Review/Feedback Needed: The Log Connection

[Chad]

Anyone have any experience with this company called The Log Connection?

http://www.thelogconnection.com/

I really love this floor plan:
http://www.thelogconnection.com/stockplan_A.php?plan=Guesthouse

I know its only a guest house and less than 1700 sq ft, but I'm single and have no kids so it will do for me for now. I live on Long Island just for clarification.

Anyone have any feedback about this company and this type of log kit?

This is the quote I came up with on their site: (PDF file)

http://www.filefactory.com/file/af77e0g/n/Guesthouse_pdf

Thanks for your feedback.

[StressMan79]

but I would run away from "kit homes." at best, they require a lot of maintenence, but will last OK. You don't have to look far for the bad side. Rot, separation, mandatory sealants, high cost, etc.

However, the biggest issue with Kit homes is in my opinion the lack of thought--you just follow the directions... you don't really know why you are doing something one way or the other...actually, the reason why details are done the way the kit does them is to keep the cost of the kit down.

I could not get the cost estimate link... just got a filefactory site--no link to the PDF... but I'm guessing that home will cost in excess of 170k by the time you are done, and it will last maybe 30 years. so, roughly 6k/yr + all the upkeep. Not to mention the heartbreak of watching your home fall apart around you.

All I can say is take the class. You'll change your perceptions GREATLY. It will pay for itself MANY MANY MANY times over. For example: I'm building a 500 sf guest house for my wife and I. Total cost: ~16k + land. You could build a 1800 SF home that will last longer than you, your kids, and your grandkids will likely have to touch up some chinking. total cost of materials: depends, but I would be surprised if it will run over 50k.

FWIW,

Peter

[jbeall]

I could not get the cost estimate link... just got a filefactory site--no link to the PDF... but I'm guessing that home will cost in excess of 170k by the time you are done, and it will last maybe 30 years. so, roughly 6k/yr + all the upkeep. Not to mention the heartbreak of watching your home fall apart around you.

You have to click the link that says "download for free with filefactory basic" and then fill in a CAPTCHA, then you can get the PDF.

The quote has $132,240 for the log shell, and $42,210 for their finishing materials package, for a total of $174,449 if you buy their log shell and all their finishing materials. At the bottom of the quote it specifies that those prices are for materials only, no shipping or labor is included.

I'm going to wager you'll be paying over $200k by the time your done. But I'm no expert on these things.

Peter was right, Chad--if you're serious about building a log home, then the money you spend on the class is *well* worth it. In no small part due to all the advice and feedback you'll be able to get from other members in the member's only forum.

[NM bound]

Unless he is going to do most of the work - I would bet that he will be spending closer to $300K by the time he is finished. Just getting the logs delivered will probably run $4-9K....We had no bids under $80K to do the foundation ~ erect the house ~ do the roof ~ electrical ~ plumbing ~ then flooring ~ kitchen etc ,etc, etc. back when we were looking at kit homes......

Thankfully, we found the LHBA!! Now - we're just counting down the days until the April class !

[rreidnauer]

Wow, and no kitchens or baths yet!

[Chad]

Wow, and no kitchens or baths yet!


You mean the actual material such as sinks, bathtubs, etc?

I never purchased a home in my life, let alone rent an apt or a log home. I'm still learning.

The PDF quote is $174k for material and labor to build the house. Its stated on their site.

[rreidnauer]

Yea. Figuring for cabinets, appliances, floor and counter top surfaces, the kitchen is usually the most expensive room in the house. Bathrooms usually take a close second depending on what you decide to go with. I looked over the $174K quote, and it doesn't include any of that. For that matter, it doesn't include electric or plumbing either. And as Jbeall points out, no labor is included. (which is usually as much as the materials)

[patrickandbianca]

I would go to LHOTI. They had a couple of people posting about nightmares with the Log Home Conn. Problems with delivery, labor, materials, subs etc. You would probably run into the same problems with a lot of kit manufacturers also. The kit manufacturer delivers the kit. Somethings not right. They blame the contractor, the contractor blames the manufacturer. Before you know it, your screwed and have a half finished house and no money left. PLEASE go to the 2 day course offered here. The 800 dollars is well spent and it is a meaningless amount of money compared to purchasing a kit for 200,000 big ones.

Patrick

[rocklock]

Let me first state our (or at least my) bias.
1. I like to make stuff my self. See my log home under construction below. I even make my one stone chisels. See below. I will be making some interior totems like the third photo whith my stone chisel... I know this is just a little wacko but what the hey...
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s274/flintlock1/100_0354.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s274/flintlock1/miss%20stuff/100_3858.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s274/flintlock1/miss%20stuff/100_0301.jpg
2. Do you know that the roof on one of these kit home is on jack screws? You must crank down your roof as your home shrinks. You must leave stuff in your windows and doors so that as your home shrinks these is room for your windows and doors to move into. Also the plumbing must also be able to move as the house shrinks.
3. Then there are the maintenance issues because many of the kit homes do not have a roof that will protect the logs.
Do your self a favor, search this site and other about kit built home and maintenance.
Just a note, if you like to build stuff your self, and don't mind working hard, think about taking the LHBA classes. Note, all the stuff mentioned in #2 does not apply to my log home!
Look at out student built log homes...
Best of luck - you have a bunch of work to do...

[Log Works USA]

America's Log Home Builder

Chad I have to say that these log homes are great, and as the hard core students would say "it's a kit" is just plan bunk. These homes are hand crafted and extremely solid log homes, that far exceed any log home built by any former student. I have no idea what they are teaching there but stressman is a nut case and has no idea what he's talking about.

[Shark]

Sure sounds like you work for them or something....

[Will Dye]

Not to mention that he is a total nutcase for that crack about them being superior to anything the members here have built. I wonder how many of his houses have had a tree fall on them and survive or been washed down a valley in a flood and the shell stayed intact? Peter, he may be right about you though, all that math is nuts! LOL

[Timberwolf]

Thank you.

[JayK]

Hey, I thought I was "America's Log Home Builder"???
Chad, I would say this, DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Ask them for a list of 10 customers with phone numbers or email and let those 10 speak for them. Check the BBB; google them and look for any law suits, etc. Maybe find out what county/state their HQ'd in and place a call there or go to website and see how far back you can dig. Amazing what the internet will shove at you if you'll just look. As for their price guide, Find out EXACTLY what's included. And "all that small stuff" mentioned such as tubs, sinks, maintenance, well just find out what that'd set you back. They biggie here is maintenance because that's probably ongoing based upon the roof lines and lack of overhangs in the photo. Yea, even if you are totally sold on going with them, and got the $200 or $300k mentioned above, why not blow $1k and spend a wonderful couple of days taking the LHBA class? It will make you much smarter about your purchase. Now editorially speaking, I would take the class first and run from anything like this. If you love the floor plan so much, buy turboCAD on ebay ($23.95 for version 14 with free shipping) and learn it and draw it. Or once you have land, hire a local architech to redraw it. As for the aforementioned comment about this home being better than any student's, well that just doesn't even sound like anyone from this association.

[chadfortman]

First how many kits home were built in the 1800s not a dam one. I dont rember reading about kit raise homes in history do you haahah
You cant call a kit . a log home/ You can call it a wood home.
Kits are nice and pretty but even a lemon can be polished.
Kits are a way to take the price of wood and make it more expenisive and charge some god far out amount for wood.
Another thing what do kits use in the cracks?
To seal them colored caulk used the same stuff in bathtub what happens mold and rot.
Chad you have a cool name but you should listen to a guy with the same name ahaha
If you got money to burn and want stress all your life then buy a kit hole ow i ment home hahaha

[spiralsands]

You live on Long Island and you want to build a log home there? Have you checked the cost of a lot there yet? Have you any idea what kind of property taxes people there pay?

I'm just curious because my family is from there and I shopped that real estate market before.

Frances

[hemlock77]

America's Log Home BuilderChad I have to say that these log homes are great, and as the hard core students would say "it's a kit" is just plan bunk. These homes are hand crafted and extremely solid log homes, that far exceed any log home built by any former student. I have no idea what they are teaching there but stressman is a nut case and has no idea what he's talking about. I will give you that they provide handcrafted scribed construction. Looks like it is of the Canadian chinkless design. This is the worst way you can scribe a log. Those v notched lateral grooves will split over time. Look in the construction photos on there website. there is one pic where the show foam gasket installed, the sattle notch looks like it was cut by an angry beaver. After researching log home companies for close to 15 years. I ended up taking the class out of frustration. There are a few good craftsmen that do build quality scribed construction. They just were not within my modest budget. If you have your heart set on that style construction do your homework. I will recomend taking the class because it goes into great detail of what to look out for. Educate yourself before you lay your money down. As far as the comment abot the quality of student log homes. Well that is coming from some clown that is trying to sell you something.?
Stu
<a href="http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u64/hemlock77/">http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u64/hemlock77/</a>?

[edkemper]

> stressman is a nut case and has no idea what he's talking about.

You forgot to add that this is/was your first post here and "the nut case" has been on here for years with a few more posts than you. In all the time I've been here, the "nut case" has been one of the most helpful when anyone needs help. The crap of "mine are better than yours" is just a profit motive talking.

[luncheatr]

this guy has been on here for alittle more than 1 day, and hes hocking the services of another log home builder? Maybe someone needs to check this person out. Maybe hes an infiltrator.

[StressMan79]

glad to be called a nutcase by a kit builder ;)

-Peter

[luncheatr]

it is interesting i must admit. I see on the page where they talk about overscribing the logs to allow for settling. that defeats the purpose of a saddle notch log home, cause your notching the log based on the assumption of log shrinkage and settling, not an exact fit, which is where you get your stability and seal from outside elements. and i also see from the picture, and maybe its not entirely accurate, but i thought i saw what looks like a wedge carved along the edge of the log where it meets the one underneath it, which would over time risk the possibility of splitting the log from the distribution of weight from the logs above pushing down on that wedge. just my opinion.

[Timberwolf]

But you're our nutcase.

And we wouldn't want it any other way.

BTW, good luck with your build this summer.

J.