I want this cabin to start rising so badly! Before I could do any more work on the walls I had to build something to stand on. The next step was to install floor joists for what will eventually be the floor. I can’t complete the floor until the cabin is roofed in, but with the joists there, I can step on them and use them as a platform to build the walls. I cheated on this step and went to the lumber yard to buy up some 2x6s. I could have cut smaller logs and notched them in, but I got lazy on this part. I was so anxious to just get it done that I went ahead and bought some milled lumber. This isn’t keeping with the wholly hand-build goal I had, but I’ll just have to be reconciled with that.
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| Making sure the joist is level across |
To install the floor joists, I measured across the middle and 4 inches deep into each side base log. This gave me the length to cut the 2x6 joist.
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| Notching the log one cut at a time |
I cut a notch into each side base log and one notch in the middle one and leveled them so the joist would sit straight and level. Then I measured and cut the next set of notches so it was not only level across, but level with the previous joist. This ensured a smooth level floor.
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| Joist sitting solidly in the notch |
Each notch was cut one chainsaw width at a time, then carved out with a chisel and mallet. The job went slowly but my system worked out well.
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Level!
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When the last joist was laid in place, I put the level across different boards and angles and every time was level and true!
Now that I have the floor joists in place, I have sure footing for the next step in the process: raising the walls! Stay tuned in for a blog post about the joys and dangers of raising walls, one log at a time!
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| Halfway done with the joists |
