| The Log home industry has matured these last many | | | | less in lumber and other materials. Also consider that |
| years, but there is still a lot of confusion about how | | | | labor costs vary wildly as well. A very big part of |
| much a log home costs. Naturally, everyone wants to | | | | your budget will cover the labor, because this home |
| know the cost of the log package; however, the | | | | will be built entirely by hand. Your contractor may not |
| budgeting only starts here. If you are shopping for a | | | | have to peel or notch the logs, but he will still be |
| milled log package (as opposed to hand-crafted, | | | | placing the logs one at at time, making sure the walls |
| which is a totally different category), the difference | | | | are plumb, drilling holes for the wiring, cutting settling |
| between one manufacturer's price and another is | | | | gaps above the windows and doors, possibly fitting |
| minimal when compared to the total cost of the | | | | the roof frame one board at a time. Your builder is |
| structure. Here are some reasons why: | | | | the most critical part of the project, and it's not |
| - Other materials. The logs themselves only form a | | | | necessarily a good idea to go with the cheapest |
| portion of the material costs of the home. Once the | | | | quote. Do you really want him to cut corners to stay |
| log walls are erected, you still have to worry about a | | | | within a low quote? |
| floor, a roof, the windows, the doors, the plumbing, | | | | - Design features of the house. The most dramatic |
| the kitchen... the list goes on and on. Some | | | | log homes have roof lines that point in all directions, |
| manufacturers quote a "weathered-in shell" which | | | | dormers that grace the front, vaulted ceilings in the |
| includes the logs, the windows and roof - all the | | | | great rooms. But remember that every new angle |
| elements that enclose the building (protecting the | | | | you add to the roof adds exponentially to the cost |
| house against the weather). Other manufacturers | | | | of the project. If you need to keep costs down, |
| only quote the log package, and leave it to the | | | | think about a simple roof line with not too many |
| contractor to provide the other materials locally. | | | | angles. |
| When pricing a log package, make sure you are | | | | Also, the old adage remains especially true with log |
| comparing "apples to apples". | | | | homes: it's much cheaper to go up than go out. If |
| From our experience, the price of the Logs only | | | | you want a rambling one-story ranch house, you will |
| constituted approximately 1/5 of the total price of | | | | have a bigger foundation cost, a bigger roof to |
| the finished structure. As for the rest... it's a high-end | | | | consider, and lots more labor. If you build more |
| custom home, and like any custom home, your cost | | | | stories and a smaller foundation, even though you will |
| is limited by your imagination - and your budget. You | | | | have to invest in a staircase the savings are |
| decide whether to use hardwood floors or carpet, | | | | considerable. |
| marble counters or formica, a metal roof or asphalt | | | | So what is the bottom line? A basic budgeting cost in |
| shingles. No log home company will offer these | | | | the Northeast US would be $140-$150 per square |
| products to you. Unlike a Development contractor | | | | foot for a milled log home; this is about the |
| who offers you a limited selection, you choose | | | | equivalent of a high-end custom stick-frame house. |
| everything yourself, from doorknobs to toilets. Once | | | | This does not include the land, the well, the septic, |
| you start factoring in all these items, you will discover | | | | the driveway, etc. It does include the basement, the |
| that there isn't a whole lot of difference between a | | | | kitchen, the plumbing, etc. This is the turnkey budget |
| log home any another home - except for the | | | | for the house only. You can certainly do less if you |
| exterior walls. | | | | give up a lot of amenities, but I wouldn't advise a |
| - Local price differences. We built our log home in | | | | starting budget of any less than $130 per sq. ft. You |
| New Jersey, which tends to be a lot more expensive | | | | may find yourself running out of money way too |
| overall than much of the rest of the country. The | | | | soon, and that would be a terrible shame. |
| same house in Tennessee would cost considerably | | | | |