The Unturned Stone

The trail team continues moving along with their endless staircases.

The seemingly random stones to the side of this set of steps are affectionately referred to as gargoyles. In addition to stabilizing the steps, anchoring them into the hillside, gargoyles encourage people to stay on the steps, protecting the hillside from the erosion foot traffic brings. Gargoyles are painstakingly set, to ensure are as stable as the stepstones because they are a natural place for hikers to stand, allowing other hikers to pass.

We finished the fireplace today, though the hearth still needs to be completed. This exterior fireplace is a focal point upon entering the front of the house; it is visible through a bank of full-wall windows. The top edge flares in places, suggesting fire, the elemental force that creates stone.

For the last two weeks we have been building a huge patio that wraps the pool. Note the recessed joints betweeen the paving stones. We will grout the entire patio early next week.

Today we set the lintel that spans the outdoor fireplace. We christened a new set of Lewis Pins for the job.
These pins are 3/4″ in diameter and rated for 3000 pounds. The lintel stone, while large, wasn’t quite that. Ideally the pin holes are drilled a 60 degree angle, for maximum bite. The pins sit in the holes and bite into the stone when lifted. They are not pounded or screwed into place; leverage applied from scissor action holds them in place.

Ian demonstrates how the pins bite into the stone and allow for very controlled lifting and setting. Since the holes are drilled into the top, we are able to place the stone exactly where we want it, without having to fuss around unwrapping it after it is set.

Placing a stone this large can be a delicate business. We had hoisted it into place days before, to get our uprights built to the correct height. That preparation paid off today, as the stone set into place with minimal persuasion.

Once the stone is set and solid, Carmen checks to make sure the fireplace is Santa-safe.

Two new guys started today, hitting the ground running helping us to finish up the River & Rock House in a timely fashion. Welcome to Josh and Biko.

Over the last couple of weeks, the trail team has been busily setting steps, including this lengthy run that leads up to a spectacular stone outcropping.
In the middle of the photograph there are two trees visible, flanking both sides of the trail. These trees serve as a gateway, announcing the hiker’s arrival to a special destination, a dramatic stone outcropping.

The trail crew has recently added two new members: Matt and Amy, who are adjusting well to their rugged new jobs deep in the woods. Welcome aboard.

One exciting design features of the River & Rock project is how seamlessly the house embraces the natural world. Inside and outside blend together. A koi pond and a drip wall inside the house emerge as extensions of the many walls and stone features on the outside of the house. In one case, a stone quite literally bridges the space between interior and exterior.
This massive boulder juts thorugh an exterior wall of the house and emerges inside the master bath. The earthy tones and natural finishes of the master bath contribute to the sense of a seamless whole with nature.

We just finished building the exterior wall that envelopes the boulder. Joinery was a special concern, to call attention to the stone- shadow and shape- and not the mortar joints.

We had the chance to make some more headway on K.K.’s wall last week. The veneer is done and the wall is quite nearly capped. These steps of 3″+ Crab Orchard lead into the garage below the artist studio. Taken moments before the top step was set, this image shows the build-up of mountain fieldstone. Note the significant slope of the driveway, as it drops away from the bottom step, which is partially dug into the asphalt already.

We continue to pinball around the River & Rock house. For the last two weeks we have been building walls and columns that border the driveway and formal entrance of the house.

The walls are two-sided and approximately 18 inches will show when the driveway is paved. Two arches are integrated into the wall, as the manmade creek passes under the driveway.

Scott stands proudly on the upstream arch, moments after completing it and removing the form. The arch form can be seen in the background. It was then installed on the downstream side of the driveway bridge and construction begun on the second arch.

The Unturned Stone Inc. has just become a member of the Biodiesel Alliance, a non-profit group attempting to build support for the new fuels revolution. Visit their site for a wealth of biodiesel information.

One of the unexpected side effects of switching to biodiesel has been the smell. We are usually working quite close to our equipment as we set boulders or surface trail. The biodiesel is less toxic and smells considerably better than straight diesel. At the end of the day, you might crave french fries, but that’s better than having a splitting headache.