This seems too good to be true.....

[Zehnteam]

Okay. So owning a log cabin home has been a dream of my husband's for a lot longer than its been a dream of mine. But recently I have jumped on his bandwagon full force. I noticed after visiting some friends with a log cabin home that log cabins feel so much warmer, welcoming, and calming than stick built homes. I'm a research nut. And ever since making the decision that we both want a log cabin, I have been looking through magazines and pamphlets, talking with friends who own log cabin homes, and scouring the internet for ideas and information.

I was set on buying a "log cabin kit", but was disappointed to find out that the logs weren't "full logs". That's when I stumbled upon this website. It all seems too good to be true. All of the things I was concerned about (i.e. the cost, treating the logs every 5 years, lack of building knowledge-I have a degree in business, not construction) seem to be addressed and laid to rest per this "class" that's offered. I'm pretty optimistic about this, but I don't think my husband is. Anyone have any advice, words of wisdom, where to start (I am waiting for the next class session to be announced), or perhaps some encouragement for my husband?

I feel like just the thought of being able to do this on our own has consumed all of my daily thoughts. So I guess I'm just looking for someone to talk to who has really done this. Someone who can tell me, for sure, that we, too, could make our dream a reality. What I DON'T want to do, is pay hundreds of dollars for a class, fly several states away to take it, only to find out that there is no way we could ever do this. So....anyone willing to offer REAL encouragement would be appreciated!

**Feel like we're in over our heads and swimming around aimlessly......

[Blondie]

GRAB HOLD!!! THIS IS THE PLACE!!

This is the place where you can find the support and direction to build your own log cabin. The class has a money back guarantee that has never been tested.
We are a collection of individuals who have never built log cabins before but we are building our own log cabins to live in most without mortgages.
Is this real? Yup.

Give the guys/gals a few minutes and they will say so too.

Blondie

[StressMan79]

Z,

1) I built my house for less than 60k, most of which was tools, which can be resold.
2) the logs are solid.
3) I am disabled, and can hardly walk now. Was still able to do it.
4) the class ties together everything you can learn outside the class. If you are disappointed, ask for your money back. I don't think anyone has ever requested this.
5) once you are a member, you can visit/help/learn on other's builds. You can learn a lot of make sure you do this, or I wish I had known...
6) there are members nation/worldwide. You will have lots of opportunities to lend a hand.

see my photobucket site and specifically 2012 building section for lots of pics.

-Peter

[blane]

Agreed with the others. I have never built anything other than a couple of decks and reroofed a house with the help of a friend. Be patient with your husband, if he is not on board you will be wasting your time. Feel free to look through my blog to see if you are up to the challenge. Not going to say it is easy, but it is something most anyone can do. I have been at it three years now and have about 4-6 months to go.

[Zetmandu]

Will have to add my agreements to all who have answered above and im sure you will get several more too. Not one of us who answer have a single thing to gain by encouraging you look around, read all you can on the site and even take the class if you so desire. Not one single thing do we gain by any of that. It seems like you have arrived here like many of the rest of us. You love the look and feel of a log home but the more you looked at the kits the more you were disappointed in what you saw and learned and felt there had to be something better out there, and there is. This is it.

You can do as much or as little of the actual build as you like because like most things it comes down to time vs money vs tastes but rest assured that after taking the class and learning the basics of whats taught there the real deal is on the members side where there are several of these homes being built all across the US and you have access to members who are actually doing this and have done it and will help guide you along the way, and its all free just because you went to the class. The members here are some of the most knowledgeable and friendly as you will ever want to meet and again, they dont gain a single thing by helping people to build their dream except for the fact that they have helped someone

[panderson03]

Zehnteam, my story is a lot like yours. we both loved log homes. thought the only option was out there was kit homes, but they were all so expensive. there was no way we could afford a log home AND ever be able to retire:( so I kept dreaming and kept researching on the internet. somehow (God's hand I think) I stumbled on LHBA. and took me about 2 weeks to get my husband on board. part of what helped me do that was the money back guarantee. just a few hours into the first day of class, he was sold. utilizing tools we learned in class, we've saved way more than we ever dreamed we could. and when we're finished with our build, we'll own it free and clear. AND we'll be able to retire when the time comes. we're building both a garage and a cabin using the methods taught in class, and we only build on weekends (and not during the winter) and figure it'll probably take us 5years to finish the 2 buildings. good luck. glad you found us!!

[rocklock]

I am 68.
I built a 31 by 31 log home.
It has amazing thermal properties.
It was built with out a loan of any kind.
I have two videos that will help explain the time line...
see below

[Zehnteam]

I am 68.
I built a 31 by 31 log home.
It has amazing thermal properties.
It was built with out a loan of any kind.
I have two videos that will help explain the time line...
see below

Thanks Rocklock! I watched your video and looked at each one of your pics. I stand in awe of your home. Watching it take form may have overwhelmed me even more, but it has also given me a little hope/perspective. :) Perhaps the class would help settle my nerves. I do believe that there is power in knowledge. Thank you for sharing!

[Zehnteam]

Thanks Blane! We are also a homeschooling family, so this is very encouraging to me! Thanks for sharing your photos!

[Zehnteam]

Thank you for the help and pics stressman. Thank you to everyone who posted! You have all been a huge help and very encouraging to me. All I can do now is present all of your help, photos, and information to my husband and hope he feels the same way I do...... :)

[HardmanGT]

My wife and I were in your shoes earlier this year. I stumbled upon this site and was able to get her to take a look at it on her own. She came to the same conclusion that I had and we went to the next available class. Since then we bought land, sold our house (close Dec 4th) and are moving down to start our build!

[The Bear]

I have, it appears, come across this site in much the same manner as others. As I begin my journey to build a log home, I ramble from one site to another, always looking for the "right solution" to make my choice regarding construction.

[PeeCee]

I stumbled across this site while I was shopping for a kit, and like you it seemed a bit too good to be true. I found some negative comments about Skip and the LHBA on some of the handcrafted sites, but I decided to go ahead and take the class. I'm very glad I did.

Below is a my first project, a little cabin that I am about 80% finished building. I have almost no building experience. It's been one year and four months since I poured the foundation--mostly just working on weekends (and mostly working alone until I started on the roof). I'm starting on a bigger place as soon as I finish this one.

Building a log home isn't easy, and it isn't for everyone, but if I am going to go to the trouble of building a log home, I wouldn't build it any other way.

2 days isn't very long to absorb all that you will need to know, but that is what the member's side is for. There isn't a single question I've asked that someone hasn't come back with a workable solution within hours. Speaking of the member's side, I have never seen a single post where a member voiced regret about going to the classes or thought they got ripped off.

At the very least, it's a tiny investment to learn a hell of a lot about log homes and to find out if it is something that you can do.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq299/block190/IMG_3912.jpg

[spiralsands]

I must have told this story dozens of times to new comers on this site but here goes again: I'm a single woman (now 57). I used to live in FL and in 2006 bought land upstate NY. Daughter and I went to a log home show and was disgusted with log look kits. Came home and went right to this site that I had visited before. I ended up going from FL to WA alone to go to the class. That was 6? years ago? Since then, with little to no construction experience, I replaced half the windows, rebuilt 2 bathrooms, built a fine shed and then sold the house in FL. Moved to NY to be near the land and have started building a 14x24 conventional build "little house" to stay in while I start building the "big house". I've been accumulating construction tools, learned to use a framing nailer, laser level, dug my own footings for the little house. If I could do this alone (with a little help from my daughter) then YOU and your HUSBAND can do it. You only have to stop being fearful.

[AkChas]

I'll chime in too, for-what-it's-worth :)

ZehnTeam: I too have had a strong desire to live in a Log Home, for.....well, as long as I can remember. And shortly after that bud of an idea, I became determined to build my own (somehow). When I "stumbled upon" the LHBA site, I had the strong sense that I had found my future! I hemmed and hawwed about taking the class, shelling out the money, finding the time (and catching an available class that fit my heavy travel schedule!), for quite a while.

I kept coming back to the LHBA site, read posts in the non-members' side and finally decided "what the heck". And took the plunge.
I can tell you this much, Zehn, you should (BOTH if at all possible), Take The Class! Even if you don't end up building your own, or even building at all -- there are So Many things that they "enlighten" you on, that you can use in your everyday life! There's a real out-of-the-box thinking, tips-n-tricks and other such things that you'll learn, that will really open your eyes (and I'm willing to bet, increase/rekindle that Log Home fever that already resides within!). I guess what I am saying is...... it is an investment in yourself(selves), and you'll gain knowledge that no one can ever take away from you. PLUS (here's the "added-extra-Bonus" of taking the class), you'll gain a nationwide/world-wide network of Family and Friends. And that (my friends), is something well worth the money, and then some!
Continue to read posts here, search around other venues and periodicals and blogs and I'm guessing, we'll be welcoming you both to the LHBA fold, before long :)
All the best to you!

Chas

[LBolton2008]

I must have told this story dozens of times to new comers on this site but here goes again: I'm a single woman (now 57). I used to live in FL and in 2006 bought land upstate NY. Daughter and I went to a log home show and was disgusted with log look kits. Came home and went right to this site that I had visited before. I ended up going from FL to WA alone to go to the class. That was 6? years ago? Since then, with little to no construction experience, I replaced half the windows, rebuilt 2 bathrooms, built a fine shed and then sold the house in FL. Moved to NY to be near the land and have started building a 14x24 conventional build "little house" to stay in while I start building the "big house". I've been accumulating construction tools, learned to use a framing nailer, laser level, dug my own footings for the little house. If I could do this alone (with a little help from my daughter) then YOU and your HUSBAND can do it. You only have to stop being fearful.

Oh, my gosh, you ROCK!

[LogHomeFeverDan]

ZehnTeam, I'm ten days from sitting in class in Vegas continuing our journey. It's a very simple proposition for us. Does it make more sense to continue down the collectively "accepted" path of listening to people who tell you, you can't do it, you can only have it done by me the person you are going to pay big dollars? Or, does it make more sense to surround yourself with people who encourage you to do it yourself, we'll help you, we'll expand your thinking and reintroduce you to paths we've collectively forgotten? We're both in our early 50's. We started late, we have two gorgeous daughters 14, and 8. I'm a Chiropractor by education, sold the practice almost 15 years ago now due to managed health care (don't get me started LOL), my wife is in the energy field. We'd fallen for the typical "rat race". We've both longed to build our own home and agreed a log home (pardon another aside but I choose not to use cabin, the homes I've seen from all here are miles beyond my concept of cabin) was the perfect fit. I've spent tons of time researching, talking, visiting. I stumbled on this site one day and knew I'd found "home". When I read you OP, I literally smiled because I knew another had found "home". You may not know it yet but I believe you're getting a sense. I'm willing to wager you'll end up in class and you'll end up building a LHBA home. You may choose to call it a cabin, that's habit, but it will end up being a true home.

I believe it's difficult sometimes for us to take the plunge for class on the promise the member's side will be there. I think the best evidence is the money back guarantee, that's never been requested. Remember this, none of the members who choose to participate on the public side of the forum are paid. None of them get a discount on logs or supplies or free tickets to future classes because they offer encouragement here. They do it because they understand they are "paying it forward". As usual though, don't take my word. Stick around, ask questions, pick their brains, get to know them. You won't be disappointed.

[JJ Jr]

I believe it's difficult sometimes for us to take the plunge for class on the promise the member's side will be there. I think the best evidence is the money back guarantee, that's never been requested. .

Curious about this statement. Real curious as that is not what I have heard on forums in past elsewhere.
The number saying they did was only 2 people and in all these years that's nothing obviously!
But the claim "never" ----- might want to retract that comment just to be safe.

[LogHomeFeverDan]

Curious about this statement. Real curious as that is not what I have heard on forums in past elsewhere.
The number saying they did was only 2 people and in all these years that's nothing obviously!
But the claim "never" ----- might want to retract that comment just to be safe.

Ugh....I sit, corrected. I'd correct it in my original post if I knew how to edit....still haven't learned that part. Thank you for the correction and it's duly noted. I should have not stated something I wasn't positive was accurate.

[panderson03]

I've not heard of any who have asked for their money back. I can't even imagine a scenario where folks would not find the info provided in class very helpful (even if they decide not to build). but I guess that's just me!

[blane]

Maybe they found Skips famous cookies to be "disingenuous" or fang to be under rated. :) sorry I couldn't resist.

[marronnin]

Ohhh.. mmmm... those cookies, the generational recipe.... those are just too good for words. :p

[Jarek]

Wait the minute... . What cookies?
We only had muffins?!
I want my money back!

:D

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[loghousenut]

If they'da been Costco muffins you could probably still get your money back.

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