How much does a log house cost?

“How much does a log house cost?” It is the most frequently asked question in the industry and also the most difficult to answer. Customers aren’t the only ones frustrated; distributors and manufacturers are fully aware that not giving an easy answer could lose a sale. However, in reality the answer is “That depends”, and the sooner owners accept this statement, the sooner they can start looking in the right place.

What do I mean by the right place? Like everyone else, my husband and I began our search by shouting and exclaiming at the majestic multi-faceted houses with numerous spikes on the roof, giant beams, huge windows, and large logs. What we didn’t immediately realize is that each of our favorite log homes were handcrafted, and so out of our price range that we may as well have been buying a castle.

The first thing to do is distinguish between a handmade log house and a milled log house. Handmade log homes will cost 2-4 times more per square foot than a ground log home, taking into account the size of the logs and the heavy labor required from the first day the logs are selected. If the logs are not uniform in size, you will know right away that you are looking for a handmade home.

MILLED LOG HOUSES: If you select a handmade log house, you don’t need to read this article! For the rest of us, there are other basic factors to consider if you are looking for the price: trunk diameter, trunk species, and trunk corners. The first two factors speak for themselves. However, the curve system can make a big difference. For example, think about how the records are stacked. If you remember your Lincoln Log toy, you had to find the half log to start the first course. This is the way a saddle-shaped notched corner system is built. The rows are staggered and the logs are notched to fit perfectly together, and when you look at the corner, you will see each end of the logs on top of the one below, creating a continuous, unbroken run from top to bottom. The notches require another pass through the mill and will add to the eventual cost.

When you look at a Butt-and-Pass log house, you will see a gap between each log beyond the corner. This is because all the logs are placed on the same plane; the first course begins with a full log and collides with the other wall log that passes next to it. The next course reverses the process. There is no notch to hold them together, therefore less time in the mill. If you compare a cap and pass house to a saddle notch house, dollar for dollar, the cap and pass house should be less expensive. This is where aesthetics come into play.

A house with flat logs inside and out will likely be joined with a dovetail system, where the logs are notched at an angle and fit together perfectly. Think of the corner of your kitchen drawer. These also require more precision equipment and are a bit more expensive to build.

There are other corner systems, but these three are the most common. Just keep in mind that the corner creates one of the big differences between one manufacturer’s milled product and another.

REGISTRATION PACKAGES. Once you’ve settled on the corner system, you’ll see that each company quotes their records differently. To get a true apples-to-apples comparison, you should request a quote ONLY from the records. And remember that logs make up 1/4 to 1/5 of the cost of the eventual home. I think you’ll find that within the same size, species, and corner system, the base costs won’t vary that much from manufacturer to manufacturer … not including shipping, of course.

Many companies trade on a weather-resistant housing, which means all the components for a weather-tight home: logs, windows, headliner, doors. It’s tempting to get this type of quote, but remember that you may be paying thousands of extra dollars to ship generic lumber across the country. And when the extra material is delivered, it’s up to you to store it all safely and dry on site. If your contractor buys the wood locally, you can get it when you need it, rather than months in advance.

IT IS A CUSTOM HOUSE. Once you get past the log wall construction, you will find that your log home is not much different from any other custom home. Roof materials are the same, heating systems are the same, windows are basically the same. Most of your decisions are indoors: stock kitchen vs. custom cabinets, granite vs. Formica, hardwood floors vs. carpets, tongue and groove vs. plasterboard, horn chandelier vs. wagon wheel … this is where the huge price differences can add up. It is a custom home, remember, and the decisions are up to you. In the mid-Atlantic states, the price per square foot for a custom frame home and a custom log home will be fairly equivalent. When you look at it from that point of view, the whole price equation starts to make more sense.

SUMMARY: This is where we all get in trouble. There is no agreement on the budget price, because local costs vary widely. Four years ago, when I started designing my home, the magazines said I had a budget of $ 150 per square foot. I thought this was outrageous, but in the end, we spent about $ 157 per square foot for a saddle notched house with 8 “pine logs and some upgrades, so I’m glad I paid attention. At least being in the stadium.