Darryl's log home

Starting on the cement structure. For the first time we could see what our log home will start to look like! It suddenly started to take shape for the first time. After the ground floor was done, they started on the columns that would hold up the garage. Whenever we stood on the edge of the building we were AMAZED at the view. we cannot wait to start building with the logs!

The columns Because we're building on a slope, the whole house will be resting on the columns.  A lot of planning has gone into this to make sure of structural integrity and strength. 

Building in Glencairn. We started by digging two trenches that would eventually be filled with concrete and be retaining walls. The retaining walls would strengthen and anchor the structure especially because of the slope. The big trench depth was 41/2 meters in depth and 21 meters in length. a lot of digging! The view from across the valley of our empty, sandy plot. Now begins the steel work (Expensive) Then the shutter boards and boxes... And finally the cement. (Also expensive.) Our amazing crew of builders was headed up by John and Dicky. They are from Malawi - men of caliber, integrity and strength. Preciouse, Lobson,  Timothy and Steve. Finally, sfter a LOT of concrete - the main retaining wall is finished! Mischa is watering the cement.

 Our plot is on quite a slope so the building will have to stand on pillars.  We will one day have the most wonderful view!  We started to clear the plot in preparation for the building.

 Darryl cut the logs into 2.8 meter lengths to be collected and taken to the sawmill to be turned into planks for flooring.  The ends had to be painted to protect the wood from bugs.  Some logs, particularly the pink gum, cracked a bit.  The white gum was way more dense and seldom cracked.  The truck picked up 30 tons of logs to be worked into planking. Here you can clearly see the two different colour planks.... pink and white gum. :