We Have Heat!

What a beautiful day on our Klossner Mountain.  As we pulled up the driveway I could see the chimney and roof and am pleased to report that our chimney has rock...and our metal roof has been started!  I am so pleased with the rock we selected for the chimney and our green metal roof is lookin' good!

As we pulled up and got out of the truck, we could hear a noise that was unusual.  It was our furnace...it was running!  We went into our home and sure enough, it was warm and toasty.  The insulation has been completed in all the rooms downstairs, the ceiling in the great room, tucked in and around the doors and windows.  With the furnace on, the house felt like we lived there, it was so warm and welcoming.

The well has been put into action, capped with the "official" cap, hooked up to electricity and is ready to be primed once we get plumbing into place.

The insulation should have been inspected on Friday.  We don't know officially if that has been completed, but if so...the drywall is ready.

We thought we would be plowing snow, but the road was clear, just a few icy spots.  Our pond is holding water, frozen currently, but doing its job.  The driveway has been widened again by our contractors and is getting to be smoother, easier to drive and will soon be the normal drive for us.

Here are some photos from today's visit:



Our green metal roof started...



Insulation on cement walls going down the stairs



Looking at the insulation from the basement stairs




Basement walls with insulation



So much for the snow we though we were going to plow. 

Chimney with rocks...beautiful!



This white door is only temporary.  It will be replaced with a green door when it arrives.  

Looking at the ceiling in the great room upstairs.  The
insulation is complete and is R38.  Warm!



Our "sistern" is really a pressure tank that brings water into
the house from the well whenever the pressure in the pipes is decreased.  Water from the pressure tank is
then fed to the rest of the house either directly or through the water heater



 Cohiba, recently adopted is getting used to his new home to be. 

More Steps Toward Completion

Today, Wednesday, February 23, Hans had some time to go up and view our home and see what new things have been done this week.   As it is a work day, Hans got to visit with several of the workers, meet with the county building inspector and watch things in action.

Hans went to Victor, CO, our new home town, and opened our official mailbox. PO Box 262, Victor, CO 80860 is our new address.  After having the same address for the past 20 years it will be a new experience for us to go to a post office rather than just get the mail at the curb.  New lifestyle for us all around.

The "stone mason" was on site putting up the cultured stone on the chimney.  Once the chimney is finished he will move into the house and do the fireplaces. Pretty exciting step, as we have visualized this for a long time.

The insulation man was also there, starting to put up the insulation he had with him and he was waiting for the rest of the insulation to be delivered.   We are doing a R23 factor for insulation.   This will keep our home very toasty and warm!  They have sprayed the first layer onto the cement and will then lay the other layer on top.  Once this gets completed and inspected...up goes the drywall!

Hans met the county building inspector on site and the inspector was impressed with everything that has been done to our home, loves our home layout and gave Hans a strong thumbs up for our builder, Steve Copp, with Advantage Log Homes/Above Treeline Construction.  We are very fortunate to have Steve and Dennis, who have given us great guidance, kept us in the loop, calling each week with updates, questions and to make sure we were ok with what has been completed.  We are completely happy with the work and with the commitment that Above Treeline has given us as home owners.

Here are some pictures that Hans took today.  Enjoy!

Our new mailbox!

Adding sprayed insulation--at the ceiling level

Close up of the sprayed insulation

Rocks going up on the chimney

Looking at the chimney with beginning of rocks put on it

Stone mason on the roof putting up rocks

Date not Certain

Sophie and I went to the cabin for walk through with Dennis, our job foreman. We talked to the sub-contractor on site who will be placing the fireplace stone and we did a general walk through. Mechanical and framing inspections have been completed and they will begin insulating on Tuesday. Next will be the insulation inspection then up goes the drywall. Once the drywall is completed the painters will come in. About that time we will be 30 days out or so from closing on the home. We were given an estimate near April 15th for completion. What fun is that?

Some of the pictures that follow are of interest - to me at least.

This door is a substitute for our real door ordered but not yet delivered. The original door we wanted was a dutch door but the cost was prohibitive so we opted for plain steel door with a window. This one is a place holder until our new door arrives - sometime in the near future we hope.

When logs settle they may drop in hight as much as 1 1/2 to 2 inches. They are also flexible and expand during wet times. By cutting a slot in the logs where the drywall joins them, the logs will be able to move up and down the drywall without damaging it. The only thing we will need to do is keep up with a little paint when the shrinking logs expose white drywall.

Log home builders have to get creative and find hiding places for wires. This is a light switch near the side entrance showing wires running up the space between the door frame and the logs. At a designated point, a hole is drilled into the log then a square is cut out and the wire pulled through. When done, there will be piece of molding on the wall covering the wires.

Recessed kitchen lighting that will light our refrigerator and counter when complete.

There are places where so many wires and pipes cross each other it looks like a rats nest. Let's hope everything works when they turn the pump on and throw the electric switch.

It is hard to tell but we will have to remove the three mantels and back them with a 2x4 and then re-mount them. There needs to be space allowed for the river rock to be placed up under and around the ends without covering the curve of the log. Otherwise, the thickness of the river rock would cover much of the mantle and it would not look right.

Our New Home Town--Victor, CO

It's been a few weeks since Hans and I blogged about our future home.  Because of a bit of cold weather and snow for the past 3 weeks here in Colorado the progress on our home has slowed.  The workers are in the house, but no heat yet and when the temperatures dip below zero, it's too cold to bend wire and keep the hands warm!

We hadn't been up to the cabin for 3 weeks, but made our venture today.  It was a beautiful day, but still cold and snowy...about 6 inches of snow and 31 degrees.  With determination, 4 layers of clothing, hats and gloves and a burning desire to see what has been happening, we visited our home.

Not much change has occurred since we visited other than more electrical work completed, switch boxes and overhead light boxes are in, but still working on hooking up all wiring to the master panel box.  We didn't see any other changes and according to Dennis, contractor project manager, they didn't get much done because of the cold.

But...we did get a chance to visit our new home town, Victor, Colorado!  We went to the General Store/Post Office and applied for our post office box.  Big step...meaning we are getting closer.  We want to share some photos of our future home town.  It's an old mining town, lots of derelict buildings, an Elks Lodge, bar, library, museum, mechanic shop, fire house/jail/city hall, restored hotel, which has a residence ghost, and many more.  It's truly a small town.  But, with all small towns comes opportunities to volunteer, share in stories, and get involved!  Can't wait!  Here are a few fun pictures:

As you enter into town from our home...which is 9 miles out of
town...you see this sign...painted on a wall

Victor main street.  Old gold mining town
Cool looking buildings, many empty

Hans in front of General Store/Post Office
We met JD, the assistant post master

Hans at the Post Office, signing us up for our PO Box
No mail delivery to the cabin.  Mail will be picked up
at the post office

Here are the PO boxes.  Tiny, narrow, and so cool!

Fortune Club.  Local bar, best burgers around, busiest
location in town

Building with white writing is a broom maker shop.  So
cool to watch them make any kind of broom you need!
Full of miscellaneous bits and pieces of "stuff"

Victor Public Library.  According to our neighbors, this
is a great little library with all the latest editions, movies, etc.

Street one down from main street with church,
outside hockey/skating rink.  All roads, except
Main Street are dirt

Looking toward Main Street.  Left brown building is the
city maintenance building.  Blue building is the
mechanic shop

Nicest building in town.  However, we have no idea
what it is used for.  Looks like it would be a
great place for parties, receptions, weddings, etc.

Victor train depot.  No train runs through any more.
But in the 1800's the "gold train" came from
Colorado Springs to Victor to Cripple Creek
Beautiful building, well preserved

Elks Lodge.  Has all the traditional aspects of a typical
Elks Lodge.  With ceremonial chairs, charts, etc.