Been poking around here for a few weeks checking out everyone's projects... very informative as well as inspiring. My daughter recently purchased 20ac. up in the hills above Tonasket and we're getting geared up to start an off-grid cabin.
Initially we were thinking 12'x20' would be adequate (I have a shed/shop now that's about that size) but after some space planning and the fact that it'll never be easier or cheaper to add the sq. footage than it will be from the start, we'll likely bump it out a few more feet ea. way, i'm thinking 14'x24' will be a little more comfortable. We also gave thought to doing an unpermitted but to code structure... jury is still out on that one, wanted to get better aquainted with the neighbors first before I bring county officials around. I am a Journeyman Carpenter so I know exactly what they want to see... just not sure how the county will take it if I go that route.
I'm planning a CMU foundation/basement with about 6'+/- headroom for the systems and secure storage. I have two 250 gal. water tanks that'll go down there as well as a composting toilet tank and some sort of greywater holding tank... probably another 250gal. tank plumbed to a pit drain. Everything will be plumbed in pex and run off of a 12v RV pump or a 110v pump depending on the power source in use at the time, propane will be run throughout the cabin for the cooktop/on demand water heater/reefer/wall heater/future needs/etc., electric will be standard romex and run off a genny until a solar setup can be installed.
Framing will be as follows... 2x8 floor joists @ 16" o.c. with 3/4" subfloor for the main and loft floors, 10' 2x6 walls @ 24" o.c., 2x12 rafters @ 24" o.c. and a 12/12 pitch. Probably go w T1-11 siding and a comp roof to start with and plans for board n batt trim and a metal roof in a year or two.
Here's a quick sketch of the 12x20...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20141220_090354_zps501cc7bb.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20141220_090354_zps501cc7bb.jpg.html)
Going to be a long process but I have all the tools and skills to bring it together in a reasonable amount of time... as long as the cashflow keeps coming in. I have enough cement block lying around to do about 1/3 of the foundation walls, a cement mixer, a few boxes of gun nails and simpson hardware leftover from past jobs, dozens of leftover misc. ABS fittings, electrical boxes/switches/outlets/ wirenuts/ etc. and who knows what else.
I feel like we've got a jump on the materials... now I need the one thing I can't buy... time. I thought about looking for work in the area so I don't have to drive 5hrs. ea. way from the west side of the mountains and actually found local full time year round work If I want it and they're asking for a commitment ASAP. The problem is I have no place to stay while there until I get something built. I don't mind roughing it but I want coffee, a toilet and a hot shower in the morning and camping out of my truck isn't my idea of fun unless i'm working on the cabin.
Nice plan :). I don't see a way up? Can you set up a camper on the property while you work/build?
Thanks... Likely to be a ships ladder to the loft in the top left corner. I have it drawn in on the loft floor plan. If I build the 14'x24' i'll probably try for a set of stairs but they can take up a lot of real estate.
I have a friend with a camp trailer that wants to lend it to me indefinitely but unfortunately it's in Las Vegas. She has no way to get it here and niether do I without going and getting it. My dad has a nice fifth wheel but he's in Texas for a few more weeks or longer and uses it a lot in the summer... it'll probably wind up at the property but with no way to haul it out to dump, i'll likely have to pack out a tank once a week or so. Also, there's no water there so that presents another challenge... 30 miles to town and I have an SUV. Things just sort of started moving faster than we're able to keep up with at the moment... we'll figure it out.
If things work out with this job over there i'll probably have him haul the 5th wheel over since he's going to be camping for a month at Concunully in April and i'll just have to tough it out with the water and sewer situation.
Well, we've been busting our butts for the last 2 weeks at work and have a few days off so we're going to head up to the property for a couple of days and poke around. We rented a cabin at Spectacle Lake for the weekend... a little expensive for the off season but there are 5 of us going... it's close, even though we won't be spending much time there.
We're really excited to get out and see more of the "Ranch"... the last time we were there we only had about 45 minutes to look around... it was the last place we looked at and had the most going for it... lots of trees, 2 "seasonal" creeks, an 80 yr. old apple orchard, and we'll find out what else tomorrow.
I want to hand dig a few holes to see what the ground is like and if we're going to need dynamite or an just an excavator to dig the hole and to also stake out a location for the cabin. We're bringing the quad, chainsaw, shovels, axes, firewood, popup canopy, camera, lunch, beer, weber grill, etc. and have a little fun while we're there too. Hoping to meet up with the neighbor to say hello and chew his ear for a minute.
We came... we saw... we got our butts kicked ;). Actually it just feels like we got our butts kicked.
Initially we were going to take 1 truck and it quickly turned into 2 and then we were going to caravan... until my dad and brother got the itch to go and left at 830am... we had to wait til 430pm to leave. We rented a nice cabin at Spectacle... got a 2bd rate for the 3bd "suite" and we were the only ones there... priceless. We got into town about 1130pm, my dad already had the lights on and a fire going, and of course my brother had food on the grill and beer on ice so we settled in and enjoyed the rest of the evening.
We got up at the crack of dawn and had coffee, made breakfast, then headed out to "The Ranch"...
First sign things were going to be a challenge... a 350' mudbog at the first turn and my dad only has 2wd... he made it. Second challenge... solid ice on the road for the last 3/4 mile in. We pulled off and unloaded the quad and "Gramps" and my daughter made thier way up there with us following in the 4x4.
It had been a while since we had been there and things looked a lot different under 6"-8" of snow. We thought we'd taken a wrong turn when we broke out into the small valley that surrounds the place... we knew we were there. Didn't expect to see that much snow on the ground but the valley is shaded this time of year and slow to melt. We weren't able to get in very far with the quad so "Gramps wasn't able to see as much as we were... he's got the COPD, and 100yds. is a hell of a hike for him. We forgot the map w/the property lines but were able to find 5 of 6 corners.
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20150207_095852_zpsc16eaf7f.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20150207_095852_zpsc16eaf7f.jpg.html)
It was socked in w/HEAVY cloud cover and vis. was 1/4mi. or less... mostly less. I felt like we had eyes on us out there in the fog... we found numerous large cougar tracks... some fresher than others, hundreds of deer tracks and dozens of trails. We counted 25 apple trees on the property and it's very apperent the local wildlife enjoys them very much. We ran into a good looking and BIG tom turkey... we're used to seeing turkey in Southern Oregon but they're not usually as big.
We found the perfect location for the cabin... road access is basically in, we just need to rock the last 200' to the site... not much clearing to do, mostly sagebrush and a few small bushes... it's on a knob so it's got an excellent view of most of the property... perfect sloping terrain w/a nice southern exposure for a terraced garden on the hillside... it couldn't be better. We dug a couple of test holes w/the deepest one being 4' +/- and the ground is nice... the first 2' was really nice dark topsoil w/not too many rocks and then a nice firm layer below that so digging for a foundation shouldn't be too bad, we're only going down about 48"-54" or so.
My dad had enough by 1pm and decided to head back to the cabin... we hung out for another hour or so and one of the neighbors came by... we chatted for about an hour... friendly guy. I asked how they feel about the county and permitted buildings and in a round about way he mildly suggested that we just do as we please and the road is horrible for a reason... I like it even more now.
We went into town Sat. night and checked out the local watering hole and met a few locals, had some good food, hung out for a while and checked out DJKarl and the Tonasket club scene... good times 8)
We weren't able to take a lot of pics but managed to get a few... on the DSLR... stupid antiquated technology... pics to come.
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20150208_073702_zpsb38f2380.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20150208_073702_zpsb38f2380.jpg.html)
Of course it was beautiful on sunday morning when we had to leave... notice the giant rock on top of the hill... it's got to be 1/4mi. long 100ft. tall and 2-300ft. wide.
Nice. Welcome to the neighborhood.
I'm sure we'll be seeing you around.
Spring comes on fast in that neck of the woods-
You'll be digging the hole before you know it.
Keep us posted.
SD
I know you didn't ask for any input on your plan so feel free to completely disregard...I think there should be a second entry/exit on the ground floor. I also think way too much space is wasted on the entry that could double as kitchen or living space. Also if the fireplace was more towards the center it would draft better and heat the loft better---it's awfully far from the bathroom, too
Quote from: flyingvan on February 10, 2015, 10:14:29 PM
I know you didn't ask for any input on your plan so feel free to completely disregard...I think there should be a second entry/exit on the ground floor. I also think way too much space is wasted on the entry that could double as kitchen or living space. Also if the fireplace was more towards the center it would draft better and heat the loft better---it's awfully far from the bathroom, too
Thanks flyingvan... i'm always up for critique'. I agree with most of the suggestions you made... all legit... if the place was bigger, lol.
1. A second door is an excellent idea... considering size it's just too small for a second door... window size will probably be increased for egress but now you've got me thinking and i'll probably frame one hole for a door in case I want to add a second door later and stick a window in it for now.
2. Entry... just a word on a piece of paper. Just a habit... more to define an area than it's actual usage. It'll actually be a combo entry/dining/extra couch space.
3. Fireplace... my airtight gets so stinking hot that most times you can't be within 5' of it and we usually run around the house in T-shirts and shorts. Again, considering size I don't think it'll be an issue and take the "hot zone" around the stove into consideration and i've lost a lot of floor space by moving it to the middle.
4. Bathroom... the cabin is only 24'-0" long... too far to the bathroom? I want to be able to keep the plumbing tucked out of the way and against the wall in the basement and take advantage of the headroom down there. :EDIT: Duh... I understand what you're saying... I think... the fireplace is too far from the bathroom... I should probably put in some sort of heat source or fan for back there
Quote from: SkagitDrifter on February 10, 2015, 03:48:50 PM
Nice. Welcome to the neighborhood.
I'm sure we'll be seeing you around.
Spring comes on fast in that neck of the woods-
You'll be digging the hole before you know it.
Keep us posted.
SD
Hey SD... Thanks for the welcome. I was checking out your build and absolutely love it... nice cabin, nice workmanship, nice view, etc.
I have to say I was surprised to see that much snow still at my place considering the weather lately... it wasn't too bad until we made the final climb to 2500'. Looks like spring is making a stand though and in 4-6 weeks we should be able to get back with a machine and start digging. I'll probably have to walk it in 1.5 mi. if the road is still as bad as it is now.
I can't wait to get back up there... about an hour after we left we were already making plans to return... this is quickly becoming an addiction. The best part is now I have an excuse to buy more guns, another bow, a quad, more tools, and maybe a newer truck ;).
As promised...
Here's the initial push up the hill just after the mudbog... my dad was most likely saying WTF after the mudbog, apparently he thought we were going to a resort.
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/IMG_1688_zps803b9b1a.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/IMG_1688_zps803b9b1a.jpg.html)
About as far as my dad could go. Here we are unloading the quad for the last 3/4 mi. ride in... we like our hi-vis shirts don't we
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/IMG_1691_zpsaa4a8906.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/IMG_1691_zpsaa4a8906.jpg.html)
Built a fire and pitched a canopy tent.
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/IMG_1703_zpsf1cfb2e7.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/IMG_1703_zpsf1cfb2e7.jpg.html)
Here kitty kitty.
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/IMG_1706_zpsa57f44d1.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/IMG_1706_zpsa57f44d1.jpg.html)
Digging our test hole at the site.
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/IMG_1710_zps8ebfa601.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/IMG_1710_zps8ebfa601.jpg.html)
The "valley" with a few of the apple trees.
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/IMG_1705_zps3e7b35a0.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/IMG_1705_zps3e7b35a0.jpg.html)
Panoramic of the entrance and valley.
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/IMG_1695_zps951cc7e8.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/IMG_1695_zps951cc7e8.jpg.html)
BTW... that is a truck tire track next to the cougar track... that's a big paw
Quote from: Don_P on January 25, 2015, 01:56:37 PM
Nice plan :). I don't see a way up? Can you set up a camper on the property while you work/build?
Don... after last weekends trip up there I honestly don't think i'll be getting a trailer up there until late spring or until the road improves/dries out. I can't pull a fifth wheel w my truck and my dad has a 2wd. He did buy an enduro motorcycle yesterday so he can ride to the property on Forest Service roads while he's at Concunully and after this last trip up he may never drive up there again...lol.
Well, we're heading back up to "The Ranch" next weekend... not sure how much will be able get done this time up but we're going to try and get something done. I ran across a guy with a cabin for rent east of town and made plans to check out his place and get familiar with everything so there's a loss of at least a half day... we'll probably try and make it a 3 day weekend.
We're going to try and get a machine up there to start digging the hole for the basement and getting the site ready. There's about 180-200 yards (total) of dirt to move and stockpile and trying to get that done and pour footings might be a real stretch. I want to at least get the hole dug (80-90 yards) and be ready to pour footers the next trip up. Really hoping there's been some significant snow melt there... I have enough things to contend with and don't need another one with the snow.
After snow season comes....the yearly favorite ...MUd season !
I'm not sure which I enjoy more :D. We're usually between the two all winter, a week ago I was dragging the belly of the bobcat through the mud in and out of the basement hole, we're in the single digits nightly now so its hard as rock and too slick to crawl out.
I'm sure you know, if your going on radar they will want to see the footings formed and steel set, ready to pour.
Ahh Yes Mud season..... One of the reason I moved off up here after I retired so I could crawl around in three and four inches of mud one frozen ground and roads chaining up. It don't go in two wheel it don't go in four wheel. Sometimes it don't go with chains on all four corners...... Love it.... BTW this road was great until a couple years ago they sprayed it with a mystery dust abatement liquid. It rises to the top. They scrape and put down more decomposed granite and mystery mud ever since.
(https://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt15/rick91351/DSC_0259_zpsf6c50ae1.jpg)
Quote from: rick91351 on February 18, 2015, 11:57:48 AM
BTW this road was great until a couple years ago they sprayed it with a mystery dust abatement liquid. It rises to the top. They scrape and put down more decomposed granite and mystery mud ever since.
(https://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt15/rick91351/DSC_0259_zpsf6c50ae1.jpg)
I noticed a few places that the "mystery mud" was present... it's wierd... wierd to drive on, wierd to walk on, looks like frozen starbucks frappucino. I wonder what it is? It's not everywhere either... just certain places. The road into our place is all mud but one of the side roads had a different type of material... looked like rock salt or perlite.
;) Also... I drive a Toyota... it always goes into 4x4, never gets stuck, if I were to put chains on all 4 corners I could potentially change the rotation of the earth...
I can deal with the mud... in Oregon, I'd leave in the morning @ 6'-0" tall and come home 6'-4" and that was after I scraped my boots... my truck still has stains and mud on it and I haven't been offroad down there in years... it never comes completely off. I'm hoping to get below the "muddy" layer and get it pushed off the top of the hill and into the sandier soil that should be a lot easier to deal with. We'll see how it goes... worst case scenario, I'll have to wait til "mud season" is over.
For awhile they were spraying calcium chloride, hi and early. It keeps the dirt from going bone dry, unfortunately it doesn't know when to quit. We're bouncing off the ruts this morning, 5 below.
I just hope it's not so bad that we waste a trip up there... especially if I rent a machine and can't use it.
Here it is a lost cause to try and do anything at all. Yet the snow is peeled back two months early. We have had a tremendous amount of good moisture, but the ground is so frozen yet we can not any way shape or size dig a hole. Lots of mud on top six - eight inches then the ground is frozen tight. Where the sun does not shine it is still hard as a rock.
All that to say think I would hold off a month as when Jarhead was living in his cabin up that way he was reporting colder night time temps than we were. Funny that area and here are very close to each other in looks and weather.
Those Toy-das are great rigs. I think anyway. My 2004 Powerstroke just went to the hospital. Transmission (autoloader) it finally threw craps after 11 years 170,000 miles of tough trips in and out of here. Lot of heavy trailer loads of rough cut lumber going out and a lot of stuff coming back in. Plus a few good long trips with the fifth wheel. Reason I think it lasted as long as it did I never let it get too far out of service and least little bit of burnt fluid it got cleaned and flushed. Plus the automatic four-wheel drive actuating motor on the transfer case was sort of hit and miss. So a lot of bucks later it is smiling again...
Quote from: Don_P on February 18, 2015, 11:46:35 AM
I'm sure you know, if your going on radar they will want to see the footings formed and steel set, ready to pour.
Yeah... kind of going under the radar. I build houses for a living (M-F & S-S & M-F again) and have built a few dozen foundations so i've got a pretty good idea of what they want to see. I'm still going to build it to code and probably take some pics for documentation in case it ever becomes an issue... 6"x12" footing w/2-#4 bar continuous and #4 J hooks @48" o.c.... in the wall i'll put #4 horiz. @ 2'-0" o.c. and then slug the whole thing full of cement in 2'-0" lifts... should be sufficient and pass any inspection.
My bigger issue for now is getting water and all the cement up there... that's a lot of trips to HD for sakcrete in the F-150. I don't want to leave w/out getting a footer in... once that's done, we can go up and be productive on every trip. We're going to try and stay/work for 3 days and we'll have the machine for 2 days so we should be able to get a lot done... as long as it doesn't turn into a muddy mess.
Quote from: rick91351 on February 20, 2015, 08:53:57 AM
Those Toy-das are great rigs. I think anyway. My 2004 Powerstroke just went to the hospital. Transmission (autoloader) it finally threw craps after 11 years 170,000 miles of tough trips in and out of here. Lot of heavy trailer loads of rough cut lumber going out and a lot of stuff coming back in. Plus a few good long trips with the fifth wheel. Reason I think it lasted as long as it did I never let it get too far out of service and least little bit of burnt fluid it got cleaned and flushed. Plus the automatic four-wheel drive actuating motor on the transfer case was sort of hit and miss. So a lot of bucks later it is smiling again...
I miss my Powerstroke... even more so since embarking on this latest adventure
The stars have aligned and the cabin gods have smiled down on us... we kicked a$$ at work the last 10 days, gathered some more materials and supplies, and we're heading back up to "The Ranch" in the morning to start on the foundation dig. We rented a mini all day friday and saturday and should be able to get some serious dirt work done this weekend.
Well... we made it back up to "The Ranch" this weekend and made huge progress. We got the itch to go early and left at 11pm Thursday night... putting us in Tonasket at 530am. We picked up some hot coffee to go, and food/beverage for the day and went up early... the road in was in great shape compared to last time... all the snow has melted and the ground wasn't frozen. First order of business was to get a fire going... it was pretty chilly, overcast, windy and snowing which continued until about 2pm when the sun came out.
We took a few minutes to orient the cabin and mark out the hole. The machine showed up on time and they were able to deliver it right to the site so we were able to get going right away. My brother... who is really quite good on an excavator... was able to knock the hole out in about 3hrs. and then started pushing dirt off the top of the knob making a lot of room fast and a really good firebreak in the process. We were only able to get to 4' before hitting hardpan so it'll get backfilled a little higher to gain back the burial depth I was trying for of 54"-60". We got started forming up the footers and bending the re-bar and had everything nailed together, the bar tied and ready to set to grade first thing Sat. morning.
Got an early start Sat., tied up a few loose ends, made a few trips to the lumber store to pick up redi-mix and started pouring about noon... made some pretty good time and other than running out of water near the end of mixing bags, we didn't have one problem the entire weekend. My brother dug a hole near the "seasonal creek" which appeared dry on the surface but hit water down a few feet and we were able to get the last 20-30 gallons from there. Had everything wrapped up about 7pm and hit the bar for a hot meal and a much deserved cocktail. We were supposed to stay in a cabin out towards republic but I was so tired Fri. night that I wouldn't wake up to decipher my directions so they turned around and rented a room in town for the weekend.
We went back up Sunday morning and cleaned up, burned the redi-mix bags, backfilled the inside of the footings, and layed out the corners and pop-outs, also scratched the corners into the green concrete so if my lines disappear I can re-mark them easily. Funny thing... 16 hours on a machine w/an experienced operator seems/sounds like a lot of time... never enough though... we could use it for another 16 or more. I think the next time we get one we're going to stay for a week and get it for a week... only slightly more than the 2 day rate.
Hit the post instead of preview button...
Took a ton of pics... wanted to go through 'em first but also wanted to post a few of the groundbreaking and foundation work...
Clearing off the sage and marking out the dig...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20150227_091407_zpsb3601bcb.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20150227_091407_zpsb3601bcb.jpg.html)
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20150227_091622_zps0f352177.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20150227_091622_zps0f352177.jpg.html)
Starting the hole...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20150227_100625_zps2ad181f3.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20150227_100625_zps2ad181f3.jpg.html)
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20150227_111619_zps30f0742f.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20150227_111619_zps30f0742f.jpg.html)
A little form work...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20150228_095741_zpsa393a603.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20150228_095741_zpsa393a603.jpg.html)
Just documenting my 2' laps on my bar...
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85 bags of #80 redi-mix... turned out to be exactly enough... right down to the last shovel full...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20150228_095803_zps0eeb9eec.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20150228_095803_zps0eeb9eec.jpg.html)
Way to push it and make it happen!
Hard to believe The snow is all gone up there already.
What is the elevation at your place?
Poor snow year up at my place- bought a new snowmobile- that's got to be the reason.
Quote from: SkagitDrifter on March 02, 2015, 04:45:59 PM
Way to push it and make it happen!
Hard to believe The snow is all gone up there already.
What is the elevation at your place?
Poor snow year up at my place- bought a new snowmobile- that's got to be the reason.
It was a push... i don't really feel it but my a$$ is whooped... my daughters BF is beat down and can barely move. We got a lot done in a short amount of time... feels good though. We can't wait to get back up there in a week or two and get some block set. If we can keep up this pace we should have a cabin up and dried in by the 4th of July... fingers crossed.
We're up around 2500'... night and day from the last trip up... 12"-18" last time and nothing 2 weeks later.
So if you bought a new snowmobile, does that mean you have an old one for sale? I'm looking for one.
Thought i'd post a few more pics from our last trip up to "The Ranch"...
Finishing up the hole...
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First sunrise...
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Tying up the last of the bar...
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Cleaning up after the pour...
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View from the front of the cabin at sunset...
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Terraced off a small garden area...
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Great weekend... can't wait toget back up there.
Unfortunately the tranny in the truck is acting funny after hauling that much weight so now I'm probably going to have to find another truck if we want to continue the pace we want to keep.
Quote from: nailit69 on March 05, 2015, 08:48:43 AMUnfortunately the tranny in the truck is acting funny after hauling that much weight so now I'm probably going to have to find another truck if we want to continue the pace we want to keep.
Sounds familiar, I blew the tranny in my truck hauling loads of sand through the mountains to my place.
Property looks nice and you're off to a flying start. I'm looking forward to following your progress.
Quote from: Yonderosa on March 09, 2015, 10:25:28 PM
Property looks nice and you're off to a flying start. I'm looking forward to following your progress.
We're heading back up on the 20th (fingers crossed) to lay the block... gonna try and set 500+ block and get it all grouted in 3 days so we can build the floor on the next trip up... might have to split the block into 2 weekends but that throws my schedule off by a month. After the block and floor system is done things should get a little easier. Still a lot of sitework to be done but cabin first cabin first cabin first... I want to do it all and do it now but I gotta save a few bucks to keep the lights on at home.
Looks great!
Well... looks like we'll be heading back up to "The Ranch" late Fri./early Sat. with another lofty goal... we're gonna try and get 512 block set and grouted solid and anchor bolts set, AND... pour the basement slab... and do it all by Monday afternoon. I'm going to call in a cement truck monday (if they'll come) since I figure i'll be at about 8.5-9yds anyway and it's about $400 cheaper than buying bags and mixing by hand.
I need to borrow a car trailer to get the last of my "scravenged" materials up there...180 block and hopefully a glulam for my ridge beam that I found on Craigslist. Initially, I thought it would be a good idea to round up what I can over here and bring it over there... not anymore... it's not a good deal if I still have to haul it over there. I'll just buy the remainder of my material there and stimulate the local economy... and they deliver to the cabin.
Next trip up... Floor System!!! For me, that's when the real fun will begin. I'm planning on staying for a week when framing begins so I can get it all built in one shot... not leaving anything behind that might grow legs and walk away. After that... I can start taking the TDI Jetta over and save tons of money on gas... there and back for $30 vs. $160 in the truck... I like having my truck though cuz you just never know.
Midway's prices are pretty good and there delivery is cheap :)
Curious, why grout rather than SBC? Honestly, I wish I learned to grout as I think it might be easier for smaller jobs but doing SBC has saved me and as it's stronger I'm pretty happy with it.
Quote from: pmichelsen on March 05, 2015, 11:05:24 AM
Sounds familiar, I blew the tranny in my truck hauling loads of sand through the mountains to my place.
;D Brand spanking 'new' rebuild..... In the old plowerstroker. Three years or 100,000 Jasper - or could have done Ford for unlimited miles and two years. Figure on trading with in three years so....... :D Both were $ of each other.
Quote from: OlJarhead on March 16, 2015, 10:52:14 AM
Midway's prices are pretty good and there delivery is cheap :)
Curious, why grout rather than SBC? Honestly, I wish I learned to grout as I think it might be easier for smaller jobs but doing SBC has saved me and as it's stronger I'm pretty happy with it.
Midway does have reasonable prices... delivery of the mini excavator wasn't all that cheap though. Hoping they'll work w/me on pricing or delivery fees if I buy it all there.
Not sure what SBC is but "Grouted" has always been filled with concrete where i'm from... i'm setting them in mortar and filling them with concrete. I called the local Redimix plant and apparently they can't even come up the road due to weight restrictions until sometime in May/June after they're lifted... looks like it's gonna be a bag mix show for the walls. After pricing out bag mix it's gonna cost me $150 less than if I call a truck anyway... usually it's the other way around.
Come by this weekend with 100 gallons of water and i'd be happy to teach you to lay block or at least put on a demo for you... beer and lunch provided ;).
Quote from: nailit69 on March 17, 2015, 06:35:47 AM
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<,snip >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Not sure what SBC is but "Grouted" has always been filled with concrete where i'm from... i'm setting them in mortar and filling them with concrete. I called the local Redimix plant and apparently they can't even come up the road due to weight restrictions until sometime in May/June after they're lifted... looks like it's gonna be a bag mix show for the walls. After pricing out bag mix it's gonna cost me $150 less than if I call a truck anyway... usually it's the other way around.
Come by this weekend with 100 gallons of water and i'd be happy to teach you to lay block or at least put on a demo for you... beer and lunch provided ;).
Years ago when I was a ready-mix truck driver we delivered grout to more block layers than were in the valley I think. Everyone loved our grout. Pumped easy and the company was real easy on block layers for some reason. No truck time if they pumped us right out even then there was a couple they would not even charge truck time for those all day horror stories. I so know what you mean the 100 gallons of water. Wish I could drop in for the demo but Boise is a little far. I really wished I would have spent more time watching the block layers back then!
Rick
SBC = Surface Bonded Cement. In short you mortar only the 1st course and then every 6th course from there (if you that many) then spray or trowel on the special SBC mortar (it has fibers in it and will be labelled as SBC) and let it cure (a few days of spraying it with water occassionally to keep it damp -- though I've let it dry and it seems fine then too) and finally fill the voids with cement where needed (corners, rebar sections etc) or dirt (where cement not needed). Of course the top 6-8" is the 'bond' layer and is cemented also.
On a side note SBC doesn't have to have filled cavities where not needed (you can put roof felt under the bond blocks where you don't need to fill) and is actually much stronger than standard mortar.
My problem, of course, is I'm sloppy and impatient LOL d* and struggle to make it look very neat. However it's super easy and strong so I'm happy with the little I've done.
Lunch would be fun but wouldn't be able to bring water LOL and of course, I'm not up at the cabin at the moment. With luck I'll get back soon but am in the process of getting a house ready to sell so my time seems to be slipping away from me! LOL
Rick... Glad to hear the truck is all better, hopefully it'll stand up to a few more years of use. The Redi-Mix company we used to use was like that... owner was really cool, big discounts for cash, no truck time, Saturday mud at weekday prices, if they had extra they'd swing by and see if we wanted if it was on the way back to the plant... then Big Concrete bought everyone out and nothing has been the same since.
Ol J... Never heard of SBC but I don't do a lot of block... been a few yrs. since my last time. I usually do a partial fill on shorter walls... on someone elses job. Since this is for myself, I want it stout... really stout. I'm going solid fill concrete with bond courses and horizontal #4 bar @ 2'/4'/6' and the top course @ 6'-8" with my 5/8"x10" anchor bolts hooked under the top bar. I was going to use split face block but they only have standard (no corners) and only have about 120 of them. I found all the nearly new 250gal. water tanks with the cage around them that I want for $75 ea... i'm picking up 4 today and taking 1 with me... I shouldn't run out of water this time.
SBC is nice and has a place but is no substitute for steel reinforced grouted work. On the inside tension face it can be added later if desired. The beauty of it is it puts (small synthetic fiber) reinforcement on the surface of the tension face, furthest from the neutral axis where reinforcement does the most good with the least material. We tend to go a little overboard thinking of it as a miracle product. With most things look to what the standard is, it usually is what it is for good reason.
Quote from: Don_P on March 18, 2015, 07:01:27 AM
SBC is nice and has a place but is no substitute for steel reinforced grouted work. On the inside tension face it can be added later if desired. The beauty of it is it puts (small synthetic fiber) reinforcement on the surface of the tension face, furthest from the neutral axis where reinforcement does the most good with the least material. We tend to go a little overboard thinking of it as a miracle product. With most things look to what the standard is, it usually is what it is for good reason.
From what I've read it's actually stronger than standard grouted walls but I think that's because you still use steel re-enforcement etc for a foundation. Perhaps I misunderstood?
For now i'll stick with what I know and the material i've ordered... ;)
Quote from: OlJarhead on March 18, 2015, 04:30:36 PM
From what I've read it's actually stronger than standard grouted walls but I think that's because you still use steel re-enforcement etc for a foundation. Perhaps I misunderstood?
OJ I have read and studied that as well. Have read the claims and all. Often wondered how it would work doing both. Like the idea of not messing with the mortar. Like the idea of steel in let's say infill. (Grout)
Well, it turns out 65 hours isn't enough time to lay 500 block... not without experienced help anyway. We wound up staying for 5 days instead of 3, the Innkeeper gave me an extra day for free... and all the water I want so I put my new tank to good use, 350 gallons worth. We gave it hell, worked everyday from sun up til sun down for 5 days straight and were only able to get about 400 block layed. If it wasn't for the 2 popouts I could have easily had it all done in 3 days and I could have just cantilevered the popouts but it's way too late for that now. I have one more popout to finish up but it's well past half done so should be a piece of cake. I have to work this week/weekend but heading back up on the 3rd to finish up... doesn't really affect my schedule as I had planned on it taking 2 trips anyway.
I had been borrowing a generator from work but figured it was time to buy my own... picked up a nice little 4k Champion w/remote start/30amp RV plug and put it through a 24hr. torture test... it performed as expected. It ran for 24hrs. on less than 6 gallons of gas which is nice... they claim 12hrs. on 4gals. so it gets great mileage. It is "computer controlled" and doesn't actually kick on for about 5 seconds after it starts... oh well... the lights won't come on right away. Overall, i'm pretty happy with it so far... i'll change out the oil and do it again next week.
I missed out on a nice glu-lam ridge beam... guy wouldn't hold it til I returned... oh well, I was looking for one when I found that one.
Couple of pics... I didn't get any of the night we left though so we're almost done.
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More to come... can't wait to get the floor on so I have a place to post up and camp out.
Looking great!
Well, we went back up last weekend, got the block all done and almost got them filled w/cement but ran out about 15-20 bags short i'm guessing... we'll finish it off on the next trip. Man... i've laid a few block in my time but it's been about 5 years since my last time and it was a small job and I forgot how hard block laying is. If it was straight runs it would've been so easy but I had to add 2 popouts and increase the difficulty factor x10... it added a lot of time, 100+ cuts, and about 20 more block to the job. It will be worth it in the end as it'll add a few more sq. ft. in a couple of key places and give me room in the basement for another feature I want to add later.
I'm planning/working on a set of exterior doors for the basement... I need them to be 6'-0" wide, well insulated, weathertight, steel faced & reinforced, etc.. Hoping to keep a few things down there when we're not around (snow machines, quads, a boat, dirt bikes, etc.) and not have them disappear. I want to put a floor hatch in the kitchen floor and be able to bar the doors from the inside and also use the basement as a pantry as well while having access from inside the cabin w/out having a set of stairs. I'm also trying to come up with a way of covering the doors and windows w/steel shutters when we're away so the only way in is through the wall.
Maybe i'm just going overboard though... the closest (yr. round) neighbor is on a hill about 300yds out but in very plain sight so the likleyhood of someone coming up and snooping around is low, nothing has been touched so far, knock on wood, but i'd still like to sleep well knowing the place is secure.
Here's the only picture I took... busy working I guess.
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There are great benefits of having your cabin or house hidden in plan sight. We are very lucky our set backs are far enough that we are not on public display. Yet close enough that if there is a strange rig around here people notice.
I really like your idea of the reinforced door to the 'toys'! Really do not know about shuttering and all that unless the tweakers are real bad! Most people with that intent if they cannot back up to the door - pop the lock - load and begone in minutes will pretty much leave you be so we have found. Plus - One reason you have insurance and don't keep your irreplaceables there unless you are full timers. Funny my folks who owned this ranch before us. They wanted to move up here or build a cabin up here. They had such a fear of getting it broken into they never did. Yet they were insurance 'poor'. I swear they had insurance in the insurance. ;)
One thing we do - do about this time of the year when the people start retuning to the area and until hunting season is over in the fall walk down and close the gate to our road in the evening then open it oh some time after breakfast and coffee and going that way away. Best thing you can do is get to know those around you. Naturally they will start looking out for you and you for them. We do have some up here that are sort of sticky fingered however. You sort them out pretty quick! >:(
BTW It is so remarkable the similarities in topography even climate between the Okanogan area and here where our ranch is.
There are great benefits of having your cabin or house hidden in plan sight. We are very lucky our set backs are far enough that we are not on public display. Yet close enough that if there is a strange rig around here people notice.
Yea... it's about 150-200' back from the road but in plain sight. Fortunately, not a lot of people frequent the area but it does have it's share of traffic... UPS delivers up there... in a 1 mile radius there's probably 10 cabins and a couple of houses, not all are full timers and some places look like they've been untouched for years.
I really like your idea of the reinforced door to the 'toys'! Really do not know about shuttering and all that unless the tweakers are real bad! Most people with that intent if they cannot back up to the door - pop the lock - load and begone in minutes will pretty much leave you be so we have found. Plus - One reason you have insurance and don't keep your irreplaceables there unless you are full timers. Funny my folks who owned this ranch before us. They wanted to move up here or build a cabin up here. They had such a fear of getting it broken into they never did. Yet they were insurance 'poor'. I swear they had insurance in the insurance. ;)
I've got an idea for the steel shutters but we'll see how things go first. I'm going to have to check out my insurance options... I hear they won't insure the cabin from fire since we're 15 miles from the nearest hydrant and fire protection may or may not be provided by a private service. I don't plan on keeping any valuables there but if I leave a snowmobile or a quad for a few weeks while i'm away i'd like to know it'll still be there when I return. My grandparents had a cabin in the Blue Mtns. and they never locked the place up... when they did, someone would break in... instead, they left a note saying "take what you need, leave what you can, and thanks for not trashing the place"... had lots of "visitors" but never had any problems.
One thing we do - do about this time of the year when the people start retuning to the area and until hunting season is over in the fall walk down and close the gate to our road in the evening then open it oh some time after breakfast and coffee and going that way away. Best thing you can do is get to know those around you. Naturally they will start looking out for you and you for them. We do have some up here that are sort of sticky fingered however. You sort them out pretty quick! >:(
I need to start thinking about a fence and gates but that'll probably have to wait til next year. I'm pretty chummy with one of the neighbors and got him a used 325gal. water tank/tote (cost me $15) for a few loads of gravel and some dozer work when I start backfilling so he's in my back pocket, he usually stops by to chat and have a beer with us when we're there. The other neighbors are a friendly older couple and always honk/wave as they come n go. The neighbor on the hill is more of a loner/bachelor... not a lot to say, waves, etc., but sounds like he's not a real social person. A couple of other full timers but everyone else seems to be passing through... some go by and never come back, I assume they're exploring and found another road out.
BTW It is so remarkable the similarities in topography even climate between the Okanogan area and here where our ranch is.
Insurance is a strange animal and depends on who is underwriting. We were cautioned to get liability on this ranch when it was bare ground. By one my insurance agent and two my attorney said our risk was way to high in this. So I asked my insurance agent to get us insured. Only one we found that would was Farmers Alliance a branch of Farmers. But my agent did not find that. It was only after I started looking myself and questions other agents and district managers did we score. Funny my agent was a Farmers agent at the time.
So we started building the house, Farmers would not touch it but Auto Owners would. We are not in a fire district and sounds sort of like you. To the west our closest neighbor is about ten miles. The closest one after that is like thirty miles to the west. North is a mile to our neighbor. Then a few to the east and south. So anyway Auto Owners wrote our owner builder construction insurance. It was not all that bad. I did have a guy hired to help me frame and he was uninsured and I told them that. That was okay but and subs I hired had to be insured. As soon as we finished Auto Owners said they did not have proper data - so they said or claimed - in costing out a policy such as this. But Farmers Alliance was happy to write it and we were well please when it came back from underwriting. You might try them.
I'll have to look into it a little more... my daughter is w/Farmers now, maybe they can bundle and save... oh wait, that's Progressive ???.
You wrote you grandparents had a cabin in the Blues! Around LaGrande?
I would sure do some shopping as far as insurance. I have seen several on here find out the hard way!
Quote from: rick91351 on April 12, 2015, 11:08:36 PM
You wrote you grandparents had a cabin in the Blues! Around LaGrande?
Not sure where it was exactly... been 35 years since i've been there... but IIRC, thier place was 1000 acres and 2 of the property lines were the southern border and the eastern border of Wa. State (roughly). I remember old pics of the place but it's mostly a memory for me... it was right on the Snake River, they had on old military 6x6 flatbed w/a crate for a drivers seat they used to feed the cows with... we used to joyride it to the river and back.
Been trying to find time (more like $$$) to get back up to the cabin to finish mixing the last 25+/- bags of redi-mix and build the cabin floor. We had a couple of unexpected expenses come up that put the schedule off by a few weeks but should get back on track soon. My dad was up that way camping in his 5th wheel which was going to also serve as my "Motel" for a few days but he wimped out and came home 2 weeks early so i'm back at square one.
I can't wait til I have something built so I can stay/camp at the cabin... once the floor is built I can at least campout in the basement... $100 a night just to have a place to lay my head is rediculous, I check in around 9-10pm and leave by 6am... that's cabin money i'm wasting.
I've got a few days off so I might just load up the dirtbikes and fishing poles and go finish the cement and spend a day or two riding and fishing and worry about the floor on the next trip up. If I do that I can actually relax a bit more... I have been going full throttle every time i've been there & haven't had time to enjoy any of the sights or do any fishing.
Amen to that! I am still trying to find more time to relax but have so much to do and so little time....
We camped out in a tent trailer for the first year or so when working on the cabin :) Glad we have it mostly finished now!
Quote from: OlJarhead on May 26, 2015, 01:11:58 PM
Amen to that! I am still trying to find more time to relax but have so much to do and so little time....
We camped out in a tent trailer for the first year or so when working on the cabin :) Glad we have it mostly finished now!
We picked up a cheap "Fixer Upper" travel trailer from a friend of a friend a couple weeks back that supposedly just needed a "minor" floor repair... this morning I hooked a chain through the windows and ripped the entire thing off the frame. It wound up being infested with carpenter ants... (I could tell by all the tiny beer cans they left behind). Thankfully I didn't spend too much on it...it does have brand new wheels and tires on it though so worth the investment I suppose.
On that note... I found a 19' aluminum box from a box truck that's about to become a new Toyhauler RV... d* like I didn't have enough to do already. I have built more than a couple of pretty well known and super bad ass food trucks in my area so I can cut the hell out of a UPS truck without batting an eye.
So, that's where a good portion of the cabin fund has been directed over the last few weeks... should've toughed it out in the hotel, it would've been cheaper in the long run. Oh well, we'll get back on track soon enough and push the completion date out a few weeks or more if necessary and cross fingers that we get it dried in before winter.
I've been working on a full set of "as-built" drawings just in case I ever get called out by the county or anyone else for that matter but also to start building this thing in my head to see how things are gonna go together and if i'm going to run into any problems during construction.
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I'm trying to eliminate the need for any center posts especially in the basement and based on my current cabin construction and similar dimensions, I've decided to span the 14'-0" direction w/a 4x10 (8'-0" o.c. +/-) on ea. side of the kitchen popout and run my 2"x 8"x 8'-0" joists @ 16" o.c. joist hangered between them and covered in 3/4" T&G plywood. I'm also going to duplicate it for the loft floor w/posts under the beams to transfer load directly to the foundation and then ledger off of the studs @ the perimeter and hangered from the beams again. Top it off with a 25'-0" engineered ridge beam and this should eliminate the need for posts, save time and material as well as making it a little easier to plumb/wire/insulate along the exterior walls between floors.
Also toying with the idea of getting rid of the washer/dryer closet and trying to shoehorn a set of stairs in there and put the W/D in the basement when that time comes.
Been a while since i've updated the progress on our place. We decided it was time to get the remainder of the foundation work at the cabin wrapped up before winter comes... 30 bags of redi mix to fill the foundation and 20 yds of gravel fill. It was good to get back out there but as I rounded the last corner I was met with a BIG surprise when we pulled up... NEIGHBORS...DIRTY HIPPY NEIGHBORS... now, on a total of 60 acres, there's a trailer and 2 motorhomes about 200 yds. out from my place.
Why the hell on an entire F*ing mountain would you post up your dirty hippy camp and delapidated motorhomes and trailers on the same 2 acre patch of land as mine? Find your own mountain.
No garbage yet and they seem nice enough but i didn't plan this with provisions for any crappy blue tarp hippy communes nearby, god only knows how they're dealing with thier waste but i'm guessing it's less than legit... just guessing by what appears to be a crude outhouse in the trees with the beginnings of a hand dug well about 30'-40' directly downhill from there. I hope I don't have to rat myself out to get them to install a legal septic system but things gotta be dealt with properly. The other original neighbors aren't too happy about them either and came down to express thier displeasure and help spread gravel.
Met a couple of the other neighbors... interesting bunch... if they were on horseback they would almost certainly be "outlaws" if I was judging them on looks alone... nice guys although rumor has it they have a shimmering silver mine up there and defend it mercilessly.
Long story short... i'm going to finish the cabin as planned and hope the inability to make the payment and or a brutally cold weather forces them back down the mountain... or else we're selling. i'm not driving 5hrs. as well as busting my ass for hundreds of hours to look out the window and see a dirty hippy camp. I was actually interested in buying the adjacent properties to prevent this but apperantly these clowns got there first.
That sucks!! Feel your pain. I have a nice cabin with another 100yds away and is not a problem. Until this past year when it was bought by a couple with three 23-30yr old sons with families each that come up and party every weekend. And since there cabin is not big enough they have cleared out the woods to park 2 large 30ft RVs there. It is just frustrating to see what was ounce a nice wooded cabin area turned into a trailer park with a dozen of noisy people on weekends. They are polite so I bighte my tongue d*
Yea... this guy is nice enough, friendly, semi helpful (really good at drinking muh beer),etc.but he seems needy. I went there with an idea, a truckload of tools, and some material and built it w no outside help. This guy wants my old tarp, my old pallets, my old 2x6, and thats just one trip... he wants me to haul "a few things" in to make his life easier... i want him to leave not help him stay... if he's still there in the spring i might scratch off a nice pad site on the other side of his place so were not such close neighbors.
According to the neighbor thats lived there for 20 yrs... he said that many have come and tried to tuff it out but nobody's ever made it long... hopefully these fellas wont last up there either The original neighbor said we were the first in that time that built something permanent there since he's been there. The place is awesome and we really love the area, the drive, the location and even the neighbors but its been eating at me since Saturday morning and got me thinking about something an hour or two closer. I'll give it1or 2yrs and see who's still on the hill but i want more privacy.
How big is your property? There is something to be said for building in the more or less center. The only way to control who builds near you is to own more land. Not always a practical solution as far as $$ go though.
Quote from: MountainDon on October 07, 2015, 01:58:50 PM
How big is your property? There is something to be said for building in the more or less center. The only way to control who builds near you is to own more land. Not always a practical solution as far as $$ go though.
Our place is 20 acres... i was attempting that piece and another adjacent 20 but they beat me to it... ive got another pad i was going to cut in up higher for a future bigger cabin... although it is higher up and farther away, unfortunately i can see him from there too.. lol
Will be weird if they hang out for very long. Everyone has the homestead dream. Soon they figure out tendin' the garden & living on dreams just is not what they figured it was gonna' be. Meanwhile back at your place best start amassing a down on that piece of property. I got a feeling.........
Quote from: MountainDon on October 07, 2015, 01:58:50 PM
How big is your property? There is something to be said for building in the more or less center. The only way to control who builds near you is to own more land. Not always a practical solution as far as $$ go though.
I did everything I could to get the biggest piece of land possible for the money I could scrape together. Now I am building a driveway into the property, right dab in the middle for this exact reason. Friend of mine keeps telling me to top where I am, you're far enough in... nah, I want to be in the middle. At the moment there is nobody in sight, all vacant land all around for miles... but I know things can change quickly as they did for you.
I hope for you they get too lazy to maintain it and stop going. Maybe you can get a deal on the bankruptcy sale. ;)
I hope they do get to live thier American dream... just not next to me.
Ya... "Bill" seems to be the guy that shows up 5 minutes after I show up, shortly after comes the "got any beer" ffollowed by 100 different ways I could do things better, etc.. I guess its the little things like food and beer and gas to run a genny that become more and more valuable the colder it gets, his plan is to heat his 1970 something rvw propane... 120 gallons... with no deliveries til spring and no transportation this guy could die up there. Time will tell if be can make it... I build houses and know all to well how disappointed people can be when they get new neighbors... i knew going in this might happen. Im not afraid to build a kick ass cabin and turn it... itll pay to build a bigger better cabin on a nicer piece of land elsewhere.
"Steven and Matt" are two of the original neighbors they dont come around often but drive by usually once a day and if i flag him down theyll bring us water when we need it and offered dumptruck and tractor work and i bit... I gave him $100 for the help and 5 gallons of gasoline (all i had)... he saved me at least a full day of work though... that's the neighbors I like. Funny thing about it is i think he'd rather have more fuel than the money... guess it about what you need out there.
We call them "Winter Kill" up here. They buy in the spring/summer/fall with the intention of living the life and sell in the spring after the winter finishes them off :P
Quote from: OlJarhead on October 09, 2015, 12:56:40 PM
We call them "Winter Kill" up here. They buy in the spring/summer/fall with the intention of living the life and sell in the spring after the winter finishes them off :P
Hope your right... although if he survives the winter he's one tough bird but i don't see it happening. Knowing what i know, I wouldn't attempt to do what hes about to... neighbors say in 20 years, the lowest snow level they've seen was 2' and the highest was 5'... if hes having trouble now getting fuel and supplies things can only get worse for him.
Well, it's been a long wet winter and things are finally drying out and the sunshine has returned. I'm getting pretty excited to head back up to our place in the Okanogan and get some things done over there this year and try and find some of that elusive free time to enjoy all that the area has to offer up.
I was able to stay in touch with the neighbors, texting them every few weeks to see how things are going up on the mountain and last report was... "All is well and the snow is almost gone"... Yay!!!
I've been busy gathering more parts and pieces for the cabin, got a few leftover 10' sticks of PEX, a 100' roll of 14/2 Romex, a beefy 12v flojet on demand water pump, some misc. fittings for my water tank system, I picked up a free airtight woodstove w/pipe, some cast iron cookware, a gas cooktop, etc..
The plan is to head over as soon as we can get a lumber delivery up there to build the 1st floor and maybe do a little more dirtwork in preperation for the framing. We might have to haul it in ourselves if the road restriction isn't lifted yet but it's only a couple of trips.
Then... i'm hoping to head back up in late May/June and start building the rest of the cabin and then maybe a final trip towards the end of the summer Sept/Oct. to install the metal roofing and get it boarded up and ready for winter.
Next year I should be able to buy/install the windows and get it sided. I'm also toying with the idea of burning the siding in a traditional japanese method known as "Shoa Sugi Bahn"... it's a natural insect repellant as well as adding a little bit of natural fireproofing... still on the fence about it but will also make it look 10x older than it is which I like too.
I think I might bring my rowboat and stash it in the basement so I can do some fishing but we'll see if I have room on the lumber rack for it and I also want to bring my dirtbike to do some serious exploring instead of putting around in the 4x4, but again... we'll see.
Did the neighbor say if the hippies survive the winter?
Quote from: Stein on March 26, 2016, 12:02:08 AM
Did the neighbor say if the hippies survive the winter?
;) I haven't asked... I didn't want to be "that guy". I'm sort of over it... for now anyway.
I did do a title search the other day and noticed his name wasn't listed as the legal owner so he may have already given up... our parcel was listed on the assessors site in our name within a week or two after closing. I'm guessing a bunch of his shit is probably still there either way.
There was 3' of snow up there this winter and it's been there since before X-mas and there was still 2' a month or so ago... it can't have been easy dealing with it if he wasn't prepared by then. Maybe i'm just a snow sissy (i'm not) and he's a real he man and laughs at 3' of snow... we'll see how things be up there soon enough.
I need to save up a little more $$ for my floor framing package and some other misc. and then i'm heading up in a few weeks. I'm intentionally putting it off until the last week or two of April hoping to see more of the spring colors up there as well as having some warmer weather too. I completely missed it last year, we had the foundation wrapped up (for the most part) by March and didn't get back up there until October after the fires and everything was just about done for the year by then but we did catch the tail end of the leaves turning.
:)Hooray!!! We got the money together yesterday for the cabin framing... most of it anyway. Going off my materials cost estimates from last year, I think I have enough to get it framed up, roofed, and covered in Tyvek. I won't have enough to install windows or siding this year so just looking to get it up, weathered in, and boarded up before winter hits.
I'm going back and forth on roofing material... I can use 30yr. architectural comp at a cost of about $600 or go with 3 rib metal for about $1,200 or standing seam metal for about $2,000.
I didn't really want to use comp... although I am the most familiar with comp and feel comfortable using it and being able to keep things weatherproof.
I don't really like the 3 rib look on roofs or the screws that stick up but it's my cheapest metal roof option.
Not sure I can afford (or afford to wait) for standing seam... it's what I want but I have to compromise so I may just do comp and in a few years tear it off and go w/standing seam... or just let my kids deal with it... i'll be too old by then.
Have you checked pricing at Midway? I found they were better priced that the big box places. We went with 2' rib from them and love it.
Ya... Midway is the shwiz. I've priced it out... I just don't think I/we can afford it right now.
Like everyone else, we're on a tight budget. Right now it's a choice between roofing or no roofing. I don't mind using comp, I was thinking of long term wear and durability and figure metal is the best way but it's not the end of the world if I can't afford it. I'll put metal on in a few years... I just want it up and weatherproof this year.
If some extra money turns up I may go w/metal but in reality it'll probably end up in comp for now.
We went standing seam - very spendy but I know it is not going any where and it sheds snow very well.
I wish I could afford to do standing seam but it's not the end of the world for me. Architectural Comp looks nice enough, wears well, and should give years of service before needing to be replaced.
we did our first winter with just house wrap and some battens on the roof with no issues, we did the roof the following spring when we had some cash free
We didn't cut the window openings either till we had the windows, it was just one big wrapped wooden box the first winter, less wind filtering through the better
Yep, Tyvek and battens on the walls... I'll save the window cutouts and put 'em back in whenever we leave, it should be fine over the winter.
So, I ordered my floor framing package and believe it or not, with tax and delivery, it was $75 cheaper than the material estimate I got last year. I also got my glulam ridge beam sized and priced (5-1/8" x 18") which I was certain was going to cost somewhere around $900-$1,000... my wallet is happy to report it's only $435 and they can set it in place for me.
Made it out to "The Ranch" this weekend... had a great time, got everything done I wanted to, drank a bunch of beer (the neighbor drank more... a 36 pack of my beer in 2 days by himself). Met a few more full timers up on the hill... apperantly there's a regular small scale market available on our hill... fresh eggs, fresh chicken, fresh beef, fresh pork, and all you can eat veggies for cheap.
We roughed it for the first day and then had the floor built and had a warmer than outside place to stay after the first night. We/I... OK... it was all me.... I Fooked off for the beginning of the second day and went "expolring" instead of working. Found all sorts of interesting shit... old mines, waterfalls, game trails, future cabin sites,... it was an epic weekend.
My Dad wasn't gonna go with us but decided last minute he was going... him and my brother left early, got really wet, had a shitty night sleep, and they deserved every miserable minute... that's what happens when you leave early! Second night was much better... shelter, cooking, warmth, foam pads, you get where i'm going with that... more to come when rested and soberer
Been thinking and doing a little "soul searching" over the last few weeks. The more time I spend out at "The Ranch" and the more I talk to folks out there on the hill, I think about everything going on here in the "big city" and the stress that it causes me, I think about the money that i'm wasting here paying for fuel to go to a job I wouldn't really need over there (i'll work over there too just not as much), my rent that would cover the entire payment and taxes for a year in about 4 months and everything else too... i've been giving serious thought to dumping every penny into this place and just moving out there full time. I've got the money and most of the major parts and pieces that I need, I just need to get it framed up and dried in and as soon as it's insulated I could potentially move in.
Realistically it probably wouldn't be until next spring but at that point it'll just be little things to work on to finish the place off and start on homeowner projects like splitting and stacking wood and fences and things. I don't know... just thoughts for the moment but I may act out and head for the hills. I just spent 3 days out there and it only got better each day, I spent less than $60 for a ton of Beer and Brats and gas for the genny and $80 in fuel for the trip...there and back on less than $150, building materials not included of course.
If I can buy cheap farm fresh groceries on the hill, barter, fish, hunt and forage, not waste money driving to a fulltime job, make the land payment in full ea. yr all at once, work a few jobs here and there to make money (i'm a carpenter so I can make money pretty much anywhere I go), and in general just live on the cheap I know I could easily live on $4-500 a month... I could work part time and save during spring/summer/fall and have all I need for the year and in 7 more years the land is paid off.
I'll be 47 this year and as far as my prime years go, i've probably only got a few really good ones left. Things are getting rusty, my joints hurt, my hand strength is starting to fade (I used to be pretty ripped and strong as an Ox w/forearms like Popeye), my hearing is starting to go, my skin is wrinkling, things are sagging, I went on a 2 mile hike the other day and was really winded but a lot of it it was very steep and I did run most of the way back down so i'm not a couch potato but my diet is sometimes less than ideal and I probably drink too much beer. I've been "self employed" most of my life so I have no real retirement plan other than death and I need to start planning for the next 30 years and get things set up there.
I've got no woman to convince so there's a lot of easy reasons to get out of here now... except my parents... my Dad is ready to go full time yesterday but my Mother won't have anything to do with off grid living for more than a few weeks at a time. They've got thier minor medical issues and needs and would have to make frequent trips to a military hospital mostly for my moms health and vision issues so full time isn't really an option for them which means me spending too much time at thier place as they age.
The seed has been planted and i'm probably already gone judging by my past.
Sounds familiar, insulation and windows would probably be good... I didn't last much past shingles on the roof.
Quote from: Don_P on April 19, 2016, 08:36:14 PM
Sounds familiar, insulation and windows would probably be good... I didn't last much past shingles on the roof.
LOL... yes, insulation and windows would be good. It's gonna be hard to leave this Fall.
This small lake wasn't there last year... (https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160417_112811_zpsbi6uz9lv.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160417_112811_zpsbi6uz9lv.jpg.html)
Found this waterfall on the corner of the property, the "Seasonal Creek" is flowing good this year... this wasn't there last year either.
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160417_062017_zpsw5ys7mnl.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160417_062017_zpsw5ys7mnl.jpg.html)
The first beam is barely in place and they're already into the beer
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160415_124543_zpsfcep8zp2.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160415_124543_zpsfcep8zp2.jpg.html)
Got a few joists cut and installing hardware
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160415_160646_zpsvgqwqyia.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160415_160646_zpsvgqwqyia.jpg.html)
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160415_180227_zpswwjozakn.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160415_180227_zpswwjozakn.jpg.html)
Gonna be rough looking out at that view everyday... Mt. Bonaparte off in the distance
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160415_180248_zpsb5h1tbpv.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160415_180248_zpsb5h1tbpv.jpg.html)
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160415_180530_zpsgzpwjerd.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160415_180530_zpsgzpwjerd.jpg.html)
Wildflowers are starting to pop
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160415_180543_zps3sd2ccea.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160415_180543_zps3sd2ccea.jpg.html)
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160415_180927_zpslyjni3eh.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160415_180927_zpslyjni3eh.jpg.html)
That's about all we got done the first day
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160416_071839_zpssflr5jae.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160416_071839_zpssflr5jae.jpg.html)
We're bringing cots and the real camping gear next time.
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160416_073519_zps5pwccfgl.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160416_073519_zps5pwccfgl.jpg.html)
More to come in about 6 weeks
I left Portland back in 2002 and never looked back! The rat race behind me and only life ahead :)
At 47 I started doing loads of cardio and though I thought it was all downhill as I got older, I was wrong and lost 55lbs in 6 months (gained some back since but plan to change that) and was in the best shape of the last two decades of my life easily! Today I know I'm getting older (at 50) but know that I have many years to enjoy if I stay in shape.
As for living up there, it's cheap, easy and can be done if determined. As a carpenter I can't see how you wouldn't be able to earn a living. I know a few that work when they want and I know that if someone wants to work they can.
It's a risk, but I am always amazed at those who take risks and come out ahead in the end one way or another even if it isn't as they imagined when they started.
I know a few guys doing exactly what you are talking about. They live frugally but seem happy enough. The work they do get is not at the rate they got before (That seems true everywhere these days in construction). I've toyed with the notion myself and the advice I got was "Bring a woman and a job because you won't find either in Okanogan."
Awesome photos, I can see the why the place has worked its magic on you. I agree, it sounds like you've already made your decision and the only question to be answered is when. I'm a compulsive number cruncher, so I'd be making a spreadsheet to show all my current costs and compare that to what I would need living at a less hectic pace. Since you won't be able to actually move to the ranch until it's much further along, you've got some time to look at ways to simplify your life and reduce your cost of living.
@Chugiak... It is awesome up there... the seed was planted years ago but this project and other recent developments have swayed my decesion towards full time living out there. I've already got my spreadsheets for the build setup and i'm always crunching and trying to find ways to save a buck or two but I don't have a "household expense budget" setup yet.
I live in a small house now (800 sq. ft.) and have virtually no bills other than the basics like rent, power, internet, cellphone, etc.. I don't have cable tv, I don't have car payments or credit card debt, I save and re-use/recycle things...been living this lifestyle for almost 10 years. I lived comfortably for an entire month over the winter on about $400 (after rent of course) with my reserve food supplies and by staying home rather than driving around and wasting money.
@Yonderosa... I don't need a woman, I can find what I need on the interwebs ;)... as for a job, I have never had much of a problem finding work for over 25 years in this business, I see "Journeyman Carpenter Wanted" ads around the Chelan area almost weekly and if I don't need to make huge rent and utility payments I only need to go to the "Big City" for about 8-10 weeks to make enough to pay the mortgage for the entire year so I don't need much of a job, everything else is mine.
I'm going for a goal of being able to live on about $15-18k a year...1/4 to 1/3 of what I have to make now to live in the city. That pays the mortgage and taxes for the year and puts about $1,000 a month in my pocket for whatever I decide to spend it on, I can make it out there on $250 a week. Obviously I can choose to make more and probably will but "not having to" is the end goal.
@Ol'J... I've always been a builder and been in pretty damn good shape, back in the day I could hook my heels in the trusses and lean out unsupported with a 14 lb. skilsaw to cut tails, carry big beams on my shoulder by myself, etc... over the last few years i've been doing a lot of interior finish work and i'm getting soft. I'm starting to workout a little on the home gym but time marches on.
"I can make it out there on $250 a week."
You might want to make that $400 a week, and put the remainder away for a rainy day - or for when your aching bones won't let you hang out on those trusses any longer.
Great plan, though. Go for it.
Reality is, I'll probably have to bust my ass from Easter until Thanksgiving like I usually do.
...but are the hippies gone? ::)
Quote from: Bevis on May 01, 2016, 09:55:53 PM
...but are the hippies gone? ::)
Unfortunately... No. I've been thinking about that whole thing too... i'm going to make Lemonade out of those lemons.
After spending a few more days up there, he's starting to grow on me (just a little). He's a nice enough guy, keeps an eye on things, anyone that comes to my place is usually met by him within minutes and he's usually packin' so i'm of the mind that a couple of 18 packs of beer is a cheap price to pay for onsite "security".
He did help out quite a bit this time and brought rakes and a wheelbarrow, tightened some anchor bolts, cleaned up, dispatched a couple of mice, took all the beer cans and wood scraps, so i'm learning to live with him, he's 60, he's just an old dude tryin to do what everyone else on the mountain is... live.
I did work out a deal with him though... if I help him build a small simple cabin, he'll take down the tarps and get rid of the motorhomes as soon as it's liveable. I walked his property and found a nice fairly flat site with a great territorial view but there's no road to his cabin site so I may have to help him develop one, he's down in a hole right now that's really wet this year so it'll be better for him to get up on the hillside a bit more and improve my view at the same time.
Sounds like a win win to me! [cool]
Quote from: nailit69 on May 02, 2016, 08:14:19 AM
He did help out quite a bit this time and brought rakes and a wheelbarrow, tightened some anchor bolts, cleaned up, dispatched a couple of mice, took all the beer cans and wood scraps, so i'm learning to live with him, he's 60, he's just an old dude tryin to do what everyone else on the mountain is... live.
Hey! What who you're callin' old there young fella! ;) :)
No, it's not me, but from one "old dude" ... I still don't feel all that old.... and your time is comin' ;D
Like OJH said - sounds like a win to me.
LOL... I'm not far behind ;D
Age is definitely a state of mind... I still act like i'm 25 and only the recent arrival of my first grandkid and my first set of nose glasses has started to slow me down.
Quote from: nailit69 on May 04, 2016, 09:45:16 PM
LOL... I'm not far behind ;D
Age is definitely a state of mind... I still act like i'm 25 and only the recent arrival of my first grandkid and my first set of nose glasses has started to slow me down.
I love the saying: "I may have to get older, but I don't have to grow up."
Quote from: azgreg on May 05, 2016, 08:18:48 AM
I love the saying: "I may have to get older, but I don't have to grow up."
I agree! I may be 60 and I was starting to feel old (people around me telling me I was old), but in the last few months I'm starting to feel like I'm in my 40's again... and once I start heading to the ranch, I'll probably start feeling even more spry! It's mainly a state of mind.
+1 on that...
Don't listen to those naysayers... I still feel pretty good most days but if I sit around too long I start feeling my age.
Isn't it funny how a trip to the "ranch" can change your whole outlook on things?... I spend 5 of the most uncomfortable hours in the truck getting there, bust my ass all weekend, eat less than nutritious food, drink way too much beer, sleep on a sheet of plywood, smell like a billygoats gruff, yet when the end of the weekend comes i'm so bummed that I have to leave, that all I do is think about coming back. I always feel so refreshed and energized when I come back, I just love being out there.
We're heading back up this weekend to do some dirtwork and pour a few piers for my porch roofs... trying to get Thurs. & Fri. off and make it a 4 day weekend. My dad is bringing a car trailer loaded with a Kubota tractor, a quad, a dirtbike, a backblade, 2 huge coolers, ramps, ropes, and more shit in general than i've ever brought with me and I don't even have my stuff loaded yet... he's worse than any woman i've ever travelled with.
I did confirm my time off for the main build... July 1st through July 10th, it happened to work out since the rest of the crew is also taking time off during that week too. If I can't make it happen in 10 days I need to find a new career.
Made it back out to the ranch... things didn't go anywhere near what was planned. Rain Thursday night turned the road to our place into a sh!thole and on top of that, we went in a 2wd diesel pulling a 20' car trailer with a 2500lb. tractor and other ORVs onboard. We jackknifed the truck/trailer at the one turn I was sure that we would and had to unload the tractor to get the trailer back on the road. Got everything straightened out and had to drive the tractor in the last 1/2 mile. Then it rained from 11pm Friday til about 9am Saturday. We stayed dry in the basement but it kept me up all night worrying about it.
Never did get a callback from the gravel guy from last year... he probably remembered us and didn't want to come back. On another note... I met a guy that's a full-time miner and just happenens to have scads of gravel he needs to dispose of... he asked how much I needed and I asked how much he had... we agreed on 50 yds., it should be there next trip up on J4. This guy always cruises around with a metal detector and spent an hour or more with my dad digging up all sorts of "old treasure" and they actually found some really cool shit that seems to indicate there might have been an old homesite there at one time.
We were able to do some grading... no concrete though. I didn't bring any big tools, just nailbags but no saws... I bought 30 big Manorstone block to help retain some dirt against the foundation and got those in... rode dirtbikes, BBQ'd, and drank beer all weekend, bonfires, etc.. just me and my Dad. There's a young kid that comes by and helps out now and again and I try and flip him a few bucks for the help... this time I brought him some LED foglights for his quad... 14,400 Lumens of night riding goodness. He loved them and put them on and tore the mtn. up into the night.
The hippie neighbor shows up about 20 minutes after we did... packing a hunting riflle...
Him: "Did you bring a rifle?".
Us: "Yea, a .22 and a 9mm"
Him: "You're gonna need something bigger... There's been 4 different bear sightings in the last few days"
Him: "Take this .308... not the best but better than what you've got"
Us: "Thanks... want a beer?"
A momma and 2 cubs, and 3 other different bears, one was supposedly a "Grizzly" but when quizzed, the witness didn't quite describe one.
Saw numerous Quail and Sage Hen/Chuckers?), 6+ HUGE tom turkeys the size of beachballs, i've never seen em that big before... a nice young buck and a lonely little doe, huge trout mounts and pics at the nearby "lodge"... i'm definitely getting my fishing tag this year.
5 weeks and i'm heading back up there... I can't wait!
.308 is more than enough for bear.
So too is 30-06 (almost the same ballistics wise actually) and I would and do use both.
Though for close in defense against a mad bear I prefer 12 gauge with slugs
Quote from: OlJarhead on May 25, 2016, 07:56:20 AM
Though for close in defense against a mad bear I prefer 12 gauge with slugs
Here too in Alaska the 12 ga with Brenneke or Rottweil rifled slugs is preferred. Back when I did geology field work the only weapon that my employer would issue was a 12 ga. I was allowed to carry a .44 magnum revolver but that was the minimum and I had to provide it. The 12 ga slug delivered the most energy of any of the firearms considered and that is what is needed in stopping a charging bear.
Hope any bear sightings are of the low adrenaline variety. Have a safe summer!
Edit: Fixed a typo
During Bear Season (and I have a few around my place) I carry my .45colt with 360 grains going 1100fps ;)
and I keep a Puma Legacy Model 92 in .454 Cassull hanging over the door or a 12gauge 870 up there....either one will work ;)
Ya... The .308 is probably adequate but i'd prefer a 12 guage... i've got a brand new 870 but I didn't bring it though. We had so much stuff I couldn't fit it in if I wanted to. When I go next time you can bet your a$$ i'm bringing it though. We kept the .308 close by and my dad had his 9mm on his shoulder the entire time. We also made a makeshift "Bear Cage" out of a ATV ramp and parked the tractor in front of the entrance to the basement so it would at least make a bunch of noise if one did try to come in.
I'm hoping any confrontations can be resolved with a warning shot cuz I don't want a pissed off bear coming at me. I've only ever seen 3 bear in my life... 2 were from 100yds or so and the third was a cub running down the road but I was in my truck. I am prepared to take appropriate action if necessary, I just hope it doesn't come to that.
Unless you come between a mother bear and it's baby, there is little chance you will be in any real danger. Generally they scatter when they hear or see you, so if you are in bear territory and walking alone, its usually good to make a lot of noise so they know you are coming. You've probably walked past a lot of them without ever knowing it, or chased them off. If you surprise them or come between them, that's usually when there could be some trouble. Actually, I am more used to black bears... Grizzly bears are a whole other type of creature and not something I am used to.
I just hand them a picnic basket and threaten to get the ranger.
That won't work, they are friends with the ranger, here's the proof!
(http://jellystonemarion.com/static/img/group.png)
Hey Boo Boo... what's in the pick-inic basket.
Quote from: Adam Roby on May 26, 2016, 04:48:25 PM
Unless you come between a mother bear and it's baby, there is little chance you will be in any real danger. Generally they scatter when they hear or see you.
Generally it is good to wear a brass bell and carry pepper spray when in bear territory, the bell so they hear you and the spray just in case - they hate pepper spray. It is also good to know the type of bear where you are, black or grizzly. Easiest way is to check the droppings. Black bear droppings are smaller, and usually contain bark and insect parts. Grizzly droppings are larger, and often contain brass bells and smell like pepper spray. :)
Quote from: old_guy on May 31, 2016, 12:35:55 PM
Generally it is good to wear a brass bell and carry pepper spray when in bear territory, the bell so they hear you and the spray just in case - they hate pepper spray. It is also good to know the type of bear where you are, black or grizzly. Easiest way is to check the droppings. Black bear droppings are smaller, and usually contain bark and insect parts. Grizzly droppings are larger, and often contain brass bells and smell like pepper spray. :)
LMFAO!
:)
Found another unbelievable score on Craigslist... 8 brand new windows for $250. They have grids in the top half which i'm not a fan of but I can live with it. All but two are exactly the size and configuration I was looking for but I can still work with them. My window/door estimate was $1500 from the local supplier so i'm more than excited about this find.
[shocked]
Way to score!
I love a good CL score... Another place I've used for discount windows are the Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations (http://www.habitat.org/restores/shop).
Ya... I spend a fair amount of time at Habitat. Trying to find enough of what I need is usually the problem... too many people around here that go "picking" there.
I did score what appears to be a brand new 5 burner GE Profile gas cooktop for my cabin there... started out @$125, didn't have the cash... 2 days later it was tagged for $85, I "bought" it but again didn't have the cash on me... came back the next day to pay for it and it was a Taco Tuesday sale day or something and I walked out the door paying $35... score.
Quote from: nailit69 on June 10, 2016, 05:45:56 AMI did score what appears to be a brand new 5 burner GE Profile gas cooktop for my cabin there... started out @$125, didn't have the cash... 2 days later it was tagged for $85, I "bought" it but again didn't have the cash on me... came back the next day to pay for it and it was a Taco Tuesday sale day or something and I walked out the door paying $35... score.
Good things come to those that wait... [cool]
Headed out tonight for 10 days up at my place. My dad brought his 5th wheel up there earlier this week so we have a place to stay, but more importantly... a place to shower. That long without "facilities" and things can get a little ripe... 3 days without is my max.
In an effort to save a few bucks i'm going to pick up my plate and studs on the flatbed trailer and keep the delivery to one load delivered on the boom truck when they set the ridge beam on Wednesday and they won't charge me a delivery fee just 1 hr truck time for the boom truck.
My "free gravel" guy dropped the ball... not so much as a shovel full... I figured as much d*.
We did it! Just got back into town late last night after spending 17 days working on our place. As soon as I can dig out the camera i'll post a few pics.
We were able to get the footings for the 2 porch roofs poured, get everything framed up, sheeted the walls and roof, Tyvek'd everything and installed 7 of the 8 windows and do a little dirt work. I didn't give it 100% everyday... only about 70% lol... things got done, just not at my normal pace. I came up a few studs short of getting my kitchen exterior wall framed up but it frames up under the porch roof anyway... it's all under cover and ready to roof, I just need to finish about 9' of walls and install fascia boards in a few weeks.
The "Blue Tarp" neighbor "Bill" turned out to be a huge help as did his buddy, another guy named "Larry" from the other side of the mountain. They were there around 730 or 800 almost every morning to help out and brought tools, ladders, cement mixer, water, etc.. I bought as much beer as they could drink and cooked every night for them. I really do owe those guys more than just my thanks... I don't think i'd be done yet without them. My dad was a huge help but he's 71 and just can't do as much he used to... he was in charge of giving out (sometimes unwanted) advice, dirt work, keeping the RV full of water, cooking, keeping the beer cold and mixing drinks.
I also managed to ride my dirtbike over 250 miles... I went for a ride almost every evening so that was a nice bonus and i'm glad I brought it, it allowed me to explore a lot of the mountain in a short amount of time, I know where the majority of the roads go to now.
Can't wait to see pictures. I've got my dad helping me put a new roof on my place in a week, while he's only 68, it still makes me nervous. His brain tells him he can still work like he's in his 40's, however his body is quick to remind him, that's not the case.
Trying to get my pics to upload to photobucket... my computer sucks sooooo bad.
Ya, my dad has always been pretty active and hands on when it comes to projects like this and in the last 2 or 3 years he's started getting tired after only a few hours of work, his strength is starting to fade, his grip is going, etc.. I think it's hard for him to sit back and watch rather than getting in up to his elbows in work.
Here's a couple of teasers
First wall up...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/DSCN0668_zpsjtex2iek.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/DSCN0668_zpsjtex2iek.jpg.html)
Glu-Lam set and mostly framed up and ready for rafters...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/DSCN0693_zpswfeebyvl.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/DSCN0693_zpswfeebyvl.jpg.html)
Putting up a couple of rafters...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/DSCN0698_zpsuhmmv9uv.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/DSCN0698_zpsuhmmv9uv.jpg.html)
Porch rafters...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/DSCN0715_zpshl1p7rsb.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/DSCN0715_zpshl1p7rsb.jpg.html)
Working the other side...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/DSCN0723_zpsj7ywelzw.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/DSCN0723_zpsj7ywelzw.jpg.html)
Loft floor beams...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/DSCN0701_zpsoxf9xlxr.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/DSCN0701_zpsoxf9xlxr.jpg.html)
Putting the first sheets down...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/DSCN0729_zpsioi87sqm.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/DSCN0729_zpsioi87sqm.jpg.html)
Finished with the roof...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160716_063351_zps2qzttxez.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160716_063351_zps2qzttxez.jpg.html)
Last of the wall sheeting...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/DSCN0735_zpsbtnmctrv.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/DSCN0735_zpsbtnmctrv.jpg.html)
Going to cover that popout with stone veneer...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/DSCN0738_zpshjnuxwmh.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/DSCN0738_zpshjnuxwmh.jpg.html)
A couple of windows in the loft...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/DSCN0743_zpszddodnzt.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/DSCN0743_zpszddodnzt.jpg.html)
There's more... I just need to remember which camera they're on.
I was able to get a full 4/12 pitch on the porch roofs which is better than the 3/12 I thought I was going to get although I had to drop the beam to roughly 84" A.F.F. to do it which cuts down on the view a little but it's not the end of the world. The bottom of the loft floor beams are a little lower than I wanted too at around 84" but I didn't want to lose anymore height in the loft. I tried to save money and only do the necessary framing for now and didn't frame the loft floor yet.
In all, i'm happy with how it turned out and it lays out a little bigger than I had envisioned so that's nice too. With the basement, main floor and loft, it comes in at around 896 sq. ft. which is bigger than the house I live in now.
Your place looks awesome. What are you thinking for siding?
Did you put hangers on the glulam to rafter connection?
I love your build, thanks for taking the time to take and share all the photos. I couldn't believe the extra work you did on the popouts, I don't have much experience with block, but that looked like a lot of extra work. I do think it will be worth it where you cover the end popout with rock -- that is going to look incredible.
Thanks again and keep the posts coming - I'm really enjoying following along with your build.
Quote from: NathanS on July 20, 2016, 06:55:38 PM
Your place looks awesome. What are you thinking for siding?
Did you put hangers on the glulam to rafter connection?
Thinking about vertical siding... either a board and batt or 8" "channel" and then i'm going to burn it like I did the posts and beams/rafters. I'm hoping it looks 50 yrs. old the day I get it sided.
I haven't installed the hardware yet. Simpson has a new hanger that installs after the rafters are up... sort of a cross between a structural joist hanger and the old rafter hangers... it slips on afterwards and toenails through the rafter. I do need to come up with a hanger for the porch rafters that doesn't show, I don't want my burnt beams covered in advertising for Simpson.
Quote from: OzarkBrandon on July 20, 2016, 11:03:34 PM
I love your build, thanks for taking the time to take and share all the photos. I couldn't believe the extra work you did on the popouts, I don't have much experience with block, but that looked like a lot of extra work. I do think it will be worth it where you cover the end popout with rock -- that is going to look incredible.
Thanks again and keep the posts coming - I'm really enjoying following along with your build.
Thanks for checking it out...
Although they were a real pain, they're worth it. I did the popouts for a few reasons, extra space mainly, but I have to agree that the stone will look amazing when it's done. I need to find a nice skull with horns or antlers to put on that wall when it's done.
Awesome! Cant wait to see how you fit out the interior!
Wow, that was a productive couple of weeks. It looks great, and I'm really digging the panoramic view. Any photos from the loft windows to share?
Oh yeah, how heavy was the glu-lam?
Quote from: ChugiakTinkerer on July 21, 2016, 12:08:25 PM
Wow, that was a productive couple of weeks. It looks great, and I'm really digging the panoramic view. Any photos from the loft windows to share?
Oh yeah, how heavy was the glu-lam?
It could've been more productive and we'd have been back sooner but it's hard to leave... I kept saying "let's stay another day"... we had 10 days set aside for the trip and spent an extra week there.
No pics from the loft... not a lot to see from that side except trees.
I think the Glu-lam weighed in around 400-450 pounds... I could pick up one end waist high but I don't think I could've got it any higher than that though, the lumber company set it in place with a knuckle boom truck.
Here's a couple more pics of the inside without all the braces and the covered porches.
The driveway side... I'm planning on cutting the grade down about 1' which should generate enough material to level off the lower driveway
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160716_063451_zpsaj5udz5a.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160716_063451_zpsaj5udz5a.jpg.html)
Looking east...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160716_063509_zpstwwwd3bi.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160716_063509_zpstwwwd3bi.jpg.html)
The view from the "living room"...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160716_063532_zpso8v98f2l.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160716_063532_zpso8v98f2l.jpg.html)
Another one...
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160716_063635_zpsrecexvqg.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160716_063635_zpsrecexvqg.jpg.html)
Ran this poor fella over with my dirtbike... never even saw him. It was about 930pm when I came back down the road and saw it so I went back at 6am the next morning to take a pic.
(https://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l548/nailit69/20160717_070724_zpsjl05hmsz.jpg) (https://s1123.photobucket.com/user/nailit69/media/20160717_070724_zpsjl05hmsz.jpg.html)
What are the dimensions on those loft beams? I like the look.
Oh and well done. Things are looking good and it looks like you are enjoying the process as well as working hard. That view east is killer.
The loft beams (and the floor beams) are 4"x10"x14' with 2"x8" joists @ 16"o.c. spanning about 8'-0". The floor is stout as hell with no detectable bounce. I'm super stoked that I didn't have to put posts anywhere inside.
I really have enjoyed every minute of this project, even as difficult as it's been getting things there and the amount of work involved. I've been a carpenter for almost 30 years and this is the first place i've ever built for myself.
One thing I really like about the area is the incredible views in every direction and around every corner and from every hill/mountain top... I really need a GoPro or something cuz it's impossible to take pics of everything there is to see.
Made it back out to the cabin for a few days to get my place dried in before winter sets in. I just about choked on the price of the roofing... $400 more than i had budgeted but its the GAF Timberline HD 30yr that has a 10yr replacement on material and labor. I have to go back in a few weeks and wrap up a couple of things I didn't have time for but the material is onsite so all i have to do is get there. At least all projects from now on are low priority and i can do as much or as little as I have time for.
Not using metal? I find Midway Building Supply has excellent prices.
Quote from: OlJarhead on September 29, 2016, 01:51:16 PM
Not using metal? I find Midway Building Supply has excellent prices.
Couldn't really afford it... $2500 just for material... next time.
Quote from: nailit69 on September 29, 2016, 01:56:21 PM
Couldn't really afford it... $2500 just for material... next time.
Hmmmm seems awfully high! I spent $570 covering 24 feet by 10'6".....that would put covering a 14x24 cabin around $1k......which is about what I paid if memory serves.
Did you check at Midway? I'm using 24" Delta Rib
I wanted standing seam... that was the Midway price and i also have 500sq. ft. of covered porches. Comp. will probably be fine for now. When i have a handle on the other priority projects i may go with metal in a few years.
Well... it's almost that time of year again. Been busy gathering up parts and pieces for the cabin and getting it loaded on the trailer and ready to go. Got my water tanks cleaned and the parts to connect it together, ordered a new instant hot water heater and 12v RV pump so we can have hot showers. Decided to add an old-fashioned hand crank pitcher pump in the makeshift kitchen so we don't have to run the pump to get water.
Also picked up a small solar setup that will probably be adequate for now... its a wimpy 45 watts but if it'll charge a battery enough to run the pump for 10-15 minutes a day a car stereo for a few hours a day it'll be plenty.
I also salvaged 47- 20' pieces of composite decking from a job a friend is doing... nothing wrong with it... sunfaded but perfect for the cabin.
I'm going to make a trip up north to stockpile it all so i don't have to bring a ton of stuff every time I go.
Updates and pics coming soon!!!
[cool]
Long overdue update...
Been a little while since I posted anything new on the hill. I wound up taking a great job back in southern Oregon and have been busy with that and looking for a new place to build down here.
The cabin is coming together nicely and is to a point where we can go without having to bring everything under the sun with us. Perimeter is secure and all the comforts of home are there like heat, gas cooktop, water, shower, toilet, television, solar and wind power, etc..
I got a 8x20 deck and an 8x8 landing and stairs built and used some free Trex I salvaged off a job to cover it, half of my loft floor is framed up and I'll finish it off next time I'm there along with siding, which I'm excited to see go on. I'm also hoping to get my woodstove in as well. I've got all the electrical supplies onsite to wire it for a generator but will probably focus on exterior projects first. We keep moving our fence line out each time we go so maybe in 2 years I'll have that where and how I want it.
The neighbor isn't doing so well and this might be his last year up there... I took a bunch of material and insulation up this year and framed up a 12x16 cabin for him but my dad said he hasn't done anything to it since then. Kind of a bummer, I was starting to like the guy.
My dad is keeper of the keys and is going up a few times a year to keep it up... I'm only going about twice a year but for 10 days at a time usually.
Until next year or I start something down in Oregon... Peace