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Unexpected Costs in Log Home Construction

You won't go far without hearing horror that's the exception rather than the
stories about log home owners who went rule.POWER: Most builders will give you
way over budget, ran out of money before a few days' allowance for power, but
the project was through, and generally after that, you may get charged for that
had a terrible building experience. I'm expensive generator. Instead, you can
sure there are as many tales as there are arrange for the electric company to erect
people, and I'm just as sure I haven't a temporary panel on site for the power
even heard most of them. Assuming that tools. They have to bring the power
your initial construction budget is lines to your house anyway. Make
realistic, here are a few points that provisions for this way ahead of time.
might make the unexpected a little easier Also verify way ahead of time whether the
to plan for. A good builder will have telephone company has service on your
already taken care of many of these street.CHAIN-SAW WORK ON SITE: This is a
suggestions, but it couldn't hurt to be little difficult to prepare for, since we
certain that the costs are covered in the usually don't know what questions to ask.
original quote.WEATHER: Weather delays I know of one person who was completely
are probably the biggest bugaboos. Time unaware that the stair timbers needed to
is money, and every week that your house be cut on site. Also, not every log home
sits in the rain and snow is another week company sizes the window holes exactly.
you are paying interest on your One side might line up, but the other
construction loan (we won't even talk side might need to be cut to measure.
about exposure). Ideally, you should Another couple I knew was surprised to
plan the log delivery so that, bare discover that an inside archway through a
minimum, your roof is on and windows are solid log wall needed to be cut on site.
installed before winter hits. Is waiting They were not skilled enough to attempt
until Spring a good idea? Well, April the task, and had to track down a person
showers create a sea of mud that could willing to take the responsibility - for
bog down the heavy equipment. The mud a big price. Sometimes logs need to be
will be inevitable, but perhaps waiting notched on site. All these things get
for a dryer summer would speed things added to the bill.ALLOWANCES: This can
along?EASE OF ACCESS: Some of the more be a big budget buster. Whenever
isolated properties can be inaccessible possible, pick out and budget your own
by a 55-foot truck. First of all, make fixtures, kitchen, flooring, countertops,
sure your local bridges are designed to etc. rather than take an allowance from
take the weight of a laden truck (and no, the builder. The likelihood of finding
you can't divide the total weight in half something in the price range allowed for
because only one axle is on the bridge at the item is pretty slim. If you start far
a time). If the truck can't navigate the enough ahead, you can buy certain
curves, incline, or surface of the road, expensive appliances and luxuries and put
you might have to offload the logs onto a them into storage. Try to have all the
smaller vehicle. This necessitates items ready for installation before they
another forklift (one for the big truck, are needed. Remember to plan ahead for
one for the little truck). In the worst extra light fixtures; this item is one of
case scenario, a helicopter comes into the most frequently neglected necessities
play.JOB SITE PREPARATION: You might be in the house.CHANGE ORDERS: If you want
tempted to throw down a quick-and-dirty to stay in budget, NEVER make a change
layer of gravel to accommodate the after the work has been done. Change
machinery, but in the end you may be orders make the cash register sing. Try
creating even bigger problems. If the to stay ahead of the project, so if you
trucks get stuck on an inadequate perceive a change while still in the
surface, you may be the one to pay for planning stage, a good builder will work
towing... and again, you'll experience with you at no extra charge.WHO DOES
delays. Especially if using a gravel WHAT? In our experience, the only time
driveway, have the full driveway laid in things went really astray is when we
first with the riprap as a foundation. tried to bring in our own trades, who
If it gets chewed up a bit, repairing it inevitably clashed with the builder's
will be cheaper in the long run than the subs. The biggest fight was who would
alternative. When laying down the gravel wire the septic pump: the electrician or
driveway, make sure you add a section at the excavator. We hired the excavator,
least 50x50 sq. ft. for the logs to sit. and the electrician walked off the job
Then cover that section with thick because he refused to wire the
plastic sheeting. The last thing you excavator's pump. We were flabbergasted,
want is to see your beautiful logs dumped and it took over a month to get another
in the mud.If you decide to take the (inferior) electrician to finish the
whole house delivery at once, including house... another month's rent, another
lumber, plywood, windows and all, you're month's interest.Not all problems can be
going to need to store them. You may foreseen, but conventional wisdom tells
have to rent one or more trailers to us to add a 10-20% slush fund to the
protect your stuff from the elements (and budget to allow for unexpected cost
dare I suggest, theft?). If at all over-runs. Bare minimum, you may need to
possible, take delivery in more than one tap into this fund to bridge the gap
shipment, even if the initial expense is between the subs getting paid and your
higher.Also, make sure provisions are next construction loan draw. Planning
made for a dumpster and portable potties; this buffer is not going to be easy, but
you won't regret it.TARPS: You're going in the end, it might save you a whole lot
to find yourself acting like a log of headaches - and an ulcer or
baby-sitter for a while. Whenever two.Mercedes Hayes is a Hiawatha Log Home
possible, the logs should be protected by dealer and also a Realtor in New Jersey
tarps, nicely fastened with bungie cords and Pennsylvania. She designed her own
against the wind. But you'll be amazed log home which was featured in the 2004
at how many tarps you're going to need. Floor Plan Guide of Log Home Living
I've even seen builders cover the whole magazine.
unfinished structure with tarps, though




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