3R Home and Barn Project

[3RRL]

Now that you are up to date on the clearing (that was a lot of work) I can show you what happened 2 weeks ago when we were at Larry's ranch in New Mexico.

When we went up this last weekend, the builder had the forms for the footings up already. Loretta and I were very please to see that.
Here is a shot from the road going to the homesite.



And a little closer up to see the background.

 

[3RRL]

Couple more shots to show where/how the home will be located against the rocks and views.



That rock is what I was standing on shooting the above photo.
Now I'm on the rock bluff itself in this next one.



Another angle looking South.

 

[3RRL]

These two looking North/West from the lower rocks.





And this one a little more directly North. It also shows the large outcropping of rocks sheltering us from the steep 150' drop off.

 

[3RRL]

We have a 10' deck that goes completely around the house. Part of it will go over the top of the large outcropping so they have to secure pillars into those rocks. The view will be outstanding from here.





Again one to the North but looking down from the large rocks top see the footings they have to pour. You can see the solar shed in the background and the well tent way back past the barn pad.

 

[3RRL]

Yeah, a few more. We are pretty excited after all this waiting, so bear with me please.

Another shot of the footings near the large rock outcropping.
The main floor will level with the top of the big rock outcropping. It is about 10' higher than this view. So our main view will be directly over the top of these rocks and down the cliff.



Another shot of more footings and stuff. This will be the front of the home ...the front porch entry looking to the right ... East. I think the spot we settled on for the home is perfect. I think the views will be glorious in all directions. Also a perfect defensive location with an elevated position affording surveillance and shooting lanes to all parts of the property.



And here is the steel ring liner for the water tank. It is 6" tall and will be re-enforced with #5 or #6 Rebar before they pour the concrete. The builder will prepare this further to his liking. I just had to find the spot for it.

 

[3RRL]

Don't ask me any technical questions about what they are doing, 'cause I don't have a clue. I'm just going to watch the progress now. What a difference from the last 3 years of posting photos of my land and camp and all the preparation for this. And don't forget the all the tractor work ... after all, that is the one thing that brought us all together here.

Indeed we are excited now that they have finally started. It has been a long journey to this point so we kept it low key, in case there were more hurdles to overcome.

This is the first home built from scratch for either of us, so we got to pick the location and the way it sits. The home will be situated with exceptional views of the scenery but also of all entry and exit points and most of our access road. The small cliff on the West reminds me of how an impenetrable fort would be situated against it in the frontier days. With the enemy needing to "scale the walls" to gain entry. The other sides allow full view of the hill sides sloping down to our meadow and the road leading to our homesite.

This is all fascinating stuff to me. When I was a kid watching the old Western movies, I fantasized about having a home in the wilderness and how I would locate it for maximum defense against the Indians. Or in the steaming jungles or savanna where your safari home would be situated aloft and safe. With decks to see any predators that might come calling on you....much like our campsite up there.



So if you are of the same persuasion as me, I kept all this in mind when I got the chance to do it. Maybe it's a little far fetched from reality, but I never dreamed it would come true anyway. Now I've got the opportunity to live my own fantasy, so why not?

 

[VABlue]

Why not, indeed... You have yourself a nice chunk of Earth and are making maximum use of it. It's nice to see something being done with so much apparent pride. Good job on the site prep and keep us informed on the builders progress.

You may have to invite all of TBN out for a beer when you move in!!

 

[KentT]

Rob,

What a great site for a house -- I can see now why you went to all the effort and expense to "go off the grid." I can also understand your "fantasy" of the defensible position...

Looking back at the photos of the T-shaped log house that you posted initially, where will your "wall of windows" be facing. I was coming to the conclusion that it faced East, trying to understand the foundation work in progress, but then you described the entry as being on the East. What direction will that glass wall face?

That's the style of log house that I initially wanted, but I found that it wouldn't fit my lot very well, because the glass wall would need to face almost directly West. I didn't want all that hot sun coming in, especially down South in Tennessee... The only alternative would have been to put that glass wall facing South, which would've been even worse. My worst view was to the East, which would've been the best direction to put those windows -- North wasn't a good view, and I didn't want to deal with all the winter heat loss from all that North-facing glass... So, it was back to the drawing board for me, and I settled on a walk-around porch on the West and South sides, with a sunroom across part of the Southern-exposure...

Just curious about how you sited your design there, with those views...

Keep the narrative and photos coming -- it's wonderful! Do you have a floorplan or elevation drawings we can see, to help visualize the end result, just as you are?

 

[Defective]

Rob,

When this thread eventually winds down, you will need to remember to re-post that camp picture side-by-side with a picture of the finished house. That'll be an amazing contrast.

 

[3RRL]

VA,
You may have to invite all of TBN out for a beer when you move in!!
That is a good idea. I've already made personal contact with several members doing joint projects together. A couple have already visited my place and I there's.

Defective,
When this thread eventually winds down, you will need to remember to re-post that camp picture side-by-side with a picture of the finished house. That'll be an amazing contrast.
I will do that for sure. That old campsite has served us well during the last 3 years now. I'll keep it in shape for when the kids and grandkids come up to visit. They love camping there now and plan to use it in the future.

 

[3RRL]

Rob,

What a great site for a house -- I can see now why you went to all the effort and expense to "go off the grid." I can also understand your "fantasy" of the defensible position...

Looking back at the photos of the T-shaped log house that you posted initially, where will your "wall of windows" be facing. I was coming to the conclusion that it faced East, trying to understand the foundation work in progress, but then you described the entry as being on the East. What direction will that glass wall face?

That's the style of log house that I initially wanted, but I found that it wouldn't fit my lot very well, because the glass wall would need to face almost directly West. I didn't want all that hot sun coming in, especially down South in Tennessee... The only alternative would have been to put that glass wall facing South, which would've been even worse. My worst view was to the East, which would've been the best direction to put those windows -- North wasn't a good view, and I didn't want to deal with all the winter heat loss from all that North-facing glass... So, it was back to the drawing board for me, and I settled on a walk-around porch on the West and South sides, with a sunroom across part of the Southern-exposure...

Just curious about how you sited your design there, with those views...

Keep the narrative and photos coming -- it's wonderful! Do you have a floorplan or elevation drawings we can see, to help visualize the end result, just as you are?

Kent,
Thanks for the questions.
Yes, the "wall of windows" will face directly West. I too was concerned about the heat but decided to to face it that way because it is the most dramatic view. Although there are no "bad views" in any direction, that view is the most open to the rest of the valley below AND all around. The other views are of the valley to the South and North, and the East view to the hillside behind us.

But there are other considerations too, that led to this decision.

Our roof over hang is slightly different than the photo I posted. Ours will come out over the entire 10' deck so it protrudes more than the log home in the photo. There is still a lot of sun that can come in, but less than than the home in photo. During the Summer months, when the sun is high in the sky, the roof line should offer a little more shade until the late afternoon.

Then at that time, there are the mountains on the West across the valley where the Sun dips down behind them. We've been camping up there for nearly 3 years now, going up every-other weekend. So we've seen practically all the weather conditions. I noticed during the Winter, when the sun is lower, it dips behind that set of mountains a little earlier. So even though there will be more sunlight coming into those windows because of the lower angle, it is still not too bad. Not only that, it might help warm the home up during the cold mornings?

In contrast, our nearest neighbor is about 300' below us in elevation. His home is right on the river bank and in the midst of tall trees. It is very secluded and in the shade all year long. You can't see his house from any of the roads, and we can only see the top of his roof below. He's got no view other than the beautiful river that cascades by his porch. But that's what he wanted, so that's what he did.
Now we don't have river front property and don't live right on the river like he does, but then we had that view up on that bluff, so it was natural to select the view home theme.

It is one of those things that you just have to accept as "the best all-around decision" considering the alternatives....so many things to think about. Plus, the main thing to remember is that in order to have a "view home", you got to have a view and you will most likely "be in view" too. So I'm hoping it turns out alright after all.

I only have pdf drawings but I'll try to post them if I figue out how. I don't think my Photobucket account allows pdf format, so I'll try to turn them into gif or jpg files.

 

[3RRL]

I converted the pdf plans to jpg so you can see the drawings.
IMO, the drawings don't do justice to what the home will really look like, but here they are.

Front and Rear Elevations.


Side elevations.

 

[3RRL]

These are the floor plans.

1st floor plan.


2nd floor plan.


Basement floor plan.


Notice that the large rock outcropping is not drawn into these plans. The 1st floor plan will be at the same height as the top of the rock outcropping. The living room will face West, looking over the entire valley.

 

[3RRL]

Standing on that rock outcropping these are some views rotating 360° from right to left

Starting with this one, looking Southwest.


Then looking Northwest.


Then looking Northeast.


Directly East.


Directly South.

 

[EddieWalker]

You may have to invite all of TBN out for a beer when you move in!!
That is a good idea. I've already made personal contact with several members doing joint projects together. A couple have already visited my place and I there's.

Rob,

Steph and the kids have never been to California, so if you're having a get together when the house is done, we'd be interested in coming if we can arrange it!!!

Eddie

 

[KentT]

Very, very nice Rob!

Now I understand -- the windows on the West will be shaded by porches/overhang, left, right, and center. Now it all makes sense.

Thanks for all the details.

 

[3RRL]

Kent,
I'm glad you could see the layout and that my explanation made some sense. Like I was trying to say...you never now for sure though, so I hope it turns out alright.

Eddie,
I know you are a California boy at heart and still have a soft spot for some of it. You know there are some beautiful places out here to visit for sure. Not just the weirdos, gangsters and Hollywood types either. LOL ... just don't get caught up in the downtown traffic nor the cuckoo court systems though.

You and Steph are welcome to visit for sure. Just bring your camper (if you want) and the kids and Wesley will have a blast exploring the property and the adjacent BLM (Bureau of Land Management). Steph can hunt and add to her collection. We have a herd of 500lb wild feral pigs near the river. Heck, you and I can knock back some beers. I'll have an RV hook up ready by then.
I've read so many of your posts by now, I feel I know you anyway.
That is how Larry (gugliols), Ken (quikduk), Tom (stumpfield) and I got together. I'm bound to run into Steve (Homebrew2) soon, since he lives right around the corner too.

 

[Defective]

Just bring your camper (if you want)
...
I'll have an RV hook up ready by then.

Now here's a potential laugh...

Eddie's building an RV park, & I've never seen him mention owning an RV...

Hhhmmm...

 

[3RRL]

I'll be going up to the property this weekend.
I hope there is more progress to report.
I'll be sure to take some pictures to share with you guys.

 

[scott_vt]

Afternoon Rob,
Your havin way too much fun !!! Really enjoyed the clearing work especially usin the new grapple ! That thing is paying handsomely right about now ! Keep the pics commin !