Building a Realistic Budget for Log Home

[zhotdogs99]

Hello!

Just joined the site after reading every article I could find on B & P log cabins. I really want to build a log home where I live in Lake of the Ozarks, MO and understand the first step is attending the class. Hopefully I'll be able to attend the next one held out in Washington (when it's revealed!), but until then could anyone share their actual budgets for total construction of their log cabin? The site boasts low costs for creating the basic structure, but after reading about everything that goes into a home AFTER the basic structure is built, my head is left swimming and I'm wondering if it's that's affordable after all. Things like sewer, water, heating, air, plumbing, electricity, framing, drywalling, flooring, fixtures, etc seem to blow up my original estimates for a home. Are most people doing these interior installations themselves or hiring subs?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks to all who are posting!

Clare

[rocklock]

I hate the idea of a budget! or even thinking about it. Why? There are way too many variables that can have major impacts on construction. What is taught in class helps to answer these questions.
General lessons learned... Do everything you can to not get a mortgage... The more work you do the less it costs... The more family members that participate, the better you feel about the entire crazy idea... The longer you take the more bargains become available... maybe the less it costs... If you live on the property, the more money you have to build the faster the home is built... Build the smallest home you can afford?!
I know how much my home costs... so far, but the septic next year will be challenging, running the power to my well and the water back will be challenging, staining my logs and building decks will be challenging, stairs-floors-kitchen-bathrooms-fireplace all will be challenging. So will all the landscaping stuff that needs to get done for my sustainable life style. So, I don't have a clue about how much it will cost, but I know what needs to get done. I will do it as fast as I can, with the money that I have available. Simple... No Budget!

[rreidnauer]

I can't answer you direct question, since I haven't crossed that bridge yet, but some thoughts to think about. Never compare other folk's budgets, because they vary so widely. Two practically identical homes can cost hundreds of thousands apart from each, depending on how they were built. How?

1.) Hired labor is 50% of a home's cost. If you contract out all the work, your home cost just doubled.

2.) Buying materials retail will typically cost twice as much as if you were to comprimise a little and use a mixture of used, closeout, returned, blemished components.

So you can see potential for 75% savings over someone who just hires help and buys retail. Oh, there is one constant that always holds true, Time = Money. The more money you can throw at a job, the less time it will take, and vice versa. What each person needs to weigh is, which one do you have more of?

[NM bound]

Besides those already mentioned.
The cost of your land or do you already own it
are there trees on the land or nearby to use
what is the permitting process where you plan to build?
how much time will you have available to work on it
will you have family or friends & especially knowledgeable ones that will help.
will you have to drill a well? How deep is the water table?
If you have spent time reading the public forum - you know many of the issues you need to be concerned with.
it sounds like you may know already where you want to build......so a few phone calls should help with ballparks for
the parts of the building process that you know you will have to
contract out.

Almost certainly, it will be far less expensive than buying or building a stick house.
Good luck - it is an adventure of a lifetime!

[loghousenut]

Go some $20,000 over budget on the excavation and foundation. On top of that she budgeted nothing for purchase of equipment and so far I am 2 forklifts up on her. We already know that it'll cost whatever it costs and even my wife has finally concluded that we can afford it and we are doing it primarily because we want to. Some people shoot heroin and smoke crack... We are building a log house. Ya gotta have a hobby that you are addicted to!

[2 cents]

here's another thread about building costs....
i know there have been other posts, but this is the one i was able to find :)

http://www.loghomebuilders.org/cost-building

[ramblinman502]

heya 2 cents...was wondering what diameter logs you used for the 14x14 log shed you built...: )

[2 cents]

smaller than i'd use for a house... about 9-12" on the big end and 6-8" on the small end.

[zhotdogs99]

I really appreciate you all chipping in your thoughts on budgeting the log home adventure. I think I'll take the advice of what some have said and focus on the tree instead of the whole forest (pun intented). My fiance and I are big DIYers so I'm hoping we can figure out the nuances as we go. Hoping to attend the next class after this Vegas one so I can get access to the member part of this site. Living at the Lake of the Ozarks during winter is very suitable for this type of hobby! :)

[edkemper]

You need to read through the posts on this list. There are so many answers for so many of your questions in those posts. With a lot more details you desire.

[WillandHelen]

These log homes are similar to any other construction except for logs can be acquired for low costs and act as the exterior and interior finish for the outer walls. There is alot of savings in this. Most other costs can be cut to some degree with planning and ingenuity, but the main difference is in the logs taking the place of structural members, exterior finish and interior finish. Houses are expensive. After building one I wonder about those who built one for 30k and stuff like that. I guess it could be done, but with a decade of looking for deals and stockpiling. But there is no doubt that you can turn a 250k project into a 100k project!

[logguy]

Hello from the Fort Leonard Wood area! I just took the class on Dec 5th and I've got to tell you that it really is worth every penny. I've got my land and a solid, wife-approved, 40x40, 3-story floor plan on piers. Now I'm looking for someone locally to clear 10-15 acres.