First logs installed

Here are the first two sill logs prepared and bolted to the sill plate. The next step is to choose two more logs that will be the sill logs on the ends. These two logs will have a section shaved off the bottom so they lay flat on the sill plate, then they will be notched to fit over the first two logs. I will lay out the center line on both of these logs so I can mark and drill the holes for the anchor bolts. Once the sill logs are completed, the logs will go up much faster.

I need to get back up into the mountains and cut and haul more logs next week. I also need to finalize the door and window placements and sizes so I can start using the split log method. This will allow me to use much shorter logs. (Easier to find, less peeling, less waste, etc.)

First logs on the wall

Here is the set-up for splitting a log in half to make two sill logs. Note the chainsaw sitting upright towards the closest end of the log. (This is an extremely dusty part of this project! The chainsaw, in this position, kicks the sawdust and shavings right in your face.) The second photo shows the finished product. I sprayed the flat side of both halves with an oil preservative, laid out the center lines on top of both halves, and marked and drilled the holes for the anchor bolts. Then I bolted them to the sill plate with two feet of log extending beyond the edge of the walls on both ends. I had to use coupler nuts and threaded rod to extend the length of the anchor bolts as the anchor bolts are too short for this application. The anchor bolts we used are made to bolt down 1  1/2" or 3" stock; logs are much thicker.

Update, June 25, 2009

Today, I finished peeling the first sill log, and partially completed the second one. In between, I dug in a post by the garage, and mounted and wired in an outdoor electrical panel. I installed two GFI protected outlets below the panel using steel conduit, and wired each to it's own 20 amp circuit breaker in the panel. We were rained out about 3:00 PM, so I drove to Dillon, MT and picked up the 100 amp circuit breaker for the garage. Tomorrow I will finish the wiring at the meter box so we have electricity at the garage. At this point, all outside electrical wiring will be complete.

I had Latin Carpenter helping me today. He peeled some of the second log, and he spent about three hours sealing the seams in the floor decking on the house. I am trying to control the water that comes through the decking when it rains.

I picked up the last coupler nuts from Quality Hardware today. I had to special order them last week as they rarely sell this many at one time. The only other thing I need before I lay the first log is the sealer I will spray on the bottom surface for protection. This I will pick up tomorrow afternoon. 

Peeling rack, June 23, 2009

Today I built the log peeling rack. I used the base of four trees that Myles and I picked up from a logging operation in Elk Park. I cut the bases and buried each base about a foot deep. I then used a laser level to measure the height of lowest one, which was about at the perfect height. I marked the other three at the same height and cut them level with the chain saw. I scribed the tops of the bases so the cross logs were eight inches above the tops of the bases, and notched them out with the chain saw so they don't move from side to side. I started peeling the first log you see on the rack.

I placed the next largest log on the rack before I left tonight. The cross logs barely moved with this weight in the middle, and the bases are solid. Let the body building begin!

Moved trailer, looked for shale

Today I traveled to the mountains above Melrose, MT, looking for a source of stone to face the daylight end of the basement. I found several places that had limited amounts of the size I think would look good. (I will find out if I am right on this in July!) I found one spot close to the top of the mountain that had quite a bit of good shale in many different colors. My family will help me find other sources when they come to Butte in July, and they will help haul it to our property. 

I also moved the fifth wheel trailer onto the cement slab that will eventually be the garage. I will pick up the circuit breaker and outdoor panel tomorrow and wire electricity to the garage for the trailer.

Bluebird update: The pair that was nesting in the basement has built a nest in the birdhouse I put up by the garden.

Garden completed, June 19, 2009

Built fence around the garden and planted it today. The fence is 4 feet high. I am told deer will jump an 8 foot fence. I hope the deer don't find me this year. I drove in 8 foot posts 2 feet into the ground, so I can add more fencing on top. I also installed the egress window, ladder, grid and cover in the basement today. The bluebirds don't seem to be interested in building a nest in the basement anymore. I hope this lasts until I get the basement doors installed. The doors should arrive in about two weeks.

Creating a garden and working with Bluebirds, June 18, 2009

Today I took a shovel and turned over the soil to plant a garden. This is ground that has never been tilled. It was a lot of work. luckily, I knew a friend with a rototiller. It still took about three hours to complete. The garden is 20 ft by 20 ft. I will get fencing material tomorrow and put it up before I plant. There are deer and antelope, as well as a herd of cows who would probably eat everything I planted in one sitting. I also had to do some bird work today. A pair of bluebirds keep trying to build a nest in the basement, so I built four birdhouses and attached them to posts I dug into the ground. I placed three in front of the house, and one by the garden. You can see one on this picture at the left upper corner. The birds were inspecting each of the three houses out front. It looked like they couldn't decide which one they liked the best. I picked up the rest of the material today to attach the sill logs; coupler bolts, threaded rod and the drill bit to drill the holes in the sill logs for the anchor bolts to pass through. I will have the lift delivered to our property on Saturday, so I can build the peeling rack and start putting logs on the wall on Monday. I think next week will also be the week that we get the driveway built, as well as the rest of the dirt leveled around the basement and the garage slab.

Tomorrow, I will plant the tomatoes and peppers my Mom started for me, and move the fifth wheel trailer on top of the garage slab. I will set up a tarp over the front of the trailer for shade and protection from rain.