14x36 in Northwest Arkansas

[jdhen]

Thanks Jdhen. 

A few more questions, did you leave the t&g exposed in the bathroom, or did you box it in? If exposed is there any "special" varnish required for a high moisture area? How long is the first section of your stair case before it starts winding?

Shawn

Shawn- I closed in one bay in the bathroom because I ran the plumbing vent between the two beams. It's not easy to photograph but from these two pics you should get the idea.  I still need to trim out the transition between the drywall and the beams.






I'm not big on varnish (mostly for the chemical off-gassing) so I've just left the underside of the T&G natural.  So far, so good.  I'm told the wood will darken somewhat over time.  I'm not too worried about the moisture.  The wood will take it up and give it off.  We keep our windows open most of the year and in the winter the wood stove will do a good job of keeping the humidity low.  We've also have the interior windows that vent out to the living space so I think the moisture won't build up too badly.

The first set of stairs extend 61 inches from where the winders begin.  They are close to a standard length with 10 inch treads and 7 5/8 risers.  Very comfortable.  I do look forward to finishing the oak treads one of these days, though!

When do you plan to start your project?

[jdhen]

We're back at it again.  My wife and I are near completion on the siding for the west side of the house.  The gabled ends will be filled in with cedar shakes.
We are very pleased with the pre-painted hardie siding.  It's gone up much easier than I thought it would.







We finished the deck off the north side but have yet to add the railings.  Great place to watch sunsets, though!

[Proud_Poppa]

The house is looking awesome!! And so do the sunsets!

[Shawn B]

Jdhen,  Thanks for posting the pics! That shows me exactly what I wanted to know. I plan to box in above the tub/shower and leave the rest of the beams and t&g exposed. I'm trying to cut out as many of the V.O.C. producing elements as well. Not always sure on how to do that though  You used turpentine and mineral oil on your floors right? 61" for the first flight of stairs sounds good to me. I'm trying to squeeze in a code compliant stairway in my 14 x 28 plans. The hardie plank siding looks good too. I'm considering that or T1-11 non groove w/ battens.

I plan to start my cabin either this fall, September/October or next spring. Right now I'm planning a 14 x 28 with a 7' x 28' lean too style addition. Also a porch on the 14' end wall.

I'm curious if you have installed or are planning a secondary heat source, such as MTdon used. (direct vent gas heater).

on a side note carpeting is one of the single biggest V.O.C. producers in a home. I'm not using any in my cabin SYP and tile only 

Thanks Shawn.

[astidham]

jdhen, what are the wood slates running vertical under your siding for?
it looks like it would hold the house wrap down good.

[jdhen]

The house is looking awesome!! And so do the sunsets!

Thank you, Proud Poppa!

Jdhen,  Thanks for posting the pics! That shows me exactly what I wanted to know. I plan to box in above the tub/shower and leave the rest of the beams and t&g exposed. I'm trying to cut out as many of the V.O.C. producing elements as well. Not always sure on how to do that though  You used turpentine and mineral oil on your floors right? 61" for the first flight of stairs sounds good to me. I'm trying to squeeze in a code compliant stairway in my 14 x 28 plans. The hardie plank siding looks good too. I'm considering that or T1-11 non groove w/ battens.

I plan to start my cabin either this fall, September/October or next spring. Right now I'm planning a 14 x 28 with a 7' x 28' lean too style addition. Also a porch on the 14' end wall.

I'm curious if you have installed or are planning a secondary heat source, such as MTdon used. (direct vent gas heater).

on a side note carpeting is one of the single biggest V.O.C. producers in a home. I'm not using any in my cabin SYP and tile only 

Thanks Shawn.

Shawn- We used truly boiled linseed oil (organic even!) mixed with turpentine on the pine floors upstairs.  The hardwoods downstairs were treated with the Rubio monocoat, a mix of natural oils and waxes.  We're pleased with the results on both of these.  The linseed oil was more difficult because of the necessary 7 applications!

I totally agree with you on carpet. That's why all of our rugs are made with natural fiber/wool.

As far as the heating source, my wife and I have lived in Arkansas for 3 years now and have only heated with wood.  Our previous home was for us, a sprawling, 3000 sq ft monster and we still only needed the one inefficient woodstove.  Sure, if we're gone for the day, when we get back it can be quite cool in the house but we really don't mind dressing warmly for a while until the fire gets the house back up to temp.  We figure that with our new, well insulated, small (800 sq ft not including the upstairs) house, it won't take as long to warm up.
I look forward to watching your build progress!

jdhen, what are the wood slates running vertical under your siding for?
it looks like it would hold the house wrap down good.

astidham- the wood furring strips are part of the rainscreen.  It creates a 3/8 in drainage plane between the house and the siding so that any moisture that will inevitably migrate into the space, will be easily removed as water vapor.  The technology got it's start in Norway when builders realized that you could prolong the life of the siding and the building itself by preventing the trapping of moisture.  I understand that it also equalizes the pressure between the outside and inside thus limiting the capillary action of a raindrop.
I first read about it in a Fine Homebuilding magazine and it just made sense to me.  It really didn't add much to the cost.  I had a local mill cut and plane some local cedar furring strips and nailed them up over the studs.  And you're right- the other benefit is that they held the builders felt in place quite well!

[astidham]

Thank you jdhen

[Redoverfarm]

Shawn  you could also create a dropped T&G ceiling to match the rest of the ceiling.  I had to do this in mine.  I had a 30" spacing which I utilized for the plumbing of the loft area and vent line for the exhaust fan.  By just adding a nailer up the inside face of the beams the thickness of your T&G you can make it appear (or should I say disappear) to blend with the remaining ceiling.  I hid the fastners for this area under the light trim.  This would enable me to get to that area if any problems arose without a complete demolition of the ceiling.

[Shawn B]

John,   Somehow I missed your reply  The lowered T&G looks good too. I can foresee doing that for the range hood exhaust. Since I haven't moved the first shovel of dirt yet there is still plenty of time for all the considerations!

I have started pricing lumber, and roofing metal. For my 4" x 8" x 14' #1 Doug Fir beams was quoted $35.56 with a 35 day lead time. I want to get all the sonotubes in this fall, and the sewer and water pipe (town service) run too.

[jdhen]

First, the good news....
 


We're making slow but steady progress on the siding.








The bad news is that I almost cut my finger off yesterday!  ( I suppose it's good news that I didn't)
After more than a year of building, I finally lost a battle to the worm-drive saw.  It was just a routine siding cut......that went terribly wrong!  The siding began to fall off of the horse after the cut and I tried to grab it but found the saw blade instead. Doh! 
  The fiber cement blade mangled the cut pretty bad.  A few hours later the ER doc apologized that he couldn't make it prettier but he didn't have a clean cut to work with.  His main goal was to keep the finger pad sitting flat.





Now, all of a sudden, I can't meet anyone that doesn't have a finger story!   The mailman showed me his half a ring finger.  A guy in Lowes offered to help me load some lumber when he saw me struggling- then showed his battle scars and told me that both of his brother's are missing digits after similar accidents.  I don't feel so stupid anymore!

I was going to take some time off from building but the insurance company has recently informed me that I better get a railing in the deck....or else!  Must press on!

[MountainDon]

I did similar damage to the same finger, same hand years ago. Instead of a saw it was a glass fiber reinforced hi performance polymer model airplane propeller that nearly sliced the pad off. Good thing it was idling.

[Redoverfarm]

Jdhen sorry for the finger.  But an old woodworker once told me that there are two kinds of woodworkers.  Those who have and those who will.  Hope you have a speedy recovery but from past experience I would say it will be a while.  Really awkward trying to work with a hurt finger.

As for the railings I am sure that you can whip up something with one hand. Hey make it temporary with scrap 2X4's for now and plan on doing the finished one later.  It shouldn't fail because of asthetics from his standpoint.

[SkagitDrifter]

I have been looking forward to your posts enjoying your thread- until now.  That is quite a battle scar, it sort of makes my own finger hurt to look at it.  Sorry that happend to you and I wish you a really speedy recovery.

Your place looks great- get back on that horse and continue the good work (when you feel up to it).
All the best-   

[bayview]

   OUCH!!!   Sorry about your accident.

  Me - Table saw - other hand - same finger - lost 1/4" off the tip. . .   The tip and the nail did gradually grow back, but have some nerve damage.  

  Keep your finger well wrapped with plenty of antibiotic cream.   It will take a good month to heal. . .  

  I've learned to take a little extra time when working with power tools.   And to make sure my work is well supported.

  A friend of my dads years ago lost 4 fingers on the left hand with a radial arm saw.  My dad mangled his 4 left fingers in a combine accident about 40 years.   UofMinn sewed them back together.   Was really hi-tech for its time.

  Hope the rest of the build is a little more uneventfull for you . . .

/.

   

[Alasdair]

House is looking good  
Commiserations on the finger - and welcome to the club.
- Left index and middle crushed by anchor chain in 2006 - nerve damage, left index tip 3/4 cut off by rock(!) whilst filling gabions shortly afterward. Last year 11 stitches in palm of right hand from metal roofing ... currently have herniated disc, sciatica from years of misuse...
Perhaps there should be a thread for work related injuries as a warning to others...

P.S. just found many a cautionary tale in this thread ...

http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=4268.0

[jdhen]

Thanks, all, for the supportive words and suggestions.  The pain is easing so I'm hopeful that I'll be able to get done what the insurance company wants.  I'm a little scared of the circular saw now but I suppose a little fear isn't bad when dealing with a power tool.  I might have gotten a too comfortable with it after so many cuts without any problems.

[considerations]

Oh - Ow!....Sharing your "lesson" is good for all of us!   

[Tom]

A little fear is a good thing. Since shaving my leg with my chainsaw several years ago, I've found a healthy respect for it  .
That looks like a sore finger. The joke around here is that if you hurt that particular finger, you're unable to drive  .
Hope you feel better soon

[jdhen]

Actually, Tom, when I put the large white dressing on it makes for an even bolder statement     In fact, when I'm at work I tend to keep it extended so it's out of my way and it's the first thing everyone notices!
Thanks for the well wishes.

[bigcozy]

That picture made me think about this table saw that will not cut you.  Bet I could find a way to hurt myself even with this.  Very interesting, I invite everyone to watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbndZtkfcqs

[Bobmarlon]

Lucky the saw didn't catch your ring! 

[IronPatriotTN]

Any updates?? 

[jdhen]

I've gotten a little further than my last post but the main thing is trying to build up the savings  Sure wish that government money would come in!  The IRS sure is dragging their feet on that one

There's more siding on than in the last pics, a storm door was added to the north entryway, and we insulated the interior walls of the crawlspace and added a heavy duty vapor barrier.  The deck railing is finished and we just insulated the north porch floor.
I'd post some pics but the digital camera conked out and considering the budget, it may be a while before we can replace it.

My finger finally healed, but the nerve damage makes it tough to grab nails from my tool pouch because I can't feel them properly.  That's been a bit of a disappointment.  At least I have a fingertip 
Thanks for the interest!

[speedfunk]

best wishes on the money and the finger.  Sounds like your going at the best ya can.

[cordwood]

 The ring in your finger picture looks a lot like my wedding band did before I was playfully pushed off of a party barge on Greers Ferry Lake many years ago! The ring fit nicely between the railings at the gate opening (picture square tubing bent creating a dished area! ) and my 200 pounds pulled the ring under the skin and over the knuckle. Many beers later and a pair of side cutters removed the only peice of jewelry I have ever worn,.... Before or since!

I haven't been on the board in a while but your home seems to coming along very well. It looks great. I hope the weather tonight misses you.