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.

Slab completed at basement door September 10, 2009

Here we are pouring the slab at the daylight basement. Next Wednesday, we will strip the forms from the slab and begin installing the deck support posts, and the decking frames. This weekend I have to return the pickup I have been using all summer to Don and Pam Hestekin.

Driveway completed, September 10, 2009

This is Fred (Fritz) Hossfeld. He just finished building our driveway. It is about as perfect as it could be from what I can see. He completed it in 46 hours. Fritz is 84 years old. Next week I will look into getting the driveway graveled.

Driveway in progress September 6, 2009

The entire driveway has been established. We installed 53 feet of culvert at the entrance and moved the driveway to the crest of the hill where it will be better situated to resist drifting snow and promote drainage. The driveway that was started last year has been smoothed back over. This coming week we plan to get a road grader to finish leveling the driveway, then we will get gravel hauled to finish it up. This picture shows the driveway coming in around the front of the house at the daylight side. The driveway then continues around the house and comes back out between the garage slab and the rear of the house.