crazy idea 2

[sopine]

I have recently purchased 2+ acres in north Florida which is covered in southern yellow pine. There is a sawmill 15 miles from the site.

Is it feasible to think that the logs could be cut and shipped to the sawmill, then returned to the site to assemble into a 1000 square foot home?

Would it be cost-effective? Would it be difficult to find a contractor and crew
to assemble it? How much might they charge (ballpark estimate)?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

#2
Thank you for your advice. Using logs rather than dowels would seem to make the job simpler. However, I am totally inept at this type of thing and would probable ruin the logs and the project.

But if it would cost $10,000 to do myself, could I find a reputable contractor or crew for $20,000-$30,000? It seems to me it would be a heckuva lot cheaper than any other alternative. And I do love the look and other benefits of a log home.

Would it be difficult to find a contractor with log expertise?

Thanks for making this idea less crazy.

[rreidnauer]

Ummmm, in those famous words from class, "You could do that, but I don't recommend it!"

By your questions, I'm pretty sure you haven't spent much time reading this forum or website. Here, we mostly all desire self built, low overhead, unmilled, whole log construction. I don't think you'll find a single person here that will encourage that decision, unless you are fully incapable of doing manual labor yourself. But in a very generalized nutshell, having someone build for you automatically (at least) doubles the cost of a home. Log Home Builder's Association classes teach you how to build a log home for as little as 1/4 the cost of a contractor built kithome, AND it will be a far superior structure.

So, my suggestion for now is, read up in the forums and the website. It's all free and no commitments. If you like what you see, I strongly suggest taking the class. (if you're married, I strongly suggest your significant other take the class with you, irregardless of their mechanical abilities) A lot of people came here with similar thoughts in mind, (myself included) only to have their minds changed the LHBA way.

[Klapton]

Why ruin those lovely logs by having them made into big dowels? Hire a professional to fall them. Use a car, truck, or ATV to skid them next to your build site. Peel them by hand with a spud. Spray them with homemade borate solution to keep the bugs away. Either make your own pier block foundation, or hire out the excavation and concrete work for a full poured foundation. Put up four lifting poles with block and tackle. Get a hole-hawg drill with a half inch bit, a bunch of rebar and a sledge hammer. Start stacking and pinning.

The biggest part of your house is done, and you probably spent less than $10k. For a couple grand extra, rent a machine to do your lifting.

Read up! Take the class! You'll be glad you did.

Check out this website, where an LHBA member shows the building process step-by-step: http://home.mindspring.com/~kahle11/logstep1.html

If you are in reasonably good health and at about as smart as Forest Gump or smarter (Forest could learn to do this!), you can build it yourself. Not that it will be EASY, mind you... You'll sweat a lot, and get plenty of blisters. But it's not nearly as complicated as you might think!