Day 148 February 7, 2002

Today I finished framing in the staircase. I built the wall that supports it and now I just need to get one more 1x10 to finish the risers.

I also began the electrical rough in. In addition to all the outlets and switches and fixtures in the interior walls there are about 16 outlets or switches going in the log walls themselves (remember the holes I drilled into the first three courses of logs?). Each location where an outlet goes is marked on the floor. In the third log course a square whole gets cut to mount the outlet box. The cut out must meet up with the drilled hole so the wires can run to and from the outlet. Making a square hole is a challenge. It takes me about a half hour to cut each one using a homemade template, utility knife, 2 1/8" drill, a Rotozip and a Dremel. It is worth it though because one of the things I didn't care for in some log cabins I have seen is surface mounted wiring. My cabin's wiring will look just like a regular house even though the walls are solid.

12 hours, partly sunny and mild around 45.