See Additional Photos : Main / Terrace / Upper / Exterior
Maximum Efficiency and Structural Integrity
Due to the size of the home, larger timber materials were required to accommodate the structural design. This included 10” round tongue and groove log walls of northern white pine, and 10” and 12” posts and beams of southern yellow pine which add additional strength. For energy efficiency two rows of “Butyl” gaskets were added between each layer of wall logs, in addition to detailed chinking which was placed around all structural openings and structural corners. The log walls used for the entire exterior have a thermal mass equivalent to an R-23 wall (compared to an R-11 typical exterior wall utilized in normal house wall construction). To ensure integrity of the large walls, another level of structural assurance was added with the addition of steel rods from the top of the wall to bottom log of each wall, with a spring that allows the wall to remain an integrated structure due to the tension applied to the springs. These rods are located at each corner, on each side of every door and window, and with additional rods on long walls.
The roof structure is made up of two separate structures. The exposed interior ‘ceiling’ is made of 2×8 v-notched tongue and groove pine. On top of this ceiling structure is an exterior structural roof with rigid insulation making the composite of an ~R-40 roof and a very energy efficient roof system.
The windows are high end, metal clad, wood windows. The windows that face the valley are mirrored, low-e, thermal paned glass. The front door is a custom mahogany grand entrance. Throughout the center floor are French doors leading to a wrap-around deck with spectacular views, in addition to a large screened porch off the kitchen. The ceilings on the main floor kitchen and bedroom wings are 10 feet high. The open central Living Room is 27 feet high at the peak. The predominant flooring on the main level is random width (6”, 8” & 10”) plank pine floors. The master bathroom has a heated travertine floor. The pantry off the kitchen area is porcelain tile.
One-Of-A-Kind Custom Designed Log Home
The overall concept for the Home was to create a warm, friendly and fun place for family and friends from various parts of the country. The desire was for wide-open areas, where large groups could gather and enjoy the beauty of the land, home and family & friends.
The owners, through collaboration with professional architects and engineers, took on a very arduous, thorough and detailed design process taking into account the owners’ desires and needs in addition to the uniqueness of a large log home design on the side of a mountain. The home has approximately 8700+ square feet of conditioned space.
Strategic Window Placement
The home was designed to take advantage of the thermal wind currents coming up from the valley. Window placement was determined to take advantage of this airflow throughout the home while ensuring incredible views from every room.
TempCast Masonry Fireplace System
Between the kitchen and the living room is a Tempcast fireplace system. This is a unique and efficient fireplace system with a large volume thermal masonry block mass. This feature allows passive heating of the two adjacent rooms. The block is topped with a cultured stone façade. The fireplace is supplied by an independent air supply thus increasing the efficiency of the system. Also on the kitchen side is a built-in ‘pizza oven’ which provides the ability to cook utilizing the heat from the fireplace.
Shop / Garage / Storage Building
On the upper portion of the property there is a stand-alone 22′ x 24′ metal building (528 SF – 49 M2). The building is constructed with heavy gauge metal siding and framing on a poured reinforced concrete slab. There are two doors, an oversized garage door in front with a 3′ side door. The shop is wired with a 100 amp electrical service. There is also water run to the shop with a hose bib outside on the side of the building.
