I'm hoping logs come much cheaper than this?

[etd66ss]

So out of curiosity I have been contacting places about un-peeled logs for a log home, I came across Aker Woods Co. Here are the prices they gave me: http://www.akerwoods.com/prices.html

I hear all the talk on this website about free logs, or $2 per log etc. I guess I'm barking up the wrong tree for the log prices so far?

[rckclmbr428]

I routinely pay $200-250 a log for 40 logs with a 14" top and 20"+ bottom for my builds

[etd66ss]

I routinely pay $200-250 a log for 40 logs with a 14" top and 20"+ bottom for my builds

Is that 40 ft logs?

So when a logging company states a log is 16" diameter. Is that the small end, the large end, or the average?

[loghousenut]

I traded labor (thinning 50 acres) for my logs. They were big, ugly Ponderosa Pines and we really like them. Had to pay to haul them 3 hours to my place. Next time I think I'll just find some closer, really pretty, Doug Fir or Cedar and pay market price for them.

A lot depends on location and how much chasing loggers you do. In the end, it'll cost whatever you can make it cost and it'll be a bargain even if you pay too much. It is exactly the same as any other part of the build... You just do it and pay as you go and somehow you avoid bankruptcy and nobody starves. The Grandkids will wonder how you did it and think you are some kinda hero or something.

[rocklock]

The logs that you linked to are about 50% higher than I expected...
I believe they are talking tops... all real log people understand this.
You need to find where they get their logs...
I paid $200 bucks for a 12 inch 40 foot log... Which I believe is the ideal size.
The really low prices for logs comes from someone that does not value them like the government bug killed or fire killed logs.
My logs were from a tree farm where they really like logs, hence I paid $925 for a 1000 board feet...

OBTW, one member used bug killed logs and they were great!

[rreidnauer]

You're doing what's called, "thinking inside the box." Want to guess what you should be doing?

[etd66ss]

You're doing what's called, "thinking inside the box." Want to guess what you should be doing?

Yeah I know. I have felled over 1000 trees myself at my land, I know what logging involves. I think I'd prefer to have a truck drop them off, but not if it will cost me what's on that website.

I guess I am confused by the Aker Woods Co. answer to my inquiry. I asked for the price on 120 logs, 38ft long, 12in min on the small end. This is what I got back: "Those are very big logs. It will take six trips to haul them, and I can quote them at $3375 per load. "

That totals $20,250 for all the logs delivered. Yet when I use the prices on the website, I am getting $39,960 before shipping costs. So, somewhat confused.

What I would like to pay for all the logs I need is under $10,000, but maybe I'm dreaming.

[rreidnauer]

I don't think you're dreaming. I personally know one member who got his for under $7k. I'm still looking myself, budgeted $15k, but of course, hoping for under $10k.

[etd66ss]

Ok, haha, that $20,500 was just for the shipping. Time to start looking outside the box I suppose...

[rreidnauer]

Wow!!!!!!!

[rocklock]

120 logs, 38ft long, 12in min on the small end. This is what I got back: "Those are very big logs. It will take six trips to haul them, and I can quote them at $3375 per load. "
What I would like to pay for all the logs I need is under $10,000, but maybe I'm dreaming.

6 trips for 120 -12" logs sounds a bought right. My logs were mostly 10 and 11's and I got 25 logs on each truck. I also paid $300 buck to haul them approx. 50 miles.

Read up an Scribner method of getting board feet from logs. If I remember correctly, a 12 inch top, 40 feet long will yield 200 board feet. At $925 per (thousand), I paid $216. If I built my home with 12" tops I would have used 52 logs or $11,232.

My log stack had 54 wall logs, 2 cap logs, 1 ridge pole and 3 girder logs or 60 logs. If I were building with 12" logs the number would have been 46 +2 + 1 + 3 = 52.

[thoner7]

Just saw you are near Niagara Falls. I wonder if it would make any sense for a bunch of the east coast members to haul in some big logs by train. Maybe some big Cypress from the Carolinas or something.

[thoner7]

I routinely pay $200-250 a log for 40 logs with a 14" top and 20"+ bottom for my builds

Any idea what the loggers pay the landowners for those trees? I have a potential lead where I would buy them from a landowner then pay a logger to get them to my land.

[rckclmbr428]

Stumpage rates vary by area and species, check with the local forester

[panderson03]

we paid $2 per foot. each of our 40 ft logs was $80. you can do better!

[etd66ss]

we paid $2 per foot. each of our 40 ft logs was $80. you can do better!

How did you manage that?

[panderson03]

put ads in the local community newspapers. found a guy who used his logs to make and sell firewood.

[etd66ss]

put ads in the local community newspapers. found a guy who used his logs to make and sell firewood.

May I ask what species you used?

[panderson03]

we used red pine

[etd66ss]

we used red pine

Ok, thanks. Red pine is not generally used for firewood around here on account of chimney fires. It works in outdoor burners though I had quite a few red pine that blew over on my lot, they rotted very fast, have to get the bark off of those quick.

[rreidnauer]

Ok, thanks. Red pine is not generally used for firewood around here on account of chimney fires. It works in outdoor burners though I had quite a few red pine that blew over on my lot, they rotted very fast, have to get the bark off of those quick.

....and yet, I've seen red pine with bark on racks for three years and no issues with rot.

Really. Take the class.

[etd66ss]

....and yet, I've seen red pine with bark on racks for three years and no issues with rot.

Really. Take the class.

Maybe those were in a dryer climate??? I guess I'll stop asking questions if the only answer I get is to take the class.

[edkemper]

I think one of the hardest things to understand is the value of a log to the mill, or the lumber harvester. The lumber company bids far less than you think. Add all the labor to get it into lumber is when the prices go sky high.

I bought local Western Red Cedar. I paid an average of $100 per minimum 14" top, no less than 32' length. 5 self loader logging truck deliveries (approximately 100-110 logs) included. My logger neighbor who did not supply the deliveries, still made a profit.

$100 per 32'x14" tops. That includes the bid by the lumber company to get the contract, the labor to fell the tree, to limb the log, to buck the log to length, to haul it to the landing and to load the trucks. Don't forget the cost for the truck to haul it to my place. Everyone along the journey made a profit on each one of my logs.

I'm betting they did better off me than they would have if they had sent the same logs to the mill.

[rreidnauer]

I would definitely not call Northeast Pennsylvania dry climate.

Not trying to be snooty. There really is a reason for stressing to take the class. It fills in all the details you may never think to ask, and prevent you from potentially costly mistakes. Those who have taken the class, and suggest to others to go, is because they strongly believe it is that important and of value. No members are compensated by having others go. There is nothing in it for them other than helping someone get steered down the right path.

Perhaps you come from an environment where people can't be trusted, and hearing such talk of people helping other people just for the sake of doing it, is too much to believe, and if that's the case, I truly feel for you. I really hope you will come to see that, when something is being suggested, it is for genuine and sincere reasons.

[etd66ss]

I would definitely not call Northeast Pennsylvania dry climate.

I guess I wouldn't either.

Perhaps you come from an environment where people can't be trusted, and hearing such talk of people helping other people just for the sake of doing it, is too much to believe, and if that's the case, I truly feel for you.

Condescending much?

But I guess that's my point, "go take the class", in my view isn't all that helpful atm, it smacks of when you take the class they ask you not to divulge what you have learned so they can have better attendance in the future. But yes, maybe I'm just too skeptical.

I'm trying to do research/due diligence, that likely will culminate with taking the class. I definitely would like to take the class, maybe in Sept if they have one. However, in the meantime I still have questions. I guess I can understand you guys get sick of newbies asking the same questions over and over. When I come across that on the internet and I get annoyed, I just don't respond. I have been an admin of forums before, so I do get how annoying newbie questions can be. So yeah, I am probably a pretty annoying newbie.

[rreidnauer]

It was not meant to be condescending. I am quite sincere. You yourself have posted, ". . . and I am getting an uneasy feeling of secrecy about the whole deal..." which is primarily why you received that statement from me.

I've explained the situation as best possible. I have no obligation to win over your heart. There is nothing more I can do for you.

[edkemper]

Well, look at it this way, member's don't divulge everything about building our way. Partially because if we did that with the public, we wouldn't have time to get our work done. Really, that is part of the problem.

Secondly, the class is just a taste of the details. It is also the golden key. The golden key is like the secret handshake. It gat's you to the Member's side of this site. That is where every single one of us find the details and the more than the normal access to the people with the details and advice on the exactly how to's on every detail.

I hope you understand you will not get every detail during the class. There just isn't enough time to answer every question from every attendee and still be able to teach the class. Also, there are people on the members side that are (meant as no insult) possible more expert on some details than the teachers of the class. Plus, on the members side, you get access to those in the beginning, middle or toward the end of their own build.

Also, don't worry. Every one of us probably wondered, before the class, whether we were wasting our time and money on a scam. Everyone on the other side has gone through the class and have gone far beyond by gaining access to the members side.

[allen84]

Quote Originally Posted by panderson03 View Post

we paid $2 per foot. each of our 40 ft logs was $80. you can do better!

How did you manage that?

The mill is a great place to sell logs but not to buy them. Talk to people. I've found loggers are hard to reach, or the right ones are anyways (they shouldn't be able to hear their phone). Farmers and oldtimers are great people to get to know and can often lead you in the right direction. Also when negotiating price on anything I almost try to take on the slimy used car salesman gimmicks. You walk in their door, nevermind your budget... how much can you pay per month? There is many ways to look at price, some look more optimistic than others.

As far as building and the class... LHBA seems secretive because it is kind of like a club, almost a secret society. It's an association but not a sham. I was a little skeptical at first too. If you do your homework, there is at least one book out there that goes into a little detail on the method. But I don't think any book out there could offer the wealth of info and support that comes from being an LHBA member. For me, I thought it was money well spent.