Introduction - Please help the rookie

[russellf]

Hi guys, gals. I having been researching building a log cabin for the past few days and was very excited to find this site. I am new to the process and will be hopefully be able to attend the 2day course within the upcoming months. I am married with a 2 year old and would like to teach my family about the values of staying true to yourself and close to the earth as I learned as a youngster. For some time I have been planning to purchase a few acres and build a home. My love for Log cabins have come through and I have decided to go for it and pursue this dream. I am looking at lots in Chester SC. As a beginner what are the things I should consider? I'm not looking to build the biggest cabin (maybe 1500-2100) and would like to do it at the cheapest rate possible.. this will allow the family to maintain stable footing and prepare for the future in the correct manner. Thanks.

[StressMan79]

1) It sounds like you have decided to take the class. It would be good if your wife could come too, but I realize this is hard with a little one. Try to swing it. It is worth it

2) you will need some land. Shop. Leave your check book at home. Get to know the area and what you will need. if you are planning on resale, you'll want at least 5 acres. The type of people who buy cabins are the type who don't really like neighbors (within rock chucking distance). You'll want AT THE VERY LEAST one acre. Just moving around (it sounds like 40') trees will be difficult without at least that much elbow room.

3) Start deciding what is important to you and your family. I have an off-grid 20 acres that is accessible for 7 months/year. It is in the sticks (7 hr drive), and so is not a "weekend project" for me. My biggest thing was acreage and price (with water and trees). as a side benefit, I got solitude too. I had to give up grid tied power--an expense to have solar to be sure. I would summarize this point as "soul searching". Make sure to include your wife.

4) Start a budget. For now, assume that the home will be done in 1 year and will cost you 100k (which will be the case if you try to build in a year!) See about your budget. Will you need a loan? What would you be able to do without a loan? Strive for this

5) what kind of tools do you have? I am guessing you don't have a block and tackle at your disposal. Don't fret, you may not need one (they'll go over what you need in the class). Also, you likely don't need a 40" bar on a 5 hp powerplant (chainsaw).

6) sketch up some floor plans and start dreaming. Once you join, we can help your dreams a) come true OR b) help you modify them slightly to make them easier to accomplish I had to change my plans from building one home to two--The logs required for a bigger place were scarce up where I was building. It could take a year or more to collect what I needed. I decided to home my skills on a smaller "starter cabin." Your dreams may under go similar fluctuations.

[deuceandahalf]

hey ya'll.
I'm new to log homes too. me and my husband are wanting a log home with some land. i like to do as much reading as possible and gather as much information as possible on something before I dive into the project. I believe we fully we can build a log cabin. Though our "waterloo" is having the time, finding the timber, preparing it and paying for it. I live in the Appalachin mountains "Great Smokey Mtn" area. Is there any idea's out there how we could go about getting a log home? I would consider a kit home, but i've heard the stores. We would like a basement under the house, so it would be on a good foundation. Any ideas?

[StressMan79]

you are having trouble getting the time, finding the timber, and paying for it... hmmm...

well, paying for it won't be easier with a kit, that is for sure.

You'll be able to find timber once you take the class.

Time is a big thing. My friend said he had a requirement that his land was within 2 hrs of his place. I could not make that requirement, as the property bubble was over all land within 4.5 hrs. Then there was desert...at 5.5 hrs, there were some trees, but the locals scared off my wife. I had to bo 6.5 hrs away. a wonderful community with all I wanted. 20 acres for

[russellf]

Great advice I have been looking at lots for quite some time and this is a part that could be taken care of some what quickly. I am also looking at lots larger than 5 acres that are wooded. Is there a particular tree type that I should be looking for on the lot prior to purchasing?

[StressMan79]

are negotiable. Lots of members like Doug Fir. DF is one of the strongest trees and grows straight and has little taper...Sometimes. Many times they aren't big enough, or too crooked. It is often easier to get your trees shipped in. I would like to say the home was built out of trees on the property, but the likelyhood that you will have ~100 logs that are of houselog quality on even 20 acres (if you arent' on national forest) is rather slim. That paired with the fact that right now the lumber industry is in the crapper. you can buy your logs for much less than your foundation will cost... Not to mention your roof, windows, fixtures, romex, plumbing, etc.

Buy your logs and don't worry about your usable timber.

Worry about septic. If you get dirt that don't perk, you are looking at a much bigger expense than your foundation or roof... The class will cover all of this in much more detail than I am here. This is just brushing the surface...

-Peter