Unexpected Costs in Log Home Construction

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