Five years after I bought my first mill I am finally getting to see the rewards for my endeavers.
This is a picture of my custom designed Log Home under construction. The logs are Western Red Cedar and the framing lumber is Douglas fir. I have cut all but the treated lumber for the decks.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Cedar%20Log%20House%20Oct%203rd.jpg)
Nice digs! ;D
What type of mill did you use? You're lucky to live in Oregon, it's a beautiful state.
It's looking good Loren,and you have a head start on winter.Do you have a move in date,or is this project ongoing as you have spare time?
Good things come to those who wait...and persist !:) Looks great so far, hope you can keep us updated with progress pics.
Mitch
Good for you! 8) You will have a real sense of accomplishment when you move in and tell people that you sawed the wood for your own home. Good luck with the rest of the project.
Looks good! More pixs as it progresses (I hope)! Good luck on the rest of it!
OakMac: I had a WM LT40HDG35. I have upgraded to a LT70.
Paul: We have a 12 month time frame to final inspection. That is in next Aug 1st. We hope it doesn't take that long though.
I started out as the General Contractor but just before we signed Bank papers the Bank decided that I couldn't be the general. The Bank had told me to go ahead even though the final papers weren't done. I already had the basement in and the walls framed up to and including the sub-floor.
The carpenter I was using didn't want to be the General but he ended up doing it. Made the Bank happy, but cost me almost $40,000 more.
Oh well, what can you do? You just have to go on.
I try to keep some updates posted.
Loren
Here are a couple more pictures:
This is the Deck structure with two of my daughters posing with the peeled Cedar posts. My wife has designed over 1000 sq ft of deck for this house on the top floor.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Front%20Deck%20Sept.JPG)
Here is the wood Furnace that will heat both floors with hot water radient heat. My wife says she is willing to feed the wood if I will put up the wood for the year.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Wood%20Furnace.JPG)
Made the Bank happy, but cost me almost $40,000 more.
Oh well, what can you do? You just have to go on.
Why is it that nothing worthwhile is ever easy?
Once you are committed and started It's hard to back up. Right now with it raining I am glad that I am not the one out there trying to get it done.
My wife is really glad I didn't try to build it all myself. The cabin I started for my girls in July of 2001 is still not quite done :)
We have had the "soak you right through" weather here for a couple of days,and now it has turned raw.The snow is sneaking down the mountains at a good clip,too.
I like the high deck you have on the house.Which direction does it face?
Up, maybe? :D :D
I've heard of down South,back East,out West.
So.I'm guessing that up, would be North ;D
On the west side is 70ft of deck and on the north side is 24 ft of deck. This will all be WRC that I have cut. On the east side we will have a concrete porch behind the fireplace. And on the basement level there is a 10 x 20 patio.
For someplace that rains all the time it probably sounds like overkill ;D
I figure the one I will use is the one off the bedroom. I'll be able to go out and set in my underwear. ;) My wife always keeps the house warmer than I like it. I'll have to make sure I have a internet connection out there.
Today the builder told me I need to cut some more logs for the house. That puts me under the gun. We need almost 400 lineal ft more. 8x8 cedar. We decided to go another layer higher. I think I have the logs but it takes quite awhile to get that many cants.
If I remember I will take the camera with me tomorrow.
Hey buddy, When do I get the Fir order. ::) I do not want the boss on my neck for getting the lumber to the job site, late. :'(
Did you tell them I donated the matle log? No1. So I will. Ihave donated a mantle log that is 9' long and 27" across on one end and 14" on the other. The larger end is the crotched portion of a very beautiful Western Big Leaf Maple burled log, that I have donated as a house warning gift.
But, I still need to have the cutting list for the Fir. Loren!
That's one great looking place you have there Loren. May it keep you and the family safe, warm and comfee through rain, snow and dark of night.
What a weekend. On Friday the builder told me his helper was going to be gone for two weeks to Ohio where his son is getting married. As I said in a earlier post, he told me we were going to need more logs. We are about one tier short. He gave me a number that wasn't enough and the ones I had cut had a little more defect than he had allowed for.
Then Sun afternoon Frank Pender called and told me his best friend and neighbor had died. Oh by the way he is my plumber and he is the only one that knew exactly how my radient heat system was going to be put in. He was going to do some special things as he has this system in his house and knew what he would have done different.
So, I am under the gun again :) The rain doesn't help either :P :P
Pray for Frank that makes two dear friends and his mother-in-law all in less than two weeks.
Thanks shopteacher!
Updated pictures. Taken Oct 17, 2003. Today the weather was wonderful after a week of wind and rain it is 70 degrees and dry.
The first one is my builder Wayne Deaton doing some hand saw work.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Wayne%20doing%20some%20handwork%20Oct17.JPG)
Number two is Cliff and his son using a LARGE SKILLSAW.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Cliff%20and%20Son%20with%20LARGE%20Skillsaw%20Oct%2017.JPG)
This is a closeup of the corner detail.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Close%20up%20of%20corner%20detail%20Oct%2017.JPG)
This is a photo taken from where the kitchen will be thru the Great Room into the Master Bedroom and Bath. For a size comparison Wayne is about 6ft 4in tall.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Main%20floor%20from%20the%20kitchen%20to%20bedroom%20Oct%2017.JPG)
The last for this week. On top of the wall installing a window header. No that is not me.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Working%20on%20top%20of%20the%20wall.JPG)
I too enjoyed the sun, spent the day up an 80 year old Holly and 30 year old Magnolia.
Your home is looking good.
When I took the tour at Frank's ......saw the mantle (beautiful piece of wood) are you going to have a 'rock' face ?
Would like to see your place sometime.......do I need to bring a chainsaw(s) ? or carpentry tools ?
Stephen:
Just bring your gloves. There always seems to be lumber to move.
As for the mantle we will have to trim it down some. But we won't do that until the fireplace is done. The fireplace is going to stone. It's a quarry stone called Camas.
Do not let him kid you. If you arrive at the right time all the work willhave been done by his two younger girls. That is what I did on Saturday. the girls were just unloading the last of some additional 8 x 8's and the heavy stuff was complete. We all had a great visit for about an hour, after that. Then Loren and I went to see the new site he is going to use for his mill set up, in the nearby town of Sheridan. I then took him to the gaming house to have lunch with his family and mother. I went home munching on store bought chocolate chip cookies. :'(
Frank: You visit ended up being the highlight of the day as in went downhill fast after you left me at the casino.
Julia said to think you for the nice comments and story. She says your story makes her out to be more of a hero than she remembers. She thinks your mind is going in your old age ;D :D
You made a hit with my Mom she said we need you around to settle her estate when she dies. Maybe this is you new
purpose in life. ;)
When we tried to leave the casino the valet could not start the car. I went out and ended up in a arguement with a security guard. He wanted to haul me in. The supervisors intervined as they knew us. They ended up taking us back to the ranch with the valet van. It usually is never taken off site. It was really a kick as it turned out.
The tire men ended up being out there from 2:00 till 7:00 only to find out there was no hole in the skidder tube.
Needless to say we didn't get much cutting done.
Well Loren I will bring gloves just in case.
Frank thought of calling you to see if you wanted to go out to Loren's and lend a hand on Saturday, but Friday's work load bled over to Saturday.
Had the unfortunate task of watching a friends inexpeirenced work crew that he left at the worksite on Saturday.
My observation of their handling of the saw equipment told me that someone would be hurt before day's end. I was right. One fellow laid the saw into his leg above the knee ridding himself of several layers of skin, muscle and blood.
Was not my place to give advance warning..........but sure is sickening knowing it was coming.
On a lighter note passed what appears to be a mobile dimension mill sitting idle, powerhead is covered with plastic but it did not appear to have been used in a number of years. Will check back on Monday to see what the status of this mill is.
BTW, Loren sorry to hear that the rest of your day was downhill.....the natives must have been restless. Ha, Ha,.......
I reckon I tought those two fellas well, as they sure must have needed some overtime. 8) 8) 8) I hope it was not at your expense, Loren. :-/ Let me know of the mill Stephen, as I am looking for a mill for my son who is a missionary in Haiti and could use a good mill.
Loren, thankyour mother mor me about the comment.
As to your wife, she made the statement in that classrom but I recieved the message and hold it very dear to my heart, to this day. :)
Frank,
Went by the mill in question today. Talked with the wife of the owner said he is not interested in selling. That he intends to use it - although he has not had any logs to cut in couple of years.
Will keep my eyes and ears open for others. :)
Here is a weekly update on my house. The picture tells it all.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Oct30%20Log%20House.JPG)
I finally got all of the cants cut so we can finish the house.
The first logs I cut were milled the last week of June in Sisters Oregon by Wood Dynamics. The temperture was near 100. Here is a picture of the last load going to Wood Dynamics the first week of Nov.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Nov04Last%20logs%20in%20snow.JPG)
It took three hours to haul them there. Got there at 10:30, at 10:45 first log went into the molder, at 11:45 we were done. Loaded them, showed Bob the owner of Wood Dynamics this web site (had to show him how to turn on his computer :o), ate lunch and 3 hours later we were home. My contractor used the first one this morning before noon.
I have used all of the logs now. I had enough this time 8) 8) 8) The builder used a few more than he was going to just because I had them.
I don't have a good picture of the logs up as he has to cover them with wrap to try to keep the rain off since we didn't get the house closed in soon enough.
This week the post and beam truss's were cut and assembled. Here is a picture of them. The builder already had some wrap on them before we got the pictures.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Nov%2016%20Truss%201.JPG)
These go in the great room and are made of Douglas Fir. The great room is going to be 22 ft high.
Loren
The saga continue's: ;D
On Friday morning we are scheduled to put up the trusses and purlins. These were cut out of Douglas Fir in July. I bought some logs from a local friend. High quality trees. These were less than 24" DBH and 60 to 80 years old.
They only tapered 1 inch in 20 ft with 4 and 5 logs per tree. I cut them oversize in June and let them air dry outside for a month and then moved them inside until last week. Then we resawed them to size.
Here is what we found Fri morning:
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Nov21%20Snow%20on%20House.JPG)
There was about 2 inches of snow and the Boom truck was supposed to show up at 12:00. We left and wrapped, loaded and hauled the perlins to the job. We got there at 11:00. The builder was in a panick and the boom truck had been there for an hour. He did not know there was snow and would have cancelled if he did.
The next pictures are just different shots that day and the next.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Nov%2021%20Trusses.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Nov21%20Slinging%20Perlins.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Nov21%20Truss%20and%20Perlins.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Nov22%20Front%20of%20House%20with%20Perlins.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Nov22%20Truss%20and%20 Perlins.JPG)
Loren
Looks great, Loren. I was going to come out tody, but ZI had the inside mill ready to remove and got it done. It is now ready for Paul to send a lowboy down from Pemberton and pick it up. All the driver had to do is make the big loop, back up about 80 feet and I will set the mill on and away they go, trailer and all. 8)
i like them truses 8) 8) the whole house to 8) 8)
Nice work!
Looking good, Loren
Impressive! I sold my sawmill a few weeks ago to a fella that planned to use it in constructing a log home. I referred him to this site and specifically to this thread. Keep the photos coming.
Keep the pics coming Loren. This thread is really enjoyable 8) 8) 8) Those are great looking trusses
Did you have to get an engineer involved with the use of the steel plates and bolts on the trusses? Or, are you lucky enough to be in a code free zone?
I like timberframing but I also like the speed and flexibility of using other connectors.
Thanks and I hope everything continues to go well.
Jim
Jim:
Code free zone? You got to be kidding. Oregon is one of the most restricted states to build in.
The house had to be engineered because it is 1. a daylight basement. 2. its a log home.
Those two trusses required 6 pages of documentation in the engineering papers. (15 pages) The bolt pattern, size of holes, steel size were all specified.
When we were first checking into building a log home we found that most log home packages would not even meet code in Oregon. Each county can have their own rules and some are worse than where I am building.
The inspectors have been great and we have not had any problems with them.
Loren
Overdue for new pictures:
So much goes so slow that there is not much to show. But now there is some change. These are from Dec.
This VG fir, random width, in the ceiling of the Great Room. This lumber came from logs that were shown earlier as quartered by "Rosie"(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Dec%2024%20Ceiling%20in%20Great%20Room.JPG)
This is me supervising the electrician hiding some junction boxes.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Dec%2024%20Wiring%20Great%20Room.JPG)
Detail of covered porch above entry doors. (https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Dec24%20Detail%20on%20porch%20over%20front%20door.JPG)
Loren
January Pictures
The Kitchen Gable End. Log Siding to match the logs.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Jan%2015%20Log%20Siding%20in%20Gable%20above%20Kitchen.JPG)
Typical weather for Oregon in Jan. Roofing in the Rain(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Jan%2015%20Roofing%20in%20the%20rain.JPG)
We got some more snow. Front view with Jet the dog.(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Jan%2015%20Snow,%20Dog%20,%20house.JPG)
Great room has a Prow with a special roof line (that doesn't show in the picture)(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Jan15%20Prow%20of%20Great%20Room.JPG)
Window installed Monday, Power to house on Tuesday, Garage Doors on Wednesday, Plumbing on Thursday. Outside trim tomorrow.
NOT MUCH TIME FOR SAWMILLING :'( :'(
Loren
Very nice Loren. 8)
Thanks for the update.
A beautiful job on a beautiful site !
Loren, how long do ou figure before moving in? Beautiful work, beautiful home.
Loren,
Sometimes the small very important work is harder to show.
Don't forget to include the 360 deg. gun turret.........got to protect your family from those wild elk and deer roaming about ! :D
Loren,
Maybe we should combine a "Pacific division of Forestry Forum" members get together, along with a house warming this Spring at your place ??? ;D
Loren,
Did you put a metal roof on I hope?
WOW! Looking GOOD!
That is becoming one beautiful house. Nice job. 8)
I think you right on Stephen with the idea of a gathering there this summer of forum members from the West Coast Pacific Division. I am very sure Julia would love to have a herd of Forum member drop in on her and her new house. She just love having strangers drop in through her locked, gated road. :D
I am very sure ZLoren would become very poplular in a home dominated by 4 women and two men.
Frank, I kinda of figured I would get that for a response......I was waiting to see if Loren would give directions to "Camp 18" for everyone to meet at! :D :D
Thanks every one for the complements. This is a dream come true. Just today I stepped back and looked at the house and find it hard to believe that it is going to be my home. I will continue to update you as it goes along.
Shopteacher: We have to have a final on the house by August. I hope it doesn't take that long although the payment is going to be scary.
Don: We built a shop first that has siding that matches the house. We put a green metal roof on it. After looking at it for several years Julia decided we would put 30yr architectural composition roof on.
Stephen & Frank: I would be happy to have a get together at my place. ( You have to get it by my wife though) Just remember Julia packs a 45 in here car. 8) 8) Stephen, Are you going to bring the pig. I am sure that Frank will dig the pit. ;D
Loren
Loren, that's the exact same roof I put on my house. What brand of shingles did you use. I used Certainteed. I also have a shop with a green metal top. A lots of people have no problems and like painted metal. I've been roofing for awhile now, and it's far from my first choice on residential. I just can't believe it'll last as long as the old standing seams metal roofs that were heavy galvanized. That old hot dip galavinize had a LOT of lead and zinc in it I have worked on some of the older ones that were appx. 60 or 70 years old, and in good shape. I have replaced exposed screws on commercial buildings that were less than 20 years old. Many, many times.
Loran,
What are you going to do about fire protection, you have a lot of fir close to the house. After seeing all those homes burn-up this past summer, I would be scared of composition shingles, they catch fire easily.
Loran,
Here's a link to some fireproofing products you might be interested in. I plan to get more info on the firewater product. My barn is all wood and if this stuff is any good for 8 cent a foot I plan on spraying the whole inside.
http://www.fireproof-coatings.com/
beautiful house! very inpsirational.
i must say that is a beautiful home you have there, always wanted a log home theres just something about the rustic nature that is so appealing