Two questions..........on logs and concepts....

[LogHomeFeverDan]

Good Tuesday to all! or Wednesday if you are across the big pond.

First, I was visiting with a good man I know here locally. He has some very nice very LARGE pines in his "yard". He said I could have them for that four letter word we all love "free". I know I can just get on the phone and ask, I'll probably do that too, but just thought I'd inquire here. Do the folks who cut trees in residential yards always take them down in sections? Now I know the obvious question is, do they have room to fell them whole. Short answer is kinda. One tree is probably 30 inches at the base and 70 foot or better. Can you lift something like that to get it out with a telehandler? To skid something of that size wouldn't you tear the heck outta his grass lawn? Is it worth exploring? (I guess that's more than one question but I can't count)

Second question, has anyone ever plumbed the grey water separate from the black water in their house? I'm thinking/exploring this. I've never done plumbing but I'm thinking it would only require an additional "main line". I mean tie all the black water to a main and then run an additional main and tie in all the grey water. Anywho, thanks for all who input! Greatly appreciated!

[rreidnauer]

To the first question, felling whole, one will likely make a mess of a lawn no matter what you do, whether you skid or use the telehandler, ruts or scrapes will happen, as well as impact damage to some degree.

Second question, I'm no help.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy using TapaTalk 2

[loghousenut]

First question... My free logs cost me more than better logs would have if I'd paid for them. In your case, if you could get all your logs from the same guy, or if whatever you could get from this guy matched perfectly the rest of your logs, or if they were really great logs and you knew for sure that you could fall them without munching anything important... Then maybe it could work out. Even if you could get a selfloading log truck right up next to where they dropped it'd most likely tear up his lawn.

On the other hand, the reason they are free is probably because he wants them gone and has already had quotes from the guys who do those things for a living. It's risky business and it's easy make a mistake that can put saltwater in the gearbox. The reason they don't usually drop them all at once is that there is so much less chance of property damage if they do it a chunk at a time.

If you're not the guy who can fall them dependably, then you're the guy who would have to pay that guy to fall them and he won't be cheap if he's good, licensed, and bonded.



That second question... I have had a separate greywater system for my laundry and shower for 20 years. Nowhere near legal but it goes off to where it soaks in just fine and it didn't seem to hurt Ronnie Rcklbr when he spent the night with us.

Now that I think of it, folks around here call my system a "West Virginia" greywater setup. Ronnie probably felt right at home, with the school bus and the outside shower and soapy water everywhere.

[Mosseyme]

We Are Doing The Split Drains.

[project]

If you are good with a saw then you can put the trees wherever you want but no matter what you do there will be a mess. If you aren't experienced in the woods then be smart and pass and keep a good friend. I have dropped pine trees between 2 houses that weren't 40ft apart and had 28" butts. The trick is to tie a rope in the top of the tree and across the yard to an atv and put tension on the rope. When it starts to move just drive forward and the top of the tree will follow you. You do however have to make sure your rope is at least double the length of the tree or the person on the atv usually dies.

[LogHomeFeverDan]

After the first phone call, I'm thinking it won't be economical. This tree service business didn't even want to talk about taking them down in 35 foot sections. He said they usually take them down in 16 foot sections. Still may explore for the possibility of nominal lumber.

Nice to hear that Mosseyme! I've been reading about running the grey water out to a drain field and even some articles about running it into a "holding pond" that natural vegetation breaks down the detergents etc. Will do much more researching!

[donjuedo]

Second question, has anyone ever plumbed the grey water separate from the black water in their house? I'm thinking/exploring this. I've never done plumbing but I'm thinking it would only require an additional "main line". I mean tie all the black water to a main and then run an additional main and tie in all the grey water. Anywho, thanks for all who input! Greatly appreciated!

I did something close to what you're describing. My house was originally plumbed to one main, but during a remodeling project, we moved the laundry to the garage, to regain some indoor space. The house was a ranch on a concrete slab, so the simplest thing to do was hire a plumber to run the soapy water to a small, new drain field, which was permitted by the county. The result took some load off the black water drain field.


Peter

[loghousenut]

I've been reading about running the grey water out to a drain field and even some articles about running it into a "holding pond" that natural vegetation breaks down the detergents etc. Will do much more researching!

We did that "holding pond" concept. More like a swamp that soaks in and almost dries up when we're not doing laundry. Not offensive at all. When Bro Bo was here we told him it was a spring.

[marronnin]

We did that "holding pond" concept. More like a swamp that soaks in and almost dries up when we're not doing laundry. Not offensive at all. When Bro Bo was here we told him it was a spring.

Talk about throwing the baby out with the bath-water! ;)

[edkemper]

The thought of dropping a tree that weighs X thousand pounds between two houses without things flying off the walls and neighbors unhappy? Not me.

I've found that some of the most expensive things are free.

[LogHomeFeverDan]

The thought of dropping a tree that weighs X thousand pounds between two houses without things flying off the walls and neighbors unhappy? Not me.

I've found that some of the most expensive things are free.

The more I look into this the more ardent your advice becomes Ed!

[Fred Penick]

I have seen some television programs with people using the recycled gray water to water there gardens, and some made wasterscapes with fish in them!

[LogHomeFeverDan]

Well, we will be putting in a "terraced" plot for fruit trees/vines etc. Met the author of "The Secret Garden of Survival", Rick Austin at the beekeeping class this year. I'm thinking of a drain field for grey water "uphill" of the "orchard". Still have some researching to do. Thanks again though to each of you for the input!

[exsailor]

Look at some of the earth ship sites. They recycle their grey water in house and use it to feed plants as part of their semi closed ecosystem.

[jasonfromutah]

"I've found that some of the most expensive things are free"

No truer words were ever spoken.

I am not saying its a bad idea, but it sounds like it may be more hassle than its worth.

Its kind of like the sewing table my wife brought home the other night. It only cost $30.00. I have spent the last few weeks
working on it and rebuilding it. Yeah, I am glad that its almost done. However, I might not want to do it again!

[John W]

Haven't people quoted Skip as saying it's a free log home, with a real expensive roof and foundation.

[loghousenut]

And you'll earn every penny of it. Good catch John. Shows you've been paying attention.





For the record, I don't regret spending way too much time and money for my free logs and I REALLY don't regret the sweat and toil that has left me with a good part of a finished log home. Sooner or later I'll get 'er done and my free house will belong to only me.... Er, I mean HER and me. I can remember few minutes spent working on this place that have not been worth the effort. Most fruitful hobby a person could pursue. Thanks Skip.


Take the class John. You'll fit right in and it's your turn.


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[oldtrapper]

LHNut, I want to see that house of yours done, just so I can see the great art work you do with the Gradall and those boulders. Maaan, you have pebbles to match those sticks. ;-{>8

[loghousenut]

LHNut, I want to see that house of yours done, just so I can see the great art work you do with the Gradall and those boulders. Maaan, you have pebbles to match those sticks. ;-{>8

Boulders? Heck, those are babies compared to a few that we buried with the stumps. The plan is to use most of them in a little fountain area in the center of the driveway circle where I'm gonna mount my flagpole. There is one that has a fairly flat side that I want to use as a picnic table and we may do something with a couple of them on the front door entrance like Ronnie Rcklmbr did on his place.

Funny thing. I was burying all of them til the Wife said she wanted to save some. My Buddy Brian was the brains of the excavation project and he chided the livin' daylights out of me for letting "the little woman" make me save a bunch of rocks. He said I was "whipped". I let him have his fun, mostly because he's Jake's Godfather and he's the only guy I know who's larger than I am and his is mostly muscle and gristle.

So we ended up with a pile of rocks and LHN was the brunt of another long-running joke. Then we had our log peeling party and Brian and his Wife, Myra, and my two Godson's all made an appearance. You'll never guess who saw those rocks and wanted a couple for Her landscaping out by Her pool. It was pure poetry watching Brian with his hat in his hands, looking down at his boots, as he sheepishly asked if I could spare a couple of those ugly old rocks.