"There are as many ways to build a log home (or any other kind) as there are people to build them". Every one is unique and personal. The lesson of this video is not the build but the persistence, dedication and...well...heart...to see it through. A HUGE tip-of-the-hat to you, your wife, kids and others that helped along the way. The journey through life is not an easy one...but sometimes a dream (even if it takes 7 years or longer) pays off. Job WELL DONE (even if it really never ends).
Although I’ve watched most of your journey…step by step, this was an incredible video bringing it all together!! You and Julie did an amazing job and created a beauty of a home!! ❤❤❤
Congratulations! I watched your videos years ago and found the naysayers commenting to be completely unreasonable in dismissing the dream you were clearly devoted to. I'm glad to have checked back in to see you finished your beautiful home. Are you satisfied or are there things that you would change that weren't forseen, like with the build itself or maintenance? Again, nice work!
thanks! yes, we are moved in, still working on finishing it. but yeah - wish we would've gone with an oil based stain in the first place - I have to sand blast off the remains of it before I can switch to oil. but I hear as long as I maintain the oil stain, I can just wash and re-apply next time (without sandblasting). Let's see - what else - we built on piers - I wouldn't change that - but this winter was brutally cold - colder than anyone remembers - and the wind just seemed to blow right through that open crawlspace. so now we're looking to spray foam the entire underside. I'd like to close in the crawlspace at the same time, but might not get to it before winter. And yes, the logs shrink - our kitchen cabinets (attached to logs) have pulled back about 1/2" from where they were, leaving a big unpainted stretch of wall. I don't know how you get around that - we didn't have anywhere else to attach them. Other than that, I'm pretty happy with how things turned out, thanks for asking! Would I do it again? yes.
@@bawhjth awesome! Just a couple of suggestions are to weigh not closing in the crawl space. A number of reasons, but the main is with pest control, which you can do yourself. I used to do pest control on the side. Controlling ground pests is as simple as limiting their access to the house which are those piers. A once a month treatment around them keeps the bugs off. Put a continuous fan-spray half on the block and half on the ground around the perimeter of each for a barrier and at least a day before rain. It can be used the same on the wood itself around the bottom corner perimeter in/outside if ever needed to drive them away. Insect/termiticides are available for non agricultural license use (private property) and are probably at your local hardware store. A bottle is around 50-100 bucks and lasts years. Natural mixtures are perfectly fine too! Just mix with water in a pump sprayer and wear some gloves. Bugs are largely inactive during winter so you may consider making some nice panels to put around at that time as a wind barrier or simply planting bushes helps break up the wind. A cat or two keeps rodents away and therefore snakes. All critters are drawn to that much wood lol. Spray foaming the underside will make a complete difference, but be careful. Some of the foams have destroyed wood from the chemicals. So go with a known brand or getting those ploy-whatever or similar blocks you used before on the roof will do about the same if cut to fit and held by straps. Even better if using wood slats/sheeting underneath. I did a double subfloor and sheeted underneath fiberglass insulated joists on a stilted addition one time and it stayed warmer than the house lol. Man I know you're thrilled with the home!
This is really great, Brian! John and I visited and toured over a year ago, before any front steps, and not much on the inside but the floors. Really loved the video and seeing the finished project.
@@DBowTX sure - this is traditional mortar chinking - it should last pretty much forever, due to the method of installing nails and lath first. I have a pic of some 60 year old chinking that's been through a 6.5 earthquake and is still intact. that synthetic stuff should be avoided, IMO.
"There are as many ways to build a log home (or any other kind) as there are people to build them". Every one is unique and personal. The lesson of this video is not the build but the persistence, dedication and...well...heart...to see it through. A HUGE tip-of-the-hat to you, your wife, kids and others that helped along the way. The journey through life is not an easy one...but sometimes a dream (even if it takes 7 years or longer) pays off. Job WELL DONE (even if it really never ends).
I'm still amazed at the work you did over all those years. Awesome accomplishment!
Thanks for sharing your family passion with us. It turned out really nice! Best Wishes & Blessings. Keith Noneya
Although I’ve watched most of your journey…step by step, this was an incredible video bringing it all together!! You and Julie did an amazing job and created a beauty of a home!! ❤❤❤
thank you! very kind words!
Congratulations! I watched your videos years ago and found the naysayers commenting to be completely unreasonable in dismissing the dream you were clearly devoted to. I'm glad to have checked back in to see you finished your beautiful home. Are you satisfied or are there things that you would change that weren't forseen, like with the build itself or maintenance? Again, nice work!
thanks! yes, we are moved in, still working on finishing it. but yeah - wish we would've gone with an oil based stain in the first place - I have to sand blast off the remains of it before I can switch to oil. but I hear as long as I maintain the oil stain, I can just wash and re-apply next time (without sandblasting). Let's see - what else - we built on piers - I wouldn't change that - but this winter was brutally cold - colder than anyone remembers - and the wind just seemed to blow right through that open crawlspace. so now we're looking to spray foam the entire underside. I'd like to close in the crawlspace at the same time, but might not get to it before winter. And yes, the logs shrink - our kitchen cabinets (attached to logs) have pulled back about 1/2" from where they were, leaving a big unpainted stretch of wall. I don't know how you get around that - we didn't have anywhere else to attach them. Other than that, I'm pretty happy with how things turned out, thanks for asking! Would I do it again? yes.
@@bawhjth awesome! Just a couple of suggestions are to weigh not closing in the crawl space. A number of reasons, but the main is with pest control, which you can do yourself. I used to do pest control on the side. Controlling ground pests is as simple as limiting their access to the house which are those piers. A once a month treatment around them keeps the bugs off. Put a continuous fan-spray half on the block and half on the ground around the perimeter of each for a barrier and at least a day before rain. It can be used the same on the wood itself around the bottom corner perimeter in/outside if ever needed to drive them away. Insect/termiticides are available for non agricultural license use (private property) and are probably at your local hardware store. A bottle is around 50-100 bucks and lasts years. Natural mixtures are perfectly fine too! Just mix with water in a pump sprayer and wear some gloves. Bugs are largely inactive during winter so you may consider making some nice panels to put around at that time as a wind barrier or simply planting bushes helps break up the wind. A cat or two keeps rodents away and therefore snakes. All critters are drawn to that much wood lol. Spray foaming the underside will make a complete difference, but be careful. Some of the foams have destroyed wood from the chemicals. So go with a known brand or getting those ploy-whatever or similar blocks you used before on the roof will do about the same if cut to fit and held by straps. Even better if using wood slats/sheeting underneath. I did a double subfloor and sheeted underneath fiberglass insulated joists on a stilted addition one time and it stayed warmer than the house lol. Man I know you're thrilled with the home!
Thanks for the shout out, my favorite part was you doing the insulated roof and the ridge pole, you did it one piece at a time very exciting
yeah, thought my knees were going to fall off - up and down the ladder for months. crazy times...
Awesome accomplishment! Great video! "Cb85" provided the link to see this!
awesome, thanks!
So awesome! Beautiful. Wow. Finally. I know. Great job. Such an inspiration.
Your video is phenomenal. Wow! Beautiful home - what an accomplishment. Congratulations!
thank you!
This is really great, Brian! John and I visited and toured over a year ago, before any front steps, and not much on the inside but the floors. Really loved the video and seeing the finished project.
thank you, this is really nice to hear!
Awesome and inspirational!
What’s the dimensions? And how many logs did you use?
it's a 40x40 two story home. 64 wall logs. 28 rafters. 31 4x12 floor joists for 2nd floor. I just used 2x12's for the first floor (96)
Awesome Brian! How'd you splice your caplogs?
just pinned them up there with the ends touching. probably should have done a lap joint or something, but rebar is pretty strong.
You and your wife done an awesome job! Enjoyed your story. Cheers.
thank you!
A fantastic looking Home, well done to you all.
Thank you!
Can't imagine the maintenance on those walls! Haven't made it to the end yet so maybe its addressed.
Clint B sent me here.
just needs stain every 5 years. roof overhangs are quite large (8' on gables, 4' on eaves), and we are adding a wrap-around porch.
@@bawhjth what about the chinking? My understanding was that it was replaced /renewed almost yearly? Or is that traditional?
@@DBowTX sure - this is traditional mortar chinking - it should last pretty much forever, due to the method of installing nails and lath first. I have a pic of some 60 year old chinking that's been through a 6.5 earthquake and is still intact. that synthetic stuff should be avoided, IMO.