and Finishing Touches...and Puzzles
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We thought the DUST FACTOR was extreme during and after the drywall process – but then the stone mason moved inside! The livingroom suddenly became a nightmare of scaffolding and loose sediment for days on end.
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 Several different trades work side-by-side as a fireplace project evolves, as things have to be done in a certain order; and all of it has to be done before flooring can be installed. Fireplace installers, stone masons and finishing carpenters all have a hand in the final product. |
 These are faux stones that they are working with, which are stones made in concrete forms and mixed with dye to form the desired earth tones of the natural surroundings. The process is faster and less costly than using actual stones; and they don't disintegrate in the way that sandstone rocks can do over time. Sandstone is prominent in these mountains and is something to be reckoned with. |
 Concrete is used to fix the stones... |
 ...to a secure wire mesh background that is shaped to the structure being stoned. Concrete also fills in the spaces and allows the stones to be worked into various angles and expertly pushed this way or that for a best fit. Pieces are broken off to facilitate this process, and also to enhance the overall design by mixing sizes and shapes and colorations. |
 Once the stonework is done, the opening at the ceiling then has to be insulated and enclosed... |
 ...but it has to be done in such a way that accommodates later settling of the log structure, not so easy a task! Indeed, all of the finishing work in a log home must somehow accommodate the eventual settling that will occur. |
 Here Darryl forms a cap to hide the unfinished edges of the stack in a way that also allows for movement. For that reason the cap is not secured to the stack, but only to the upper beams and tongue & groove surrounding the stack. |
 This longer view shows how the cap fits into the overall finished appearance of the surrounding beams. The painters will come back to apply two coats of clear polyeurathane (once the dust settles!) so that these finishing touches will blend into the rest of the wall. |
 Finally, air intake ducts for both stacks will need to be installed in a utility pathway underneath the fireplace (in the garage ceiling), venting out the garage wall (to the right). |
 BUT - this may not be the end of things yet! Let's back up so that you can see what the concern is. The large king-post that the stack is formed around may have to have more wiggle room. If so, then the stonework will have to be shaved away from the king-post and the opening around the king-post widened. The next photo shows how the kingpin fits into the wall, and then how the stack was originally formed around it. |
 This is an example of those daily puzzles that must be successfully resolved at the risk of cracked stonework down the road. Email inqueries, phone calls to Barna, and a meeting or two of local engineering minds will hopefully settle on a solution soon. Meanwhile, Lesley and Dr. Ellen have their own two cents to offer as they expertly search the web for solutions at the same time that on-site options are being considered. At least you will know the intelligent questions to ask, says Dr. Ellen...and that counts for a lot! |
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