Thanks Hitek. Yes, it will be screened in to keep out the bugs. We have all sorts of bugs here, some sting, others build nests and the rest are just annoying. We also have birds that build nests in about twenty minutes, or at least it seems that way. hahaha But the main reason we're putting screen up is that's what Steph wants.
I built the walls yesterday. The logs had to be shaved flat so I could attach the studs to them. I used my small chainsaw to do this. Then I trimmed off some of the limbs closer to the log to make it smoother and easier to sand. After awhile, I got tire of using the chainsaw, so I switched to my sawzall. I like that better for shaping and making the logs pretty. More control with finer cuts.
The walls are bolted down on either side of the logs to tie them into the foundation. The studs on the sides of the logs have about a dozen three inch screws in them to be sure nothing goes anywhere. I even added another block of wood to the bottom of the framing to increase my surface area to hold the logs in place.
Then I sheethed them in OSB to make them rigid and provide a solid base for the Hardi Siding.
The kids love peeling the bark off the cedar logs. It's kind of relaxing for me, but for them, it's a game to see who can get the biggest piece, or the longest one. Later on, I'll sand them down and stain them. I have some extra pieces that I'm going to do some tests on to see what stain I like the best. I have some other cedar posts that I want to stain, so the time is right to make this decision. Anybody know some good quality, outdoor stain brands? I'm thinking Cabots???
The last picture is a little dark, but you can see what it looks like. Next weekend I'll start on the roof. I build the front wall so it's removable so I can put in the hot tub. I'm also concerned that in the next decade, we might want to upgrade or replace it. I don't know if we will, but having the ability to do this makes sense to me.
Eddie