Second Floor Work

I'm finally ready to construct the second floor.  The challenge is my exterior walls.  I shortened them during early construction because the cabin seemed too big for the area.  My original plan was to go 12 logs high.  I shortened them to 8 logs. It's coming back to bite me because the useable second floor area is much more limited.  I should have done 10 logs high.  Oh well.  Live and learn. I will have to get very creative with the second floor framing to still get 2 bedrooms, a bathroom and sufficient open loft area.

My second floor is split into two types.  The main front area utilizes log joists resting on large log beams.  My unique design for the log joists was to plane them on top and bottom, but leave the sides natural.  This gives me a flat surface to rest on the log beams, and a flat surface on which to lay the tongue and groove.  Easier construction than full log joists, but still preserves most of the natural look of the logs.  I have 2/3 of the tongue and grroove installed.

The other section over the kitchen is more standard glulam beam, lumber joists and 4x8 OSB sheets.  I will place 1x6 tongue and groove on the ceiling to tie it into the main second floor area.

Here are some photos.

Sanding.

I'm not going to spend much time discussing the process I went through to sand the interiors of my wall logs. It was sooooo boring to do.  It would be even more boring to read about.  For the record, however, I used 3 variable speed sanders with 7 inch hook and loop sanding discs.  80 grit paper for the first pass.  I'll use something finer for the second pass.  The hook and loop discs were much better than adhesive discs, because they stayed on the sanding pad.  The variable speed sanders were much, much better than angle grinders.  RPM on the grinders is much too high for adhesive sanding pads.  Anyway, after 3 weeks of dark brown snot and bright red eyes, we finally finished the first pass on the wall logs.  The second pass will be much easier, and less messy.