Author Topic: My Cabin Build/Reno (Read 64161 times)

Sammconn · « **Reply #50 on:** August 17, 2015, 12:17:20 PM »

Quote from: Flyin6 on August 17, 2015, 11:09:38 AM

Quote from: Sammconn on August 16, 2015, 10:28:21 PM
Quote from: Flyin6 on August 16, 2015, 10:23:50 PM
No simple touch-up paint and renew!

I like the simplicity

How the thing is resting on RR ties

No its more like the homestead equivalent to a 'Fluid Change'. ::)
I'm chuckling right along with ya!

Excellent re do of a comfortable place

On thing I am thinking is the pitch (Or lack there of) of the sunroom roof. How much of a snow load does that carry now...Any concerns?

I figured that would garner a few chuckles!

On the snow load, no real concern, for whatever reason it doesn't collect on the front so much. (only a bit better than a foot)
As well, we normally don't get any of the real heavy wet stuff, that many see, we are so dry in the winter that the snow typically is light enough to blow everywhere.
It is only 8 feet span as well, I was originally concerned the first winter, as I could see the rot above.
The solar panel is now about 2 feet off the roof, and always stays above, as does the satellite dish, which is far lower.

Sammconn · « **Reply #51 on:** August 17, 2015, 10:23:55 PM »

So in order to satisfy any insurance company, I had to bite the bullet and replace the chimney.
After taking the old one out, it was a very good investment. The old one was plain done, insulation power-puffing out as I handled it.
So I ended up with a Supervent Selkirk Chimney.
Step 1 was to install the interior trim ring, which meant opening up the hole in the steel panel.

It was some serious tin, probably 14 or 16 gauge!
With the hole cut to size, the chimney support ring is installed inside the trim ring.

Due to our location, pictures of all the details were taken for the insurance companies, as none would actually come.
Here is the top side of the chimney support and framing.

Sammconn · « **Reply #52 on:** August 17, 2015, 10:27:23 PM »

First section of chimney in, attic heat shield in.

Then it was simply drop the chimney pieces in, 1/4 turn twist together, and band clamp the joints.

Sammconn · « **Reply #53 on:** August 17, 2015, 10:30:10 PM »

At this point, I'm just about 3 feet out of the roof opening, still not high enough for total height, but time to add the roof trim.

One more section, and the chimney cap. I could have used a two foot section, but not knowing exactly how it was all going to go together, I opted for three 3 foot sections. And being the extra foot high ensures the wind will move the smoke off no matter what.

Sammconn · « **Reply #54 on:** August 17, 2015, 10:35:16 PM »

With the outside done, time to move to the stove connection.
I went with the double wall stuff, just to keep things easy. It actually allows for half the clearance, but I wanted simple and no worries for a lot of years.
So, from the chimney is a 3 foot telescoping double wall pipe, which with the 3 feet 2 inches I am using is more like a quad wall. It is a 7" outlet on the stove, so at the chimney side of the elbow, a 7-6 reducer mates it all up.

Apparently I was in deep thought lining it all up when mama snapped this one.
And with that, the new and healthy chimney was ready for winter.

Sammconn · « **Reply #55 on:** August 17, 2015, 10:39:24 PM »

So with the big stuff out of the way, it was time to upgrade the shed.
Out with the old, using logs for rollers, and towing with the quad and winch.

And down to its summer home near the shoreline.

This old shed would become my dumpster for all things that will burn that I can fit in it.

Sammconn · « **Reply #56 on:** August 17, 2015, 10:45:57 PM »

So with the old shed gone, a new hole was created for the new one.
A bit of junk to clean up too!

Framing up the floor to make it rigid enough to level.

Sticks going vertical.

Sonny boy getting ready to help hoist rafters up.

Sammconn · « **Reply #57 on:** August 17, 2015, 10:50:11 PM »

Pretty well all closed in.

Sheathing all on, ready for a door.

Four feet of door hung. I went 5 1/2 feet on the door opening. Couple reasons, for access for things like quad with blade, and if for some reason a snowmobile needed work that couldn't wait.
Never mentioned, its 12 X 16, so not really a small shed, especially at a cabin.

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #58 on:** August 17, 2015, 10:51:40 PM »

Hey, a few posts back, I thought I saw a shirtless Vladimir Putin working on your deck!

Nice documentation and very cool project. Carry on!

Sammconn · « **Reply #59 on:** August 17, 2015, 10:53:08 PM »

Next up was more shingles... :-\

And stepping back, I've amassed quite a pile of junk.

Sammconn · « **Reply #60 on:** August 17, 2015, 10:54:40 PM »

Quote from: TexasRedNeck on August 17, 2015, 10:51:40 PM

Hey, a few posts back, I thought I saw a shirtless Vladimir Putin working on your deck!

Nice documentation and very cool project. Carry on!

Well, I've never been called Putin!

Been called a lot of things, but not late for dinner! 8)

Sammconn · « **Reply #61 on:** August 17, 2015, 10:56:36 PM »

So with the shed serviceable, time for wood shed redo.

Down with it and all of its rotten-ness.

Sammconn · « **Reply #62 on:** August 17, 2015, 10:58:49 PM »

Now being frugal, and without a hardware store, here are some more of the beams the boat tugged across.
As well, the old deck boards that were not shot, were re-purposed here.
The start of the floor.

SQUIRREL!

The new footprint for the wood shed.

Sammconn · « **Reply #63 on:** August 17, 2015, 11:00:27 PM »

So, it's just a wood shed, keep the firewood dry, so that which was salvageable was reused again.

Sammconn · « **Reply #64 on:** August 17, 2015, 11:04:42 PM »

On with more roof...I'm really getting tire of roofing by this point!

So tired, it was skipped...
I ran out of rolled roofing, and had to use 3 tab on this as well. It's too low slope for 3 tab, and does leak ever so slightly in the real heavy rains. I should fix this, but as of yet still have not.

Siding going on. did both the shed and wood shed at the same time.
Got a bit of a bow in the middle, stupid recycled parts, played optical illusion on me, until this piece of siding...

Sammconn · « **Reply #65 on:** August 17, 2015, 11:07:13 PM »

At the back of the shed, the generator gets it's own little garage.
When its 30 below and colder, I cover most of the opening to keep the little heat in that the generator produces.

More siding...

Trimming out the front.

Sammconn · « **Reply #66 on:** August 17, 2015, 11:08:18 PM »

And finishing it all up!

And the relief of DONE!

Sammconn · « **Reply #67 on:** August 17, 2015, 11:13:43 PM »

A couple random yard pictures from the summer of 2013.

All growing now and really thick.

Lake still and like glass.

Peaceful sunset from the dock.

And the random early October snow.

On the left near the lake, sits the shed, now filled to the roof, and piled high around.

KensAuto · « **Reply #68 on:** August 17, 2015, 11:19:38 PM »

Man, that's a bunch of work, but sure is lookin nice.

Sammconn · « **Reply #69 on:** August 17, 2015, 11:28:14 PM »

The summer of 2013 was bad for forest fires for us. These were taken some time between the cabin roof and siding.
Sorry this one is crappy, from the boat, as I knew this one was too close to town.
I was high-balling it to get my fire gear, expecting the worst. It was a controlled back burn that went bad.
Noticed from the roof, and went oh no, and was gone.

Sammconn · « **Reply #70 on:** August 17, 2015, 11:29:26 PM »

Quote from: KensAuto on August 17, 2015, 11:19:38 PM

Man, that's a bunch of work, but sure is lookin nice.

It was a brutal amount to take on for one year. But I was delusional thinking that I'll do it all now and be done.
Thanks, has been worth it.

Sammconn · « **Reply #71 on:** August 17, 2015, 11:34:39 PM »

My deputy chief and I, went for a ride to look at where the fires were. We are firefighters for work, but work with the local FD and EMO as required and requested.
Apparently once they lost control of the back burn, there were 12 bombers and at least 10 choppers immediately redirected to protect the town. They were already in the area fighting the other out of control parts of the fire, so it was a quick response.
We took our drive, to be rained upon, all kinds of soot, immediately pulled from the air.
One of the most surreal and ominous moments of my life, as the air changed.

the color doesn't quite do justice for the moment, but no editing done to these.

Sammconn · « **Reply #72 on:** August 17, 2015, 11:36:03 PM »

So, with the fear of town burning down over, back to the cabin, for another smoke reddened sunset.

Dawg25385 · « **Reply #73 on:** August 17, 2015, 11:43:28 PM »

That is a whole buncha work there brother... nice work! Fun to follow along

Sammconn · « **Reply #74 on:** August 17, 2015, 11:47:04 PM »

On the morning of September 1st, I decided enough of this work thing, and went to cut some trail.
The Island I'm on is in the area of one by four miles. My buddy has a cabin on the far side from me, already connected by a trail about 5-600 yards away from my place. We've said we need to get this trail in, for various reasons, so off I went to clear some bush. Now, about 300 yards from my place is a nice stand of birch, my favorite fire wood, so off I struck to the edge of the birch stand to start working back to the cabin.
Everything was going well, had about 30 yards cleared to the ground, working on the bigger stuff so I could start dragging it back with the quad. Well, it all went south for me, was in a willow bush, working a larger fallen tree, when I back barred a willow.
Smack, I though crap, that willow got me good!
Then I looked down and saw the leg of my sweats torn to shreds...
Oh No!, Yup, got me good, the chainsaw did.
So, the EMT in me kicks in, not bleeding, good...
Where the heck is the cabin, rut-row...
I'm not lost, just a fair jaunt through thick brush, with a heck of a hole in my knee, which I'm still unsure how useable it is.

Here's what was left of the sweats...

I'll stop the story here for the night.

Yall want to see the pictures?
Not all that gory, big ole hole in a knee, not really any blood, and it all turns out good.

I can carry on without these ones, maybe a medical corner post?
Lemme know how to proceed. ::)

Sammconn · « **Reply #75 on:** August 17, 2015, 11:49:24 PM »

Quote from: Dawg25385 on August 17, 2015, 11:43:28 PM

That is a whole buncha work there brother... nice work! Fun to follow along

It was awesome, and sucked all at once.
I spent the better part of a month out there to get it all looked after.
Some of the other cabin folks, were down right shocked their first trips out, and I'd already been there three weeks.

I'm the guy they ask if its time, spring and winter, and beat most out by a couple weeks on each end.

Dawg25385 · « **Reply #76 on:** August 17, 2015, 11:52:11 PM »

Nice being able to sit back at the end of the day and look at what you've done. Great feeling isn't it

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sammconn · « **Reply #77 on:** August 17, 2015, 11:55:53 PM »

Quote from: Dawg25385 on August 17, 2015, 11:52:11 PM

Nice being able to sit back at the end of the day and look at what you've done. Great feeling isn't it

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, and looking back, even though I'm still picking off the honey do list, I wouldn't change a thing.
Git-Er-Dun!
Then it's all easy from there.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #78 on:** August 18, 2015, 08:02:32 AM »

That was a crazy amount of work right there

I like everything

My favorite, heck, Liked the shed, the wood shed, the chimney, the redecking, the siding job, liked most all of it

You took care of everything except for the weeds!

Sammconn · « **Reply #79 on:** August 18, 2015, 09:30:34 AM »

Quote from: Flyin6 on August 18, 2015, 08:02:32 AM

That was a crazy amount of work right there

I like everything

My favorite, heck, Liked the shed, the wood shed, the chimney, the redecking, the siding job, liked most all of it

You took care of everything except for the weeds!

Wait for it...remember the lawn mower!

Atkinsmatt · « **Reply #80 on:** August 18, 2015, 09:55:11 AM »

Great looking place. Good work there.

Sammconn · « **Reply #81 on:** August 18, 2015, 03:10:23 PM »

So, having no protests, here is the beginning.

I will stop if there is an issue and move them elsewhere.

And after.

I'll throw the middle in if still no objections.

cudakidd53 · « **Reply #82 on:** August 18, 2015, 03:14:41 PM »

Put it IN! I don't think you can get kissed any lighter with a running chainsaw- you're one lucky lumberjack! Hope you bought yourself some purdy orange Stihl chaps now!

JR · « **Reply #83 on:** August 18, 2015, 04:22:36 PM »

Great work and it really brings back memories when I did my garage, the changed the slope on the front of the house. ( little shallow on the pitch near the center, but I have planes for that)

Funny I had just emailed my dr about getting my ankles going when I saw what you did.

Lots of work there. Is the foundation attached or does the house float on all the wood stacks?

Sammconn · « **Reply #84 on:** August 18, 2015, 04:31:09 PM »

Quote from: JR on August 18, 2015, 04:22:36 PM

Lots of work there. Is the foundation attached or does the house float on all the wood stacks?

It is just blocked from underneath on the stacks of timbers.

Sammconn · « **Reply #85 on:** August 18, 2015, 04:59:51 PM »

So now you've seen the before and after.

Here's the story...

As part of the Reserves, the Rangers send in a shooting team each year to compete at the Canadian Armed Forces Small Arms Concentration, (CAFSAC).
Each of the three Companies of our group hold annually a qualifier shoot to select the team, divided an a per capita basis. Being that I am from the Manitoba Company, with the smaller numbers than the BC Company, we only hold three spots. I've been doing this for the past 8-9 years now, and am called on to coach the new shooters, and if I want to go, I am basically in. To play fair, I do shoot the final day of camp to 'earn' my spot. I'm not tootin my horn totally, as those who shoot lots understand, basic marksmanship principles applied properly will produce at and above the average results.

So back to the story. I cut my knee up on 1 September, and was supposed to be on a plane to Ottawa, Ontario on 6 September. In the boat on the way to the hospital, my wife looks at me and says well I guess you're not going now huh? At the time it hadn't really crossed my mind...oh no. I didn't respond, just shrugged my shoulders. We got to the marina, and she wouldn't let me drive the truck, although she wouldn't drive the boat. I need to fix this problem, one day she may need to drive the boat.

So being a small town, we had called the hospital to let them know we were coming. I thought this would get the Doctor in there if he was not already there.
Advised of chainsaw wound, no severe bleed yet, all the EMT training coming out of me to the nurse on duty. We get to the hospital, and I'm met at the door with a wheelchair, the nurse goes 'You the chainsaw guy? I say yeah. she goes well you don't need this. I say, yeah I thought I was pretty clear when I called."

So, being a small town, yeah same start again, and lots of no shows to the hospital for appointments, they haven't called for doc yet...
I'm not in a good mood, have a nasty gash is my knee, and now wished I had a large bore suture kit at the cabin to save this grief.

They finally call doc in, and he wants to freeze it, I'm ok with it due to size, normally don't bother, hate when the freezing comes out. Yeah I do this a bit.

He freezes it 'all' up and starts sewing.
somewhere near the middle three stitches its not froze at all on one side, and I must have twitched a bit, not major but he asked if I wanted more. I said no, unless that was too much twitch, to which he said no but if you want more let me know. Well that was almost the end of what was froze, the last two had a bit. All I thought was I let him tear up the inside of this knee for nothing.

All the while I was taking pictures, and the last one above, was when I realized I could still build the new stairs for the decks!
It wasn't all a loss.

To be continued...

KensAuto · « **Reply #86 on:** August 18, 2015, 05:48:36 PM »

I think you've been in the cold too long Sam. :crazy haha

Wilbur · « **Reply #87 on:** August 18, 2015, 06:32:04 PM »

Really great from start to finish. You did some great work! I shuddered when I saw your chimney after having read about how hot you got the stove before. Glad that creosote didn't go off! I love all of it. You must really be enjoying it. You don't live there year round right? I always wonder about folks in those areas when dealing with ice-in (before it's safe to be on) and ice out once it's no longer safe to be on it. Beautiful spot for sure!

If I can throw something out for the carpenter ants....Fipronil is the active ingredient in good ant control chems. You can buy a decent jug of it online for cheap (I forget now how much but considering it only takes like a 1/2 Oz or something per gallon of water it's cheaper than using store bought stuff which typically doesn't work as well). Carpenter ants (from what our pest control guy told me before I bought my own stuff) leave the nest every day so you spray the stuff on all the exposed walls around your house (in your case all over the beams) so they have to walk through it. They will die (if you find them in your house leave the bodies because other ants will bring them back to the nest to canibalize and more will die). I spray around my whole house in the spring and have no issues anymore (I did have a threshold eaten almost completely away before which is why I happened to learn all this stuff!). Just as an aside Fipronil is also the active ingredient in Frontline so you can make your own if you've a mind to. Sorry for the thread drift!

Sammconn · « **Reply #88 on:** August 18, 2015, 08:16:01 PM »

Wilbur, thanks for the info. Not really off the topic, I may be Venturing there on my own.

We don't 'live here' year round. Spend probably 40-50% of our time here all tolled.
Connie is here all of the summer and were out every chance we can be.
We chomp at the bit for freeze up and break up each year. Generally 2-4 weeks.

I plan one year to hang out for break up. Will bring my zodiac out towards the end of the winter season. It could be really something to see, or may be boring as all get out.

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #89 on:** August 18, 2015, 08:22:26 PM »

Quote from: Sammconn on August 18, 2015, 03:10:23 PM

So, having no protests, here is the beginning.

I will stop if there is an issue and move them elsewhere.

And after.

I'll throw the middle in if still no objections.

"tis but a scratch"....."come back and fight like a man"

LOL, I feel your pain. I was demonstrating to my girls how to chop firewood while we were camping last year and only had my little Collins axe, which is about a 3/4 axe and not long enough to safely use standing because of the arc of swing. Got tired of being on my knees on the ground and placed the logs on a stump. Right after telling them to keep a wide spread, I hit the log and went right through it and the little axe hit me right in the shinn. I knew what I had done but refused to stop and inspect it and kept on cutting. When I was done, my wife remarked that my entire jeans leg was soaked in blood and the jeans had a nice hole in them. So much for the demonstration.....

Nate · « **Reply #90 on:** August 18, 2015, 10:25:08 PM »

please tell me that was not the day the we linked up......?

Sammconn · « **Reply #91 on:** August 18, 2015, 10:26:10 PM »

RN, that was exactly my take on it once I knew it was all good.
Ahh, 'tis but a wee little flesh wound.

cudakidd53 · « **Reply #92 on:** August 18, 2015, 10:40:12 PM »

Thank goodness it didn't become "a gammy leg" or we'd have to pick between you and "Johnson"

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #93 on:** August 18, 2015, 10:44:47 PM »

Quote from: nmeyer414 on August 18, 2015, 10:25:08 PM

please tell me that was not the day the we linked up......?

naw, it was last thanksgiving and my entire family was around. Wasn't about to admit I'd injured myself....

Sammconn · « **Reply #94 on:** August 18, 2015, 11:05:46 PM »

So, as our dear friend Paul Harvey would come back after commercial,
And now for the rest of the story...

Once I'm all sewn up, the put on the uber sticky, probably stick to monkey snot, bandage to hold the dressings and stuff on my knee. They tell me the normal keep it dry for 72 hours, and come back then for a dressing change and inspection.

Off we strike back to the cabin. My plans for the morning were to cut trail, then after lunch crawl underneath to check out the floor insulation, and repair the one run that had housed a spruce martin last winter. Clearly this would not work now, so plan B it was. I still needed to build new stairs for the decks, well I can do that with this little scrape.

So into the lumber pile, which at this point had diminished to almost nothing, dig out the 2 X 12's and start cutting stringers. I learned long ago, do not re-use a staircase if ANYTHING has been changed. The old ones sufficed for the temporary, but were too short, way too short, and a foot too short once it was all said and done. There is an art to staircase building, and I am not that artist, I can get them done, but it takes two or three layouts before I'm happy.

So at some point in the building mama come out and snaps a few pictures, and asks again, 'So what's this mean for CAFSAC?' I smiled, said well it isn't completely buggered, I can bend it, and it's the knee that doesn't matter! Right handed shot fires kneeling position with left knee up! So fast forward to 6 September, I'm in Ottawa, meeting up with the team and the OC. Tell him of my predicament, he is naturally concerned, I think on two fronts. 1 - can this guy function with one leg, and 2 - now I'm responsible for the gimp.
The team captain, by default has been my buddy Tom for the past forever, and he was pulled aside and asked these questions. Tom just told him, if he's here, he's good to go, and he'll shoot fine, probably won't effect anything, no running in practice, until ranking comes in, and then he'll just deal with it. SO, practice was rude, 6 days with stitches penetrating an inch or better, tying everything back together sucks. My knee could bend about 30 degrees before it felt like it was going to explode, Ibuprophen and ice was my best friend to keep the swelling at bay.

Practice is coming to an end, now time to rank into the four man teams, GAME ON! Now I'm at about day 12ish, it's still rude and doesn't bend. And we're doing all the rundowns and movement stuff. Made the first day ok, then it was time for the 500M match. I looked at the RSO and explained my position, told him I'm going for it, but if something isn't right be ready for me to drop off. More an FYI for him, as they don't like loaded guns behind 75 guys for some reason... I ran it like a champ, and placed #2 on the team at the end of it all.

The completion begins, and we do it all over again...so at day 21 we're back to the 500M rundown match, formed up in out four shooting relays, relay three is up first, I'm in relay one, and Dave in relay two says to one of his guys 'good luck medic'. I look Dave straight in the eyes, and ask him 'Can Jeremy get these out today?'. He says he'll ask, but doesn't know if he'll have his stuff. My response was 'What medic wouldn't have their stuff'. So we shoot the match, and it all wraps up, I did good, but was it enough? Got to wait for the results to be posted...

Well it was enough, by a good margin too, I'm elated, and want these things out. For whatever reason, I can pull together a 500M rundown match, but struggle mid pack at 200M and in...

Jeremy drops by later that evening with his tools, and we begin the surgery. Remember, these have been in for 20 days now, doc wanted 15-18 but I wasn't taking any chances of blowing it open again before the running was done. So with one really swollen, red, irritated knee group we began.
He dug and probed, and one by one out they came. And by dug, I mean he had the forceps and scalpel rooting around almost 1/4 inch down in some of them.

Out the all came, and for the first time in three weeks I was able to stretch my legs! Yes, I ran the whole competition without a stretch. Right or wrong, my logic was if I stretch the good one, I'll really screw up the bad one, so it will keep me in check. So the OC's fears were for not, he was really impressed how one broken down, beat up, out of shape redneck could giver when needed.

And now you know, the rest of the story...

Sammconn · « **Reply #95 on:** August 18, 2015, 11:09:35 PM »

So, story is up, here's a few random pics of the ordeal.

Some serious needle and thread...
I guess it was a pretty serious flesh wound, 3 1/2" long, 1" deep, 3/8" wide.

All sewn up.

72 hour checkup.

Removal surgery.

And RELIEF!

Sammconn · « **Reply #96 on:** August 18, 2015, 11:11:37 PM »

Ok, where were we now. Oh on page 3.
I think I just DOT'd up my own thread! ::)

Sammconn · « **Reply #97 on:** August 18, 2015, 11:19:32 PM »

So we're at the end of September, time to clean up my disaster zone for winter.
Everything and anything that could be burned was hauled and loaded into the shed, until it was filled to the rafters. (poor choice on my part) I had the shed up on logs so it couldn't freeze down to the ground, and 'would roll right out' when I hooked on to it later on.

Here everything is being moved down there, and a bit of brushing has been done.

And it wasn't an entire summer of work, slipped in a bit of tube time with the family and some friends.

Sammconn · « **Reply #98 on:** August 18, 2015, 11:24:58 PM »

I think this was somewhere before the chainsaw escapades, but it'll go in here now. We basically live out here if we're not at work, so the sunroom needed a facelift too.

A bit of re-framing to widen the windows and add a bit more structure.

And then, (a guy left town with all kind of drywall and insulation. I bought it all) why not insulate and make it nice to BBQ at -40.

Sammconn · « **Reply #99 on:** August 18, 2015, 11:27:44 PM »

And then, let's pretty it up some. I'm cheap, I buy fence boards, cheapest cedar I can buy.

And up it all goes.