Problem Solving

The Problem: How to get up to the top of the ridge pole to pin it - safely!!
It was nightfall Saturday when at last the ridge pole was in position, but we were all puzzled. How could we get almost 30 feet in the air with no safely lines in place? We decided that we needed a 40 foot ladder.
But by Monday, Blane had another idea. He could strap a 12 ft. ladder to the top of the house.

It is safer than it looks. After strapping the bottom of the ladder to the top of the wall, we climbed up and strapped the top to the ridge pole. That ladder won't move! Then Blane Jr. attaches a safety rope to the lifting pole and pins the one side or the ridge pole to the RPSL (ridge pole support log) with rebar.

These things make Mom a bit nervous, but with a safety harness it's not too bad.

Next Blane Jr. wraps a chain around the ridge pole and clips his harness into it and scoots across to attach the safety line to the other lifting log.

With the safety line now in place, we need to raise the center RPSL into place and then we will start on the rafters which need to be planed and stained on the ground first before lifting them into place. 12 x 4 x 25 feet rafters will be another challenge to get into place, but our problem solving skills are improving!

Many Hands and Minds Continued

Daniel also came to help Saturday morning. Thanks Daniel!

We used the lifting poles to lift the ridge pole and set it on top of the wall to wait to be put into place later.

Next, Blane Jr. climbs the RPSL to trim them to the right size. 

Then, we moved two of the lifting poles from the corners to the center and strapped them to the RPSL for use in raising the ridge pole into position.

Lastly we got the ridge pole up. Yipee!!!

It would have taken us weeks to do what we got done in 3 days with a little help from our now life-long friends. Thanks again guys and gals.

Many Hands and Minds

Ron and Shelia from Mississippi arrived on Thursday and stayed for three days to help. Mark came from Benton, NC on Friday and Saturday. Gary and Cindy came from TN on Friday, and Jay came on Saturday. Because most everything we did on those three days had to be carefully thought through, it was great to have not only the extra hands but it helped to put our heads together too. A big thank you to everyone!!!

Here is what we accomplished:
First we got the two outside ridge pole support logs (RPSL) up and strapped into place.

Then secured to the wall with "all-thread". Here is Mark drilling through the wall and the RPSL.

Next we cut out holes to slide the girder log through. It was not as easy as it sounds because there was rebar running down through the center of the holes. We will plan better with the rebar next time. The girder log supports the second floor.

Ron trimming up the girder log.

Here is the girder log being pulled into place with Blane Jr. guiding.

Next the girder support log was put in the center on top of rebar and pinned at the top with rebar.

All in two days work!

Update

Since the last update we have finished the walls of the house! It has been a long process that we started in November of last year. We have battled with the weather. If it was raining it was not safe to work, if it  snowed we couldn't work, also a bad storm came through and did a lot of damage to the property and we had to take time off from working on the house to clean up, but we kept going through all of it and finally got it finished. Our next task will be to erect the ridge pole support logs and set the ridge pole. Also, we have to put in the girder support for the second floor. Please pray that God will continue to protect us from harm, and that we will make good time on finishing the house.     

Update

Since my last update we have managed to move ahead. After the snow melted, the ground was deep mud and we thought it might be Spring before we could continue, but we took advantage of the freezing temperatures and started at sunrise to drag logs in place. Usually by 10:00 am the ground would thaw and bring work to a halt.

We are now thankful for the warmer temperatures and dry weather. The ground has dried and logs are going up more quickly now. We are in the middle of the ninth course now and the logs measure 11 feet high. We estimate we will need 16 or 18 courses depending on their measurement. Courses need to be in even rounds.

With the triple block and tackle, Blane Jr. can easily hoist himself to the top.

Blane and Blane Jr.

Blane, Gabriella and Christiana

Mom is looking for the right color scheme to use in decorating the interior. Hard work indeed compared to stacking logs. We will show you the colors soon.

Weather Delay

We have three courses of logs and 1 log on the fourth course and 11 inches of snow. It is going to take quite a while to dry up enough to be able to return to work on the cabin. In the meanwhile, we have enjoyed our time together as a family and have caught up on some much needed rest.

You can see some of the awesome views we will have from our cabin. I can't wait to sit out on the front porch and worship the Creator.

Foundational Logs are in Place

What an exciting day!!! We stacked our first five logs today thanks to Philip, Tim, Chris and Jeff. They went on really easy. We stagger cut the rebar and drill the holes an 1/8 inch larger and it couldn't have gone any easier.

Gabby, Christiana, Conner, Charla, Philip, Blane, Sr., Blane, Jr., Lance, Chris, Brandon, Jeff and Tim

Using block and tackle, we tied off to two 4WD vehicles to raise the logs and two guys with ropes pulled them to get drilled holes fitted onto the rebar.

First log being lowered into place

Preparing to lift the second log

Third log going into place

Blane, Jr. drilling the holes to thread the rebar through

The final foundational log being guided onto the rebar

After our helpers left, Blane and Blane, Jr. were able to get a fifth log in place and pinned down.

It was a very good and productive day with no injuries except for a few sore backs and muscles. Thank you God!