July 16, 2013 Capped loft logs, built stairway header, cut keyway for loft floor planks.

   Today we finished capping the loft logs. These are the most difficult logs on the garage. One side has 8 notches, the other side has 9. They fit very well with very little fitting with a sawzall. We also installed the two logs over the loft log caps. These two logs are grooved to accept the ends of the loft floor 2 X 6's, which is shown in the third picture below.

   Once these two logs were installed, we installed a 3.5" thick header for the stairway. The header was milled from a very large lodge pole pine.

   Here you can see the groove that was cut to support the ends of the loft floor 2 X 6's. We ran a straightedge across the flat tops of the loft logs at each side to mark the bottom of the groove, then we measured 1.5" up from that mark and used a chalk line to outline the groove. We cut along the lines with a chainsaw, then removed the center section with a chisel.

   I'll stain the 4 logs we installed, as well as the stairway header, then I will install the loft floor. There are 6 more wall logs to install, then we start building the roof system, which will be post and pole, the same as the house.

July 13, 2013 First trees planted

   Today I planted the first two trees on the property. They are both lodge pole pine, the same kind of pine the house and garage are made of. If they survive, they could get to be over 60 feet high. The pine beetles won't bother them for at least another 65 years. Pine beetles only attack mature trees.

   The trees are planted about 100 yards in front of the house in a ravine. The grass in the ravine stays green most of the summer so they should get enough moisture. I guess we'll see!

July 12, 2013

   Today I finished staining all the logs, inside and out, that have been put on the walls so far. I did forget to complete the two support poles. I also finished framing out the two large garage doors. There are 10 more logs to be installed on the walls, then we will begin the roof system.

   Once we complete the next round of logs, I can install the loft floor, which will be tongue and groove 2 X 6's just like in the house. The only difference is, this time I will stain the bottom of the loft floor 2 X 6's before I install them. This will eliminate overhead staining, and give a more complete coating.

   I also completely stained the 2 purlins and the ridgepole for the roof system. This was much easier to complete before they were installed, again eliminating overhead painting and painting off a ladder. Monday morning we begin installing the rest of the wall logs.

July 5, 2013 Loft Logs in

 

   Two days ago we finished installing all the loft logs and  capped the main beam on both ends. Yesterday, I started staining until I ran out of stain, then I installed screws through the top of the door and window frames to secure them to the next full log.

   Today, I went to Three Forks and purchased the rest of the logs; 10 wall logs and 2 purlins. I'll stain logs until the roof structure materials arrive on Monday, then I will start prepping TGIs (Rafters) and building blockers to go between the TGIs. As I type this up, the wind is blowing probably close to 40 MPH and it is getting ready to dump a lot of rain!

July 2, 2013 Main Beam Completed

   Today we finished installing the main beam and the posts. Before we finished today we installed most of the loft logs. The fit on the top of the posts looks like they were shaped in a lathe.

June 28, 2013 Main Beam

   We are now working on the ninth round of logs. The next log will be the main beam which will extend the length of the garage. It will be supported by two uprights standing on the garage floor.

   I'll drill a 1/2" hole in the concrete floor that will match a 1/2" hole I will drill into the bottom of each upright. I'll then screw a 1/2" steel lag bolt into the bottom of the uprights, and cut them off with 2 inches sticking below the wood to fit into the holes in the concrete

   The next logs will be the cap logs at the ends to cap the main beam in, and the six and a half loft logs. The stairway will come down at the right rear corner of the garage. The half of a loft log I leave out is where the stairs will come down.

   We have already flattened one side of the loft logs. This weekend I will stain the main beam, the  uprights and loft loft logs. Tuesday we will install the loft logs and the cap logs. Then I will install the loft floor.

   When the loft floor is in, we'll install two mores rounds of logs, then the roof system is ready to be installed.

June 24, 2013 Building

Here you see us working on the 7th round of logs. This round will cap all the windows and doors. 

When I was sawing one section of round six, I hit a rotten core in the log. I tossed the log and put up a replacement. I think that building with beetle kill lodge pole pine will get tougher as more years pass and the logs have been dead longer. Rotten cores will become the norm.