Summer of 2018
Dan built the small log cabin in 1981 with some help from family and friends. It is used mostly for storage of tools and fishing supplies. The “old” (Dan’s research found it is likely 75 years old) “Servel” propane fridge is also stored here as it is not safe to have in the building where people are sleeping.
The small log cabin has remained in the same location since it was built, but now it needs to be moved, as it is sitting where the new screened in deck will be for the new cabin.
My question was, “How do you go about moving a log building?” The answer: jack it up, build some skids under it, push it over and let it back down. Well not really that simple but that is the gist of it.
Jacking up the cabin was a slow process as we had to be careful to lift each corner just a little bit at a time to keep the it level so it would not end up tipping over. A jack was set up in each corner with a solid plate of metal under it to keep the jack from sinking down in to the dirt. Pump up one corner a couple inches and add blocking, pump up the next corner a couple inches and add some blocking and around and around we went until it was high enough to build the skids under it.
Now the site the small cabin is being moved to needs to be prepared. The soil is heavy clay and it has been a very dry summer so the clay is very hard. This calls for some big tools.
Our new Kubota tractor was also used to prep the site for the small cabin. Its job was mostly moving the roots we found to the brush pile for later disposal. Dan thinks I must of hit a sharp stick in the brush pile as we ended up with a flat tire on the left front.
August 11, 2018 (a smoking hot day 38°C) was moving the small cabin day but I was not able to be there to take photos.
Dan would need help to move the small cabin so he asked two brothers and long time friends of his, Greg and Grant to lend a hand.
They showed up early, 7 a.m. to beat the heat. Cables and rigging set up to move and swing cabin into the new spot. Greg and Grant’s excellent operative skills and knowledge were needed to safely move this small but very heavy cabin with no damage to the building or any injuries to the workers. It was all done by noon.
Dan had chosen his helpers well, Greg & Grant ‘s “get er done” attitude and exceptional operational skills, made success assured. Now it just needed a new foundation.
On visual inspection of the underside of the cabin, the wood was in really good condition with only a small amount of damage from carpenter ants. The cabin is over 35 years old so it was great news the wood was in such good shape. The next step was to spray hot linseed oil on all the wood surfaces under the cabin, to help prevent any further damage.
August 18, 2018 the day I learn how to mix and pour concrete.
We were done the concrete slabs under the little cabin early enough in the day we decided to pour forms for new 24″x24″x8″ blocks for support under large cabin deck.
The deck needed to be jacked up and leveled. Old crumbling concrete blocks had to be removed. The sites had to be cleaned and prepared. Forms needed to be made and concrete poured. Once the concrete was beginning to set they were brushed with a straw broom to add detail and help cover up imperfections.
Small log cabin is now in its new location. Wood is preserved with linseed oil. Concrete slabs holding it up off the ground and landscaping done around the building. Should be good for another 35+ years.
What adventure is next?