| If you've read my first article, BUDGETING YOUR | | | | can use a block foundation, a precast foundation, a |
| LOG HOME: Where do you start?, you've got a very | | | | poured concrete foundation (these are the main |
| basic overview of the process. However, there are | | | | choices). Poured concrete is the most expensive. |
| still a number of questions I'd like to address. Again, | | | | These days, many people choose precast |
| many of these questions will come up if you build any | | | | foundations for log homes, because they are so |
| custom home, but I'd venture to guess the log home | | | | accurate and don't require a footer. If you go this |
| owners find themselves deeper in the | | | | route, you'll have to hire a mason to pour the floor |
| decision-making process than someone dealing with a | | | | after the precast foundation is erected. Remember |
| custom builder. After all, the differences become | | | | that if you choose to build on a slab, you're going to |
| apparent immediately as the owners have to find | | | | have problems routing your wiring, because this is |
| their own manufacturer. | | | | normally done from the basement. |
| Unless you have a pocket full of cash, you're going | | | | Your log home manufacturer is going to give you a |
| to have to follow the construction loan mindset | | | | quote for the package. Many people want the |
| throughout the budgeting process. I plan to devote a | | | | manufacturer to quote on a "turnkey" house or at |
| whole article to the construction loan, but this pursuit | | | | least a weathered-in shell, as a matter of |
| will serve as a preliminary step before going to the | | | | convenience. However, this might not be the way to |
| bank. | | | | go if you live in a different state from the mill. Do |
| The biggest part of your budget will be the purchase | | | | you really want to pay shipping for plywood? In the |
| of the land. With today's new construction market - | | | | end, having your contractor purchase lumber locally |
| especially in New Jersey - the raw land constitutes | | | | could save you thousands of dollars, even it it's a |
| 30%-40% of the total project (of course, in other | | | | little less convenient to calculate it initially. Your local |
| states the land won't be so much but your overall | | | | builder will gladly give you a quote as long as he has a |
| costs will be less, too). It helps to purchase the land | | | | good set of preliminary plans to work from. |
| first so you know how much money you're going to | | | | I started with a simple check list to sort out my |
| have left over. | | | | budget. Luckily, I found a contractor who was willing |
| Then you need to figure out how much to set aside | | | | to take over the project and hire his own subs; his |
| for your excavation, your driveway, and your septic | | | | itemized quote helped me visualize all the elements |
| system. Before you can get to this number, it helps | | | | that went into the project. Then I added subs that I |
| to hire a civil engineer to draw up a survey and plot | | | | hired separately (excavator, mason, landscaper, etc.). |
| plan (you'll need the survey for the mortgage | | | | Here are some line items that went on the checklist: |
| company anyway). This will cost you a few hundred | | | | Air Conditioner, Appliances, Builder's Profit, Doors |
| dollars. The plot plan will diagram where the house will | | | | (interior), Doors (exterior), Driveway, Electrician, |
| go (and footprint of the house), the length of the | | | | Fireplace, Flooring, Foundation, Furnace (or Boiler), |
| driveway, where the septic and well will go. With this | | | | HVAC Installation, Insulation, Interior Trim, Kitchen, |
| document, you can go to the excavator for a quote. | | | | Labor, Landscaping (Grass seed), Lift equipment, |
| Since most log homes tend to be built in rural areas, | | | | Lighting Fixtures, Logs, Lumber (plywood, joists, |
| you will probably have to install your own septic and | | | | 2x6s), Mason, Permits, Plumbing, Plumbing Fixtures |
| well. The excavator who does your driveway will | | | | (sinks, bathtubs, toilets), Roof, Sanding and Staining, |
| most likely be the one who will dig your septic. The | | | | Septic, Staircase (if not included in log quote), Tiles |
| well driller will probably be a different company. These | | | | (kitchen & bath), Utilities, Well, Windows. |
| are both "wild cards", because the cost of the septic | | | | Depending on your job site, you may have other |
| will depend on how well the land percs (short for | | | | expenses. If the flatbed truck carrying your logs |
| percolate), and you don't know how deep your well | | | | cannot make it to the site, you'll have to make |
| will go. | | | | provisions to off-load the logs elsewhere and have |
| Once again, the engineer will design a septic plan | | | | them brought in. If you are set way back from the |
| which will have to be approved by the county (in | | | | road, you may have to pay for telephone poles, or |
| most states). The cost of your septic could range | | | | pay for the trenching. Also, your builder may require |
| anywhere from $10,000 - $30,000. If you are setting | | | | that you bring power to the site for his tools (most |
| the house way back from the road, you must | | | | allow you a few days of generator power, but not |
| budget for that extra-long driveway. And if your lot | | | | for the whole job). |
| is heavily wooded, you will have to pay extra for | | | | It took a while to fill in all the blanks on my check list, |
| tree removal; remember that you need to clear | | | | but once I started looking at each task individually, |
| plenty of space to accommodate both the house | | | | the project as a whole made sense. Actually, the log |
| and a large area around the house for the machinery | | | | package was the easiest part to deal with. In our |
| to maneuver. You also have to consider a space to | | | | case, the manufacturer provided the logs only (and |
| put the logs after delivery. | | | | the design), which came out to less than 1/6 the |
| Once the location and footprint of the house is | | | | total cost of the house (not counting the land work). |
| determined, you may need to use a different | | | | For the rest, the costs are like any other custom |
| contractor for the foundation. Foundations are not | | | | home; then the question becomes "Who does |
| provided by the log home manufacturer (with rare | | | | what?". After all, a little sweat equity goes a long |
| exceptions). There are several ways to go: you can | | | | way. |
| build on a slab, a crawl space, or a full basement. You | | | | |