| The construction industry normally prices new home | | | | talking about a turn-key log home or cabin, the home |
| construction using "dollars per square foot." It is | | | | will probably cost you between $120 and $160 per |
| extremely difficult to generalize the cost of | | | | square foot. If you want high-end extras, then the |
| constructing a log home on a per square foot basis | | | | sky is the limit. |
| because of regional differences. This is especially true | | | | When you talk to a log home manufacturer, do a |
| of labor costs, but that isn't the even the biggest | | | | reality check. Remember that they are in business to |
| issue. There are huge numbers of variables. For | | | | make a profit. Everyone wants a good deal but |
| example, is yours going to have a basement? If you | | | | remember, "There is no such thing as a free lunch." If |
| do put in a basement, is it going to be furnished? | | | | it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be sure |
| What sort of floor covering will your log home use? | | | | you are getting "value" for your dollars. Get a detailed |
| Will it be carpeting, tile, solid hardwood, a laminated | | | | list of what the log home manufacturer includes in |
| wood flooring, or maybe slate? Then lets think about | | | | their package. If one price seems too low to be true, |
| the kitchen. Will your it have formica or granite | | | | ask more questions. If you can't see how they are |
| countertops? Will you use chrome or brass fittings? | | | | cutting corners, consider sharing the information with |
| As for the bathroom, what types of fixtures are you | | | | one of their competitors. See what they have to say |
| going use? Will you have a Jacuzzi? What about | | | | about the competition, and listen and make decisions |
| showers with the multiple heads? All of these | | | | based on what all of your research tells you. |
| individual choices can have a major impact on the | | | | Whatever you do, compare and ask questions. You |
| cost of construction for a log, or any other kind of | | | | are the one in charge. If they won't give you |
| home. | | | | adequate answers, then you should go elsewhere. |
| Well, after saying how hard it is generalize the cost | | | | There are good dealers out there who are honest |
| of construction, is there anything we can say about | | | | and will give you a quality home that will last a |
| the cost of construction a log home? We can | | | | lifetime. |
| comfortably say that the cost of constructing one is | | | | That last statement "last a lifetime," brings me to my |
| competitive with "stick construction." What does that | | | | final point of discussion. They are different than |
| mean? All things being equal -- kitchens, basements, | | | | normal construction techniques. One that is well |
| bathrooms, flooring -- one will cost about the same | | | | maintained will last for multiple generations. That is |
| as other construction techniques. You ask, how is this | | | | not always the case when you consider normal |
| possible? The reason it is possible is the actual logs | | | | stick-built homes. If you factor in the number of |
| are a small part of the total cost of building a home. | | | | serviceable years that it provides you, you will get a |
| So let's cut through the mumbo-jumbo. What will it | | | | true relative cost of construction. For example, if a |
| cost to build one. Some dealers quote prices from | | | | house costs $200,000 to build and it wears out in |
| $200 and $400 a square foot. On the other extreme, | | | | one year, then the true cost of owning the house is |
| you will find people that quote prices like $60 a | | | | $200,000 a year. If it were to last for 20 years, the |
| square foot. How can there be such a huge | | | | yearly cost of ownership would be $10,000 a year. If |
| difference? | | | | the home lasted you 50 years, the yearly cost of |
| If you learn nothing else from this article, understand | | | | ownership is $4,000 a year and if it lasted hundred |
| that you MUST compare apples-to-apples. You need | | | | years, the cost would be $2,000 a year. The life span |
| to be sure and check carefully what the log home | | | | is a very long time if you keep a good roof on the |
| dealer / manufacturer is offering you. If you want a | | | | house and practice reasonable maintenance. One |
| pile of logs and you will do everything else, you can | | | | reason you don't see many log homes in the |
| get the logs for maybe $30 a square foot. Having a | | | | "want-ads" is many log homes have been passed |
| roof, windows and doors is a good thing so if you | | | | down from one generation to the next. Your great, |
| want those, you are talking about $55 a square foot, | | | | great grandchildren may very well still live in your log |
| but you still have to construct the log home and add | | | | home. There are many still standing after a 1000 |
| the interior extras like floor covering and kitchen | | | | years in Europe. |
| cabinets. Now let's go the next step. If you are | | | | |