How Much Does A Log Home Cost?

"How Much Does a Log Home Cost?" is the singleyour kitchen drawer. These also require more
most asked question in the industry, and also theprecision equipment and are a little more expensive
most difficult one to answer. The customers aren'tto build.There are other corner systems, but these
the only ones who are frustrated; dealers andthree are the most common. Just bear in mind that
manufacturers are fully aware that not giving an easythe corner creates one of the big differences
answer could lose a sale. However, in reality thebetween one milled manufacturer's product and
answer is "That Depends", and the sooner theanother's.LOG PACKAGES. After you have decided
homeowners accept this statement the sooner theyon the corner system, you'll find that every company
can start looking in the right place.WHAT DO I MEANquotes their logs differently. To get a real
BY THE RIGHT PLACE? Like everyone else, myapples-to-apples comparison, you must ask for a
husband and I started our search by oohing andquote on the logs ONLY. And remember that the
aahing at the majestic, multi-faceted homes withlogs constitute 1/4 to 1/5 the cost of the eventual
numerous peaks in the roof, giant trusses, hugehouse. I think you're going to find that within the
windows, and big logs. What we didn't realize rightsame size, species and corner system, the basic
away is that every one of our favorite log homescosts will not vary all that much from one
were hand-crafted, and so far out of our price rangemanufacturer to another... not including shipping, of
that we might as well have been shopping for acourse.Many companies quote on a Weathered-in
castle.The first thing you need to do is distinguishShell, which means all the components for a weather
between a handcrafted log home and a milled logtight house: logs, windows, roof sheathing, doors. It's
home. Handcrafted log homes will cost anywheretempting to get this kind of quote, but remember
from 2-4 times as much per square foot as a milledthat you may be paying thousands of extra dollars
log home, when you take into consideration the sizeto ship generic lumber across the country. And when
of the logs and the intense labor required from thethe extra stuff is delivered, it's up to you to store it
first day the logs are selected. If the logs are notall safe and dry on site. If your contractor buys the
evenly sized, you know right away you are looking atlumber locally, you can get it delivered when you
a handcrafted home.MILLED LOG HOMES: If youneed it, rather than months ahead of time.IT'S A
select a handcrafted log home, you don't need to beCUSTOM HOME. Once you get past erection of the
reading this article! For the rest of us, there are otherlog walls, you're going to discover that your log home
basic factors to consider if you are looking at price:is not a whole lot different from any other custom
log diameter, log species, and log corners. The firsthome. The roof materials are the same, the heating
two factors speak for themselves. The cornersystems are the same, the windows are basically the
system, however, can make a big difference. Forsame. Most of your decisions are on the inside of the
instance, think about how the logs are stacked. Ifhouse: stock kitchen vs. custom cabinets, granite vs.
you remember your Lincoln Log toy, you had to findFormica, wood floors vs. carpeting,
the half-log to start the first course. This is the waytongue-and-groove vs. sheetrock, antler chandelier vs.
a Saddle-Notched corner system is constructed. Thewagon wheel... here's where the wild differences in
courses are staggered and logs are notched to fitprice can add up. It's a custom home, remember, and
snugly together, and when you look at the cornerthe choices are up to you. In the mid-Atlantic states,
you will see each log end lying on top of the onethe square foot price of a custom framed house and
below it, creating a continuous unbroken stretch froma custom log home will be pretty equivalent. When
top to bottom. The notches require another runlooked at from that point of view, the whole pricing
through the mill, and will add to the eventualequation starts to make more sense.BOTTOM LINE:
cost.When you look at a Butt-and-Pass log home youThis is where we all get into trouble. There's no
will see a gap between each log past the corner. Thisagreement as to a budgeting price, because local
is because all the logs are laid on the same plane; thecosts vary so much. Four years ago, when I started
first course is started with a full log and it butts updesigning my home, the magazines said to budget
against the other wall log which runs past it. The next$150 per square foot. I thought this was outrageous,
course reverses the process. There is no notch tobut in the end, we spent about $157 per square foot
hold them together, hence a less time in the mill. Iffor a saddle-notched home with 8" pine logs and
you compare a butt-and-pass house to asome upgrades, so I'm glad I paid attention. If you
saddle-notched house, dollar for dollar thestart there, you'll at least be in the ballpark.Mercedes
butt-and-pass house should be less expensive. This isHayes is a Hiawatha Log Home dealer and also a
where aesthetics kicks in.A home with logs that areRealtor in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She designed
flat inside-and-out will probably be joined with aher own log home which was featured in the 2004
dovetail system, where the logs are notched at anFloor Plan Guide of Log Home Living magazine.
angle and snugly fit together. Think of the corner of