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General Forestry => Timber Framing/Log construction => Topic started by: Weekend_Sawyer on March 23, 2016, 08:43:11 AM

Title: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on March 23, 2016, 08:43:11 AM
 I have never had a 5 year plan. During Job interviews I have been asked, where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? My answer usually came out of thin air. Just make something up to get you through to the next question.

For the first time in my life I have a 5 year plan. It started around my 55th birthday. I decided to retire at age 60 as I will have 20 years in with "The Company" and am vested in their pension plan.

It's time to sell my property in the DC area. It's getting so crowded I have a hard time looking out my front door. Right across the street, what once was Uncle Elwoods woods is now 250 townhouses. I used to love to say Elwoods Woods. I liked the way it rolled off the tongue. My cousin's place up the hill from me will be another 150 units soon. The trees are falling all around me but no one is replanting.

The good is that the developers are interested in buying us out.
The bad is I have a lot of Junk, old trucks, tractors tools, and projects I really meant to get around to. I have made the decision to get rid of most of the tractors and at least 1 truck and I hope to find them good homes rather than selling them for scrap.

I need to build my retirement home. I am very lucky to own a small tree farm in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. On this land I plan on building a 60 x 40 garage/workshop with a loft apartment in it and then build a house next to that. The perk test has passed and we will break ground this weekend! I plan on building "out of pocket" so I expect it to take around 2 years to get the garage livable and then decide weather I even need to build a house. I am very lucky to be working with a good friend who is, in my opinion, the best builder in the area. Our goal is quality not speed.

I still have just over 4 years left to work and live in the DC area, traveling about 1 week a month for my Job. But for the first time in my life the path into the future is clear. I just hope Murphy or Karma don't decide to throw too many curve balls my way!

Thanks for listening.
Jon

This is the lot. Mostly White Oaks which I'll mill to use in the loft

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/WV_Garage2.jpg)

60 x 40 garage basic layout. Somehow it looks small. I'm sure it won't seem small when we start pouring concrete!

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/WV_Garage1.jpg)
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Roxie on March 23, 2016, 09:22:03 AM
I'm very happy for you, and your plan sounds awesome!  8)
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: OneWithWood on March 23, 2016, 12:02:36 PM
Good for you, Jon! 
60x40 is a good size to start with.  You might want to make the roof plan 72x40 and have an open bay at one end.  Who knows what things will need to be stored in an unheated but rain/snow protected area.
Stay flexible with your plan.  Two years can quickly become four years, but when your retired it becomes immaterial. 
Glad to hear you have a good vision on exiting the rat race. 8)
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on March 23, 2016, 12:08:08 PM
Thank Roxy!

Robert, I am putting a 22' overhang along one of the 60' sides to keep my tractors, trucks, equipment out of the weather.

  ;D 8) ;D
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: 4x4American on March 23, 2016, 12:19:15 PM
Great to have a plan.  Especially when it falls together.  Most times I fly by the seat of my britches, but I am trying to improve upon that.  I'm working on my own little plan right now.  It's slow going, but piece by piece things are falling together and it's exciting.


It's sad to see the buildings popping up around you.  Happening all over the place.  Too many DanG people coming into our country year after year. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tb1ngTYl60







Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: OneWithWood on March 23, 2016, 04:28:03 PM
Quote from: Weekend_Sawyer on March 23, 2016, 12:08:08 PM
Thank Roxy!

Robert, I am putting a 22' overhang along one of the 60' sides to keep my tractors, trucks, equipment out of the weather.

  ;D 8) ;D

That ought to get it  :D
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: fishpharmer on March 23, 2016, 04:45:07 PM
Congratulations Jon! You have a nice plan!
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: customsawyer on March 23, 2016, 08:10:20 PM
Really happy for you. One day we will be saying we knew you when........
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: thecfarm on March 23, 2016, 09:07:29 PM
You will need all that stuff you collected over the years at the new place. ;D
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: moosehunter on March 23, 2016, 09:35:56 PM
Some years ago when I visited you, you said something about someday selling to the developers and getting out. Good for you and good luck with your plans.
mh
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Brucer on March 23, 2016, 10:55:24 PM
I once planned to retire at 35. That was my plan, "retire at 35". That wasn't a very good plan and it didn't work.

So then I decided I'd retire at 40. Again, that was my plan. Didn't work.

By that point I figured there was something wrong with my plan so I changed it. I decided to retire at 50. That was the plan. And ... well it sorta worked. I got laid off at age 48 :(.

Now if I'd had a real plan I would have bought a sawmill a lot sooner, and I'd have bought the land my mill is on for a fraction of what it's worth now, and I'd have a nice little operation going.

I think you're way ahead of me in the retirement planning department.  ;D
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: YellowHammer on March 24, 2016, 12:29:22 AM
Great plan, good start.  I wish you the best. 
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WDH on March 24, 2016, 07:43:04 AM
A man needs a plan.
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Magicman on March 24, 2016, 01:59:40 PM
I love your ideas and plan Jon.  I wonder if I had a plan I could set a retirement date.   ;D
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: gspren on March 24, 2016, 03:12:17 PM
  I like to say that retirement is the best job I ever had. Starting back in the 90s when my coworkers would talk about when they might retire I always said "August 2011", I retired last day of August 2011, I worked an entire 11 days after I was eligible and haven't regretted it at all. Try to get to your retirement date with no debt if possible, that makes it much easier.
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WmFritz on March 24, 2016, 07:07:41 PM
I'm loving "The Plan" Jon.
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Magicman on March 24, 2016, 09:38:33 PM
I was caught without a plan and was a victim of "downsizing" at age 51.  Thankfully I had taken some very good advice 20 years before concerning what was to later become 401k.  It was not enough to live on, but more of a supplement.  My best day after that was buying a sawmill. 
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: yukon cornelius on March 24, 2016, 09:45:25 PM
Sounds like it is going to work out great! Congrats and good luck!
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: scleigh on March 24, 2016, 11:51:35 PM
Man, thats the American dream, glad it still happens. Congratulations
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: slider on March 27, 2016, 06:34:54 PM
Jon,i like your plan.Not unlike your self i have stuff.Stuff that i just can't part with.Pick out what can part with and drag the rest to your new home.I hope the harley is not on the go list.al
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on March 28, 2016, 07:11:07 AM
Oh no, the Harleys are not on the cut list. I have 8 antique tractors and a crawler. I plan on keeping 1 maybe 2. Oh the decisions.
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on March 28, 2016, 07:45:46 AM
We were supposed to work on the leach field this weekend but it rained pretty hard early Friday morning so the septic guy waved off.
By 7 am it was clearing up and we decided to set the temporary power pole and see if we could get some lot clearing done. There were a lot of white oaks averaging 18 to 20" and a couple maple's on the lot, we already had my brothers backhoe on site so he gave one of the tree's a push and with a little effort it came out root ball and all! So we spent 2 days pushing over trees and cutting them up into saw logs.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20160325_081514777.jpg)

By the end of the weekend W had over 40 saw logs a huge pile of firewood and mounds of brush. My skid steer with a grapple was invaluable!

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20160327_084345807.jpg)

One thing I notice about pictures, the slope looks less steep, trees look thinner and I look fatter. :D
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on March 28, 2016, 07:58:49 AM
This old chimney stands on my neighbors property about 50 yards from my property line. I don't know how long ago the cabin burned down but it has been like this all my life.  When I come out the front door of my garage apartment this is what I will see. The property is in a land trust and can never be built on.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20160327_195705.jpg)
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Magicman on March 28, 2016, 08:44:10 AM
I love the relic and your view.   smiley_thumbsup

I did not see you so you musta been holding your breath.... :D :D
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Roxie on March 28, 2016, 04:01:10 PM
Someone built that chimney right! 
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: thecfarm on March 28, 2016, 08:39:07 PM
Looks like you got some nice looking land there. Lucky you.
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Hilltop366 on April 01, 2016, 08:05:48 AM
Exciting times, nice looking spot!


Oh, and that backhoe looks real familiar.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/18975/Photo_on_15-01-23_at_9_29_AM__2.jpg)
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: chet on April 02, 2016, 07:29:56 AM
The next five years should  go pretty fast. You have allot lined up gittin' ready for da big day.
Good luck, da count down begins.  :)
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: samandothers on April 02, 2016, 10:29:30 AM
Congratulations on the 5 year plan!  I will watch this with great interest.   We want to do something similar but have not really started the ball rolling other than contacting someone about driveway work.

Place/land looks very nice.
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WDH on April 02, 2016, 08:11:39 PM
That is going to be a fine place there, Jon.  A man needs a place like that to ease his travails. 
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Ron Scott on April 03, 2016, 10:11:43 PM
That looks like a great plan and it sure looks like "Almost Heaven, West Virginia."
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on April 11, 2016, 07:49:07 AM
It was a pretty nice weekend even though it snowed, I broke a sawmill and I had a serious bout of ADD.

Friday I played hookey from work and headed for the mountains. I spent the day trying to  clean my lot. First there is a lot of slash leftover from knocking trees down so I worked with the skid steer and grapple but I keep running over these rocks that my part of WV is made of so I hopped on the backhoe and started moving rocks around, but wait, these logs are not good saw logs, lets start a firewood log pile, out with the chainsaw and then back on the skid steer moving some logs around, wait, I need to push this hill back a little so trucks can get onto the lot easier, up on the back hoe. Repeat, repeat, repeat... I made progress on all fronts but I started getting on my own nerves after a while.

Saturday morning I took a load of logs over to my neighbor's to saw and get trained on his LT35 hydraulic with simple setworks. We got through one log but things weren't working very well. It kept surging, speeding up and slowing down and making wavy cuts till the blade would rise and the mill would stall out. We tried 2 other blades with similar results. I finally kept my hand on the speed control and found that If I tapped on or wiggled the speed congrol it would affect the speed even though I wasn't turning it. So I think the speed controller needs to be replaced, should be a simple fix. The good thing is we did make a few boards and I did have my first experience at the controls of a LT35 hydraulic sawmill. I hope to get the replacement part and go back up this weekend for a little more hands on.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20160409_090148641.jpg)
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: drobertson on April 11, 2016, 09:54:40 AM
very pretty building site,, happy for you!  as mentioned having a plan is a good thing, really almost necessary, and we all pretty much know things change course a little from time to time, but with a goal set, then who cares how one gets there,,by the way,, is this where all your pet deer reside?
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on April 11, 2016, 10:09:51 AM
Quote from: drobertson on April 11, 2016, 09:54:40 AM
,by the way,, is this where all your pet deer reside?

Yep, and they keep getting into the squirrel corn for which the punishment is pretty severe!
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on April 11, 2016, 12:21:30 PM
Check the TPS :D
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on April 11, 2016, 12:47:13 PM
Quote from: Raider Bill on April 11, 2016, 12:21:30 PM
Check the TPS :D

I hear they cost about $300 to replace...


I did talk to Woodmizer, they believe the feed rate potentiometer has gone bad. New one is on it's way.
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: thecfarm on April 11, 2016, 09:55:06 PM
ADD,I know I don't have that problem. I start something and than I start somehing else. I have about 10 projects going and none of them are done.  ;D
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on April 18, 2016, 06:46:14 PM
I ordered the potentiometer from WM and had it the next day. Saturday I installed it in about 10 minutes and was sawing wood. This was my first solo on the LT35 and I like it alot. This Thursday I'll move it to my lot and get serious about my wack o logs.  It took 2 hours just to get the stoopid grin off my face

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20160416_141349681_HDR.jpg)

Sunday I worked to exhaustion on this rubble pile. It's to the right of the backhoe and needs to be pushed back at least 30 feet. That pile is mostly rocks and boulders with some dirt sprinkled over top of it and I'm separating the dirt from rocks cause dirt is hard to come by around that area!

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20160417_095653215.jpg)

Boy did I sleep good last night!
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: thecfarm on April 18, 2016, 08:37:09 PM
I'm an expect on a little dirt and alot of rocks.  ;D
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Magicman on April 20, 2016, 12:34:11 PM
Quote from: thecfarm on April 18, 2016, 08:37:09 PMI'm an expect on a little dirt and alot of rocks.  ;D
I expect that you are an expert.   :D
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: thecfarm on April 20, 2016, 07:53:46 PM
spell check don't work when it's spelled wright.  :D
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on April 20, 2016, 08:24:30 PM
 :D :D :D
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Magicman on April 20, 2016, 10:52:40 PM
It's fun when words werk.  Even slang.   :D :D
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on April 25, 2016, 01:33:02 PM
Write or wong, I depreciate the replays
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on April 26, 2016, 12:34:38 PM
 I gave myself a 4 day weekend and went up last Wednesday night.
We moved my buddy Steve's LT35 onsite and set it up. completely wrong! We actually had it leveled and everything before we realized that the loader arms were on the wrong side! So we spun it around, set it up and leveled it pretty good for our rocky/uneven ground. We got a half day of milling in on Thursday, 7 hours in on Friday, Saturday morning it rained so I only got 3 hours in and Sunday we worked all day. Total we were able to mill just about 1,000 bf. All white oak and some if it had some fantastic figuring in it.

I learned a lot about running this mill and I absolutely love it. I made some mistakes that cost a few nice boards and some time but overall I'm pretty happy with the results. I have about a dozen more mixed logs to mill and then I'll return it.

While we were there the power company came in and hooked up my temporary power. My builder stopped by and gave me documents. I now have the building permit, well and septic permits and an ADDRESS! Woot!!

Here's a couple of pix from the weekends sawing.

Sawmill and a stack of white oak.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20160424_154312553.jpg)

some nicely figured oak. on this cant I had left the rear roller up and wound up cutting a tapered cant so I wound up milling this parallel to the crotch but it still made nice lumber.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20160424_134141394.jpg)

and this one we split the pith for a really nice pair of book matched boards. All 9' long.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20160422_060111.jpg)

a fantastic weekend and we even got in a little turkey hunting and mushroom hunting. Course we didn't find any of either.  ::)

Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Roxie on April 26, 2016, 02:32:05 PM
This is so much fun to follow!  Those boards are pretty.   :)
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on April 26, 2016, 02:46:01 PM
Glad you like it Roxy, this thread should run for 2 to 5 years. 2 if i just build the garage with apartment in it, and 3 more if I build a house.
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on May 09, 2016, 09:04:19 AM
 I went up to the building lot over the weekend and in spite of the torrential downpours off and on all weekend I was able to mill some nice lumber. All of the white oak logs are done. We milled red oak and red maple. Slogging around in the mud after the rains didn't slow me down much but everything I used and wore needs a good wash!

Next weekend I hope to finish up by milling 5 ash logs and one more red oak. Then I'll return the mill and get back to clearing the lot.

Here's a shot of the mill setup. It's on a slope so I set logs on the loader arms with the skid steer. 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/wood5.jpg)

We made some pretty maple pieces.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Wood_1.jpg)

Here is a cool smiley face in a book matched pair of red oak.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/wood4.jpg)

and finally we milled a nice white oak crotch, about 5' long.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Wood2.jpg)
Title: Re: Breaking Ground this Weekend! or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on May 31, 2016, 07:49:24 AM
 I'm sorry to say the milling is done for now. I really enjoyed running the LT35 and the good thing is that there will be plenty of opportunity's to run it in the future. Of course I still have my Norwood here in Maryland but all my support equipment is in WV. Guess I'll have to rig a parbuckle to load logs.




 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20160529_145344729_HDR.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1464660464)
I spent the weekend moving dirt. The original owner of my and my neighbor's properties dug a pond back in the 80's and dumped the overburden right where I want to build. Lucky for me we have heavy equipment. Once this is done we will layout the foundation and start digging!

Can't wait
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: isawlogs on May 31, 2016, 08:22:14 AM
  Wish you all the luck with the plan.
    I can tell you right now that the building will be too small, the wood pile will be short of the peice you need, but if you do plan it correctly, there will always be a cold one to sit down with and contemplate your next move, all in good company.  ;D 

Marcel
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on May 31, 2016, 08:33:45 AM
 Absolutely Marcel!

I am looking for some sort of container or box truck to store tools and stuff in. I have Electric so I can also have a Fridge in there.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on May 31, 2016, 08:56:11 AM
Not sure about your area or prices now but I bought a double end 40' shipping container delivered for $1250.00. It is big /wide enough to put mu Kubota l4300 inside.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WDH on May 31, 2016, 08:11:02 PM
One day I will have a cold one there with you. 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on June 01, 2016, 07:00:10 AM
I'm looking forward to that Danny!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: valley ranch on June 08, 2016, 11:55:04 PM
Well Jon, sure looks like you're on your way. Good for you! Will be watching how it goes.








http://www.nevadaservicedogs.org/
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on June 13, 2016, 12:11:55 PM
 I had not been up to the lot in 2 weeks. Played hooky from work and went up on Friday.
I had been storing some building supplies under my neighbor's porch and this is what I found when I got there. I'll try using goof off to clean this wall next weekend.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/WV_Garage4.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1465833733)
I had been told that there was a 300 lb bear hanging around. He just had to take a bite of the paint can...  I told all the neighbors to check their game cams looking for a large bear wearing pink lipstick!

I finished moving the overburden, which is almost done in this picture, and now have a nice area where I think I'll park my sawmill when I bring it up.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/WV_Garage5.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1465833770)

I have been moving a LOT of rocks! Tons and tons of rock. I'll try and get a pic but I have built a 4' tall by abuot 100' long loose rock wall along one side of my property. 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/WV_Garage6.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1465833798)

Next weekend we are going to do a layout and hopefully start digging a hole.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Czech_Made on June 13, 2016, 12:28:27 PM
So much nicer to have spray on the wall from bear than from teenagers.

Maybe teenage bear?  ;D

Good luck with your plan, sir.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on June 28, 2016, 07:37:17 AM
We have taken down what I hope are the last trees.
We had a tree huger stop in to give his opinion on the trees we were taking down.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/WV_Garage7.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1467113011)
Actually it's my neighbor Bob cutting up for the camera. There are 7 cabins in our hollow and all are great neighbors.

My brother Chris and I finished excavating the foundation last weekend.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/WV_Garage8.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1467113201)
The right corner closest to us is 8' below ground and the left side is at grade.
We have to wait for the block layer to heal from having a herniated disk in his neck worked on so I expect we will start laying block in September. So till then I'll just be doing cleanup and a hundred other little things around the lot.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Roxie on June 28, 2016, 09:54:30 AM
Looking good!   8)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WmFritz on June 28, 2016, 10:03:59 AM
Progressing nicely Jon.
If you run out of room to store rocks,  I know TheCFarm enjoys collecting them.  ;D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: OneWithWood on June 28, 2016, 11:40:53 AM
Jon, it's those hundred little things that take up most of the time.
Have fun!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on June 28, 2016, 01:38:24 PM
I'm lovin it Robert!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WDH on June 28, 2016, 04:07:38 PM
You might should cobble together a barn raisin'.  Iffin you promise to serve grits, fried eggs over easy, sausage, country ham, red eye gravy, biscuits, melted cheddar cheese, and blueberry muffins on the side with Wildbills' bark honey, you might get some help.  At least from the South of you  :). 

I have got some of that Wildbill dark honey if you need it as an attractant  sketti_1. 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on June 29, 2016, 06:40:07 AM
 and a great big skillet of potatoes fried in bacon grease with peppers and onions.
AND lets not forget the scrapple.  8)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: isawlogs on June 30, 2016, 09:07:56 AM
 grits    ::)     :-\       ;D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: thecfarm on July 02, 2016, 06:26:20 AM
WmFritz,I would enjoying giving some away more.  :D
I noticed the lack of rocks there.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on August 08, 2016, 09:19:56 AM
 The plan is to dig the footers over Labor Day weekend and start the block work the following weekend. In the mean time I purchased a storage container to keep my tools and stuff on site.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/WV_container2.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1470662108)

This weekend I did some wiring and hung out in it during the rain storms. Nice.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/WV_Container.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1470662053)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: samandothers on August 08, 2016, 06:04:36 PM
Very nice idea!  I bet it is a bit load in it during a rain storm.   

Looking forward to your build. 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WDH on August 09, 2016, 07:44:42 AM
This plan is moving along great.  I know that you are excited. 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: thecfarm on August 09, 2016, 07:49:36 AM
Yea,Farm Tables,for people who live in the city. :D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: OneWithWood on August 10, 2016, 11:28:08 AM
Looks to me like you have everything you need.  Why waste time building more stuff?  :D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on August 11, 2016, 07:12:57 AM
Quote from: OneWithWood on August 10, 2016, 11:28:08 AM
Looks to me like you have everything you need.  Why waste time building more stuff?  :D

Don't think it hasn't crossed my mind to get a few more, stack them at interesting angles and make myself a habitrail for humanity. ;D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on August 11, 2016, 07:41:37 AM
Quote from: Weekend_Sawyer on August 11, 2016, 07:12:57 AM
Quote from: OneWithWood on August 10, 2016, 11:28:08 AM
Looks to me like you have everything you need.  Why waste time building more stuff?  :D

Don't think it hasn't crossed my mind to get a few more, stack them at interesting angles and make myself a habitrail for humanity. ;D

I considered doing that myself. There's some pretty neat pictures of shipping container homes
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WDH on August 11, 2016, 07:50:48 AM
OK for a guy, but you won't be able to convince your woman to live in a square metal barrel.  They like running water, too  :D.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on August 11, 2016, 09:04:50 AM
And for some reason, indoor plumbing...
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Czech_Made on August 11, 2016, 10:15:04 AM
Quote from: WDH on August 11, 2016, 07:50:48 AM
OK for a guy, but you won't be able to convince your woman to live in a square metal barrel.

That is a bonus to be considered  ;D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: isawlogs on August 12, 2016, 11:53:41 PM
 They sort of really seam to appreciate the indoor outhouse for some reason....  ;) ;D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: customsawyer on August 13, 2016, 05:26:07 AM
You are moving along nicely. It won't be long and you will be sitting back and saying where did that 5 years go.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on August 13, 2016, 07:44:16 AM
Missed all the excitement behind this thread, until now. I also have a plan, so I know that you are anxious and excited to. Great place you have there Jon, and looks like your having a blast. Best of luck and good times ahead.  :) 8)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on September 01, 2016, 01:19:21 PM
A little catch up note. Nothing big but the last couple of weekends I've spent just tinkering around the lot. Any spare time I have I spend cleaning the area that will be the septic field. There are lots of down trees in there. The septic guy told me not to drive over the area as the field has to be as uncompacted as possible. So when I cut a tree down or skid out dead wood, I string chains together and skid them out with up to 50' of chain. In the 90+ degree heat it wears you out quick! I knocked off last Saturday and drove the 1 mile back to the old hunting cabin over old logging roads to find my brother and Wayne, my builder sittin on the porch with a cooler full of iced beer. We commenced to do some serious front porch sittin and world problem solvin. A good time was had by all!

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/WV_Cabin.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1472749574)

This weekend we will be digging the footings.  I put the 2' bucket on the backhoe last weekend. The following Friday we will be pouring footings 2' wide 1' deep and then we can start the block work.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WDH on September 02, 2016, 07:31:26 AM
I could drink a beer by that Tree Farm sign  ;D. 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Czech_Made on September 02, 2016, 07:53:25 AM
Only 1' deep footings?  What is the freeze depth?
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on September 02, 2016, 08:40:45 AM
Quote from: Czech_Made on September 02, 2016, 07:53:25 AM
Only 1' deep footings?  What is the freeze depth?

The footings will be 1' thick. I don't know the freeze depth, but the builder does.  ;D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on September 02, 2016, 08:47:28 AM
Quote from: Czech_Made on September 02, 2016, 07:53:25 AM
Only 1' deep footings?  What is the freeze depth?

I also thought 1 foot was a bit shallow.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on September 02, 2016, 09:07:25 AM
Quote from: WDH on September 02, 2016, 07:31:26 AM
I could drink a beer by that Tree Farm sign  ;D.

I hope you will!  8)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Czech_Made on September 02, 2016, 09:10:27 AM
Quote from: Raider Bill on September 02, 2016, 08:47:28 AM
Quote from: Czech_Made on September 02, 2016, 07:53:25 AM
Only 1' deep footings?  What is the freeze depth?

I also thought 1 foot was a bit shallow.

I believe Virginia has 24" freeze depth, MD will not be far off. Thats why the 1' surprised me.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on September 02, 2016, 10:31:10 AM
I'm building on my tree farm in the eastern panhandle of WV.

to clarify, the footers will be 1' thick at depth. Wayne told me we will have to put a step in the foundation because most of it has allready been dug into the bank and we will step it down where it comes up to grade.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Carson-saws on September 02, 2016, 10:53:18 AM
Man with a plan!!!  That is fantastic!...Really very happy for you Sir.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on September 02, 2016, 11:58:31 AM
Thank you, it is a labor of love. :)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on September 06, 2016, 10:45:09 AM
 We spent the 3 day weekend digging the footings and bending in the rebar. We also used rebar as grade stakes for when they pour the footigns. We used just under 600' of rebar! The contractor is pouring the footings tomorrow. I'll go back up on Friday and we will start laying block.

Here's a pic of when we finished digging the footings.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20160904_121925336_HDR.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1473117358)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: OneWithWood on September 06, 2016, 11:54:04 AM
Having a good time, I see  8)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: coxy on September 06, 2016, 06:49:48 PM
you are so lucky you have sand all I have is bed rock when my dad built the house I live in half of my basement is bed rock he said at the time he didn't have the money for someone to come and drill and shoot it out so he built around and over it  :) :)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on September 07, 2016, 06:13:19 AM
 Looks are deceiving Coxy, that's a mixture of clay, sand and rocks. Even though it was a challenge to dig the footers the builder says it makes a very good base for the foundation. And it's all about the foundation.  ;D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: submarinesailor on September 09, 2016, 09:35:23 PM
Jon - PM me the address/GPS info.  I'm out that way about once a month.  Maybe I could come by for a looky-see.

Bruce
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on September 16, 2016, 08:06:29 AM
Quote from: submarinesailor on September 09, 2016, 09:35:23 PM
Jon - PM me the address/GPS info.  I'm out that way about once a month.  Maybe I could come by for a looky-see.

Bruce

I'll do it! All are welcome to stop in!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on September 16, 2016, 08:30:36 AM
I spent the last 6 days shagging mortar and block for the mason and builder. I'm more tired and worn out than I have been in about 10 years. That was the last time I worked on a foundation!

Here's a morning shot. My brother Chris and I would get there before everyone else and get set up for the day and start mixing mortar.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/WV_Garage11.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1474028850)


When I left Wednesday evening we had 2 walls up to 14 courses and the 3rd wall was up to 12. We are going up to 18 courses. Man this thing is getting big!


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/WV_Garage12.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1474028929)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: red on September 16, 2016, 08:45:04 AM
If it was easy anyone could do it . . Rest up
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: OneWithWood on September 16, 2016, 11:01:52 AM
coming along nicely, Jon.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WDH on September 17, 2016, 06:55:55 AM
Toting cement blocks is hard work  :). 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on September 17, 2016, 09:06:25 AM
....and that's a lot of handling.  ;D Coming right along.  8)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: kensfarm on October 18, 2016, 10:34:56 PM
My back is hurting just thinking about having to carry all those blocks..  looks really nice! 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: customsawyer on October 20, 2016, 05:10:06 AM
I like the progress. You've come far pilgrim.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: isawlogs on October 22, 2016, 09:24:41 AM
 My arms hurt from looking at all those blocks.  :-\    Sure looks good, you will have such a nice building once it"s all done.  8)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on October 22, 2016, 09:50:01 AM
Work hard now, to enjoy things later. I guess everyone strives for that.  :)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on October 24, 2016, 12:47:03 PM
The last couple of weekends we capped the top of the foundation with a PT 2x12s, I rolled on 2 coats of asphalt tar, put on a layer of 6mil plastic and started back filling. Man I got tar all over everything.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20161021_122409255_HDR.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1477308842)

We have been using a 12' concrete chute to pour in the gravel. Some times it gets backed up and you have to shovel it down. Still better than having to have to shuttle it down in 5 gal buckets.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20161023_095516979.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1477308990)
At the far end of the last pic you can just make out my drum smoker. While we are working I will smoke something for dinner. So far I have done a pork shoulder, a beef bottom round roast and a whole haunch of venison. Wow was that good!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Roxie on October 24, 2016, 02:27:54 PM
This is getting exciting!   :)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on October 24, 2016, 03:31:05 PM
All that hard work, one has to eat good to.  :)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on October 24, 2016, 03:35:28 PM
Jon I'm envious, building my Tenn house was one of the best times of my life.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: OneWithWood on October 25, 2016, 11:18:50 AM
Nothing like a good project to keep you focused.
Staying nourished is important too.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WDH on October 25, 2016, 10:21:14 PM
Also, stay hydrated  ;D. 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Carson-saws on November 03, 2016, 08:50:21 AM
Outstanding...quite the endeavor....keep up the good work!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on November 03, 2016, 09:18:32 AM
Thanks for the encouraging words. I look forward to going up every weekend.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Bricklayer51 on November 03, 2016, 01:23:30 PM
Most basements I have built are 12 or 13 courses high so I got to ask how tall are you?
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on November 04, 2016, 09:07:46 AM

I used to be 6'2 but I seem to be shrinking a little.  :D

It will be 12' inside the garage minus the 4" slab.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Bricklayer51 on November 04, 2016, 02:44:10 PM
You have a very nice place  every mans dream I will be following this very closely.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on November 07, 2016, 07:01:02 AM

It was a wonderful weekend in the woods. As I told a friend of mine slow and steady keeps me from breaking things, myself included.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/WV_House1.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1478520001)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Roxie on November 07, 2016, 07:12:40 AM
It was such a beautiful weekend to be in the woods. 

Yes, slow and steady, after all, it is a five year plan.   :D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Don_Papenburg on November 07, 2016, 10:44:20 PM
Yep, my five year plan is going on past fifteen now .  Just trim a little inside and outside , some porch railing and steps and sidewalks tile in the basement and the attic stairs and ................................................................................and .......................................................................and.....................................................................
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on November 08, 2016, 06:09:08 AM

My father built my house. He started it in 1957 and it's almost done...
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on November 08, 2016, 01:03:41 PM
One more picture from last weekend.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/WV_House2.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1478628199)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on March 31, 2017, 08:31:25 AM
 Not much happened over the winter. I tinkered a bit but nothing to write home about and then suddenly Spring! Time to get going again. It's going to be a very busy year for me at my daytime job this summer so not much is going to get done that you can see but there's lots to do. We need to run the plumbing that is going under the slab, then we need to pour the slab. there's landscaping to do around the foundation and a set of garage doors to build.

What I'm working on now is to bury the power lines you can see in the last picture. The pole with my transformer is right next to the foundation and a guy wire comes right down where the door will open. The power company says they will move the transformer down one pole and run a whip back to the power head which we will go ahead and mount on the building. They also said we can put in our breaker box as long as it is covered. I figure I'll build a little open backed dog looking house to place over it to shield it from the weather.

Believe it or not I still don't know what the living area is going to look like. I have sketched up a couple of plans but I haven't come to a conclusion. I had to let my architect go he just wasn't producing. Luckily My builder and mason are experienced enough that they knew what specs to build to.

Right now I am thinking about a timber frame. I would absolutely love to have a timber frame but it all comes down to price. I am in contact with 2 timber framers and have my fingers and toes crossed.

That's all for now. Thanks for listening.
Jon

Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on April 01, 2017, 03:36:06 AM
Thanks for the update John.

I have the place in Grafton listed since last week. I also have an architect designing from my sketches. He probably won't start until another week. We have used him before on the Grafton house. The neighbors next door are also selling and going to Saskatchewan where the money is. Teaching and gas/oil business.

Have a good one.  :)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: GRANITEstateMP on May 20, 2017, 01:26:00 PM
Really enjoy following this thread.  Always fun to watch the step by step process.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on October 10, 2017, 01:09:02 PM
Wow, what a summer. My daytime job has had me hopping all around the country!

Still very little has physically changed on the foundation. I finished back filling, Did a little more block work For a rock facade to sit on.

I had a handshake deal with a timber framer to frame the house but my last communication with him was back in may. I honestly do not know what happened to him. I am assuming he is no longer interested. ::)

I'm back to trying to get some drawings done so my next potential builder can cost out the work. Last weekend I had a drafter meet me at the foundation. We walked the property, kicked the foundation, talked about his past projects. I liked his easy style. I told him that my original plan was to build this BIG garage and then build a small house next door later. Now my plans have changed I plan on putting the house on top of the garage. My problem is I want a huge garage and a small house. He sketched an Idea while we were talking and I think he really nailed it. We deck over the whole foundation but part of the decked area will be porches with roof over them, reducing the sq ft of the house. So instead of running the roof line along the 60' side we run it along the 40' side. A smaller house with decks sitting on top of a large foundation.

Here's the sketch he came up with.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/WV_House_Sketch.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1507654714)

I like this a lot. It is part post and beam mixed with conventional framing. right in the neighborhood of 1500 sq ft.

I have also started talking to another builder. My original builder wants to retire and the timber framer disappeared. This next possibility is a younger guy full of energy. I have asked him for referances and to see some of the houses he has built.

We will see how this goes.
Good thing I have given myself until 2020 to make the house livable. Livable and finished are two very different things.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on October 10, 2017, 01:42:36 PM
Turn the house 1/4 turn and you have my first drawing. I decided to make the house the same size as the lower so my garage ceiling didn't leak around the outside deck area.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on October 10, 2017, 01:56:37 PM
That is a concern.
I believe that a membrane under the deck. A slight slope to that part of the floor and overhanging roof lines will prevent that.

Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Bricklayer51 on October 10, 2017, 03:19:49 PM
Jon remember that your not getting younger think about humping food and all your staples up steps
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on October 11, 2017, 06:44:35 AM
I know. Every day I'm reminded that I am not the handsome young man I was 35 years ago.

My house is being built into the side of a hill so the basement is a walk out, the front door will only be about 5 steps to get up to.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on January 12, 2018, 01:01:56 PM
 The drafter has finished the plans and I am really happy with them.
He also included some drawings of what the house might look like finished.

Here's the front of the house/cabin. I havn't quite figured out what I'll call it.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Driveway_Side.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1515778910)

and here's the back. The upper area/loft is the master bedroom/bath.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Screen_Porch_Side.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1515779179)

It's about 1800 sq ft including the loft. Not really small, I'd call it comfortable.
The next step is getting a structural engineer to put the numbers to beam sizing and such.
The first (I was going to write crook but I'll hold my tongue) one I talked to quoted me $4500.
I fell out of my chair and told him I need to get a 2nd quote. I am meeting with an engineer this weekend that my buddy Wayne recommended who he has been using for the last 20 years. Over the phone he quoted me $500 and Wayne says not one of his houses has had a problem due to poor engineering.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on January 12, 2018, 02:48:33 PM
Yep, that will work! 8) 8)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Hilltop366 on January 12, 2018, 04:35:24 PM
Quote from: Weekend_Sawyer on January 12, 2018, 01:01:56 PM

Here's the front of the house/cabin. I havn't quite figured out what I'll call it.


I'd call it home. smiley_thumbsup
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on January 12, 2018, 05:21:36 PM
Looks good to me Jon, lots of porch rocking space.  I see you think like me, roof over it and bug screen'n. ;D Are you using jack posts from the ground up to the porch deck by the walk-in? That is what I plan on. 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: samandothers on January 13, 2018, 08:40:42 AM
Nice!  Complete with an older Jeep Cherokee!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: isawlogs on January 13, 2018, 09:00:38 AM
 Looks good from here!!  I like the concept.   :)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WDH on January 14, 2018, 07:46:48 AM
The porch is fine.  Looks really good.  My kind of place.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: scsmith42 on January 14, 2018, 02:46:07 PM
Very nice!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: slider on January 24, 2018, 07:40:39 PM
I see you have screened in part of the porch ,good move in the summer time . I like your plan . I think you may be coming to the project this year ,looking forward to seeing you again.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on January 25, 2018, 08:37:47 AM
Quote from: slider on January 24, 2018, 07:40:39 PM
I think you may be coming to the project this year ,looking forward to seeing you again.

Slider, I plan on it every time. This annoying thing called work demands a lot of my time.
I am very hopeful to make it this spring.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on May 16, 2018, 08:04:06 AM
We have recently made some nice progress.
My concrete guy poured the footings for the lally columns and the chimney and then my contractor and I put in the under floor plumbing.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Under_floor_Plumbing.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1526470198)
 

The next step is to pour about 30 yards of concrete.
Waa Hoo
Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: samandothers on May 16, 2018, 09:36:08 AM
Glad things are progressing!  I was wondering how things were going.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WDH on May 16, 2018, 04:49:01 PM
This is getting exciting.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on May 16, 2018, 04:56:02 PM
Quote from: WDH on May 16, 2018, 04:49:01 PM
This is getting exciting.
It sure is!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on May 16, 2018, 05:21:44 PM
Nice to get the ball rolling and keep the momentum rolling. 8)


Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Peter Drouin on May 16, 2018, 07:20:06 PM
Looking good, 8)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Bruno of NH on May 24, 2018, 09:06:02 PM
Looks good :)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on June 05, 2018, 06:58:05 PM
The recent flooding in my area has not touched my foundation. But it sure did keep the concrete truck from getting any where near my place.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on June 07, 2018, 05:50:40 PM
Thank goodness you were spared any flooding at your build site. Hopefully things dry up for you to keep things rolling along. :) 

We could sure use some rain. All we get in sprinkles or showers of no consequence. Showers is all they have forecast for next 3 days, and not a high probability.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on June 11, 2018, 09:54:09 AM
As I said earlier, the recent flooding and 5+ inches of rain caused no damage to my foundation.
Now the roads getting in were another thing altogether.

There are 2 ways to get to my building site which is in a valley called Connors Hollow. The Little Red Schoolhouse entrance which has an old school house that is no longer used, and the yellow gate entrance which you might guess, has a yellow gate on it. Were into practical names. The school house way is 2 miles from the paved road to my place and was wiped out in many places by the storm. The little creeks along the way left their banks and ran down the roads cutting ruts that in some places were 6 feet deep.

 The yellow gate road is 1.6 miles from my foundation. I did not see the damage to the yellow gate road because a logger and good friend of ours was working a piece of land along this road and repaired it before we got there. Man, that made me happy!

We spent the weekend with a skid steer, track loader and backhoe working the school house road. We got about 2/3 of the way done and it started raining again. So we packed up and headed for home. We will hit it again next weekend.

If the weather cooperates I'll have a concrete floor sometime this week.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: samandothers on June 11, 2018, 01:25:09 PM
Bummer on you roads!  Glad the house site is high and undamaged.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on June 11, 2018, 05:19:49 PM
Roads can often be a challenge for sure, especially with any gullies and steep slopes around running water off quick to streams or across roads. You'll soon have the school house road back into shape and ready to roll. :) Two miles is a good bit of road to maintain, then another two, that'll keep you busy.  ;)

No rain here since my last post. Dry dry dry.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: submarinesailor on June 11, 2018, 09:41:32 PM
Jon,

Did you see any of the flood damage in downtown Berkeley Springs.  When I watched the news about the flooding, it looked like the creek was running over the swimming pool.

Bruce
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on June 12, 2018, 07:22:09 AM
I turn off and head over the mountain before I get to downtown Berkeley Springs.
But I did see pictures of the flooding.

Right there at the pool is a rock lined tub area that they say George Washington built to soak in the mineral waters to sooth his arthritis.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on November 28, 2018, 07:41:55 AM
Slooooooly it goes.

 We are planning on hanging the steel in March 2019.
There's a lot of steel going into it. 4 main beams  W12 x 40#
and 18 W8 x 31# beams to go under concrete decks on either side of the cabin.

Every thing I have done on this build has been an education.
I learned that the W number is the height of the beam and the # is the amount 1 foot of the beam weighs. So my 40' main beams will weigh 1600 lbs.

The engineer who worked out the beam specifications is a retired bridge builder.
At first glance from my untrained eye it seems like severe overkill but I would rather have it overbuilt than not.

An amazing fact is that between this post and my last post SwampDonky has built his house.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Magicman on November 28, 2018, 08:25:41 AM
 smiley_thumbsup  But you are still within your 5 year time-frame.  ;D  

 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: samandothers on November 28, 2018, 11:02:38 AM
And you have started! Versus some others I know.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on November 28, 2018, 11:31:41 AM
You'll be in your new place before you know it and enjoying every moment there.

I'm sure enjoying mine. :)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Don P on November 28, 2018, 09:44:21 PM
Yup, you got it, the W specifies a Wide flange beam, what most of us call an I beam.
This morning I ordered some L 7x4x3/8... angle iron, those were all dimensions they are 13.6 lbs/ft, some 3/8x8" plate and 3x3x3/16 HSS, hollow structural steel, square tubing, for posts all to make some engineered headers and posts to reinforce block walls that someone decided to cut holes in without looking up.  I also had them get some C6x8.2, 6" C channel at 8.2 lbs/ft, the flange is 1-7/8" wide, to reinforce our big work basket. That was just a longwinded way of showing how they callout some of the steel shapes.

In the toolbox I noticed your beam sizes are in this calc, I've sort of populated it with beams as needed, those a pretty common sizes in residential work.
http://forestryforum.com/members/donp/steelbeamclc.htm (http://forestryforum.com/members/donp/steelbeamclc.htm)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on March 11, 2019, 01:20:52 PM
Hanging iron. Boy did I pick a week to do it too!
It snowed a couple of inches Thursday evening. The telescoping forklift was delivered Friday afternoon. It snowed a couple of more inches Sunday and the steel was delivered Monday. Fun, fun, fun!

Saturday we made 4 saw horses to aid in beam handling. My buddy and neighbor Steve designed them and we built them in his shop.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Saw_Horses_1.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1552323654)
 

Steve owns a cabinetry company and has a great shop in his barn about a mile from my place. We spent a fun afternoon there.

Here you can see they are holding a 40' 1,600lb beam.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Saw_Horses_3.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1552323805)
 

Monday the tractor trailer showed up to deliver the steel but it was way too slick out to drive up to my lot so we unloaded him beside the road.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Steel_1.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1552323965)
 

From there we loaded the beams and other stuff on my brothers 25' flatbed trailer and with the help of a 4wd tractor in a slick spot going up a hill we got all of the metal to my lot.

Here's the first beam going into place.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Steel_3.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1552324175)
 

Here's a good shot of Chris slinging a 10 footer into place.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Steel_4.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1552324226)
 

By the end of Thursday we had everything in place and most of the welding has been completed. The 10' sections at each end of the foundation will hold the concrete decks.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Steel_5.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1552324687)
 

Weather permitting, I'll go up this weekend to shim the beams and adjust the lally columns. I'm really happy with the work we completed this weekend. I'm thankful for all of my talented friends who just stop by and pick up a shovel or hammer.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: moosehunter on March 11, 2019, 03:24:00 PM
That floor system looks like  you could park semi trucks on it! Looking good!
mh
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on March 11, 2019, 06:32:59 PM
Yea, my engineer is a retired bridge builder.
In a tornado just stay home.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: red on March 11, 2019, 08:13:16 PM
Very Nice
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on March 12, 2019, 05:25:40 AM
Looking good Jon, solid and strong will weather most storms. ;D Lucky fella to have all that talent around you. :)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on May 06, 2019, 01:54:39 PM
My contractor poured 17 yards of concrete on the upper decks last week.
I felt almost guilty that work took me away and I couldn't be there to help.
He did a nice job pouring the 2 upper decks and sloping them away from the center. See that grey spot bottom center of the picture? That's the leftover concrete.


(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/upper_deck.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1557164938)
 

This weekend I am traveling to Vermont to meet with a timber framer and hopefully seal the deal on my cabin. I was hoping to go there last weekend and stop in at the northern get together but that work thing got in the way.

I am very happy with the progress that has been made lately.
Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on May 06, 2019, 02:49:18 PM
Great progress!
I'd hate to show you how much concrete I wasted building my place! :(
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on May 07, 2019, 11:58:44 AM
Looking good. I like as little waste as possible to. You'll soon be moving in. ;) I'm lucky here, that I can cut away from work when need be. Right now putting a game plan together for the garage. Off to get some material quotes as we speak.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on June 24, 2019, 10:57:16 AM
Moving forward with a purpose.

My check for the deposit on the timber frame has cleared! We are doing some productive back and forth to tighten up the design. We plan on standing up the frame the last week of September. I'll post a picture of the frame soon.

I have a lot to do before we stand it up. My general contractor and I are going to build the deck the last week of July. I posted a question about sub flooring in the timber framing section here;

Sub Floor in Timber Framing/Log construction (http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=106714.0)

I have about 2000 bdft of random width 1" pine and poplar stacked and stickered and between now and the end of July I'll be using my buddy Steve's shop to plane and straight edge the boards, then re stack on site.

I had a local sawyer, Jeff, saw the 100 2x12 floor joists I need. I just didn't have the time or trees to get it done. Jeff is a real go getter and it turns out that mother nature provides, some heavy storms early this year blew down a bunch of white pines and my buddies from all around the area were calling me to come get logs. Jeff got most of them and I delivered a few when I could get up there. For log retrieval, sawing, delivering and stacking and stickering he charged me .75 bdft. I feel I got a great deal

100 floor joists you say???, Yes I say. I have 4 main beams spanning my foundation creating 3 sections. Each section needs 31 joists. I rounded up to100.

Waa Hoo
Jon

Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on June 24, 2019, 03:58:13 PM
Sounds great, keep at'r. :)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: samandothers on June 25, 2019, 10:57:54 AM
Happy for your progress!  Sounds like things are moving and shaking on your build.  Good for you!  
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on August 19, 2019, 01:55:12 PM
We got the floor joists and sub floor in. I had a crew of 3 local guys and they worked very well in mid 90 degree weather. I basically fetched water and supplies. I helped where I could and kept out of the way as needed!

Lets back up. I had decided that i needed 2000 bdft of 1' random width lumber for the sub floor. I had some on site but the majority of my air dried lumber was at my house and it needed to be edged and plained down to 15/16. I decided to work on it in my barn as some of my buddies were offering to help.

I set up a shop in the barn with a straight edging table that I made up and hauled my grizzly plainer out of the basement.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Lumber_Dave.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1566231664)
 

That little 20V Dewalt didn't work out too well. It tried hard but the battery charger couldn't keep up with how fast they were being drained.
I went out and bought a Ridgid worm drive. That did the trick. It's odd to have a saw that you have to check the oil in the transmission before use but it worked very well.
That's Dave, he wanted to get off his butt and sweat some. Boy did he get his wish!! We ran 2 fans and one of them was a big attic fan I built a platform for. We also kept a cooler full of water and sports drinks.



(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Lumber_Charlie_and_Craig.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1566407709)
 
Charlie and his buddy Craig came up from southern Maryland just to enjoy the 92 degree weather and process some boards for me.

Notice the attic fan in the lower left. No shrouds, wouldn't want to impede the airflow!

Somewhere along about 1500 bdft my plainer started acting up. It would pop it's internal breaker every 2 to 3 boards. At this point my deadline of July 20th was looming large. I had to have 2000 bdft on the trailer and heading for WV that day. Nothing like living your life like you are on a reality tv show. I couldn't take time to figure out the problem so I fixed it with a credit card and a trip to Home depot.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Lumber_Donny.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1566232180)
 

Here's Donny running my new Dewalt plainer. Right off the bat we had a problem with dust collection. It just wasn't blowing the sawdust out the chute fast enough, it was blowing it back on Donny. I took the collector off and was just going to run it without one when I saw a piece of packing cardboard inside the collector. It kept it from being crushed in shipping I guess. It really kept the sawdust from getting around it. After that we were off and flying again.

I made my goal on Thursday the 18th.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Lumber_2000_bdft.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1566235434)
 

Color coating the ends of the different widths helped a lot when they were putting it down.

Friday night we were loaded and ready to roll!

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Lumber_on_trailer.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1566235587)
 

My brother Chris brought the load up and on Monday the guys started putting in floor joists.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Deck1.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1566235675)
 

And by Wednesday we were putting the deck down.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Deck2.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1566235838)
 

Here's the view looking up from below.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Deck4.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1566235897)
 

and on Friday we built a tent over the whole thing.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Deck3.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1566236021)
 

The tent keeps the weather off and allows air flow because in all honesty some of those boards were milled only 2 months ago.

On September 23 the timber frame and crane are scheduled to arrive.

That's all I have for now.
Hold Fast till the end of September!
Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on August 19, 2019, 05:31:15 PM
Looking good!! Keep the momentum. 8) Nice to have good help when you need it.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Peter Drouin on August 19, 2019, 09:08:32 PM
Very nice job..
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: thecfarm on August 19, 2019, 09:12:24 PM
Progress!!!!
It all takes time.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: samandothers on August 19, 2019, 10:35:48 PM
You been hustling!  Look forward to seeing the raising of the frame.  
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WDH on August 20, 2019, 07:47:07 AM
Seeing that finished subfloor had to give you great satisfaction and make you proud. 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: DWyatt on August 20, 2019, 08:15:05 AM
Planing that much lumber down in that heat with a lunchbox planer is an impressive feat! Things are looking awesome!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: scsmith42 on August 20, 2019, 01:17:51 PM
That's looking great!  Keep the pix (and progress) coming!!!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on August 20, 2019, 01:46:15 PM
I'm reliving building mine watching you! Thanks! :)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Don P on August 20, 2019, 07:16:40 PM
Quote from: DWyatt on August 20, 2019, 08:15:05 AM
Planing that much lumber down in that heat with a lunchbox planer is an impressive feat! Things are looking awesome!
It sure is, we let the magic blue smoke out of my 15" a couple of weeks ago planing oak siding on a very warm day. Looking very good!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on August 21, 2019, 07:09:27 AM
I asked Jim to move this thread to the Timber Framing section.
I have contracted with a timber framer from Vermont named Dave Sills to build the frame. He built another cabin in our valley and it's a beautiful place. I am looking forward to working with him.

Thank you Jim Rogers
and thank you all for your positive input!
Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Roxie on August 21, 2019, 08:19:31 AM
This is so much fun to watch.  I'm so happy fr you. 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Jim_Rogers on August 21, 2019, 09:35:50 AM
Quote from: Weekend_Sawyer on August 21, 2019, 07:09:27 AM
I asked Jim to move this thread to the Timber Framing section.
I have contracted with a timber framer from Vermont named Dave Sills to build the frame. He built another cabin in our valley and it's a beautiful place. I am looking forward to working with him.

Thank you Jim Rogers
and thank you all for your positive input!
Jon
Actually we need to thank Jeff for the move as I was not able to do it correctly.
Jim Rogers
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on August 21, 2019, 12:05:44 PM
There's a lot to thank Jeff for.
Thanks Jeff!
Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on August 28, 2019, 07:46:29 PM
Last weekend I picked up enough 1x8 tongue and groove knotty pine for the underlayment of the ceiling. They are 16' long and wrapped in bundles of 5. I never saw it wrapped like that before.

Luckily the Poole brothers stopped by just as I was starting to unload.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20190824_133938.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1567035626)
 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: thecfarm on August 28, 2019, 08:17:14 PM
Lucky for you,unlucky for them. :D
I have a friend that helped me put up full 2x10x12,hot of the sawmill. He did not show up for a month after that. ;D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: richhiway on August 28, 2019, 09:28:09 PM
Great plan and project! 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on September 03, 2019, 09:43:54 AM
Here's the first beams cut for the cabin.
Were getting closer. We plan on standing the timber frame up starting the 23rd of this month.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Sills_lumber_1.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1567518194)
 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Stephen1 on September 03, 2019, 06:41:34 PM
I'm impressed. Goodluck
I am just about to embark on a similiar project. The gears are turning and I will know in a month or so
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on September 18, 2019, 02:14:45 PM
Here's another whack of beams for my house.
They will be loaded on the truck and on Monday the 23rd start heading from Vermont to West Virginia. Man it's getting exciting!

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Sills_lumber_2.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1568830424)
 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Roxie on September 18, 2019, 04:44:40 PM
Yes!  Yes it is!  8)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on September 18, 2019, 06:22:10 PM
Yep, keep on a roll'n. 8)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on October 03, 2019, 01:54:59 PM
It's been an incredible couple of weeks!
We had 2 experienced timber framers, 3 local contractors, 1 crane operator and 6 more people that helped and did not get in the way. No one got hurt, and we all had a great time. This has been a very positive experience and my retirement home is really taking shape.

On Wednesday morning the 23rd the truck and crane showed up on time. Now that's a great start. We unloaded and got the truck out in about 1/2 hour.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Timber_Frame_2.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1570124450)
 

Here's the first bent going up. What a moment!
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Timber_Frame_3.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1570124517)
 

The 2nd bent going up.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Timber_Frame_4.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1570124574)
 

I got to run the Hammer a couple of whacks.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Timber_Frame_5.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1570124664)
 

and sometimes you can't wait for the crane and just got to set the post yourself.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Timber_Frame_6.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1570124736)
 

kidding aside the professionals were a pleasure to work with and allowed us novices to help and learn.

Here's the last pic I took as I was leaving to come back home and to work.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Timber_Frame_1.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1570124920)
 

My general contractor is still on the job buttoning it up. Once it is enclosed it will sit for the winter while I do little things around it and rebuild my finances.

I am very happy with the progress and the way it looks.
I have had the plans on my desk and poured over them for a while but being there while it came together is an amazing experience.
Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on October 03, 2019, 02:09:45 PM
Jon,

Just by your button suspenders anyone can tell you got class!! [I wear them too! :D :D :D :D}

Great progress!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on October 03, 2019, 03:14:02 PM
Great progress Jon! Looks great. You'll soon be in'er. ;D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: thecfarm on October 03, 2019, 06:01:25 PM
Now it looks like something!!!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Magicman on October 03, 2019, 08:35:57 PM
This is Amazing.  Thanks for sharing your joy Jon.  thumbs-up
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: tule peak timber on October 03, 2019, 08:40:45 PM
Very inspirational. YAHOO !!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: sawmilllawyer on October 03, 2019, 10:09:40 PM
Really looking like its coming together now!
8)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: samandothers on October 03, 2019, 11:42:56 PM
Wow what progress!  Great job!
Looks like it was fun too.  Nice to accomplish all this with a fun group to work with.  Look forward to additional updates.  
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on October 04, 2019, 06:37:02 AM
Quote from: Raider Bill on October 03, 2019, 02:09:45 PM
Jon,

Just by your button suspenders anyone can tell you got class!! [I wear them too! :D :D :D :D}

Great progress!
well, without them it would be a whole different show!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Don P on October 04, 2019, 07:22:02 AM
That first pic of the crane under the lines sucked my belly button up, he must have been a good operator. It looks great, and looks like y'all had a good time :).
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: moosehunter on October 04, 2019, 09:54:26 AM
Looking great Jon! 

mh
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Stephen1 on October 09, 2019, 08:27:43 AM
As it all goes up and you get to help is such a great experience!
Thanks for sharing
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: fishfighter on October 14, 2019, 12:04:00 PM
Outstanding.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on October 15, 2019, 01:06:26 PM
She's buttoned up for the winter. I didn't get to do much on this part. Had to get back to work and start saving up for the next part.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Timber_Frame_Tyvek.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1571158606)
 

soooo what is next?
well for one thing I really need to figure out the layout inside.
Right now I know for sure where the foyer and stairs go.
I have a good idea of the bedrooms layout.
I know where the kitchen goes but not its layout.
In there somewhere needs to be a full bath, laundry room, dining room and living room. I need to figure out window and door placement. Then we can think about plumbing and electrical.

But right now it's a big hunting blind.
Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on October 15, 2019, 01:28:16 PM
Will the master bedroom be on the bottom floor? Think knees as we age..
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: moosehunter on October 15, 2019, 01:34:32 PM
I am impressed! The Tyvec is installed right side up!

mh
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: btulloh on October 15, 2019, 02:00:39 PM
Nice deer blind!  I would have gone with the camo tyvek, personally.  :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: doc henderson on October 15, 2019, 02:13:10 PM
looks great.  if you have any 2x4 scraps, lay out a floor plan, and tweak based on what your COO thinks, assuming you have one!!! ;) :) :D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on October 16, 2019, 07:23:45 AM
Bill,
There will be a master bed/bath in the loft and 2 more bedrooms on the main level. The plan is to occupy the loft as long as the knees allow.

Mike,
My builder has an eye for detail. ;D

Dr,
I plan on laying out using survey tape and push pins.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Bruno of NH on October 16, 2019, 07:56:22 AM
Looks great some nice work on the frame
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: thecfarm on October 16, 2019, 10:57:21 AM
I don't think I have said this in this thread,but have on others.  ;D Three foot door everywheres. Easier to move furnature and easier to get a wheel chair into each room. A high toilet too and make sure the bathroom is big enough to get a wheel chair in too. We have a walk in shower too.We don't even have any high cupboards and only one low cupboard,that section only came with a cutting board. Brenda had a home before we got together. I got tired of putting things back into the lower cupboards at her house. This place we have all draws. Pull it out and can get at what she wants and take care of it too. A walk in pantry is a must too,with lots of shelves. Our home has been tried out a few times with her in a wheel chair too.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on March 09, 2020, 12:31:12 PM
Well it really felt like spring this weekend in Connors Hollow.
I used my brothers Cat 941 to skid a couple of logs that I'll mill into posts for my garage doors.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/skidding_logs_2.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1583771266)
 
A couple of nice red oak logs 11' long that I'll square down to 6x16 posts.

It was truly a beautiful day to be out in the woods.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/skidding_logs_1.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1583771371)
 

In mid April we will get back to some serious work. Were going to put decking around the house and put the metal on the roof.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on March 10, 2020, 09:15:40 PM
Adios, until next time.

PS. I don't want to read of a dozer fire on the build site. ;)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: thecfarm on March 11, 2020, 06:41:30 AM
Good luck with the spring and summer plans.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Nebraska on March 11, 2020, 07:23:15 AM
It really is good to see your progress, it keeps me optimistic, especially during the day while tied up with that work thing.  Yes maybe I can accomplish what I want.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: doc henderson on March 11, 2020, 01:52:31 PM
Yes, my job is really interfering with my retirement too!  :D :D :D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on April 09, 2020, 06:21:24 AM
Tomorrow I pack up my skid steer and various tools and head for the hills!
In these weard times it's great to be able to get away and into the woods.
I honestly was afraid the state lines would be closed before I could get there.

Were going to be a 4 man crew. My general contractor and his helper, My brother Chris and myself. I had originally planned on 6 people but every one is afraid of the virus. To tell you the truth I am too and I'm glad to be getting out of the DC area.

Our plan is to build 10' decking all around, giving us a platform to build 12' 4x12 pitch roofing all around.

Exciting times in these strange days.
Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on April 09, 2020, 11:04:27 AM
Take care up there and stay well.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on May 20, 2020, 06:49:55 AM
 
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/purlins.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1589971384)
 

Man am I happy with our progress! I spent 2 weeks in the middle of April and have been going back up Thursdays through Sundays since. My local guys are true craftsmen.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Walnut Beast on May 20, 2020, 06:59:27 AM
Looks really nice 👍 👍👍
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: doc henderson on May 20, 2020, 07:29:38 AM
Jon that looks fantastic.  did you consider putting a porch on your place?!!!   :)   WOW!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: fishfighter on May 20, 2020, 07:30:55 AM
That makes the house pop. Looks great.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on May 20, 2020, 08:28:47 AM
Jon,
You need a ramp so we can pull our bikes up on the porch.
Looks great!!!!!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: samandothers on May 20, 2020, 11:14:21 AM
Really fantastic!  The porch will be a great place to enjoy life, not to mention the protection of the window and door areas.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on May 20, 2020, 12:04:19 PM
Yep, there's 2000 sqft of covered porch all the way around.
The main level of the house is 1600 sqft. I got more deck than house!

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on May 20, 2020, 05:11:53 PM
Look'n good man. Definitely need that porch. She's rugged!! Get any snow up there? :D :D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: thecfarm on May 20, 2020, 07:11:04 PM
Now that's a porch. Most don't build them wide enough. If I am sitting in a chair with my legs stretched out I have to move them when someone walks by.  ::)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Magicman on May 20, 2020, 07:57:20 PM
Wow Jon, just Wow!!! 
I can visualize rocking chairs and "pickin' & grinnin" music.   smiley_guitarist smiley_trap_drummer smiley_singsongnote02
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WDH on May 20, 2020, 07:57:56 PM
I would come play on that porch.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: samandothers on May 20, 2020, 09:52:05 PM
I'd come sit, bend elbows and listen!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: chet on June 07, 2020, 09:24:10 PM
Dat's one heck of a deer blind  :)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on June 22, 2020, 01:12:57 PM
 I had a hard time finding a roofing contractor. My general contractor said it was too much for him and the local guys all said the same. I was talking to a neighbor and he said that's what his son does, so I called him and sure enough here we go!

It's killing me to be stuck here at work and it's going on without me. I'll be heading back up Friday to see how it went.

Here's where we were when I left on Sunday.
Wayne, my GC did a great job getting the porch and front steps in.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Roofing_2.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1592845826)
 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on June 22, 2020, 02:02:15 PM
What are you putting on the roof? It's not steep, so I was wondering why they walked away. You need some young fellers like Jesse, that can climb like monkeys. ;)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on June 22, 2020, 03:45:47 PM
It's Everlast II metal roofing. I believe it's 26ga in Ivy Green

All the contractors in the area are 50+ years old and just don't want to climb.
The guys I got to do it are in their 30's and enthusiastic.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on June 22, 2020, 05:28:34 PM
Yep, I figured on age. That is the gauge steel I used to. It's heavy, but it will last a long time. Jesse and his gang that worked for me are in their 30's. ;)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: scsmith42 on June 22, 2020, 05:51:46 PM
That looks absolutely fantastic!  

Great craftsmanship, and a very pleasing design.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: tule peak timber on June 22, 2020, 08:51:09 PM
All of the above and a "boy howdy' on top. beautiful....
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: samandothers on June 23, 2020, 10:20:45 AM
Whatta home this will be!  The porches are still a draw for me.  The roof color is great, looks good in the setting.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WDH on June 23, 2020, 08:38:22 PM
I am amazed, very pleased, and impressed.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: fishfighter on June 25, 2020, 08:46:47 AM
Same here. Love it. ;D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Bruno of NH on June 25, 2020, 05:50:00 PM
Very nice home and great craftsman ship.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Sedgehammer on July 08, 2020, 07:08:38 AM
Quote from: Weekend_Sawyer on May 20, 2020, 06:49:55 AM

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/purlins.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1589971384)
 

Man am I happy with our progress! I spent 2 weeks in the middle of April and have been going back up Thursdays through Sundays since. My local guys are true craftsmen.

Jon
Hey, you stole my idea before I thought of it....... ;D
Looking good. We're buildin the same thing basically, but won't have a wrap around on it. House will though.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on July 13, 2020, 06:32:06 AM
The roof is on!
There's still a lot of trim and such but all of the big pieces are down.
We had a pretty big storm Saturday evening and all was dry under the roof.
I'm a happy guy. Were also working on the basemen doors and starting to hang angle iron to hang the garage doors on. Slow but steady progress.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Roofing_3.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1594636135)
 
That's Brian the main roofing dude at the rear peak. He's finishing up the shed roof over the loft deck. I'm really looking forward to sitting up there.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on July 13, 2020, 08:24:26 AM
Jon, What area of WVA is your cabin?
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on July 13, 2020, 01:06:00 PM
I'm in the eastern panhandle of West (by God) Virginia. I'm on the west side of Cacapon mountain with Berkeley Springs on the east side. Route 9 west from Berkeley Springs to the town of Paw Paw is an incredible scenic ride... but watch out for deer! I hit on e on my motorcycle 3 weeks ago. Amazingly I didn't go down but it did over $5,000 in damage to the bike.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: btulloh on July 13, 2020, 01:28:16 PM
There's a really nice golf course there.  Designed by Robert Trent Jones.  Beautiful area!  

Just a side note - There used to be a business located right across the road from the main entrance that sold all kinds concrete yard stuff - fountains, statues, flamingos, whatever.  (Wonder if they are still there?) One day a friend of mine and I stopped there after leaving the golf course and he bought a full size, concrete Labrador Retriever.  It still sits on his front porch, painted black with eyes and mouth painted appropriately.  Named it "ReadyMix".  Weighs about 150 lbs.  No point to that story, just came to mind when you mentioned Cacapon.

Really admiring your new home and enjoying following the process.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on July 13, 2020, 04:41:14 PM
The roof looks great. 8)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on July 14, 2020, 08:27:38 AM
Quote from: Weekend_Sawyer on July 13, 2020, 01:06:00 PM
I'm in the eastern panhandle of West (by God) Virginia. I'm on the west side of Cacapon mountain with Berkeley Springs on the east side. Route 9 west from Berkeley Springs to the town of Paw Paw is an incredible scenic ride... but watch out for deer! I hit on e on my motorcycle 3 weeks ago. Amazingly I didn't go down but it did over $5,000 in damage to the bike.
Thanks, Never know when my Road King might show up!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on July 14, 2020, 10:12:07 AM
Quote from: btulloh on July 13, 2020, 01:28:16 PM
There's a really nice golf course there.  Designed by Robert Trent Jones.  Beautiful area!  

That golf course is in Cacapon state park. I am directly over the mountain from there. As the crow flies it's a couple of miles straight over, but you have to drive around so it takes about 20 minutes.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on July 28, 2020, 06:45:43 AM
The heat and humidity have been brutal! We are working on the garage doors, each door will be 10' high and 7.5' wide with 2 in each opening. They will swing out like barn doors.
Because I will be adding a rock face to my block foundation I had to get the doors out 6" so we are installing these 6x14 pillars to mount the doors to. Wayne, my GC, is also building a 5' shed roof over the doors. The plan is that when we get these doors up the basement will be closed in and we will then build the stairs up into the main house. There's too many critters wandering in to put the stairs in now.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Garage_doors_1.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1595932823)
 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on July 28, 2020, 06:56:15 AM
My buddy Dave is practicing with his drone. Most of his videos end in a crash, it's kind of his signature ending. He's an IT guy and started a Youtube channel for me called Harzer Built. Here's a flyover that doesn't end in a crash but almost.

July 26, 2020 - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owgQ78w5shY)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: samandothers on July 28, 2020, 07:54:33 AM
Very nice build!  Working on rough ins?
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Roxie on July 28, 2020, 08:41:46 AM
The drone.  :D :D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: GRANITEstateMP on August 21, 2020, 05:00:21 PM
Jon anymore updates? You been able to keep the critters at bay?
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on August 24, 2020, 10:52:47 AM
Progress!! It's a wonderful thing.

The garage doors are up.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Garage_Doors_2.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1598277709)
 

I just couldn't find hinges heavy enough to hold a 275lb door so I have been fabricating them. First I didn't get all of them done in time. I needed 16, 4 for each door. So we stood them up and tacked them in place. Then it turns out my welds were bad. I was using a wirefeed and had the polarity reversed so I just wasn't getting penetration. My welds were barely stuck to the surface. I figured out my problem, thank you youtube, and will be taking the last of them up this weekend. They are 19" overall.


(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Hinges.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1598277622)
 

Meanwhile, the stairs from the basement are in. They put on temporary treads because I want to make some nice
1 3/4" thick red oak treads to be installed after the heavy construction is done.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Stairs_1.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1598277878)
 

and they are working on the stairs up to the loft.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/Stairs_2.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1598280633)
 

They will start basically where that pile of lumber is in the lower left, run up to a landing then turn and run to the right up to another landing that goes into the loft.

It kills me not to be there while so much great work is going on.
I'll be retiring at the end of October but were going to shut down for hunting season by then. These guys take their hunting seasons serious.

I still don't have a layout for my main level but I'm not worried. It is slowly evolving. I know where a couple of doors are going but I'm just not settled on the whole kitchen, living room, bedroom layout. So pretty much the whole thing is still a blank slate.

Jon 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Tom King on August 24, 2020, 01:03:14 PM
Looks great!  I like your hinges.   Richards-Wilcox makes some that would work, but when you saw the price, you would probably have fabricated them anyway.

They even make huge stainless steel, ball bearing ones for Zoo's.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: WDH on August 24, 2020, 07:52:21 PM
You will be flush with stairs. 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: GRANITEstateMP on August 24, 2020, 08:40:11 PM
Thanks Jon, really enjoy watching this build! A new house, AND, retirement  8)! That's a win-win
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: moosehunter on August 24, 2020, 08:46:47 PM
Nice hinges! Do you have more pics of the building process for them?
mh
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on August 25, 2020, 09:08:58 AM
Quote from: moosehunter on August 24, 2020, 08:46:47 PM
Nice hinges! Do you have more pics of the building process for them?
mh
I'm sorry I don't. I had planned on doing a Diresta style video but just ran out of time.
Here's how I made them.
 If you can weld a little they are not hard. I used 3/16 flat iron for the wings. The wings that go on the doors are 3" wide with a 2" wide piece on top, 14" long. The wing that gets screwed to the frame is 6hx5w" giving me lots of area to screw into the oak post. I should have staggered the holes. I bought most of the metal from a metal supplier near me. The knuckles are a 3/8 rod for the pin with a metal tube that they fit in. I bought this from a big box store, the rod and tubes were right next to each other. I cut the rod slightly over 6" then cut the tube into 2, 1.5" pieces and 1, 3"piece.
Assembly:
 on the pin I slide a 1.5" tube then the 3" then another 1.5" and peen the ends of the pin a little to keep it all together. Using magnets I line them up on the edge of the 6" side of the wing and weld the 2, 1.5" tubes to it. Then I line up the 3" wing and weld it to the 3" tube. I grind this weld back a little bit and then lay the 2" wing on top of the 3" wing and weld it down. All along making sure everything is plumb and square.
 My welding isn't very pretty but I can make stuff stick together... usually.
Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: gspren on August 25, 2020, 06:40:26 PM

I believe that's called a "Gorilla Weld", strong but ugly!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: trimguy on August 30, 2020, 10:07:56 AM
I just read this whole thread. WOW !! Very exciting. Thanks for posting. I'm looking for more updates when I come.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on September 02, 2020, 08:23:11 AM

All of the hinges are in and holding!
I finished insulating the garage doors. One thing about cutting insulation board is that there was pink residue everywhere. I bet I'll be finding it for years to come.

Here's a link to a video walk through showing where we are now.

Lodge progress. - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjexbJjT0Nw)

I'm hoping we will get the chimneys done so I can put a wood stove in the basement this fall. They are going to be exposed double wall stainless steel pipes. I like the way they look.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: samandothers on September 02, 2020, 08:50:14 AM
Thanks for the tour!  I got a little winded coming out of basement!  Great looking place, y'all have done some great work! 
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: doc henderson on September 02, 2020, 11:58:10 AM
that looks great.  glad you did not poke you feet between the joists.  
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on September 02, 2020, 03:24:34 PM
Awesome spread my friend. :) thumbs-up
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: scsmith42 on September 02, 2020, 05:50:40 PM
Looking great John!  Love the video!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Magicman on September 03, 2020, 08:50:27 AM
That will be an awesome place Jon, thanks for the walk through.  8)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: fishfighter on September 06, 2020, 10:24:59 AM
Thanks for sharing. Some fine work going on. Love the set up. ;D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on October 06, 2020, 12:08:13 PM
Things are slowing down as bow season is in and my contractor and buddy Wayne is an avid hunter. we have been working on small but important details like boxing in around the garage doors and insulating the basement windows. I'm hoping to have the chimneys up in a couple of weeks.

I pulled an old wood stove out of my basement, scratched it down and put a couple of coats of high temp black on it. I'll be taking it up to the lodge this weekend.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: moosehunter on October 06, 2020, 02:28:02 PM
Slo progress is still progress. 
Remember to have a good hot fire in that stove before you put it in the house. I was 15 or 16 when I thought it was a great idea to paint my dad's wood stove one summer. He forgot about the fresh paint come fall. That was a mighty chilly evening with all the windows open and fans blowing @ 40°!!!!
mh
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on October 07, 2020, 12:39:48 PM
 I wasn't going to do a pre-burn in the stove but you are the 2nd person to say that. I'm slow but I ain't that slow. Wilco!

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: doc henderson on October 07, 2020, 04:56:15 PM
Roger!  That!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on February 02, 2021, 01:38:49 PM
 
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20210122_133420.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1612290508)
 

We got the conduits buried. 
I'm going to bury the power and phone from a pole to the south of my lodge to a new pole, not yet installed over by where the backhoe is. you can see the guywire in the middle of the picture, that and the pole right in front of my lodge will go away. Then a spur will come back from the new pole with transformer on it to the lodge.

It was a hard working 3 days.
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on February 02, 2021, 03:23:27 PM
Great progress!
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on February 03, 2021, 10:21:46 AM
Nice, when you haven't got to work against snow drifts and 4 feet of frost. :D ;)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: GRANITEstateMP on April 15, 2021, 06:03:13 PM
any new updates?
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on June 14, 2021, 08:43:08 AM
  The power company ran the underground lines. Now I need to get the phone company to answer the phone and bury the phone lines. 

 My well is in ! 405' at 8 gallons a minute. That'll do. They need to finish up and test the water. 

 I have a local contractor who is going to start installing the septic system in July.

 There's been a lot going on that I can only step back and watch which is ok by me.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: mike_belben on June 15, 2021, 05:16:49 PM
 smiley_thumbsup
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: realzed on December 13, 2021, 11:34:02 PM
Bump..

It's been a while and I would be interested to see how this all has worked out by now - if possible!  
Thanks..
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on December 14, 2021, 07:56:13 AM
Jon's too busy being a retired man o leisure and hanging out with his Lady! :D :D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on December 14, 2021, 03:34:19 PM
He's having the time of his life, you can bet on that. ;D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: samandothers on December 15, 2021, 09:29:27 AM
Now that he is retired, he has no time! :D
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on December 30, 2021, 11:30:39 AM
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Retirement is an incredable thing. My laptop sits here lonely and quite neglected.
Since Im not sitting at a desk nearly as much I don't take the time to get on here like i should.

 The lodge slowly churns on. Well, Septic and Power are in. Indoor plumbing is a wonderful thing. I am working on the basement only. I'll start on upstairs in the spring. I have a contractor putting in my HVAC. He's a well liked local guy and I'm glad to have him working in my house. He also ran all the plumbing downstairs. 

 The downstairs kitchen is in. This makes me really happy.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10233/IMG_20211207_095242.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1640881568)
 

 I'm working on the downstairs bathroom I have decided to use concrete stain on the floor. I'm using valspar and learning as I go. 

When I get the bathroom done and a bunk room studded out I'll be able to stay here. I'm really looking forward to that.

Jon
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: SwampDonkey on December 30, 2021, 11:33:25 AM
Merry Christmas to you to. I'm sure you're counting the days when she's all complete. 8)
Title: Re: Building my Retirement Home or "My First 5 Year Plan"
Post by: Raider Bill on December 30, 2021, 01:13:51 PM
Pitch a tent in the basement, put a cot in it. Lol 
Looking forward to this year's progress!