3R Home and Barn Project

[3RRL]

Then we climbed up onto the second story to see what the view would be like up there. There will be a vaulted ceiling over the living room and a balcony to look down from. Then a small sitting area between the two upstairs bedrooms. There is also a full bath up there near the sitting area and lots of closet space all around.

You can see the 12 x 12 beams that the logs are fit into. They are massive. The tops of the logs were planed to match the top of the beams. In the second photo, You can barely make out a spec of tarp which is where South Camp is located. It is this side of that ridge that runs from left to right. Also a view down to the living room from above.



Loretta got up the nerve to walk on the logs a little later to see what the views were like. Then she went back down and took these photos of the hardware which was shown in some of the earlier posts. Those steel braces are set between the vertical logs and beams and the second floor. They are adjustable to suspend the second floor at level.
I think Eddie was asking about them earlier?

[billbill1]

Rob, really starting to shape up and looking fantastic!! Thanks for the update.

[stumpfield]

Wow, very nice looking structure. Your builder did a great job in creating those joints instead of having the logs just sit on top of the beam. Very impressive!

Tom

[3RRL]

Thanks guys,
Yeah, you can see they "pocketed" out the 12 x 12 and then fit the logs into it. Makes for a super strong attachment.
I am really looking forward to more progress, but it will be several weeks now before we go up again. Of course that will make for more pictures to share.

What's happening on your place Tom?

[stumpfield]

Originally Posted by 3RRL

Thanks guys,
Yeah, you can see they "pocketed" out the 12 x 12 and then fit the logs into it. Makes for a super strong attachment.
I am really looking forward to more progress, but it will be several weeks now before we go up again. Of course that will make for more pictures to share.

What's happening on your place Tom?

Rob,

Well, after putting everything on-hold for almost a year, we decided to continue and pickup where we left off. Just finished the house plan and ready to submit for plan check. Framing of the barn just started last week. Unfortunately, everything is soaking wet right now We had a lot of rain and looks like it's going to be a very wet year. Here's a couple of pictures of my barn progress if you don't mind me posting them to your thread.


Tom

[3RRL]

No problem Tom, I asked for it.
Looks like quite a bit done actually, since last time we spoke. Your barn looks like it's close to getting finished, right? BTW, I love that last picture showing your barn and the beautiful background. I didn't realize you had such a great vista.

[sandman2234]

That is a great looking view!
David from jax

[machmeter62]

Rob: First of all, it's nice to see all the work you and Loretta put in, is showing results of those hard years of labor and long hours. We have been down that road too, but not on the scale you have taken!

It is truly a beautiful project, and a lot of thought, planning, self sacrifice, and the courage is very evident every where!

I am interested in how big of a main electrical service panel is going into this project? Are you going with undeground utilities to prevent storms from falling trees on the lines? Where will the wiring for the wall switches, electrical outlets, and etc. come from (Are they in conduit) from the ceiling?

Since you are in a warm summer climate, what "R" factor does a log home provide for insulation. Will the home require air conditioning too? The roofing material is also of interest for fire protection?

I have been following this project for a long time, and hope I didn't miss the above questions; but my spouse accuses me of that often, by repeating herself!?

The setting and home speaks for itself...it's beautiful !!! I like that shop/barn too!

[3RRL]

Thanks guys for your comments.
David, you'll have to stop by and see the views in person.
Hi machmeter,
The main electrical service is a 200 amp panel which will be located at one corner of the log home. All the electrical is buried underground, as that is the code out here. So no need to worry about falling trees. Just have to worry about me digging it up accidentally for some reason. (but I have it marked on a master map)

The switches are pocketed out in the logs. At this point I don't know if the wiring inside is through conduit or not? But I know the outside underground is. They are large drilled holes through the logs down to where the wiring comes from. One reason to get all the electrical (and enough outlets) correct at the start. Better too many than not enough.

Regarding the "R" factor, I don't know the equivalent rating, but I know it is substantial. I had the fire marshall out and he was especially impressed with the "heavy timber" construction because it adds to the fire rating. It will not burn through nearly as fast as a stick home would. Same for insulation attributes. It will take quite a while to heat the home, but once it's "at temp" it's easy to keep it there. So I'm thinking the "R" factor is significant.

The home will have HVAC and ducting throughout, but we don't know how much the air conditioning or heating will actually be used. We plan on the wood stove for our primary heating and the many fans for cooling. But if we need to instant heat or cool, the HVAC is in place.

The roof is metal as you know and helps with reducing fire since burning pieces that fall on it will not set the place on fire. It is suspended and insulated. Don't ask me details about how (cause I don't know), but when they do it, I will post photos.

Originally Posted by machmeter62

Rob: First of all, it's nice to see all the work you and Loretta put in, is showing results of those hard years of labor and long hours. We have been down that road too, but not on the scale you have taken!

It is truly a beautiful project, and a lot of thought, planning, self sacrifice, and the courage is very evident every where!

I am interested in how big of a main electrical service panel is going into this project? Are you going with undeground utilities to prevent storms from falling trees on the lines? Where will the wiring for the wall switches, electrical outlets, and etc. come from (Are they in conduit) from the ceiling?

Since you are in a warm summer climate, what "R" factor does a log home provide for insulation. Will the home require air conditioning too? The roofing material is also of interest for fire protection?

I have been following this project for a long time, and hope I didn't miss the above questions; but my spouse accuses me of that often, by repeating herself!?

The setting and home speaks for itself...it's beautiful !!! I like that shop/barn too!

[sandman2234]

I never considered the burning limb/ember part of a roof, and the advantages of a metal roof in that area. I am usually against a metal roof in a re-roof type of situation, due to areas not getting enough ventilation and causing moisture buildup. In new construction such as yours, the breathing room for the roof is designed in, so I am ok, with that.
I have considered putting sprinklers on my roof to be able to fight some fo the fire should it ever break out. I am located right next to a large amount of woods and there isn't enough firebreak to stop a fire should it get loose in those woods and head towards my home.
David from jax