Few questions...

[jcop]

Was wondering if anyone has built a basement first (with electricity/water) and lived in that as opposed to living on site in a mobile home? Was talking with a friend about the idea of building a log home, and he made this suggestion. Having not taken the class, I would like some input about if this would work with a foundation for the heaviness of the logs.

Also...how in the world would one lift the logs to stack with equipment that could fit in the trunk of your car?

I'm musing these things, as I decide the viability of tackling the idea of building a log home.

Thanks for any input.

[HardmanGT]

People have lived in the basement while constructing. Usually it happens after you are under roof.

Trunk of your car? Yup! It can be done that way for sure. Once you get to class you will see how!

[rocklock]

I would suggest not living in a basement until all the heavy stuff is in place, ie a viable roof...
This can happen very rapidly - about 2 to 3 months depending on many factors...
I have posted many things about sequence and other stuff on the other side...
Good luck! Enjoy the journey...

[loghousenut]

Was wondering if anyone has built a basement first (with electricity/water) and lived in that as opposed to living on site in a mobile home? Was talking with a friend about the idea of building a log home, and he made this suggestion. Having not taken the class, I would like some input about if this would work with a foundation for the heaviness of the logs.

Also...how in the world would one lift the logs to stack with equipment that could fit in the trunk of your car?


Personally, I like living on-site in the ugly trailer. The basement Idea has been done by LHBA members but most of us build simpler foundations with no basement.

As for loglifting tools fitting in the trunk of a car... Yup. I think Skip's quote in the class I took was "in the trunk of a VW bug". That was back in the height of Hippie times and VW bug's had the trunk in the front. It'd be simpler to have an old pickup or trailer. You'll need it for hauling plywood anyway.

[rreidnauer]

You'd be amazed how much I've moved in my Miata and a little 40" x 48" trailer. (full sbeets of plywood, 10' rebar, lumber, pipe, etc) and on more than a few occasions, I didn't bother using the trailer to move some of those items.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy using TapaTalk 2

[edkemper]

You might be surprised how much I used to tow home from Home Depot riding my power wheelchair. Smile

[loghousenut]

You'll hear more about it in class but it's all that scaffolding that can be a transportation nightmare!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/scaffold.jpg



Just funnin' with ya jcop. Back when I went to class in 1981 I think the most valuable information I took away was "Just figure out a way to do it and do it". Once you see that regular folks just like yourself have built their own log home with their own hands, and once you realize that you can too, it just changes how you look at things.

There are numerous options for lifting logs. Some fit in a car and some don't. There are a bunch of options for living conditions that are totally do-able and it's being done as we speak.

Any fool who wants to do this can do it. I am proof of that. The job is a hundred times easier and cheaper if you go to class and get hooked up with the rest of us who are doing it right now. It will change you life, but I have a feeling that you are searching for that life change.

[Mosseyme]

The just do it thing is really the key. We live in a 10x12 shed that we originally built for a toolshed.
We work 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off so we spend 2weeks a month with cold showers and generator elect and we love it,well maybe not the shower thing but that can be fixed when we get time. You just have to figure what you can be happy with.

[panderson03]

.... you just have to figure what you can be happy with. thats the key. Ms. Mossey it it right on the head!!

[jcop]

Thanks for all who replied. I'm slowly warming up to this idea, as I don't want to paying a mortgage well after my 2 year old son is done with college. I love the fact that so many have done this, and the houses are stunning in their simplicity!

[Blondie]

jcop,

The next Logical question is how much is this going to cost? Wellllll, ICF and cement for the basement of my 40x40 will be about 14k. The logs will be 7.5k. The roof 12k. After that it is up to me what I put in it. I have picked up Pella windows off CL for $300 to almost finish the house. Or you could go to HD and spend 3k for the same windows. I hope you are getting the idea, you can build flaming money out each fist or you can look around, do some digging and do it smarter. You can order marble floor or order a few extra logs and make your own wood floor from the logs.

Blondie