Getting ready for railing

Another gorgeous day in the mountains... and I've started the exterior deck and porch railing. I thought it would be a good idea to make at least one section before the 'boss' arrives from Raleigh tomorrow. What you're looking at is a typical rail system with an atypical use of wire fencing. We looked at a number of rail systems and the one thing that we didn't like about most was that the railing hid the view. We happened upon the idea to use a pressure treated frame with cattle fencing as the 'filler'. As you can see...you can "see" and that is exactly what we wanted. Nothing worst than building a great cabin that overlooks the mountains and then the railing spoils the view.

 You'll notice that you can clearly see all of the background detail through the fencing. This helps keep the view open at all times.

It almost looks like there's no railing...just what we wanted.

My assistant, the 'boss' will be arriving tomorrow and spending a week with me. I have a bunch of projects for the two of us to accomplish while I have the extra hand.

I sure miss the 'boss'!

more coming,
z

Rail Time

Went to Raleigh for a few days but back now and starting the rail system for the cabin. The rails for the loft are will include a 2x6 top cap (once the rails are complete). This photo shows the start of the rail system at the loft. I'll be adding rhododendron twigs between the top and bottom rail in the next few days.


Each section post is bolted to the floor and glued. Once attached, it ain't going anywhere! I'm glad to be starting these rails because we've had an unprotected area that's 10' to the floor below...ouch!

I'm working the rails from the top down and from the bottom up. They all converge and mate into the tree at the top of the stairs.

Tomorrow I'll add the bottom rail to the stairs (photo to the left). Once the bottom rail is in place then I'll start adding the rhododendron twigs. It will make more sense once the twigs are in place.

I'll do a better job getting posts out. I've been working but slowly so I might post every few days to make it look like I've accomplished something.

More coming,
z

High flying

Spent most of today flying at about 20'. The highest point of the interior wall is finished (thank goodness).

I must have made 20 trips up the ladder to finish this wall. Had to go up, take measurements, come down, cut the wood, go back up and install each piece. Best plan was NOT to look down!

I have an appointment in the morning then I'll be back to continue installing the pine walls. I can see the end. It's actually starting to look like a cabin.

More coming,
z

A snail just passed me!

I know, "what happened, he dropped off the end of the world"...No, I'm still plugging away. Believe it or not but the interior work takes the longest and moves like very slowly.

First of all, the cement board was added to the fireplace. Cement board allows the rock with mortar base to stick. As you can see, there's going to be a neat looking fireplace as a focal point in the cabin. The plan is to use flat stones for the hearth and stacked stones for the fireplace and chimney.

The photo of the fireplace opening is the first floor fireplace exposure and the smaller photo is from the loft level to the ceiling.

I was treated to a visit from two of my favorite girls, Darlene and Marlene (mar & Dar are sisters). Mar flew up from Miami to Raleigh and then they drove to the cabin to spend 4 days with me. I can't tell you how much it meant to me to see them. I truly love the mountains but without my main squeeze (and her sister), it's downright difficult. I have so much to share and nobody to share it with...that all changes in June when Dar moves up for good!!!!

You might remember a few posts back when I was harvesting old barn wood. Well, the barn wood made it to the cabin and ultimately to a spraying of a product called TimBor. Basically it kills any bug-a-boos that remain in or on the wood. Non-toxic, so I can chew it and not get sick.

This is a shot of the barn wood drying after a coat of TimBor.

 And the photos to the right and below are of the barn wood in place as wainscoting. There will be a top cap to the wainscoting and a bottom baseboard.


 Each piece is cut to fit. The effect is very rustic looking. Once it's completed the walls will be installed above it to complete the wood wall interior.

This barn wood is about 100 years old. It's still in remarkable shape. Every cut I made produced a solid piece of wood.

They don't make lumber like they used to!

More coming,
z

Rhododendron and Cedar

I received a call recently from a guy in Laurel Springs that has a slew of Rhododendron bushes and wants to clear some of them out. We'll be using the branches / twigs to make the railing for the stair system. Basically, you take the twigs and interlock them to fill the space between the top rail and the bottom rail of the stair handles.

I loaded as much as I could safely transport. Once back at the cabin, I pruned all of the leaves off and set the branches aside for use later.

Today (Saturday) I spent the day prepping an unusual three topped cedar post for the bottom post to the stair system and also set several of the pine posts. The next step will be to fit the top and bottom rails between each post and then start adding the Rhododendron twigs as filler. The posts all get cut shorter after I'm happy that everything fits. I'll post some photos soon and it will make more sense.

More coming,
z

The Great Wall of Maple Tree

More walls today. I know what you're thinking..."is he ever going to be finished with 'the walls'". The answer is YES, but just not at this moment in time. I'm working through the wood for walls and each day gets more walls installed. I suspect that within the next 2 weeks, the walls will be finished!

This is a view as you top the stairs onto the loft and master suite area. This is the end of the 1" x 10" pine. I'll start tomorrow with 1" x 6" tongue and groove pine for the remainder of walls (except the master bathroom that gets drywall).

You'll see, real soon, the install of the very old barn wood wainscoting for the living room and dining room (I know you'll be excited). This photo shows the barn wood on the barn before I harvested it.

More coming,
z

Warm at last

I mentioned a few months ago that my friend Junior gave me a small pot belly stove that belonged to his late father-in-law who I knew as well. My original plan was to use it in the workshop but instead decided to use it in the cabin initially as a conversation piece but maybe as a functioning stove down the road.

Before Junior gave me the stove I had already bought one, per above paragraph, and today I hitched it up and ran a test fire. Everything went as planned. It even raised the workshop temp from 40 to 48 during the short test.

This stove is an 'Atlanta' wood stove and other than flipping the stove pipe connector (below the white label on the stove pipe), it appears to be working well. I had to extend the stove pipe 2' above the edge of the roof to insure a good draft. That was the tough part...but now it's done and I can enjoy some warmth on those cold days that keep me in the workshop.

 This photo was taken Friday. I kept Tim's scaffolding until Saturday so I could finish the trim around the ceiling fan in the living room. The trim includes poplar bark and twigs for the ceiling mount. It's about 16' high and the scaffold made the job much easier. I took the scaffold back to Tim's house Saturday.

Tomorrow (Monday) it's back to work on the walls. It should go smoothly because all the subs are finished and I can rock 'n roll without interruption.

More coming,
z