Hochderffers' 1887 Homestead ...... REVISITED
Summit Ranch is George Hochderffers original homestead. Our dream is to fully restore the cabin and share it with those who want to visit, experience this beautiful valley and a piece of Flagstaffs pioneer history. We are now living in the old cabin while building an off-grid home across the meadow! You are welcome to join us on the journey...
Progress has been slow the last couple of weeks as subs in Flagstaff are all racing to finish homes before winter sets in. We've found it difficult to get teams to make the drive to our remote site when there is plenty of work in town. Progress is slow but progress all the same.
Ive prayed for my precious daughter for years that she would find a truly good man to share her life with. A man who was kind, compassonate, someone she could really talk to and laugh with. Someone who wasn't intimidated by her strength but who would embrace her for the person she is. I can hardly contain the love and happiness I feel on their wedding day and its all because of Scott. Hes the right man. Thank you God for this wonderful man, your gift to Karly for the rest of her life.
What an incredible time it has been, planning for our daughters wedding while at the same time building a home. She originally wanted the wedding at Summit Ranch. Scott, in his infinite wisdom realized there was a good chance that the house would not be finished and that construction "facilities" might not compliment a Bride in a wedding dress, So Foxboro Ranch was selected as the venue and what a beautiful choice that was! They wanted a casual rehearsal picnic where people could laugh and play and where our two families could get to know one another even better. We LOVE the Feather family. We had a beautiful day decorating the Club House and eating great food, (prepared by Jim and Kelly).
Things have slowed down to a human pace since our Timberbuilt crew headed out to work on other beautiful homes around the country. People who stop by are amazed by this home that went from a sub-floor to this completed Timber Frame and SIP shell so quickly. Now for weatherizing, a roof, siding, windows and doors and ...... and .....
This team of highly skilled timber frame/SIP experts came into our lives and literally erected our home in 2.5 weeks. Their professionalism and work ethic unsurpassed. These gentlemen worked through pouring rains and even a hail storm as August turned into a record rainfall month in northern Arizonas history. It was amazing watching them work and there is nothing I would ask them to do differently. Timberbuilt has been simply an outstanding timber home builder to partner with. From left to right: Mike, Nick, Dan, Tyler and Andrew (Dan served as this teams foreman)
Thank you just doesnt seem to be enough!
Mike and I are in awe, not only from day to day but literally moment to moment watching Timberbuilt erect this home. They are so kind to tolerate our many questions and yet it doesn't seem to slow them down at all. Here you are seeing huge timbers coming in for the front deck.
I am simply amazed by the skill of this realatively young team of craftsmen. Watching huge roof SIP's, 10" thick being raised to the second story is inspiring to say the least. We love how the ceiling is coming out, new wood made to look old.
I've had a love for timber framed homes for years and can't believe we will some day live with big beefy timbers looming strong and beautiful overhead. This home will be super efficient and strong enough to hold the high snow loads in Hart Prairie. Just when we think it can't get any better, we miss a few hours and come back so much progress.
For those curious.... Our home was a custom design. Timberbuilt, out of North Collins New York, worked with us to design the home, coordinated with Insulspan to create the SIP's and are expert timber framers . We took one of their most popular plans and altered it to our site and ideas. The plans were all drawn digitally and by the time they were done you could travel through the home on a computer and get a sense for every space. These SIP walls are structural and weight bearing. Although this is a timber frame home, the SIP's will carry the load for the homes perimeter and huge timbers will carry the rest.
We started talking to Timberbuilt about helping to build this home over 3 years ago. It certainly seems sereal to see a pickup with skilled craftsmen driving in with a Timberbuilt truck! It is all just very exciting! Two hours later, a semi truck carrying all of our external walls, SIP's arrived. The road in a little dicey for a 60' trailer!
Saturday morning leaving to work we found a lift parked by Highway 180 and FS Road 794, evidence that Timberbuilt was in the area. We are over the moon excited about this dream on the verge of coming true. Our first contact with Timberbuilt was three years ago. Planning, designing and trying to image what this home would truly look like. We are about to find out. A Timber Frame SIP home goes up in 2-3 weeks with a highly skilled team in this form of construction. Highly energy efficient and tough, this home will be hear hundreds of years after we are gone.
Arriving at 5:30 am to beat the rain; this team poured the concrete floor in the garage.
Sammy followed me around to the opposite side of the house from where Mike was standing. When I decided to climb up to the sub-floor, Sammy got nervous and decided to make a run for it back to Mike..... ACROSS the newly smoothed over concrete. The guy in the concrete truck was rolling over in laughter, but not the guys working so hard to smooth the floor. So Sammy and I decided to leave, our help no longer needed.
We have to hand it to Russ and his framing crew. They have worked through the drizzling rains to get the sub-floor on. Some days have been lost due to raging down-pours, dramatic at this elevation! Timberbuilt still planning on arriving on Monday with our SIPS and Timber Frame and their team of experts. What a beautiful journey it is....
Russ and his framing team getting the sub-floor and decking done. Just a lot of talent.
Rain hanging on the fence....
Hochderffer Tank is part of the original Hochderffer Homestead. It's getting refurbished as a second and third dam are removed, its dirt used to build the foundation and road for the new home. Its nice to see the old tank base reshaped. Hope for a new clay bottom, if not this year, maybe next!
It's so hard to have to go to work and miss all the awesome progress happening at Summit Ranch with our new home under construction. This will be an extremely efficient Timber Frame/SIP home built off the grid. (SIP's are "Structural Integrated Panels" for anyone wanting to research this form of building). Here are photos of the stem wall going up, some of our kids spending precious time here this week and Curtis Chance doing preliminary electrical layout. Grateful describes it all. Eternally grateful.
Deep trenches with rebar laid in the bottom outlines the home and decks. Today is our first building inspection. If the site passes, they will pour the footings today! Just can't believe this is finally happening. This is a gift it seems... A dream to good to be true.
We finally got the new home through permitting in June, two months later than we had hoped. Since that time it has been a flurry of activity. After waiting for so long for construction to start, I found myself anxiety ridden over every wild flower disappearing under the wheels of a tractor.
Today the site is level and a Survey Team has staked out every corner and foundation pier.
Getting it all level. It just looks so huge ...
