4 + 1

We have 4 layers plus one log done! It still seems like it is taking us too long, but when you figure we got our first load of logs 5 1/2 weeks ago, it's not too bad! Weather and work are keeping us away from doing anything the next few days. Luckily, it's just rain so far but the snow is supposed to start at the higher elevations this week. I can't say I'm too upset about having a couple days break!








If you see someone up next to the house it helps give you some perspective. After 4 layers, the walls are almost 6 feet tall!





After the first layer, you drive pieces of rebar through the top log into the bottom log. This is me cutting the rebar to length. We have to measure at each location and then I cut them.




Kenyon driving the rebar into the logs.

2nd Course

I've been getting a little behind on my posts. Basically, we are working on the house every spare minute, and we're all exhausted!

We finished the 2nd course (row) last week. We didn't take a ton of pictures, but I'll post some more of the steps it took to get there with future courses.

Whole First Course Done!

We haven't had any precipitation in almost 4 months, so of course this week it has rained every single day. There wasn't much we did this past week when it wasn't raining and windy. But, the second log was especially bad! It was pouring rain, windy, and there was some thunder and lightning. Being up on the edge of a mountain with a huge log with metal rods sticking out of the end didn't seem like the safest place....

So, there aren't any pictures of us actually putting the second log on! But, here it is, complete.

The third log is the downhill side. I was pretty nervous about taking the forklift down there at all, because they had to build up the dirt just to get to the floor level of the basement. So, there's the slope down, but that is all added in dirt and thus somewhat soft. Then, there's a steep dropoff back down to the real hillside. There's just enough room to sort-of maneuver the forklift.

This was the view from my vantage point inside the forklift. Thank goodness for those strong straps because if one of those would have broken not only would the log have fallen on me, I would have also toppled down the side of the mountain!

Three logs on!

And we're done with the first course!

Setting the 1st Log

To set the first log, we needed to pick it up from up at the road, take it down the ramp to the foundation and then "thread" it onto the rebar.








It takes awhile to make sure that the forklift is picking up the log at the right place to keep it level.

Since the holes are predrilled because we're placing the log onto the rebar, you have to make sure that you get it perfectly lined up. Annoying to find that you're 6 inches off, because it's not like you can just slide it. Maneuvering the forklift to your left 6 inches is no easy feat, trust me! We put a rod in the end holes to help us line it up on the ends.

Kenyon helping guide the rebar into the holes.

There's no better sight than watching the rebar poke out the top of the log! It was pretty exciting to see that everything had actually worked!

So, it wasn't quite down after we let it slide down the rebar on its own.

I can fix that.....

And the first log is set!

Log Prep

We have been very fortunate that Kenyon's dad has been able to spend a lot of time helping us. Also, David Willson from LHBA has been up to help for several days. Without their help, we'd be much further behind, and there are some jobs that are just easier with more than 2 people!



In addition to getting the logs ready, we needed to get the foundation ready for the logs. Kenyon and his dad are making the sill plate, which is the pressure-treated wood that the logs have to sit on.

We made the decision to vary from the standard LHBA plans and hang our floor from the top of the foundation rather than from the log. So, prior to placing the logs, we needed to hang the joist hangers from the foundation. You will notice our pretty pink sill seal that will eventually form a barrier for the wooden joists from the concrete. Because our structure will be exposed (or hopefully only semi-exposed) through the winter we aren't actually putting in the floor until next year.

Since we have to place the log down onto the rebar for the first layer of logs, we need to make a template of exactly where the rebar is on the wall to know where to drill our holes into the log. The template was then placed on the log, centered, etc etc.

The first hole being drilled into the log!

As if drilling with that big of a drill wasn't fun enough, check out the 36" drill bit! We had a good 4-man team to make sure the drill was going in straight. Perhaps overkill, but those holes were straight!

Am I Allergic to my House? (aka Cleaning logs)

We received our final load of logs, so barring any problems with any of them we should be all set as far as logs go.

Now that the unexpectedly difficult part of getting the logs is settled, our next difficulty is removing the bark. Luckily, the logs were dead-standing when they were cut down so a lot of the bark has already fallen off. We've taken lots of suggestions from the LHBA forums and have been using a spud (scraper looking thing) and a pressure washer to try to get the bark off.

Although it looks like I'm the only one working, trust me that wasn't the case! In addition to the bark you have to remove a layer underneath the bark to get to the wood. Below you can see the difference between a totally clean log and one with the bark off but the underlayer still on.

Here's what we learned - it takes a really long time to get the log completely clean. So, once again, following advice and others' experiences from the forums, we decided to remove the bark but come back after the walls are up and sand off the cambium layer, the pressure washer can create splinters that would need to be sanded anyway. The main reason for skipping these steps is that we are in a race against the snow due to our log delays.

I am the official expert pressure washer user. Unfortunately, the pressure that you need to get the bark off is strong and bark and water fly everywhere. So, I was constantly covered in dirt, bark, and water. Luckily, we had an unseasonably long summer so I wasn't too cold. (The picture doesn't show how my face and hat were also covered in grime!)

I started noticing that I was getting hives all over during this step. So, after an incredibly uncomfortable 6 days, I finally went to the doctor, who confirmed I was having some type of allergic reaction. The doctor and I had a lengthy discussion, and we just can't come up with many other ideas other than the fact that I am allergic to the bark. So, apparently, I'm allergic to my house. In an effort to think positively, we're going to assume that the reaction is actually to a bee sting I had gotten the week prior, or at the very least, something that was on the bark, not the actual bark. I guess only time will tell!

Once the bark is removed, we had to treat the logs with chemicals to prevent insects and mold.

Getting closer!