Monthly Archives: May 2012

May 31, 2012

Building a log home (Part 3- Trusses on the roof)

By Mike Knoche

Truss day.  Lots of people to help stand these trusses.  Fairbanks Truss manage to get down the narrow driveway.  We laid this out and cut some blocking the previous day.  To see the double wall construction link back to “…Part 2“  of this home.

The longest truss is 28 feet.  They are all 11 1/2 feet tall.

Swinging out over the guest cabin.

The boom did not have the reach to get across to the west gable end so we set them down as close as we could, sheeted the gable end, and stood it.  We built a temporary wall in the center of the room to support the truss peaks.

There are no photos while rolling trusses because everyone needs to be on task.  Taking pictures is a distraction.

Above- The east gable end is sheeted on the ground before operator Jay put this lat one exactly into place with no adjustments necessary. He’s done this a couple times.

Above and below gable shot before and after sheeted gable went up.

Eve on.

South side sheeted with 5/8 inch CDX plywood.

A little head scratching on another architectural detail above the bay.

Below is the detail worked out.

Roof is sheeted and ready for felt (tar paper).  We should have that done and some tin on the roof today.  Photos of the finished roof next Thursday. Any questions?

Thanks for visiting.  Please see the Straight Ahead Construction, llc website for more information or like us on Facebook.

Contact info@straightaheadconstructionllc.com or call (907)978-3344 for a free estimate.

Straight Ahead Construction, llc is a locally owned, licensed, bonded, insured Fairbanks, Alaska remodeler and general contractor.

 

3 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Building a log home, DIY, Homes

May 23, 2012

Building a log home (Part 2- Floor and Walls)

By Mike Knoche

The second story deck of this Fairbanks, Alaska log home is down.  In the previous post “Building a log home (Part 1- The Plan)”,  there are photos showing the logs and beams before this deck went down.  Here is a scan of the floor plan sketch.


The deck consists of 2X6 T&G flooring with 1 1/8″ plywood over the top.  The T&G makes and attractive ceiling downstairs and then plywood provides a strong sub floor.

Now the plywood

  

The south wall goes up.  We put Tyvek on in advance for two reasons.  First, its just easier to have it on and tape the corners.  Second because of the log “eyebrow” shield at the bottom of the wall. The eyebrow helps protect the log from weather.  Though Tyvek is commonly used for finish siding in Goldstream Valley we will use it for its intended purpose and side the place in the fall or spring.

A few shots of the eyebrow detail.

We put the steel roofing and flashing on nearly all of the eyebrow to reduce ladder time later.

The bay walls

Here is the double wall detail from inside a window opening.  The walls are spaced 11 7/8 inches at the outside edge.  We will blow in insulation creating an r-38 wall.

A view of the bay double wall before top plating.

Top plates are on.  We will lay it out and get ready for trusses the first week in June.  These walls are so sturdy already that the normal bracing used seems overkill.

Keep your eye out for Part 3 where the 12/12 (45 degree) pitch roof goes on and you see me on the ground the whole time.

Thanks for visiting.  Please see the Straight Ahead Construction, llc website for more information or like us on Facebook.

Contact info@straightaheadconstructionllc.com or call (907)978-3344 for a free estimate.

Straight Ahead Construction, llc is a locally owned, licensed, bonded, insured Fairbanks, Alaska remodeler and general contractor.

 

 

2 comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Building a log home, Homes

May 18, 2012

A screened-in porch gives you a mosquito free summer

By Mike Knoche

A screened in porch is a great idea in Fairbanks.  Be outside, get out of the weather, and away from the mosquitoes whenever you want.  Don’t get me wrong, I love a deck but a covered and screened in deck gives you more options for escaping the indoors when the nice weather rolls in.

This is the original deck.

The original hand rail was torn off to make way for the new.

We rolled on screen after the new hand rail was installed.

The screened in porch was trimmed with cedar using a red cedar stain(“Superdecks” stain, recommended).  Next year we will add another deck a few feet below and in front of the current deck.  The future door is framed in between the two wider screen sections of the current deck. The stairs to the future deck will drop 30 inches the the lower, open deck from the deck you can see now.  We will remove the  current stairs (to the right) and connect the two level deck to the ground level.  When the house is painted (barn red) we will do steel fascia (black) there and add it to the porch.

Here is a view of the new space from the inside.

Time for a mosquito free bar-b-q.

Have fun,

Mike

P.S. Please take a look at this log home project

5 comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Decks, Remodels

May 4, 2012

Building a log home (Part 1- The Plan)

By Mike Knoche

Stick framing a second story on a log home is going to be an interesting project this summer.  In this first phase we will take this house from it current state (below) to a finished roof.  It will be double wall construction with one foot of cellulose insulation in the walls (r-38). Good thinking for Fairbanks, Alaska winters. There will be more details about the walls and roof line in future posts.

This scan of the basement floor plan shows the shape of the foundation.

This home has an insulated concrete form (ICF) foundation under the log structure.  The logs were cut and stacked offsite before being delivered and re-set on the foundation.  Tom Sorensen, local expert log builder, and his crew  stacked these logs.

The ICF’s and logs from the west.

Logs walls from interior (below). Note the joints in the prow (angled bay, right photo)…these are not easy to produce and you can hardly slip a piece of paper between the logs they are so tight. Tom, Justin, and Jeremy built tight log structures.

A couple shots from the top of the log wall.

The 2X6 structure in the above photo supported a tarp system to keep the logs from getting weathered and will be removed as the second story floor goes down.  The log beams running perpendicular to the long floor support beams are for the stair opening.  Brady, one of Tom’s hands, does some touch up sanding in advance of the floor going down so the grinder does not hit the tongue and groove (T&G) ceiling.


Above is a nice shot of the prow I mentioned before.  This bay will have a nice large window in it on both floors.  Again you can see the perpendicular beam that will support the floor around the stair opening.

We will be laying down the floor in the coming days so we can get the measurements for the roof trusses.  I will update this project weekly on Thursdays as we get into it.  Please feel free to leave comments here or on FB.

Cheers

3 comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in DIY, Homes

May 4, 2012

Master bathroom with walk in shower and glass door.

By Mike Knoche

I was sub contracted to do the tile work on this job and came back to take a photo with the vanity installed.  The owners are thrilled with the whole thing.

All of the tile backer and sheet rock were hung, prepped, and painted between my visits.

This next pic just shows the tile up and being grouted.  For tips to grouting link back to post “Avoiding grout haze”

And voila, done.

OK. Its time to have a professional take some photos of my work.

Remember to share photos with your friends.  Its appreciated.

1 comment   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Remodels

May 4, 2012

New stairs and handrail give new life to an old deck

By Mike Knoche

I go back and forth between liking and not liking handrails on a deck.  Not having one leaves the space feeling open but…

This handrail (and new set of stairs) really gives this log home a finished look. I like it.

3 comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Decks, Testimonials

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