You Got The Right String Baby But The Wrong Yo-Yo

June 18, 2010
It's been that kinda week friends!

This week I've been more than a little worried. At the end of the week, looking back at the some of the problems we've had, they seem very small compared to the progress we've made in just a week. There were times I expected the whole project to come to a screeching halt. At the end of the week, the roof trusses on the log house were on, the exterior stud walls are up, ready for the roof trusses for the breezeway. Jason has notched the logs for the electrical and window and door jambs are ready. The big challenge here has been finding the old forged nails in the logs. Doug and I had a long discussion about making nails. Imagine how long it took to make enough nails to build a house in 1820. They had to be forged,,,think about that the next time you're watching a blacksmith work.
Jason uses a chain saw to square up the openings and has had to resharpen his chain saw several times. A metal detector has really helped (Thanks Ricky). The wiring for the light switches will run through a channel down the door jambs and the electrical wiring for receptacles will run down through the logs, some will run through a channel under floor (which is the ceiling downstairs, 2" tounge and groove) There will be a fake beam running between each floor joist to carry wiring. Next time your here, notice the beam in the dining room, where the lights hang from. It's the same concept.

I learned something new this week about floor joists. Doug is a master builder and he knows how these old codgers built stick and log structures. I was worried about the floor trusses that came from the old McConnell house. (The existing 1896 house where the great room is today). All the trusses had a bow in them and I thought they'd bowed due to the being stored for 20+ years in a barn. The bow in the joist is intentional and is critical to the floor joists - the bow is what gives the joist its strength. Doug calls it a camber or an arch. The span of the joists is 18' across the log house. Think about how strong the arch is in building (just look at the Forum in Rome, or the old bridges in Spain). I'm still not convinced the floor will be level, but at least I know, "it ain't goin' nowhere". Doug says the weight of the floor should make the floor mostly level. If its not, it's just another layer of character.

I'm sure you're wondering what goes in between the two log houses, what it will look like, etc. I'm attaching this link of one of my favorite places (I have so many!), in the Florentine Chianti region, in the little town of Greve, Italy http://www.lacantinettadirignana.it/lacantinetta/index.php I plan on using a lot of the same elements such as the heavy beams and textured walls. The exterior will be stone with a similar look. I hedge between composite stone and real stone for several reasons. I'll make that decision when I need to.

Okay, that's all for this week. I promised the guys margaritas for happy hour. See you soon. Have a great weekend

NoraBelle