Diary Of A Lodge Build

2022 finds us building a new lodge at Mount 7 Lodges.  Whilst the design and build of our fourth lodge are a move away from the square log construction that all our other lodges benefit from, the more contemporary look and feel of the building will still be to a high level with a focus on guest comfort, privacy and views to write home about! We are excited to share news that the lodge will be a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom lodge on a single level, developed along universal design principles, with a wheelchair accessible master bedroom and bathroom as well as a spacious kitchen and main living area.  As with all our lodges, there will be an undercover deck offering a hot tub and gas grill as well as a place to relax and enjoy the stunning views.

Several guests have asked to know more about the design, as well as wanting updates on the build itself, so this page will be updated on a regular basis with photos and updates on progress.

To find out more about the lodge and check availability, please click here.

August 14, 2022

Less than a week away from opening and we’re now on the home stretch!!  This week will see some finishing touches to the furniture, some paint touch-ups, some more landscaping, and then a few final tests to check everything is ready for our guests.  Personally I’m looking forward to checking that the view from the hot tub is good enough!!  For a series of photos of the interior and exterior check out the lodge page and scroll down to the tab for the image gallery here.

Click on an image to view full size.

July 31, 2022

Three weeks since our last update and we are very close to being finished and opening!  Over the next couple of weeks we will be installing door handles, doing the last bit of painting, installing furniture and finalizing the landscaping.  The kitchen is nearly completed, subject to small appliances and a full supply of kitchen crockery, utensils and cutlery.  The master (wheelchair accessible) bathroom is just awaiting a toilet, a mirror above the vanity and then some towels and toiletries to be ready for our first guests. To check availability and make a booking for our new lodge, click here.

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July 10, 2022

It’s been another three weeks since the last update and there’s been a ton of progress.  The windows and doors arrived and have been installed which allowed the exterior crew to finish all the siding.  From all aspects it now looks very similar to the original design!!  On the inside, work has been speeding ahead too, with the primer and first coat of paint completed, flooring installed, window trim installed, and the majority of the bathroom tiling and kitchen install completed.  The next two weeks should see the vast majority of interior items finished and us getting close to moving some furniture in!!

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June 20, 2022

It’s been three weeks since the last update and whilst the windows and doors have still not arrived (we are hoping they arrive before the end of the month), there is still progress on the new lodge.  The builders have been working to renew the roof on our own house during the slight slow down, but they’ve still managed to complete most of the tin siding, and this last week drywall has been installed inside and the mudding and taping of the drywall is underway.  Painting of the inside should start before the end of the week and finger’s x’d the doors and windows arrive and we can get those installed and finish up the outside.  For those wondering, please refer back to the original design drawing at the bottom of this page and you will see that the front of the building will be alternating tin and wood siding.

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May 28, 2022

Since the last update we’ve had a minor slow down in progress thanks to the inevitable “supply chain issues”.  As the windows and doors are not on site yet, siding cannot be completed and then there was a small delay on the tin for the fascia and roof drop edge.  Despite this hiccup, work has continued at a good pace and we now have a full roof (with asphalt shingles, fascia and soffit completed), the deck boards have been laid, the walls are fully sheathed and papered.  And the plumber and electrician have completed the rough-in for all services.

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May 14, 2022

We have what now resembles a lodge!!  The crew installed all the roof trusses, the sheathing and roofing paper, so the building now has a roof (awaiting shingles) as well as the two deck posts.  It’s water tight from a roofing perspective, although not yet at “lock-up” as we’re going to be waiting on windows and doors for several weeks.  Inside now feels nicely enclosed yet spacious.  An exciting week as we also chose and bought the flooring, tile and kitchen countertop and finalized the kitchen design this week…. all of which will appear further down the line!

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May 8, 2022

Work on-site continues at the same excellent pace.  This week Dogtooth finished installing the floor joists, laid the sub floor, installed the deck joists, and all the exterior and interior walls have been framed and raised.  A walk around inside confirms that this is going to be a spacious lodge with the views we had hoped for!!

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May 1, 2022

Yet another busy week on site!  On Wednesday the Shamrock crew turned up to work with Dogtooth and pour the scratch coat which is the concrete floor to the crawl space below the lodge.  We also poured the concrete in the two sona tubes that will support the deck. That should be the end of concrete pours. 🙂  On Thursday the floor joists arrived and started to be put in place… the coming week will be a dramatic change with wall framing and a roof which will then start to look like a lodge!

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April 23, 2022

It’s hard to believe that the Dogtooth Construction crew have only been on site for one week (4 days) other than the backhoe work to put in the road and dig the foundation hole.  In 4 days they’ve laid out and poured the footings, then installed the ICF foundation blocks, poured concrete in those, and done the first phase of plumbing rough in, and are more than halfway through preparing for the 2″ scratch coat pour which will hopefully happen this coming week. This will be the floor of the 4′ high crawl space foundation.  For those not familiar with what is being done, the photos over the next two weeks should all make more sense!!

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April 19, 2022

Classic mountain weather…. after weeks of no precipitation (either snow or rain), the day we plan to pour concrete we wake up to it snowing!  Fortunately the Dogtooth Construction guys and gals are used to these conditions and were here early to finish prep and then get the footings poured.

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April 14, 2022

The foundation has been dug, the road and parking area has been roughed in, and next week the team arrive to start work to prepare for pouring concrete. Looking at these photos, it feels like we’ve got the site right… views for days!!

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April 11, 2022

The site location has been agreed!  Trees have been cleared and work has started to put in the driveway up to the lodge and prep the building site.  The front windows will look over at the Purcells with Kicking Horse Mountain Resort to the west.  The lodge nestles into the trees  with Mount 7 rising up behind.

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April 2, 2022

Plans are nearing finalization. Red Fox Lodge will offer 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, plus an open plan living area all on a single level.  The lodge is designed using universal design principals, increasing accessibility for a wide range of guests.  One of the bedrooms and the adjacent bathroom will be wheelchair accessible as will the main living area (kitchen, dining area and living room) and deck. The covered deck sits at the front of the building offering a hot tub, gas grill and magnificent mountain views.

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