My Cabin Build/Reno

[Sammconn]

And on to the ceiling...



And all cleaned up.

[TexasRedNeck]

That thing is getting to be the taj mahal of cabins, Sam!

If the insurance company thought the chimney was uninsurable, I wonder how they feel about the indoor BBQ with wood walls and ceiling...

[Dawg25385]

Lookin good Sam! Using cedar pickets is a great idea


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JR]

Darn nice work. I built a fort for my kids from fencing, stuff is great! Stores hate me though as I dig through whole pallet for 50 or so boards.

Finally I see you using insulation! To bad you didn't use a layer on the outside when wrapping it.

I hate getting stitches out, last ones were on both hands. (carpel tunnel)

[JR]

How do you like your Zodiac? I have been looking at some similar for fishing and such around 10ft. Deciding on .9mm or 1.2mm and solid or air floors.

With that size I can half deflate and make shelf to carry in the top half of my shell. Nice 40+ trolling motor and 2 nice AGMs and I am good for days.

[cudakidd53]

That thing is getting to be the taj mahal of cabins, Sam!

If the insurance company thought the chimney was uninsurable, I wonder how they feel about the indoor BBQ with wood walls and ceiling...

It's a "smoke house" totally appropriate to have wood on the inside............(he says to the adjuster)

[Sammconn]

That thing is getting to be the taj mahal of cabins, Sam!

If the insurance company thought the chimney was uninsurable, I wonder how they feel about the indoor BBQ with wood walls and ceiling...

Well, it is outside in the gazebo right...

[Sammconn]

Darn nice work. I built a fort for my kids from fencing, stuff is great! Stores hate me though as I dig through whole pallet for 50 or so boards.

Finally I see you using insulation! To bad you didn't use a layer on the outside when wrapping it.

I hate getting stitches out, last ones were on both hands. (carpel tunnel)

JR, I'm the same, I think up until I got the cedar for the new outhouse, I was one good board for every four I grabbed. It's really bad when you're cheap and fussy huh?

I had considered upping the insulation, but didn't want to go so far as to have to replace windows. And the wood stove is a monster, so a bit of thermal leakage is welcome. Add to it that I enjoy cutting wood for some reason, so I don't really care if I need an extra half cord or whatever the difference would be.

As for the stitches, I just hate them while they're in. I'm one of the weirdo's that tends to just ignore pain, or not even fell most things. Its a blessing and curse all at once. The ones from the knee, could not wait, worst spot I've ever needed sewn up.

[Sammconn]

That thing is getting to be the taj mahal of cabins, Sam!

If the insurance company thought the chimney was uninsurable, I wonder how they feel about the indoor BBQ with wood walls and ceiling...

It's a "smoke house" totally appropriate to have wood on the inside............(he says to the adjuster)

Mike, quite literally a smoke house in the winter. All of the screens get covered in 6 mil poly doubled up. The smoke builds its way down, and I need to open the doors.

[Sammconn]

Well, lets get this show back on the road.
Somewhere soon after here we started to freeze up. While waiting on the ice I began the construction of the new cabinets.

I'm at a loss where the rest are, but here is one towards the end of the build.

[Sammconn]

With the cabinets built and I don't remember if finished, the ice arrived.

So back to work I was.
First up was addressing if there were ants in the north wall, that was already sided when I found them out front.
So I started in the bedroom, gutting out the old cupboards and paneling.

[Sammconn]

Then with no ants found, up went the drywall.



And into the kitchen.



It was quite a chore sneaking 1/2" drywall through where 1/4" paneling came from. Had to unhook the wall and slide it out.



At this point we stopped and put things back to a functional state.

[Sammconn]

We are now near the end of March, mama is on a school trip to Australia, so now was my time to pounce and surprise her with the new kitchen. I took a few days off, and me and the hounds spent some chaotic time to pull a whirlwind reno.
Into the kitchen with a fury.



Extended the bedroom a few inches.



Then it was time to close it all up and mud.

[Sammconn]

Primed and ready for paint. Looks like it was toast time!



In come the new base cabinets.



And stove back in place.



The all important it better be in the right spot moment.

[Sammconn]

And it looks like it will work.



In went the rest of the lowers.





And for the time being, the old countertop was put back on.

[Sammconn]

Walls were then hit with some color, top permanized, and sink drains plumbed to one side for bucket delivery.



New top found its home on this side, doors and drawers in.



And some form of normal has been achieved.



And the uppers installed.

[JR]

Happy wife, happy life!!!

I remember doing the same on my moms kitchen when she had knee replacements done. She has a better kitchen than we!!

[Dawg25385]

Wow nice work Sam. Looks great


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[KensAuto]

I love doing stuff for the wife as a surprise. Looks good buddy.

[Flyin6]

Nice work Sam

Appreciate you sharing

[Sammconn]

Thanks all.
The sharing is part of what this is about. Everyone has questions about stuff, hopefully it helps someone out. Sometime seeing is half the battle.
Some of this stuff has been new to me, my friend Google sent me to some places for info.
So now maybe here is some for the rest.

I've still got a long way to go, and will keep it going as time permits.
Cheers!

[Sammconn]

So to finish out the north wall all that was left was the last bedroom.







Time to prime and paint.



And beds back in.

[Sammconn]

Now some not so much cabin reno, we have some pretty hearty birds that winter with us.
We know them as Whiskey Jacks, I believe the are part of the Jay family. They will take just about anything that is food.

Loading up the feeder with some old bread.



And the feeding frenzy that ensues...

[Sammconn]

And then we had some four legged visitors.
There were several herds, probably totaling 2-300 caribou.
They normally don't frequent the lake, but every so often they do swing over it on their migrations.



We then jumped on the skidoo, as mama has never seen them alive! LOL.
Pics are blurry, but can't help it at 30 MPH bouncing across the ice.

[Sammconn]

So with winter 2014 almost in the books, we spent as long as possible and then gave up for the thaw.

When break up hit, it was time for a new dock. the old one, seen here, was too narrow (5 feet) and the floats were shot.



So, a couple loads of supplies from the city, and we're under construction.
The new sections are 8' X 22'ish, reclaimed lightweight roofing trusses.



The floats, in the plywood boxes on the far section, are filled with blue Styrofoam SM. (+/- 1800 pound floatation per)



I elected for 'wheels' on the dock to aid in installation and removal from the water when it does come back.



And here they are all joined up, now it looks size large.

[Sammconn]

With a new day calling, on to the decking of the dock.





And all decked out and trimmed.

[Sammconn]

So with the new dock anchored on the crib, it was time for an overhaul of that pieced together ball of crap.

[Sammconn]

My plan for the summer of 2014 was to actually enjoy it, and as such the dock was my only 'planned' job.
I almost forgot to fish most of the summer of '13, and that was NOT happening again.
So for the most part, I relaxed and enjoyed the summer, and then we decided to put in a new fire pit.

Don't ever let anyone tell you a blade on a quad can't move dirt.
Now I made the plow, and I strap it so it can't tip out at times too, so at some point 'they' will be right, but for now...



Not the most level block job, but sand/gravel is scarce, so I said to heck with it.



My Mom and Dad were up for a visit, and got put to work a bit.
Yes, that poor Komatik even is used in the summer.



And done!



If it weren't for one stone under the high block it wouldn't have been too bad, it was huge, and wouldn't budge.

[Sammconn]

We had to jack the roof on the cabin also this summer, and with ma and pa there what better time, more eyes and ears.

I don't have any pictures of this for some reason.

When the original owner built the place, he also built the rafters.
But instead of diagonal bracing like most have he only put in verticals.
So fast forward some years, and the roof load caused the rafters and ceiling to sag.

So with not much of a plan in place, other than I was going to jack the ceiling and glue/screw plywood gussets to the rafters we began. I crawled into the attic and measured the important dimensions for the plywood gussets.
then four sheets of 1/2" plywood were cut into eight wedges about 3 foot to one foot taper.

I have four jack stands for leveling mobile homes, so they became the lifting fixture.
Remember the 2 X 6 beams, well two of them 16 feet long became the thrust plate on the ceiling.
add a 4 X 4 post from the jack to the beam, and what could go wrong?

So with the lifting plan in place and all clamped and screwed together strategically placed on the floor beams, and the rafter verticals we tightened up the jack screws. The plan was to do a couple turns on each, go outside look at the roofline, repeat.

After a few round of this insanity, I stayed outside, and relayed info to my dad inside running the jacks.
We lifted a little over four inches, and dad said it was getting tough. Not wanting to take the roof off the walls, I called it there, and headed into the attic. It was 10 am, already 85* outside, and I don't even want to guess at the attic temp.
About half way through, dad asked you coming out to take a break, Um NO, if I come out I'm done. So he kept bringing the plywood wedges, and a bottle of water or Gatorade each trip.

So with all eight in place, I quickly scurried out and jumped in the lake. WOW was it cold! I guess I was just that overheated, but it was great.

Once I dried up, we took some more measurements, and lowered the jacks. The sag back was less than 1/2", so success!
The roof still wasn't perfect, but it was now solid not springy, and the ceiling looked like a ceiling again.

I think the pucker factor had something to do with the lack of camera now that I think about it.

More to come once I find the newer pictures!

[Dawg25385]

Wow! More work! Like said before, thanks for sharing!

Firepit looks nice, but why didn't you overlap the blocks?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sammconn]

I don't exactly remember, I think it was to do with interlocking bits that meant the straight stack.
I'm going to have to look now though.

[KensAuto]

I would say it's just from some crappy drunken craftsmenship from where I'm sittin' !!!

 Just kidding Sam....can you tell I'm a bit jealous?

[Wilbur]

Nothing better than sitting near some water enjoying a beverage with a fire. Good work man! I am sure you will have many enjoyable nights there!

Of course now if you're like me your eyes will be drawn to the straight line in the block edges haha. Just pop another wobblypop and enjoy the fire.  ;D

[EL TATE]

I looks like a common roman stack like what I've got. they usually have a ridge in the tops of the block and then a cap set that fits over the top, so there is no need to stagger?

[TexasRedNeck]

Sam, I lost track for a while but glad I got caught up.  Really making good progress.  Fire pits are not an option where you are.  I guess you can have a fire almost 9 months a year!

Keep the updates coming

[JR]

I like the fire pit.

That is a big dock. Is there a yard just for making docks on the island? Does the wood get replaced every few years or is the water cold enough to keep it?

Speaking of jacking up a ceiling, I know the feeling!!

[Nate]

sam, I f your on here, does that mean that you didn't do well at your shooting thing?!

[Sammconn]

JR, the 'yard' as it appeared is the marina area. Built on the parking lot so to speak.
I actually had to build another section this year. The water was very low, about a foot deep at the end vice the normal six to seven of normal. By the time I had it made we had come back up, and I didn't hook it on. Would have upped the sketch factor considerably going another 20 feet, but I have it now if need be. A lot of the other guys were disconnecting and dragging out, so the extra I have paid off.

Nate, I'm just back now. Was a great couple weeks, way too hot for my liking, high 80's and better with 600% humidity. Absolutely gross for me, but just soldiered on through it.
I did well, placed third overall in my class. We only shoot against the other Rangers, as the bolt guns and iron sights at up to 500m are a a little disadvantage.

Now I just need to figure out how to aim a little smaller to top out. The fella that won, again, is one heck of a shot. He's beatable, but man was he on his game this year. I had a blow out match which should have hurt me more than it did, but that's shooting.

[JR]

Got it. Build on their site and tow it over?

Got my little 13ft registered today and want to try it out before it gets to cold.

[Sammconn]

That's correct. I was able to squeeze in the water side to build. Problem was, I had to be done before we put the marina docks in, beat them by a few days, so I was happy to not be in the way...lol.
The wood actually holds up well with a bit of maintenance.
I used treated lumber, and it has taken until now for it to 'wear' enough to need a retreat.
Been so busy, and fighting rain every couple days, that I have not put on the Thompsons Water seal I have for it.
I expect with a little upkeep, the dock will outlast my time up north. (We're not sure on plans, but could stick out another 15 years or so)

[JR]

I meant the wood around the foam. I take it that is not a block of foam surrounded by wood, it is just a mold.

[Sammconn]

Ah, gotcha.
The plywood, 'should' last quite a while.
The foam is 3" styrofoam SM, the wood just holds it in.
The wood is held in by an angle iron frame.
The old dock, was the original, circa 1995-ish, and was still original.
I think I may need to find some steel banding at some point, but it should also be GTG.

[Sammconn]

So I found a couple pictures of the 'roof raise'.



Everything measured up to be on beams under the floor.



And the first of the two beams up that pressed against the roof.

[Sammconn]

That basically wrapped up the summer projects, and with winter underway, we talked ourselves into getting a sauna.
Getting being me building...

So here's a 12 x 8 sauna being delivered...



I had the floor joist material already out there, left overs from the dock, this is everything else.

Spring started to roll in, and one weekend it was 'nice' enough to begin. Think it was low 20's.





Floor is insulated with 4" Styrofoam, held in with cleats underneath.

[Sammconn]

With the floor done, it was on to the walls...









And just like that there was a 12 x 8 building framed up.

[Sammconn]

I made my own trusses, here just getting ready to start them.



And up they went, roof sheeted in, and tarped as it was going to rain...





And beginning the rough in of the electrical, not real complex, few lights and switches...

[Sammconn]

In went the insulation, and now the frugal me is T&G'ing cedar fence boards.



I couldn't get the legit foil/craft paper in time, so I made my own. It is used for vapor barrier in saunas, as poly will break down from the heat. I wish I had got the real stuff, this way was a major pain in the butt.



Seams all taped up, and the first of the cedar boards going in.



Ceiling nearing completion.

[Sammconn]

Ceiling done, walls all ready, welcome to the foil room!



And on with the walls.

[Sammconn]

Once I hit this point spring was upon us, and I boarded up the doorway to await the thaw.

Back by boat, and on went the Tyvek, shingles, chimney and finishing begins.



And we have a real door now.

[Sammconn]

Somewhere, on some device, dang it, are the rest of the pictures...

Stay tuned, more will come...