DIY Network

Colorado Log-Home: From Location to Foundation From "Be Your Own Contractor: Vacation Homes" episode DBCV-105

The Sangre de Cristo mountain range in southern Colorado.

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In this episode of DIY's Be Your Own Contractor: Vacation Homes, we meet the Helgoth family and get a close look at the new log home they built in the Colorado mountains. In this segment the Helgoths discuss the location they selected for their vacation home, what they did about power and water in this remote spot and the challenges they encountered in laying the foundation themselves.

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Rocky Mountain Home

The Helgoth's vacation cabin (figure A) sits about 8500 feet above sea level at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, just outside the historic mining towns of Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, Colorado. "It's secluded, a quiet area and easy for us to get to," says Connie Helgoth, "We come up where it's quiet, where there are no people around, and enjoy the outdoors." It's about 75 miles from Colorado Springs and about a 2-1/2 hour drive from the Helgoth family's homes in the Denver area (figure B).

Figure A

Figure B

Don and Connie Helgoth

"This area is pretty special," says Don, "If it's a sunny day, the sky is so blue you just cannot believe it. The air is crystal clean. It's quiet and peaceful. You could just get lost up here."

Virtually every weekend, some family members are at the log cabin. A few times a year, the whole family gathers there to enjoy the beauty and the quietude of being in the mountains.

Off the Grid

The secluded cabin is about a half mile from the main road, but that seclusion comes at a price -- no utilities. Bringing power lines to the cabin was estimated at more than $50,000, with a minimum monthly charge of $300. Since there was also no access to water or sewer systems, the homeowners hired a contractor to drill a well and put in a septic system. They use propane for their cooking and hot water, and heat the entire cabin with a wood-burning stove (figure C). For their electric needs, they opted for solar-power panels (figure D).

The Helgoths researched solar power and got information from log-cabin shows and from a firm in Westcliff before they installed the solar unit. The panel rotates and tilts to maximized exposure to sunlight. Harnessing the energy of the sun, and avoiding dependence on outside firms for power, was a satisfying decision for the family. "We're pretty self-sufficient up here," says Don "we just need sunshine and our propane tanks."

Figure C

Figure D

Make Your Own Foundation

The foundation of the home (figure E) was put in by the Helgoths themselves, and was the first place the do-it-yourselfers "got their hands dirty." They chose to use insulated concrete forms (ICF's) -- interlocking foam panels that are filled with concrete (figure F).

Figure E

Figure F

	Figure G

Information and video provided by the forms manufacturer helped the Helgoths get started with the project. Compared to other techniques for installing a foundation, this one is reputed to be relatively simple. The forms fit together with ties between them. However, some problems did arise in the process of pouring the concrete into the forms. "Blowouts" can happen when the forms fail during the concrete pour because of inadequate bracing. Two of these occurred at the corners of the foundation and had to be supported with additional bracing of plywood and 2x4's (figure G).

In the segment that follows, the do-it-yourselfers discuss their experiences and challenges with installing the electrical and plumbing work. They also talk about some of the finishing touches and offer some final advice based on their experiences.

If you'd like more information on how to build your own log cabin, check out DIY's special Build a Log Cabin workshop.

RESOURCES :

The Complete Guide to Building Log Homes
ISBN: 0806974869
Author: Monte Burch, Richard J. Meyer, Lloyd P. Birmingham
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com

Small Log Homes: Storybook Plans and Advice
ISBN: 1586850431
Author: Robbin Obomsawin
Gibbs Smith Publishing
Website: www.gibbs-smith.com

Log Homes by New Homestead USA
Website: www.loghomes.com/newhomestead