Building with Telephone/Power Poles

[vstrommer]

Has anyone explored the idea of using telephone or power poles for the construction of a log home? I realize that the older creosote poles would not be desirable but the newer poles are treated differently and are much cleaner. They are all graded and designed to be bug and rot free for a long, long time even while planted directly into the ground.

I spoke with an engineer from the local power company and he said that a 45 ft. pole, 14" diameter runs them about $160 from their supplier.

At that price, 65 logs (which, based on looking at pictures of a couple of the more straight-forward designed homes on the LHBA web site, should be a rough estimate of the amount needed: 13 x 4 x 1.20 and rounded up) would cost $10,400.

$10,400 is certainly not free but it is dirt cheap compared to the cost of a stick home shell. Plus you don't have to season. Plus you don't have to peel. Plus you don't have to worry about grading or treating. Plus they are all going to be relatively uniform. Plus you already have a ready source and supply.

Does anyone have thoughts on whether this is a viable option?

Thanks!
Tim

[adubar]

vstrommer,

People have built using pole timber. The price you quote is on the lower end of the market value. In some areas they can run as much as $500 as standing timber (not the actual cost to the consumer or utility companies). Utility companies can pay more via the middle man, and so would most other people.

Build with what you can get. If it's utility poles, use that. I would first caution you to find out exactly what the poles were treated with and get any MSDS info on that.

Some of the creosote "alternatives" are coming up to be just as toxic to humans and animals.

If you can find out where the companies that are supplying the utility company with $160 poles gets them, you might be able to get them at an even lower price directly from the source AND BEFORE they've treated them. It is worth a try.

If you use the LHBA's preferred building method, you don't need to worry about seasoning logs. This gives you a bit more margin in sourcing and building time-lines. Treating your own logs puts you in control of what chemicals are used.

-A

[kyle]

Hi Tim,

As Adubar stated yes people have built using utility poles. If I remember correctly the Wallace Falls Lodge was constructed using UNTREATED poles. http://www.loghomebuilders.org/log-home-pictures-17.htm

As for needing 65 logs, you should always overestimate (see that you did a little). You don't want to be 2 logs short of what you need. I would go at least 10 extra to be on the safe side. Even if you don't use them on the house you can use them for porches or decks so they won't go to waste.

The other issue is freight. Now the utility provider prolly buys 1000's of poles each year so they prolly get low freight or no freight charged. When I was looking at utility poles, prices were loaded in their yard so I would've had shipping charges. My guess would be a minimum of 2 loads and depending how far they have to be hauled, $500 to $2000 per load delivered.

Also keep in mind since the utility company buys in bulk they get a lot better pricing than you will. When I looked into it, my cost were going to run around $20k for 75 poles including delivery. I just had my final logs delivered last week for 22% of that price. And the kicker, I didn't get 75 logs, I got over 140 logs for less than 5k by following exactly what the class taught. Plus I like the look of logs over poles.

You are getting some good ideas and thats exactly what the class is about. But I wouldn't get too involved with time consuming items until you get back from the class.

[vstrommer]

Thanks for the input guys! I'm doing what I can to learn and think creatively. As your advice states, I'm not making any serious plans or purchases until I've taken the class and done a whole lot more study. I purchased plane tickets last night for the January class.

(By the way I think I got a bargain on tickets: two round-trip tickets, 1 stop, from my home town in SC to Seattle for right at $650 including taxes and everything. My wife and I are going to spend a couple extra days in the Seattle area. If anyone has suggestions for restaurants, hotels and sights in Seattle, let me know!)

I was looking at the pictures of the pole built lodge you (kyle) linked to. I noticed that they have most of their poles, including ridge pole, extending past the edge of the roof. The smaller building is especially exposed. Is this not a fundamental and gravely serious mistake?

[adubar]

The pole exposure is not a problem due to the manner in which the logs were processed.

If other less sound means were used to process the logs, yes it might be a problem.

It is more a stylistic choice as was the ridge cap pole.

I plan to have one with a carving on the end, but I will be sealing the finished carved piece.



-A

[Mark OBrien]

My wife and I are going to spend a couple extra days in the Seattle area. If anyone has suggestions for restaurants, hotels and sights in Seattle, let me know!)

I'm nor extremely familiar with the Seattle area, however, if you get a chance to drive around the waterfront at night, if it isn't raining or snowing, it is an extremely romantic sight to see the lights reflecting off of the water. Moonlight is even nicer.

[Frog Man]

I plan on monitoring the info on this thread. Untreated utility poles does sound inviting. Lenghts available up to 100 ft. I have found a few sources on the internet that ship world wide and use douglas fur or pine. I might even find a mfg here in West Virginia. These decisions are a few years away for us but our planned house is 3400 sq ft. 75ft ridge poles are hard to come by. We may downsize our house plans but we have lived in a 1150 sq ft doublewide so long space would be nice. Especially the kids rooms and den upstairs.

[rreidnauer]

Frog Man, Try to find the company (logger) who is supplying the logs to the utility pole company. That where the best deal will be found. This can be tricky, but not impossible. At the very least, try to acquire the logs before they get turned on the lathe. It's one less step of labor for the pole company, and should lower the price, and preserve the log's natural decay resistance.

[vmwebster]

My husband will be attending the 1st class in February. I've been reading all the posts (over and over again).

Just thought I'd add the following link about telephone/utility poles.

http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Sawing_utility_poles.html

[vstrommer]

Thanks for the link vmwebster.