3R Home and Barn Project

[billbill1]

Rob, it's all coming together very nicely, I know everyone is getting excited and anxious to move up there. You won't be able to call it the camp much longer. Do you have room to build a 18 hole golf course or will you have to settle for a 9 holer? Are the contractors using the solar system for the power requirements? How is that working? Please keep us posted. Is the freezer full of bear meat?

[thunderworks]

Rob,

Your house will be gorgeous. I know you'll love it. Whenever I look at the pictures you post, as much as I like your house, I absolutely love the views. I live in Kansas, on eighty beautiful acres of rolling hills and oak/hickory forest. I wouldn't live in California on a bet . . . but I admit your land and views of the hils and mountains around you are stunning. Good luck.

Rick

[3RRL]

Hi Rick and Bill,
Thanks for the comments. I thought about moving out of California at one time, but all my kids and grandkids are here, I attend a lot of there school functions. They just had the Halloween parade at school and it was a riot to see the kids and their friends. Our plan is to drive into town to visit the bunch once a month.

Yeah, the contractor has been using the solar power constantly with no problems. I may have mention it before, but the back up generator has not needed to come on to provide extra juice for those guys. So far it's performing admirably. And no golf course for me up there. There is a 9 hole course about 15 minutes from the property in town. If I need a golf fix, I'll go there to embarrass myself.

[stumpfield]

Rob, That's a very nice looking staircase. Your builder did an excellent job on the joineries. May be he knows that you are a machinist.... Is the rain affecting your progress there? We have a some heavy rain up here and my road is looking terrible now.

Tom

[machmeter62]

Originally Posted by 3RRL

Hi Spiv,
I tend to agree with you (as does my wife) about the lighter stain. Just wanted some opinions to assure us.

The stairs will get a banister railing on them. I think it has to meet some sort of building code. I know for sure the decks have a similar code to make sure no kids are gonna crawl between them and fall off.

ROB: I totally agree going with the lighter stains initally; you can always go darker at a later date, if you find it too light, but trying to lighten it may be tough? Can you sample the choice of your stains, maybe on a given area inside your barn with enough exposure that gives you self satisfaction? It has been my experience from a chart, or small areas of color, can be deceiving? I have also learned different lighting, affects colors too! You have probably tried all of the above anyway?

[3RRL]

Originally Posted by stumpfield

Rob, That's a very nice looking staircase. Your builder did an excellent job on the joineries. May be he knows that you are a machinist.... Is the rain affecting your progress there? We have a some heavy rain up here and my road is looking terrible now.

Tom,
LOL ... yeah, he is aware I am a mold maker. During the many meetings before contracting him, he said the worst customer he ever had was a tool and die maker with a big grin on his face, so I just rolled my eyes. I assured him I would TRY to keep my mouth shut. But I think you're right, in that he has made an extra effort to do a really good job. He knows I take photos and analyze them...them post them for you guys to rip it apart.
We have had very little rain at our place. I know last year you got a lot more than we did too. Can you maintain your roads with your bulldozer? Do you have good gutters cut on the sides to divert as much run-off as possible? When you get through with that bulldozer, I'd be interested in buying it from you.

Originally Posted by machmeter62

ROB: I totally agree going with the lighter stains initally; you can always go darker at a later date, if you find it too light, but trying to lighten it may be tough? Can you sample the choice of your stains, maybe on a given area inside your barn with enough exposure that gives you self satisfaction? It has been my experience from a chart, or small areas of color, can be deceiving? I have also learned different lighting, affects colors too! You have probably tried all of the above anyway?

machmeter,
Thanks for assuring us of that. We are going to go with an Autumn Aspen stain which is light but has a tiny hint of red in it. The contractor stained a section on a spare log for us with several stains. We got to see what it really looked like vs the colors in the brochure. That helped us to make our minds up, along with the input from you and the others.

[hunterridgefarm]

Rob
Your house is looking FANSTASTIC. Everytime I look at your pics it makes me question our decision to go with stick built instead of log.

I would go crazy not being able to see the construction site everyday. And here you are going a week or two. I can only imagine the anticipation jitters you get on the way up there after a week or two away.

I have been covered up at work and every evening and weekend at our home. Hope to post some pics this weekend. I am taking my tractor out this weekend to do some finish grading around the house. And the sheetrock is arriving today.

Keep the pics coming.

Also I do enjoy reading all your different threads.

David

[3RRL]

Hi David,
Thanks for taking the time to comment on this thread. I know how it is to be "covered up" at work. I've got a few things going on myself, and that's one of the reasons for not being up at the property more often. The good thing is every time we go up there's been some noticeable improvement, so it is exciting.

Also looking forward to seeing the photos of your progress. I'll be gone this weekend but back on Sunday to check out your thread for updates.

[RobJ]

Rob,

Everything looking great man. Wow the way that house is put together is really sweet. Cool pic with the hill (mountain to me in Houston) in the background. It that a hiker hill, ATV hill, or almost to steep for a mountain goat?

Enjoying all the pics to.

[3RRL]

Originally Posted by RobJ

Rob,

Everything looking great man. Wow the way that house is put together is really sweet. Cool pic with the hill (mountain to me in Houston) in the background. It that a hiker hill, ATV hill, or almost to steep for a mountain goat?

Enjoying all the pics to.

Hi Rob,
Thanks man. I presume you mean this mountain?



They call it "Blossom Peak". It's only about 4,000 feet tall but very steep. There are hiking trails up but pretty rugged. LOL ... needless to say, I've never been up there. There are seasonal waterfalls on the other side of it, usually late Spring. I think there are some goats up there, or so I've been told.
Thanks for asking.