3R Home and Barn Project

[3RRL]

Eddie,
Wow, what can I say? I am overwhelmed with the super nice things you had to say about your visit with us.
Thank you so much!
I'm glad you made it through the Giant Sequoias alright. After you left we were wondering about the cold weather change and the long drive you had ahead of you. Was it snowing when you were there?

 

[EddieWalker]

Rob,

Yes, once we hit the Generals Highway, we were in snow. I'm just guessing, but it was only a few miles in that it started to snow. We were at about 5,500 ft then. By the time we got to General Sherman, it was snowing pretty hard.

Steph is going through the pictures right now and organizing them from the different SDS chips on the camera. I still haven't seen half of them myself. I have seen some of the pictures of General Sherman, and they are impressive. I've never seen a tree like it before!!!!!!!!!!

While driving out of the park, a coyote crossed the road in front of us, jump up on the snow bank and then walked past us. I had stoped and got a quick picture of it walking by, then another of it standing behind us.

By the time we hit Fresno, we decided to change our plans and find a hotel. My parents place was just 3 hours away, but I was beat and we wanted to get some sleep.

One thing I forgot to mention is how impressive your driveway is. I'm not a fan of the box blade, but after seeing first hand what an expert can do, has me convinced that I've been to harsh in my critisism of the box blade. Of course, seeing the modifications that you've done to yours was worth the drive all by itself. There's no way to describe how cool it was to see your teath raise and lower on those gears. That is just the coolest thing ever!!!!

But back to your drive. If anybody is wondering, it's perfectly smooth. There are paved roads all over that are not as smooth as what Rob is able to do with his driveway.

Eddie

 

[3RRL]

Thanks again Eddie.
I was hoping you'd find the road acceptable and I was glad to show off the work I did at camp on the tractor and implements. lol ... Did Steph get any photos of you and the kids up in the tree house?

Here's an update on the home from when you visited.
We have doors now!
All the doors are matching styles ... front, back and even the garage mandoor. Unfortunately there wasn't any progress on the barn to show. The big doors for it and the garage are on order.



They also finished most of the drywall work. Here are a few pictures of what's been done.
They even rocked the entire garage in the first picture.

 

[3RRL]

They also started to put on the tongue and groove ceiling planks.
All that wood inside will remain the natural color with a coat of sealer. It should look pretty cool when all the trim is complete.



Once the wood ceilings are complete, we can start hanging lights. Loretta has been busy making a list of all the stuff she wants. Man, what a headache. We must have been to a hundred light and ceiling fan places by now. We've already brought a trailer full of sinks, toilets, bathtubs, refrigerator, washer, dryer and fixtures up, so they are there to be installed. She already has the wood floor and tile picked out too, but it will go on last. Then there's the granite counter tops ... or maybe concrete counter tops in the kitchen? Anybody seen those before? They are very cool looking. Maybe next week they'll have the cabinets in too?

 

[srossman]

The house looks absolutely amazing Rob. I've been following along on your thread dreaming of one day having a log home with those kinds of views.
One question. I'm assuming that the drywall spaces/cracks that are left between the first and second floors are for settling of the logs. How are they going to be covered up? It looks like there is a pretty good sized gap there.

-Scot

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Rob, Mark and I worked in a house in Malibu that had concrete floors and counter tops. We didn't care much for them and from what we were told, cost more than the granite. Now it very well could have been just how those were done, but if they are all like the ones that I have seen, go with the granite. You will be happier and the granite looks much more elegant.

Just my opinion

 

[3RRL]

The house looks absolutely amazing Rob. I've been following along on your thread dreaming of one day having a log home with those kinds of views.
One question. I'm assuming that the drywall spaces/cracks that are left between the first and second floors are for settling of the logs. How are they going to be covered up? It looks like there is a pretty good sized gap there.

-Scot

That's a good question Scott, and good catch on that.
What they will do is use trim to cover up all those gaps. The trim will be slightly wider than that gap. It is fastened to the top part only so hangs down over the wall below the gap. Then it can slide down the as the home settles and the gap narrows. The cabinets are hung in the same manner, separate from the log walls for the same reason. That's why it is framed where they go and sheetrocked now.

I was told that in severe weather/moisture fluctuation areas, you can expect up to 3 or 4 inches of settling over the years, most of it happening in the first year though. Out here in the West there is much less settling. My log home has already settled about one inch. They told us that when doors start to drag when opened, that's how you can tell. You saw those adjustable threads and nuts that hold up the 2nd floor, that's what they are for. You call them and they come adjust your house.

 

[EddieWalker]

Rob,

I agree with Brian. I've never seen concrete counter tops that compare to granite. It's night and day. Of course, some houses, concrete works for that house, but with all your light and the setting of the home, granite really is your only choice.

Eddie

 

[3RRL]

OK, thanks for opinions guys.
We saw one a couple years ago and Loretta liked it. I'll have to admit it was pretty unique and looked very good. But you're right about the cost. Seems like granite is the same or less in these parts, and there are not that many guys who do it in this area anyway.

 

[stumpfield]

OK, thanks for opinions guys.
We saw one a couple years ago and Loretta liked it. I'll have to admit it was pretty unique and looked very good. But you're right about the cost. Seems like granite is the same or less in these parts, and there are not that many guys who do it in this area anyway.

It depends on the design and layout of your counter top. With concrete, you have few limitations on the shape and size of the counter top and it's seamless. You can have a very interesting and unique design. They look good with modern contemporary architecture. In my opinion, granite would look better with a more traditional log home with a country style kitchen. I just completed the concrete counter top for my backyard bbq.

Tom