Does anyone have any experience building a log home?

[Horse with no Name]

Ran across this website--been thinking of getting something smaller and more manageable. Dream to live in the woods somewhere. Anyway, I was surfing and found this. It almost looks too good to be true.
Said they can show you how to buy enough logs for a home for $100?
http://www.loghomebuilders.org/

[HereSince1628]

1. I think that's too good to be true.

I'm not sure you could build a 12 x 12 cabin with 6ft side walls even if you are buying trees still standing in a plantation and building the cabin on that site.

[tridim]

2. A friend of mine is doing that right now

He's currently about 60% over budget with the banks breathing down his neck and no buyers are interested (he has to sell it now because he's so far in debt). He's had it on the market for about 8 months.

If you really want to build a log home, get a "turnkey" hard number beforehand. My friend is very handy, but he made a big mistake trying to do-it-himself on the cheap.

[lildreamer316]

19. Where is this house?

Just out of curiosity.

[tabasco]

3. I want to do the same thing.

Here's another ink to check out.

http://www.log-home-plans.com/

I don't think $100 will buy many logs. Maybe not even one!

[ironman202]

9. theres a video called alone in alaska (i think)

about this guy from Minnesota that decided to spend a year alone in alaska and he just got dropped off by float plane with his tools and some supplies back in the 60's and it documents how he built himself this amazing cabin that's still standing today. I was always impressed with this guy. That's a man. Felling his own timber, fashioning his own lumber by hand...unbelievable how independent he was. Oh yeah...did I mention he was a union DEMOCRAT!!!!

[Old and In the Way]

11. Plans will cost you $100.00

[Roland99]

4. Need wood?

Ask *.

[LifeDuringWartime]

5. they do like nice

but how much do they require in terms of raw material compared to a "normal" house? it seems like they would use MUCH more wood, but maybe less of other things? :shrug:

[Old and In the Way]

15. I bought my kit 7 years ago for $60,000.00

That included everything but the electrical, heating, water, and foundation. It is pretty much an open concept, 2 Baths, 3 BR with a finished daylight basement....no attic, so there's plenty of usable space. My kit included all the finish pine for the interior walls. I have to admit, I was pretty sick of cutting/hammering boards. Then you have to poly everything...It is pretty efficient though. Wood is a great insulator. I'm on the 45th parallel and temps can get down to 30-40 below (wind-chill) in mid winter, I have 2 stoves, one in the basement and one in the LR that heat the whole house. We have oil back-up for the HW and zoned heating...last winter I think we spent $400.00 on oil.

[AlGore-08.com]

6. Off the top of my head, I can think of some major skill sets needed

You'd need to have plenty of skills as a carpenter, plumber, electrician and roofer. Or you'd have to pay a professional at least to put in your plumbing (and maybe septic system) and wiring. On top of everything else, there are sure to be local laws about the kinds of water treatment, sewage and electrical wiring you can have.

[Swamp Rat]

7. Yes, using Lincoln Logs.

:)

[jody]

8. $100 buys the seed that you plant and in 50-100 years build a cabin.

I've built a log home and you need to seriously research costs before making a decision.

:hi:

[Old and In the Way]

10. Two ways to go

(1) Drop the trees, season, peal the bark, notch, fit, notch some more, fit, notch some more, fit, chink. Cheap, lots of time, lots of work.

(2) Buy a kit. They are reasonably cheap compared to stick built. "D" profiles are the most popular. They are highly engineered and the fits are real good. Kits are pre-numbered and all you do is put some open cell foam strip between the logs and polysilastic compound to provide a weathertite seal between the logs. The logs are anchored using 11" spikes (or better, 11" lag screws). Only pain is drilling the races for the electrical wire if you don't want external races. You could probably get that done at the factory if you spec it in before they machine the logs.

The real pain is in building the roof. I'm in the Northern climes, so it's pretty heavily insulated. There were seven layers to the roof system.

Kits up here range from $16,000 (small cabin types) to $120K for 4 BR, 2 Bath types. Kits include everything except electrical /heating /water /foundation.

Mine is easy to heat and stays pretty cool even in the dog days of summer (I have no AC). Except for the walkout basement, not a sheet of plasterboard in the house.

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. Maybe the Log Cabin Republicans have some left-over plans

Seriously, We've got friend in northern NE that just built a log home. Really very nice, and they come in every style and floor plan you can imagine.

[screembloodymurder]

13. I've helped build one.

I wouldn't want a log home w/o 2X4 stud walls and insulation inside. The person I helped eventually put stud walls inside. His home had splines and two foam tapes between the logs, but the logs warped and cracks allowed air to pass through. A home's framing is not a major portion of the cost of construction. The appeal of a log home is it's rustic beauty. Cost is generally higher than conventional construction.

[Rude Horner]

14. I can't imagine $100

would get you very far, even if you did do it yourself. Then again, I haven't done any research on what you propose to do, so I can't say for certain. Of course, even if you do get enough logs for $100, there's still windows, roofing, electrical, plumbing, etc.....Not cheap.

My wife and I bought 10 acres last year. We plan on having a log home built possibly next year. We're looking at doing it the conventional way though - signing on with a log home company, getting a general contractor, etc....

We live in southern Wisconsin. We're debating between Golden Eagle Log Homes, located in Wisconsin Rapids, or some place near Ridgeway - I can't think of the name of it off the top of my head.

Don't give up on your dream though. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!!!! I hope you get that log home in the woods. :) I LOOOOVE log homes.

[nosmokes]

16. overall, a yurt is much kinder environmentally,

it's cheaper, easier, more efficient, uses a whole lot less in raw materials and is a lot nicer and more flexible than you might think. check 'em out.

[Pepperbelly]

17. check out the geodesic dome homes ...

You can get those a good cost, save tons on energy and live in a very nice environment.

[Jersey Devil]

18. This is Lincoln Logs, right?

Do they come with little people so you can play house?