Fist snow September 30, 2009

We received the first snow on September 30th. In this picture, taken on October 1st, most of the snow has melted. Fleecer mountain is in the background. It dropped about 6 inches on Fleecer. The weather is not looking good for the next 10 days.

10th Round half completed September 29, 2009

On the 29th, I began installing the 10th round of logs as you can see on this picture and the one below. These go much faster that the split logs, except for the peeling!

On the 30th, I was snowed out. Tony couldn't stain yesterday because of the impending weather, so he started sealing between the logs with Log Jam. I will complete the 10th round tomorrow and begin peeling logs for round 11. 

I am facing some very bad weather in the next week and I have been told that by the end of October, it could turn bad for the season. I am making plans to dry the hose in temporarily for this year and head home for the winter. I have everything set up in the basement to protect it over the winter. My plan is to have Tony stain and seal everything I have built before I leave. With the snow and rain we received today, and the rain they are predicting over the weekend, the driveway should have plenty of moisture to settle all the dust, and pack the soil. My cousin Jim and I will work at getting the driveway graveled next week.

Staining logs September 28, 2009

Over the weekend, I finished installing the second rim board on the outside of the deck, which will now get stained. I also finished installing the temporary deck sheets of OSB. In this picture they are the light colored areas placed 8 inches from the log walls. I added extra sections at every corner for added safety. 

We started staining the log walls today. Tomorrow we may be able to do more staining; Wednesday it will be too cold. We need at least 45 degrees, they are predicting 35!

I measured, marked and sorted the load of logs delivered last week. I started peeling round 10 today. 

Deck frame completed September 24, 2009

I completed the deck framing today. I still have to put the outer rim board on and lag both layers to the deck support logs, which I will do tomorrow. Tomorrow, I will also lay down 16 sheets of 4' X 8' OSB around the entire inside perimeter of the deck about 8 inches from the log walls as temporary decking. This gives me a platform to work from. When the majority of the work on the house is completed, I will install 2" X 6" decking to the entire deck.  

Tony Stockdale is doing all the staining on the entire deck system. He will finish the deck frame tomorrow; he will start on the support logs on Monday. When he has this completed, he will start on the logs. He will then run a bead of sealer in the seams where the logs come together on the inside of the house, as well as the outside. I have enough logs on site now to finish the walls. I will begin peeling the logs for the 10th round no later than Saturday morning.

Decking progress September 22, 2009

On Friday, the 19th, I had a carpenter, Paul Tallon help me get the deck rim boards started. Paul showed me how to set up and mark the notches in the side of the support logs, and I cut out the notches with the chain saw. When he left, we had the inner rim board on the east side of the house completed, and all the deck floor joists installed to the front of the house on the east side. On Sunday, Paul Hubbard and I set up and notched the supports on the west side and installed about a dozen floor joists. We also went to Basin, MT and marked logs to be cut for the rest of the house. They have been cut and will be delivered tomorrow, the 23rd.
On Monday, I secured the 2 X 8's on the front of the house to the sill plate with 1/2 inch X 7 inch lag bolts. The inner floor joist hangers are mounted to this plate. I then installed the rest of the floor joists on the west side of the house. Today, the 22nd, I set up and notched out the rest of the deck support poles on the daylight end and installed and leveled the outer rim boards. Tomorrow I will begin installing the rest of the deck floor joists.  

Trout fishing September 19, 2009

Paul Hubbard helped me work on the log house for three days so we took a trip into the mountains to do a little fishing. We used four wheelers and a dirt bike to get to the lakes. Here I am with the largest trout I have ever caught. Jerry Phillips caught one the same size. We limited out and headed home. Tomorrow we will meet with a logger in Basin, MT who has house logs for sale. At this point I have been unable to find my own logs to cut on Myles Carpenter's property that will meet my needs. I need full logs 40 and 44 feet long to finish the walls and the loft.

Deck poles in place September 17, 2009

Today, Paul Hubbard and I completed installing the deck support logs. They are bolted at the bottom and supported by two threaded anchors. Next we will make sure all of them are lined up properly, then we will laser in the two by twelves for the outer rim which will be set in notches in the support logs. After the first rim board is in place, we will add another on the outside and then install the hangers on the inside of the rim boards. The next step will be to cut the two by eights and install them in the hangers.