2coldnpagosa's blog

I thought I could do it but I'm human.. Its tough enough to keep my blog updated and haven't kept the LHBA blog going. Visit http://bradsloghome.blogspot.com/ for the latest happenings.

The last couple days have seen some progress. My son and I installed the pressure treated sill plate; you know, those green boards that are dripping wet with who knows what kinda chemical! I was pretty proud of the fact each 2x8x12 was nice and straight. I even sunk a few fluted nails in to hold the ends down....in case. We got busy on setting the top flange hangers which required cutting out the ICF foam first. No biggie, its all progress! I knew we needed to get the sill logs on quickly as those pesky PT boards have a mind of their own and can pretzel on you in no time. So today was the day I moved the first sill log in place. The template was already made but first I thought I'd put a few more concrete nails in the sill plate. BAD IDEA! The *^%$#)) board split almost in half lengthwise! I should've known... I priced construction grade redwood as a builder I know only uses the stuff for sill plate. I opted for the less expensive option and am paying for it. So today was mostly wasted time fetching redwood material, tearing off the hangers, reinstalling the plates, reinstalling some hangers...you get the idea. My fault and I knew better but the $$ got in the way of my thinking. Learn from me..if your hanging your floor from your sill plate, choose Redwood for sill plates. Months later when your ready to set your joists you won't have to deal with this! Oops sorry for the neck cramp. :)

Are you sitting down? LOGS HAVE ARRIVED!!! Yes the first load of 40 something logs showed up on Labor Day. PTL! This was quite the event to see my long lost Logger finally deliver (literally and figuratively) The reachable forklift did most of the work though it took a few logs to get the hang of removing them off the truck. It took a couple hours to unload the logs. We have some HUGE logs to work with and some with real "character". My staging location turned out to be smaller than expected. I need to get some of these logs put in place before the next load arrives. I got the logger to commit to 2 weeks for the final load. By then I hope to have figured out how to peel the darn things, remove some of the character knots, inventory the logs (sizes) and place the first course. I'm going to look into the hydro excavators to see if their equipment will make quick work of log peeling. I'm running out of summer and fear I'll be peeling into winter. I'm probably going to inventory the logs, pick my first 4, peel'm then place them. Kinda peel as I go. But hey, I have logs and can now get to ordering necessary tools.

Now remind me again why I'm blogging in the first place? Ha! I'd like to keep friends and family up to date with my building process and possibly provide assistance to other LHBA Members through comments, pics, etc. But I'm not seeing how this blog can benefit those outside of this site. Can it be shared to the outside world or is it meant for members and viewed by visitors..?? I do think thats the case.

So I'm resurrecting my original blog  http://bradsloghome.blogspot.com/ so it can be easily accessed by all interested parties. I've enjoyed keeping up with Shilo's blog http://www.paragon-cs.com/shiloh/ which is found off-site.

Please comment if I'm all wet in my thinking.

Quite a bit has happened since my posting in May. I did get my permit pulled, excavation completed, and footings poured. Wow what fun to build square! Our 36x36 foundation calls for ARXX ICF blocks. I decided to do all the foundation work even though I vowed never to do another after my last ranch-style foundation. This little footprint seemed too easy to pass up plus working with Styrofoam? Lets do it! The ICF blocks were much easier than I thought. I didn't even have to cut one block as the foundation dimension allowed for a perfect fit! The 10.5 yards of concrete went in well with the exception of 2 corners that floated up about 1/2 inch...but hey, I'm working with logs! I decided to use a great suggestion of hanging the joists off the sill plate and my inspector recommended going with a "conditioned" crawl space so no venting was required. Wow this is getting easier by the day!

Seems like a few weeks have gone by with not much happening. Previsously I was fighting with Punch ViaCad2d software and lost. I did get the free update though the CAD files still loaded weird. I used Sharks recommendation and downloaded Siemens Solid Edge 2d program. Was able to load it on my Mac using my Windows Virtual Machine (Sun Microsystems Virtual Box). The app loaded the CAD files perfect; shoot they actually looked correct and showed all data on the drawings unlike Punch!. But the short story is I was watching my spring pass before me as I tried to dedicate time to learning CAD basics. I relented and gave the 35x35 plans to my "design professional" friend to make the necessary changes. Yes it'll cost me for sure..I gave him new to scale floor plans and discussed other minor changes. Whew, what a load off my back to turn those over to someone else! The other frustration with this is my County adhers to 2006 IBC, IRC, IECC blah blah codes AND an architect or design professional has to sign off on the drawings. The log home also has to pass the 2006 IECC energy code aka ResCheck. Geez do they need to inspect my shorts too? Thankfully the log home with Lodgepole logs estimated at 10" tops, R35 in roof, R-a bunch in floor and crawlspace, barely passes the code requirements. So with that good news I called my logger to order logs. We made a visit yesterday to Monte Vista, CO to meet the logger and see some 'product'. The actual houselogs are coming from the Granby area and are still under snow. He estimates 2-3 weeks before he can get them to me. I've calculated I need about 90 logs at 43' plus my 3 longer cap/ridge logs. I've got my fingers crossed he'll find some in the yard that'll be over 45' so I can have something close to the typical roof overhang. We'll see. I read up on splicing the ridge pole which I decided is NOT what I want to add to the mix.

After returning from the class we were excited to get started. Unlike some of members, our goal was to begin construction this summer. The question was whether we were ready for the work, could afford it, the stress and time it takes... I know, who isn't! The great news is that we've not hit any "road blocks" to date, with the exception of several people who've tried to talk us out of building a log home. Comments such as "we wouldn't wish one on our worst enemy" kinda make you think. Others that think we're wasting our time, not energy efficient, etc. We've listened and have heard positive comments too! We're trusting in this Association's experience and the members testimonies that this will be a good decision.

I began a blog elsewhere though I kept finding myself back here searching for more information. So why not create my blog here? Do I really have the time for this? We'll see how I do. The exciting part of it though is the visibility it'll have to my fellow members and to those searching for information on this ever growing WWweb!

A bit of background first - I'm a recent "graduate" of the Feb 2010 Vegas class. Our ambition, Lord willing (seriously..I'll keep religion and Christianity limited to this post though you should understand that I trust in the one True God for my every breath and serve Him as we're called to.) By the way, how did Easter become about bunnies anyways....LOL.. too funny.

Back to the background. My wife and I made the trek to Vegas. I attended the class while she enjoyed Sin City! The class was informative and quickly told me that "I can do this!" Having built a handful of barns, a cabin in northern Arizona and a home in Pagosa Springs, I had some relevant experience though never with logs. That day in class when Steve said "if you're a perfectionist, you shouldn't be building a log home", I was sunk! So when I returned home I began to do little things to retract from perfectionism; not clean everything, leave my tools out, wear socks more than, well you get the idea....chill out and get ready to work with houselogs!

We're currently living on our 40 acres in a 30' Yurt. (http://coloradoyurt.com/) This is our temporary residence while we decided whether to build on the property or not. It will be for sale once the log home is built. Many people are interested in Yurts. We're really not the "Yurt Dweller" type though we have enjoyed our time living in the round.