Construction Logs
from (A to Z)

Experience the building process with us from start to finish

If you are new to this Log Blog, you should begin here to follow the evolution of our Barna Log Home from DAY ONE. The files are arranged chronologically beginning at the top of the page so that you can follow this step-by-step documentation of the entire turn-key process. Content is added frequently to these Construction Logs so, once you have caught up with the process, you can open the blog from the main directory page to read only the latest posts. Your choice. Enjoy!

~Always refresh your browser when entering this page to ensure that you will be seeing the latest rendition~ New content is added at the bottom of the page

PHASE I - PREPARATIONS

Where Lesley is Building in TN It is hard to think of mountains without log homes, and visa versa.

Views from the Foothills Parkway and the property at the Top of the World

The Initial Stakeout of the Collins' property at The Top of the World in Blount County, TN - January 2007

Getting Started: Pre-Construction Activity - May 2007

Finding a Barna Log Home Builder - May 2007

The Barna Log Home Factory in Oneida, TN

Barna's Ellijay Model Home - Lesley has enlarged and reconfigued this popular plan and put it on top of a 2,000 sq. ft above-ground garage

Architectural Renderings of Lesley's modified Ellijay Log Home

Finding a General Contractor - June 2007

A Barna Log Home site in Pellissippi, TN - June 2007 - Lesley's builder is currently constructing this home which we visited to get an idea what to expect when he starts Lesley's home in early July 2007

A Closer Look at Poured Concrete Walls See also Reward's flat wall iForm™

Clearing the property - mid June 2007

Drilling the Well - mid June 2007 Part I See also 'Everything you need to know about Drilled Wells'

Drilling the Well - mid June 2007 Part II

Digging the Footers - late June 2007

Setting the Footers - late June 2007

Pouring the Footers - July 2, 2007 Part I

Pouring the Footers - July 2, 2007 Part II

The first shipment of Barna logs arrive - July 10, 2007 Part I

The first shipment of Barna logs arrive - July 10, 2007 Part II

The ICF forms for the poured concrete walls of the garage and retaining walls - July 10-11-12-13, 2007 Part I - Assembling the Forms

The ICF forms for the poured concrete walls of the garage and retaining walls - July 10-11-12-13, 2007 Part II - Details

The ICF forms for the poured concrete walls of the garage and retaining walls - July 10-11-12-13, 2007 Part III - Braces and Supports

Pre-Construction spraying of the perimeter of the formed walls and garage floor area with TERMIDOR before concrete can be poured - July 11, 2007

A temporary electric box is installed at the site for construction purposes - July 12, 2007

Pouring the ICF-formed garage and retaining walls - July 13, 2007

Back-filling the footer walls with gravel to bring it to grade level in preparation for pouring the garage floor - July 16 & 17, 2007

Plumbing preparations before the concrete floor is poured - July 17, 2007

Lesley enjoys a surprise birthday party at the property, hosted by her Barna rep

Initial Tree Work at the Property - July 2007

Laying the foundation for the 2,000 sq ft garage floor July 21, 2007

Pouring the 2,000 sq ft garage floor - July 23, 2007

Sealing the 2,000 sq ft garage floor - July 23, 2007

Logs, Logs and More Logs arrive from the Barna Factory

Erecting and raising the 2x8 garage walls Part I

Erecting and raising the 2x8 garage walls Part II

already

Installing the 2nd story subflooring

Waterproofing the below grade garage foundation

Deck foundations

PHASE II - DRYING IN THE LOG HOUSE

Laying the 1st floor course of logs

This is how things look as of August 24th - yes, this place is starting to look like a real log home!

Dr. Ellen's custom 8-inch square Ceramic Wall Tiles. Dr. Ellen is busy behind the scenes making custom 8-inch square ceramic tiles for the Collins log home kitchen. Select photo tiles with a fruit and vegetable motif will be inserted into a wall of neutral colored 4x4-inch tiles to show them off...between countertops and cupboards, around the stove, etc. Perhaps you can do something similar!? How Dr. Ellen's ceramic photo tiles are made

How things look on August 27th

Framing in the Interior Wall Studs

How things look on September 5th

The hunt for kitchen cabinetry and vanities - decisions, decisions!

How things look on September 6th

An Ideological Update from Dr. Ellen On Sept 12th

We're Back on Track!

Sept 19th Update

3rd Floor Beams and More!

Sept 26th Update Installation of the Gluelambs

Ceiling Beams and Rafters Make a House a Home! What a difference a day makes!

Reconfiguring I-Beams in the Garage September 28 - October 11th

A New Footer is Installed in the Garage After the Fact! Sept 28th - October 11th

An update on Exterior Decking September 28 - October 11th

Construction of the Stairs and Stairwell (Finally!) September 28 - October 11th

Raising the Third Floor! A Progress Report September 28 - October 11th

Raising the Roof! September 28 - October 11th

October 17th update Part I

October 17th update Part II

October 18th update

October 19th update

October 22nd update

October 23rd update Part I

October 23rd update Part II

October 24th update

October 25th update

October 26th update

Lesley's Gourmet Kitchen

Barna Log Home Roof Section – an advisory for dealing with roofers and even your log home dealer

Barna Log Home Roof Detail Sheet – a directive for installing flashing on logs

Hammer King!

Here's a great WAV file for frustrated homeowners building the log home of their dreams – yes, you guessed it, it comes from YouTube.com (2.81 MB)

Illegal Aliens?

America has often been called the melting pot of the world in that it houses many different cultures, nationalities, ideologies and religions. The English colonists set out to create a nation that allowed people to be free. However, should that include illegal aliens? Read Dr. Ellen's thoughts about the persistent problem of illegal aliens in the construction trades.

Installation of an underground propane tank

Installation of the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system. Take this HVAC Control Tutorial by Jeff Fisher of HomeTech Solutions

Installation of electrical wiring, not so easy in a log home!

Where in the world to put the electric meter? Homeowner 0, Electrical Contractor 1

The lofty job of Tracey, the Tree Climber

Cedar Deck Railing, how sweet it is!

Autumn on the Foothills Parkway - a reminder of how beautiful it is here in East Tennessee.

Acrobatic Brushes and Painters!

Drywall Framing around Garage Ductwork, Pumbing and Electrical Pathways

...and dusty, messy Drywall - Stage I (don't forget your face mask!)

Drywall - Stage II (Still got that face mask?)

Followed by miles of Insulation...

...and dusty, messy Drywall (don't forget your face mask!)

Behind the scences – The Front Door – is being designed and built by Sage Mountain Gallery in Townsend, TN

How the House Looks on December 7th compared to how it looked on Oct 1st

Construction of the Exterior Chimney Stack for the Fireplace Extrordinair

Construction of the Interior Chimney and Firebox for the Fireplace Extrordinair

The Fireplace Stonework and Finishing Touches – and Puzzles!

More on the Faux Stonework by Local Stone Mason, Craig Toney

Good Grief, Charlie Brown – We Finally Have a Roof!

Installation of the Lev Home Elevator by ThyssenKrupp Access

Space-eating Duct Work – arrrrrgh! Nemesis of the Homeowner

Interior Painting - a Two-fold Process

The Challenges of Finishing the Interior of (our) Barna Log Home

A Banner Day: We Now have Electricity! December 13, 2007

Some Comic Relief

It's quiet on the mountain as Christmas 2007 unfolds and workers go home. We hope you will enjoy Dr. Ellen's story about the Meaning of Christmas.

Dr. Ellen likens the process of building a log home to a juggling act. There are always ten things up in the air with a dozen more waiting in line, wholly dependent upon the successful outcome of that which came before. Chris Bliss's amazing juggling finale shows what it is like for a homeowner on the final stretch of the construction process. Arrrrghh!

Onsite cleanup, a necessary evil but whose responsibility is it?

The factory-finished oak hardwood flooring is finally installed!

How to (hopefully) protect your hardwood floors after installation

Installation of the custom kitchen cabinets by Wildwood.

And the finishing work continues...

But not without some interesting finishing puzzles!

A January 12th update

More finishing puzzles!

Hardwork Boggie Woogie

Hark, the Dunny Can! A medieval male contraption if there ever was one

Pouring a winding walkway to the front porch

Pouring the garage apron

We now have a working fireplace!

Taking delivery on lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures and cabinetry is a big task!

Say what??

Installing the gutters

The woman who planted trees

Countdown: January 16th

Countdown: January 17th

Countdown: January 18th

Countdown: January 19th

Countdown: January 20th

Countdown: January 21st

Countdown: January 22nd

An Update from Dr. Ellen

Countdown: February 1st Yes, we got our Certificate of Occupancy and officially moved in on Feb 1st!

Architectural views of the finished log structure These views were taken with a Nikon DX 12-24mm super wide-angle lens on Nikon's new D300 digital body.

Appendix

What we have learned (pending)