We have been pretty busy since the sun has finally shown itself, working on the log siding. With the exception of the front porch steps, which are still temporary, the front is done and the left side is nearly done (waiting for an order of chinking) It feels good to get the house sided and we are pretty happy with the look.
We really think that this log siding approach is a win win for us, giving us all of the benefits of a stick-framed home (good insulation, but no bugs or leaks), with the look of a log home. The log slabs are 2" "slices" from the tree, with the natural edges in tact.
After picking out the best log for the specific location I have to clean them up, sand them a bit, apply a water based pre-stain, then two coats of log stain made by Perma-chink. The slabs are 16' long and anywhere from 8" to 15" wide, so it takes both of us to put them up (duh)
The slabs are screwed into the wall's studs every 32" or so.
After the logs are up, we cut and insert a 3/4" thick foam backer strip into the gaps. This is important to allow the chinking to float - attached to the upper and lower log but still able to give and stretch. We then squirt in the chinking - which is like a sandy caulk.We buy the chinking in 5 gal buckets, and suck it up into a large caulking gun, then repeat, repeat, repeat. Deb follows me and smooths it out.
This is our pile of log slabs
Deb hauled boulders and made some flower bed in front of the house.
When it is raining, we are forced to do work inside.This is the finished master bathroom vanity with Debs fancy mirror rockwork.
The master shower is finally done. A composite shower pan, tiled walls and more fancy pebble rock.
The master "powder room". Everybody needs a closet for you golf clothes, right?
I made this nifty industrial grade toilet paper holder.
Next steps: more siding, scratch coat prep for river rock around base of the living room and chimney chase, dig holes for the rear deck and start deck construction
