board and battens and steel studs ------ OH MY

we covered the floor with heavy paper to try and protect the finish.   then we started installing steel studs for all the interior walls.   it took a bit to learn how to use these things.

now that we are done with the studs i am glad we used then ,  they are arrow straight and once figured out they go up pretty fast.   after the studs were installed the bathroom fans were installed and plumbed to the outside of the house and the plumbing venting went in.   with the use of steel studs wood blocking was used to have places to mount mirrors , towel racks and so on.                                                                                                                     

at the same time we were getting our juniper boards from central oregon. the boards and battens were air dried on site for the summer before installing. we banded the stack in a tight pile for about 2 weeks. then we restacked the pile with stickers between each layer to maintain an air gap around each board. this pile was re- banded and allowed to dry. the idea was to let the boards dry slowly and minize twisting and cupping.
     
so now that we picked up our juniper boards from central oregon for the board and battens siding it was time to mount the manlift on the trailer and start learning about installing this style of siding.  all the board are oiled before deck screwing them to the wall,  we are only fastening them in the center so the boards are allowed to move during the different seasons.   this is the first area so we have a long way to go , we are very happy with the look it gives the house.

lastly we had the stove in the chimney opening and it just didn't look right without some sort of hearth for the stove facia to sit on.  so i talked with the stone mason and came up with chipping out some of the stone  and installing corbles  made from steel beam off an early plow i wrecked out.   stone will fill in around the corbles then a hearth stone will span across them to give a hearth for the stove to sit on.