3R Home and Barn Project

[bones1]

Rob, you have to put up a web cam, we need to know what's going on up there.

 

[Farwell]

Rob,
When I was working in TV news in the San Francisco Bay area I covered the Oakland Hills fire. The few homes that survived had fire resistant roofs and under the eves were also fire resistant.
One of the families that worked where I did lost their home. Before they evacuated they put a sprinkler on their deck and let the water run. The house was a total loss with nothing left but the foundation. The deck was sitting by itself as good as new with no sign of damage.
Some homes in fire danger areas do install sprinkler systems on the roofs of their buildings, this increases the chance of not loosing their buildings by fire quite a bit. The technology is out there.

 

[sandman2234]

3RRL's roof is metal, so it won't burn, but what concerns me if I fire gets close enough, of enough magnitude, with the steel simply conduct the heat to the nearest non flame proof item, the wood trusses? Can't put a sprinkler up there, inside the attic, so the only way to stop that is to put one close enough to the roof to "steam" away the heat, thereby saving the attic.
More sprays under the overhang and the walls will survive.
David from jax

 

[3RRL]

It's been two weeks since our last visit. The log home is starting to show more. Here are a couple photos showing the progress. As we drove up the paved road you can see it in the distance now. The second one is from our dirt driveway below. Then driving up to the homesite circle and a couple other views from the sides.

 

[3RRL]

The second story is starting to take shape now, but they don't have it built up enough to show the character the roof will have with all the windows, dormers and roof line. It's going to be pretty good looking once that's on.

Here are a few more shots from different angles around the home. Also some shots from those places on top so you can see what it looks like from up there. Some of the perimeter shows how the decks will wrap around the home.
Sorry, no webcam.

 

[3RRL]

I told you about the log stairs and here they are. Man, they are even cooler looking than I thought. Also shown are some views inside the log home and some of the giant pieces of wood they are using upstairs. Compare that 8 x 24 to the logs and you get an idea of the sizes.
Also one shot of the garage.

 

[3RRL]

The garage is quite tall because the used the same pitch roof as will be on the log home. It gives it a lot of character too. The garage will be finished with log siding package so it will look exactly like the log home, instead of using full round logs. Some garage interior shots and also a couple of perspectives of it.
And last is a photo of the log home and garage showing their proximity to each other. There will be a covered breezeway and pathway coming from the garage tying into the log home.

 

[bones1]

Rob, that is one beautiful home going up there. I hate you.

 

[3RRL]

Thanks,
You know the old saying...."love to be hated"
I'm really glad you like it that much though. It's quite impressive for me and Loretta to see it going up like that.

Scary too, in that it's a reality that we are really going to move up there next year. I've been in the Southland for over 50 years with lots of ties to my community and all my kids and grand kids are down here. Plus I have to sell my home down here to pay off the construction loan. Home sales are down right now but maybe next Summer or Fall it will pick up again?

Anyway, in the next two weeks (our next visit) we're hoping to see the roof on. Also happening by then will be the delivery of the metal barn materials. So we might see some progress on that too. Heck, maybe I should get a webcam?

 

[LarryRB]

what log mfg kit are you using?

 

[3RRL]

The contractor gets his stuff from Real Log Homes: Real Log Homes® offering log home design, manufacturing and time-honored craftsmanship

 

[tommu56]

Rob, you have to put up a web cam, we need to know what's going on up there.

Were Have I heard that before?

Rob keep the pictures coming they are great and I am envious

Tom

 

[3RRL]

H i Tom,
Yeah, you guys are probably right about the web cam. Now you've got me thinking, since I am going up only every two weeks. I'd sure like to be there more.

I have a question for you guys.
They gave us several wood stains to look at. I like the darker stains but also like the ones a little lighter with some red in it. I've been advised against going to dark, since the logs will darken naturally over time.
What's your thoughts on that? Any experience?
The lighter one I like is called Autumn Aspen.

 

[Spiveyman]

Two things, first, I love the stairs. They look so awesome. Will there be any kind of railing, or will they stay open like that? I like the open look, but my wife would freak about not having rails.

Second, I was just thinking about the stain thing. So, this is not a professional opinion, just my preference. I've never owned a log home, but have stayed in 30 or 40 of them over the years on vacations in Gatlinberg. I much prefer the look of the lighter stains. You can see the grains in the wood better, and I really like the red tint in the stain. Also, just the impact it will have on the overall lighting in your home, I think the lighter stain would be better. I'm sure it will look great either way, but that's my $0.02.

 

[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.

 

[Defective]

This should make your stain choice easier:

If you stain dark now, you'll have trouble lightening it if you're not happy.

If you stain light now, you can always go darker if you're not happy.

Easy, eh?

 

[silverdollar6]

I think that you are going to have a beautiful home and view, all you need now is a caretaker that would live in the garage, hint,hint.

 

[3RRL]

I think that you are going to have a beautiful home and view, all you need now is a caretaker that would live in the garage, hint,hint.

Thank you,
LOL...That's funny you said that because there have been several requests already. In the first home we had designed, the entire basement was fully equipped with bathroom, shower, kitchen, pantry, bedroom and living room, a complete separate residence. It was designed for a care taker for when we get old(er).
This basement is a lot smaller so there are no provision for it.
We decided to get not as old.

 

[Spiveyman]

We decided to get not as old.

HA!!! Outstanding decision!! The only downside is that you won't have been as good as you would have been had you gotten as old as you would have gotten. (did you get that? )

 

[3RRL]

HA!!! Outstanding decision!! The only downside is that you won't have been as good as you would have been had you gotten as old as you would have gotten. (did you get that? )