garage floor today, so I will get an accurate measurement (needed to order the attic ladder) tomorrow.
NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
This morning when I arrived at the house it was 23 degrees (minus 5 to you in the Spyder's homeland). It was nice to not walk in mud for a while, but I sure wish the heat was in. When I can't shovel, I get cold quickly. 
The flatwork contractor poured the garage floor, despite the cold. It should be fine, between air-entrainment, chloride, and using limestone instead of gravel in the mix, as well as using a seven bag mix, it should be OK. The garage fill was not frozen, being somewhat protected, so that should help, too. With the heat from curing and closing the openings, we should do OK. Coldest night in seven months, though, a sign of things to come. We are behind, and this is a painful reminder. Yes, that is a little light snow in the video. None on the ground though, although we had some accumulation at home.
The flatwork contractor poured the garage floor, despite the cold. It should be fine, between air-entrainment, chloride, and using limestone instead of gravel in the mix, as well as using a seven bag mix, it should be OK. The garage fill was not frozen, being somewhat protected, so that should help, too. With the heat from curing and closing the openings, we should do OK. Coldest night in seven months, though, a sign of things to come. We are behind, and this is a painful reminder. Yes, that is a little light snow in the video. None on the ground though, although we had some accumulation at home.
NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
Well, I did take some video today, but it did not record properly so I have nothing moving to show you. 
We did make some progress. The carpenters were back and they reinforced the roof gable overhangs. I guess a question I asked about them the other day started to worry them. The weatherman last night predicted 101" of snow for us there this winter, so I think the reinforcement may have been a good idea.
The roofing/deck crew did soffits and fascia all morning. They are about half done now. They finished decking the front porch, too. Lots easier to get around with that heavy sky-lift with the ground frozen...and no ruts to backfill or fight. It was 22 degrees this morning.
The poor concrete guys were there until 10 PM yesterday. The garage floor just wouldn't set. It was too cold, and I found that they had not added chloride to the mix, just limestone as aggregate. The concrete will be stronger this way, but will take more time to cure to full strength. I had put up tarps for the doors, but they needed some adjustment and reinforcement today (several times in the wind). It should be less exposed tonight. No way to put heat in there with the high roof and a ridge vent, as well as an open wall into the house. We will just have to be gentle for a couple of weeks.
The carpenters brought in the log siding corners today, preparing to begin installation tomorrow. They will likely trim the windows and doors, too, and the remaining doors and window are due to arrive in the morning. The logs themselves will have to wait until next week...Friday is a national holiday. It seems that way, at least, it is the first day of firearm deer season. :roflblack: We had intended to pre-stain the logs, but between being a week or two behind schedule, and with the garage floor too soft to work there, we decided to put the logs up now and wait until Spring to stain and do most of the caulk (unless we get a nice stretch of weather for the caulking). It should not be a problem to do it that way, many logs homes are done in that order. The only effect may be in delaying the move-in time, as the bank won't sign off until things are finished.
We did make some progress. The carpenters were back and they reinforced the roof gable overhangs. I guess a question I asked about them the other day started to worry them. The weatherman last night predicted 101" of snow for us there this winter, so I think the reinforcement may have been a good idea.The roofing/deck crew did soffits and fascia all morning. They are about half done now. They finished decking the front porch, too. Lots easier to get around with that heavy sky-lift with the ground frozen...and no ruts to backfill or fight. It was 22 degrees this morning.
The poor concrete guys were there until 10 PM yesterday. The garage floor just wouldn't set. It was too cold, and I found that they had not added chloride to the mix, just limestone as aggregate. The concrete will be stronger this way, but will take more time to cure to full strength. I had put up tarps for the doors, but they needed some adjustment and reinforcement today (several times in the wind). It should be less exposed tonight. No way to put heat in there with the high roof and a ridge vent, as well as an open wall into the house. We will just have to be gentle for a couple of weeks.
The carpenters brought in the log siding corners today, preparing to begin installation tomorrow. They will likely trim the windows and doors, too, and the remaining doors and window are due to arrive in the morning. The logs themselves will have to wait until next week...Friday is a national holiday. It seems that way, at least, it is the first day of firearm deer season. :roflblack: We had intended to pre-stain the logs, but between being a week or two behind schedule, and with the garage floor too soft to work there, we decided to put the logs up now and wait until Spring to stain and do most of the caulk (unless we get a nice stretch of weather for the caulking). It should not be a problem to do it that way, many logs homes are done in that order. The only effect may be in delaying the move-in time, as the bank won't sign off until things are finished.
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SpyderAnn01
Active member
It is looking good! I had to laugh about your concrete guys working until 10:00 pm in my neighborhood most of the slabs were finished in the middle of the night with light from their pick up trucks. That explains why it took about 6 extra bags of thinset to level the slab when we installed tile.
NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
The First Logs
Today was a great day. Long and busy, but great. The deck and roof crew finished the soffits and fascia, finished the deck railing posts, and screwed down the last of the deck boards. The door company delivered the remaining two doors, and later the carpenters installed the front door and the rear garage entry door. The carpenters fitted the first of the vertical corners, then began installing the logs. It is an intense process, requiring lots of fitting and half miter cuts, as well as some other fancy details. They toe-nail the logs into the studs, then screw one log into the one below every couple of feet of the length. We wanted to prestain the logs, but in the interests of time and weather we decided to put the logs up now and stain them later. We are already fighting the caulk and window sealing tape, needing to warm it in the truck before use. If the weather gets as cold as it was earlier this week, we will have to build a heater box to store it and keep it warm. If we had delayed, the matter would get worse.
It was very satisfying to see the logs go up at long last. We have found nothing we have wanted to change in my design or with our decision about using (half) logs. The project was well thought out and it has translated to real life just as we thought it would, thus far. From computer, to paper, to a model, to concrete and lumber, it has never surprised us. Lots of work and lots of money, but it will be worth it.
Today was a great day. Long and busy, but great. The deck and roof crew finished the soffits and fascia, finished the deck railing posts, and screwed down the last of the deck boards. The door company delivered the remaining two doors, and later the carpenters installed the front door and the rear garage entry door. The carpenters fitted the first of the vertical corners, then began installing the logs. It is an intense process, requiring lots of fitting and half miter cuts, as well as some other fancy details. They toe-nail the logs into the studs, then screw one log into the one below every couple of feet of the length. We wanted to prestain the logs, but in the interests of time and weather we decided to put the logs up now and stain them later. We are already fighting the caulk and window sealing tape, needing to warm it in the truck before use. If the weather gets as cold as it was earlier this week, we will have to build a heater box to store it and keep it warm. If we had delayed, the matter would get worse.
It was very satisfying to see the logs go up at long last. We have found nothing we have wanted to change in my design or with our decision about using (half) logs. The project was well thought out and it has translated to real life just as we thought it would, thus far. From computer, to paper, to a model, to concrete and lumber, it has never surprised us. Lots of work and lots of money, but it will be worth it.
NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
They will be stained, but we are going to have to wait until Spring. We just couldn't get ahead of the weather.
MarkLawson
RT-S PE#0031
When it's finished, you and Nancy will have to put on your best Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln costumes for some portraits with your log cabin!
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