The Log house Project begins........
- Thread starter MotorSeven
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OP
MotorSeven
Elite Member
That is the beauty of a Hydrostat tractor...I was able to very very gently crawl/push the log across the top of the outside wall while the guys just guided the wheeled cart(it is a Baker scaffolding w/wheels..$150 at that tool outlet on the way to Seiverville). I don't think it could have been done with a gear or shuttle tractor...one little "jerk" and it would have knocked the cart over.
OP
MotorSeven
Elite Member
All of the logs are up except the 4 corner logs that will overhang 4' on the gables to catch the end rafters. These wiill have to be around 12' each, so I had to winch out some cedar I cut over a year ago on the ridge. I loaded them on the forks and will be milling them up this morning. If the rain holds off they will go up today.
OP
MotorSeven
Elite Member
Well, I had not heard back from the logger, so I did some re-calculating. I changed the pitch to 11/12 w/ a foot overhang(both sides have porches anyway). This allowed me to use a couple of shorter logs and one double dog leg whip of a log. Also I don't need a 5x10 rafter on the ends of the gables so I scavenged some(4) 2.5x10 out of what we had cut earlier. Soooo what all this means is that I have 20- 5x10x23' rafters, 4-2.5x10x23' rafters, 2- 5x10-22' ridge beams and 2- 5x10x14' ridge support beams..............done!
Next step is to schedule the Crane. I contacted a local builder that has experience in hanging large rafters. I have seen it done, but never attempted it, so I don't want any schtoopid mistakes. He will be there on "crane day" and bring 6 bucks of scaffolding. I also called around and got a price on 1x6 T&G to deck the roof......2200 sq ft for $1700...I hope to order it tomorrow.
Oh and the last 4 logs went up yesterday...pic's to follow
Next step is to schedule the Crane. I contacted a local builder that has experience in hanging large rafters. I have seen it done, but never attempted it, so I don't want any schtoopid mistakes. He will be there on "crane day" and bring 6 bucks of scaffolding. I also called around and got a price on 1x6 T&G to deck the roof......2200 sq ft for $1700...I hope to order it tomorrow.
Oh and the last 4 logs went up yesterday...pic's to follow
OP
MotorSeven
Elite Member
Pic's:
The last cuts of Hemlock - 14' ridge suppoert beams:
The flitch pile after all that milling:
Rafters stickered and stacked:
The last cuts of Hemlock - 14' ridge suppoert beams:
The flitch pile after all that milling:
Rafters stickered and stacked:
OP
MotorSeven
Elite Member
WALLS DONE!
Now I know this looks a lttle scary, but these 4 overhanging gable logs will get knee braces. Also the gable rafter will be reinforced/tied back into two other rafters. I think this will be way stronger than a traditional false rafter:
This opening is for a transom and faces west on the gable end. This was our only real "splurge" a 12x67" stained glass transom window. Originally planned for over the front door, but the porch would cover most of it. So, we moved it over the kitchen garden window that I got off Craigslist. The transom was a HD special order that for some reason was not accepted. It sat at our local store in the scratch & dent section for 2 years. I have been eyballing it for a while and when the price got down to 50% of HD's cost I bought it.
Well after 6 weeks of waiting...we have POWER...no more generator. The power company let be bring a insulated Service line up from my pasture(297') so they only had to cut a 10' path thru the trees. Instead of a pole temp service we went ahead and activated the 200 amp panel in the basement...this is a lot cheaper than having to pay for the temp box.
And just today, Backwood Solar sent me an email...they have 220watt solar panels on sale for $352 each......tempting, very tempting. Since the prices of panels is coming down, I will be looking into solar after we get the house done.
Now I know this looks a lttle scary, but these 4 overhanging gable logs will get knee braces. Also the gable rafter will be reinforced/tied back into two other rafters. I think this will be way stronger than a traditional false rafter:
This opening is for a transom and faces west on the gable end. This was our only real "splurge" a 12x67" stained glass transom window. Originally planned for over the front door, but the porch would cover most of it. So, we moved it over the kitchen garden window that I got off Craigslist. The transom was a HD special order that for some reason was not accepted. It sat at our local store in the scratch & dent section for 2 years. I have been eyballing it for a while and when the price got down to 50% of HD's cost I bought it.
Well after 6 weeks of waiting...we have POWER...no more generator. The power company let be bring a insulated Service line up from my pasture(297') so they only had to cut a 10' path thru the trees. Instead of a pole temp service we went ahead and activated the 200 amp panel in the basement...this is a lot cheaper than having to pay for the temp box.
And just today, Backwood Solar sent me an email...they have 220watt solar panels on sale for $352 each......tempting, very tempting. Since the prices of panels is coming down, I will be looking into solar after we get the house done.
Ranger Rick
Gold Member
WALLS DONE!
And just today, Backwood Solar sent me an email...they have 220watt solar panels on sale for $352 each......tempting, very tempting. Since the prices of panels is coming down, I will be looking into solar after we get the house done.
If you do decide to do solar panels the Feds have a tax credit for solar panels. Search on Federal tax credits for energy efficiency. We just had a geothermal closed loop HVAC system put in at our place that is how I know about the credits. You still have time to get the house done first.
Tax Credit:
Credit Details: 30% of the cost, up to $500 per .5 kW of power capacity
Expires:
December 31, 2016
Details:
Existing homes & new construction qualify. Must be your principal residence. Rentals and second homes do not qualify.
Rick
If you are serious about alternative energy now is the time to plan for it. If you had ten of those panels you would be lucky to get 300 kwh a month of usable power. Buy the most efficient appliances you can afford now. Forget about any heating loads or deep well pumps on the system. You would be much better off with cistern water or spring water. Look very carefully at your existing usage. Do trial runs now in your existing home to see how low you can get your usage. List and calculate what you consider to be your critical loads.
Decide now if you want to grid tie or be off grid. It will make a difference in how you wire your house. If you wait to make these decisions it will be harder and cost you more.
I am partial to and am going to build a stand alone system for my critical loads. The panel for them will be separate from the grid. I want to wake up in the middle of a huge snow storm one winter, when all the grid power is out and still have my interior lighting, electronics, heat source blower , refrigerator and cistern water. I will then pull the covers back up and go back to sleep.
Decide now if you want to grid tie or be off grid. It will make a difference in how you wire your house. If you wait to make these decisions it will be harder and cost you more.
I am partial to and am going to build a stand alone system for my critical loads. The panel for them will be separate from the grid. I want to wake up in the middle of a huge snow storm one winter, when all the grid power is out and still have my interior lighting, electronics, heat source blower , refrigerator and cistern water. I will then pull the covers back up and go back to sleep.
