Posted: 4/2/2004 5:33:22 PM EDT
| Anybody build one? Know anybody? I was looking into it, but there's no hard stats on cost of construction. What's advantage/disadvantage? |
| My father in Ohio has built many log houses over the years. The insulation of a well built log home is amazing. If you want to talk to him and just ask him questions (he no longer builds, but has quite a few friends who do), IM me and I will put you in contact with him. |
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My brother in law has one as well as two of my friends. Around here there are lots of them. There are 5 hardwood sawmills within 5 miles of me. Most of the log homes here are built of 6"X8" squared off poplar logs. My brother in law bought ramdom width redoak boards from the mill to floor his home. He had the top side planed and matched/ripped them to common widths for each run. Looks great! He had his home built of pine logs that had been killed by the pine beatle trouble several years ago. These trees stood dead for two years before they were sawn and squared. Not much shrinkage to speak of. Permachink® is costly but necessary. Termites and bore bees will be your worst threat. If you have a gun safe in a log home it's for theft deterent only. You aint got a chance in hell of it protecting you guns from the heat that a log home fire will produce. IMHO |
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Costs of construction can vary wildly from inexpensive kits you import from Canada to custom mansions. Part of their insulating value comes from the thermal mass of the log. The last "expert" I talked to said the log itself only has an R15 value. There will not be any hard costs until you get down to brass tacks with a contractor. As an example, if you are trying to save money, you may have a project which starts by having a contractor doing your site and concrete. Then your kit is trucked in and assembled. You may supply a crew, or the crew may come with the kit on your tab. When they leave, you should have a dry shell: building,windows, doors, roof. That is a good stage to take over the finish work yourself. There are so many variables that only by fully exploring the market and your options, then figuring out what you want, where you can save by your own efforts etc, will you have a real answer to these questions. Keep an eye out in your area for log homes that are in the same style you want and see if the owner will talk to you (I've met some that were so pestered they put up signs) and keep an eye out for local home shows. There are magazines, websites... |
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This month marks three years that my wife and I have been building a log cabin. I am an insurance agent so knew very little when we started. I have learned a great deal about many things relevant to building one. We bought the "Riverbend" from Northeastern Log Homes. [url]www.northeasternlog.com[/url] Contact me for any information I can help you with. Theirs are made from Maine white pine logs. The logs are 6" thick and 8" tall. The R-value is said to be 22. If you do the roof properly the things are amazingly efficient. I have used just 80 gallons of propane in TWO winters--but only heating to maintain 45* as I'm not there except on weekends to work. It is beautiful and we simply could not be more happy with it or the company. I told the salesman (Jon Bednarski) that he should put me on the payroll for all the goodwill I spread for them. I constantly have people stopping to see it. |
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... Yup, been there, done that. Designed, engineered and built my own cabin at 7100 ft, altitude in beautiful northern Arizona. Definitely a "young man's" sport, I wouldn't do it again at my age. I'll hire the labor out next time around. ... Here's a pic about half way done through the project. [img]http://members.cox.net/winston_wolf/CABIN1%20copy.jpg[/img] |
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Think it was the 'Hometime' program on TLC that built a log home. This sucker was big bucks. It was interesting what they had to go through to get electric and plumbing in the place. In addition, the system used to hang the kitchen cabinets. Found this [url]http://www.hometime.com/Howto/projects/loghome.htm[/url] I have nothing to do with this outfit. I have been known to watch too much TV. |
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Quoted: Think it was the 'Hometime' program on TLC that built a log home. This sucker was big bucks. It was interesting what they had to go through to get electric and plumbing in the place. In addition, the system used to hang the kitchen cabinets. Found this [url]http://www.hometime.com/Howto/projects/loghome.htm[/url] I have nothing to do with this outfit. I have been known to watch too much TV. |
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Thanks guys for all the info and links. Having the shell built then finishing the inside by ourselves seems like a good option. The wife is more than luke warm to the idea so far, we'll see once I assemble some more info (ammo). I'm getting pretty excited about it myself, but we'll see. Might take you up on that offer to contact you Beekeeper. |
| I spend the summers in a log cabin made of 12" hand hewn 3 sided logs. It was built before 1938. Even though the bottom log has rotted into the ground, It is still a very functional cabin. The floor is separate from the walls so the cabin just gets shorter over time. |
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I checked my propane barrel over the weekend and found that after TWO winters the level has gone from 80% (full) down to 62%--it's 500 gallons, so that works out to 72 gallons for two winters. That is only heating to 45* in north Missouri, but still very efficient. [snoopy] Oh, it's 640 sq. ft.--20'X 32'--but has a poured basement w/walkout and a loft that is 20'X 20 1/2'. I have not yet insulated the basement, except the 2 X 6 wall on the walkout. Poured concrete has an R-Value of TWO, so I am anxious to get that done. I'll likely be able to heat the place with a candle. [8D] |