Recent Successes and/or Current Projects?

[happyquilter]

Hi Everyone. I have been bitten by the log cabin bug and I'm considering the class in January. I have a concern/question that perhaps the more seasoned members can help me with...

I am new to this site, so I might be missing something, but it seems like nearly all the student homes are from several years ago. They are wonderful! But I'm concerned that I don't see newer postings. I'm wondering if it is still possible to to do this in this day and age, what with all the regulation and all. I'm just curious if people are out there actively working on and finishing their log cabins, or has the climate changed so much it is nearly impossible now.

It would be helpful to gain knowledge about the current climate before investing in the class and starting my journey.

Thanks!

Shari

[mbailey]

Greetings Happyquilter,

There are many current homes being built. There is a members side only forum that will give a lot of detailed posts. My wife and I are among 30-40 folks that are in the throws of building our home from scratch and there are that many more that are planning and getting ready to. I really suggest that you take the class. I watched from a far for 8 months or so before I took the class in 2006 and it was a great decision. It is not easy, but with commitment and determination (plus God's enabling) it can be done. This is a great organization and they really give you a lot of knowledge and insight to get you started. There have been folks from all over the world come and take this class and build a log home. Once you take the class you will be a lifelong member and will have access to the forums with a wealth of information and the most helpful people on any forum that I have ever seen. It is like a great big family with lots of help. Keep on reading the post that are available to you and take the class.
Take care,
Mark

[loghousenut]

There's a tons of us building right now. My Son and I represent a half ton without even counting the Wife. In reality there are probably 30-100 being built at any one time.

LHBA has been around since before I first took the class in 1980. It is still going strong and we students are still building our own log homes with our own hands. Not many folks wait as along as I did to build our dream home but I was waiting to make sure I had the right gal before I started. She's the right gal and I proposed to her the night before I took her to LHBA class.


This is ours. When finished we will owe nothing to anybody but for a debt of gratitude to LHBA and it's students who have goaded me through this build.. Take the class.


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/Wow/Rooffinally042-1.jpg

[Jane Doe]

I silently follow Stewart (who passed away) and Rachel's blog of their garage: http://bieberloghome.blogspot.com/

Hope that helps.

[panderson03]

Jane, I love their blog too:)
Dear Quilter. we took the class in 2009. we started building last year. we have our 36x36 garage under roof this past building season and will work on the walls of the cabin next building season. when we're through, we'll be just like LHN and not owe anyone a single cent for our place and we'll be able to retire debt free. its a LOT of work but we're up to it and work on it as a team. its definitely doable Ms. Quilter. takes a lot of courage to take the first step though! welcome to the forums:)

[dvb]

We are building now and took the class in 2005. Hope to be done next summer.

[rckclmbr428]

This year I finished a 35x35, a 20x15, and put 3 others under roof, but I am building this style of homes for others as a profession.

[happyquilter]

Wow, thanks for the responses! That is very motivational!

[Basil]

I've been living in mine for 3 years now, adn will start my garage in the next couple of years. It'll feel like building a dollhouse after doing the house, will be a blast!

[buck_cooper]

Hi Jane and friends,
I read Rachel's blog. All I have to say is wow. She is a wonderful,caring but surprisingly strong and optimistic person considering the the card hand she has been dealt. At a time where most people would throw their hands up and walk away she is driving forward with all the optimism in the world. She seems to have some great friend and relative support. My hats off to that little lady with a tear of sorrow in my eyes.Bless her and her journey.

[buck_cooper]

Hello DVB,
I checked out your pics, very nice indeed. I was looking at the floor plan. 24x24 seems really small in numbers. You don't have many inside across the house views but is that going to be resonable room you think? Is it going to be a full time home for you? I am attending the class in Jan. and my wife and I are starting to think design and size. I see you have a fairly deep crawl space. Did you consider making that a few more feet deeper and have a basement? It looks like you are west of Loveland area correct? I live in Colorado Springs and would love to stop and say hi next summer (on a warm day ha ha)

[dvb]

Hey Buck!
This cabin is going to be our full time house until we build another. Of course full time for us is part time for anyone else, my job keeps me on the road for about 6 months per year. Sometimes more, sometimes less. My wife usually goes with me when I travel. I do believe this will be enough room for us, almost 1,000 Sq.Ft.
I did not want to have a basement in this house. As an after thought it would have been simple and cheep square footage, but it would not have given us the look we were after. Just a simple cabin in the mountains. After you complete the class and become a member, we would be glad to see you next summer. Probably won't be back until April.

[buck_cooper]

Hey LHN,
This may be a silly question of which you may say "TAKE THE CLASS" but the logs that come out on the corners, are they suppose to be different lengths? Or will you trim them up down the road or not?

[buck_cooper]

Thanks for the reply,
I think for some reason my biggest fear is thinking I am building what may be my last house and I want it to be large enough. It would be nice to walk inside one like yours of a certain size and then say, ya this will be fine. Maybe it will make more sense after the course but I will keep in touch and try to plan a weekend to stop by when you and the Mrs. are in town. Thanks and Merry Christmas.

[blane]

Happy Quilter,
We are currently building in WNC took the class in 08. You are welcome to look through our blog.

[panderson03]

Hey LHN,
This may be a silly question of which you may say "TAKE THE CLASS" but the logs that come out on the corners, are they suppose to be different lengths? Or will you trim them up down the road or not?

Hey there Buck. not sure if LHN is off celebrating already, so I thought I'd attempt to answer your question. the logs that come out on the corners are called 'over dangles'. most folks cut them back and make them even in length.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
glad you found us:)

[loghousenut]

Hey there Buck. not sure if LHN is off celebrating already, so I thought I'd attempt to answer your question. the logs that come out on the corners are called 'over dangles'. most folks cut them back and make them even in length.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
glad you found us:)

I'm here... Slow, but here. TAKE THE CLASS, BUCK!!!! You know you want to... You know that's the only answer for your lifestyle you are looking for... You know it's just a matter of time.... We can hear it in the way you post.

Sometimes I feel like I have to do everything around here. Buck, if you'll get signed up for class it'll give you a head start on building the home you want to build and then you can become one of us "fanatics" who gets to spend all of our free time telling future fanatics to take the class. Personally I think this oughta be a paid position. haHahahaa


PS... To embellish on panderson's answer on the overdangles... If you build using the LHBA method, you can do whatever you want with the logs that stick out past the corners. Because we build without notches, the overdangles are not structural. Everyone but me cuts them off nice and even about 18" from the corner. I like to whack them off kinda randomly and then make each end sorta imitation beavercut looking. It gives the place a rustic, unfinished look that the Boss and I prefer. It also makes it easier to bust a knee or eyebrow as you walk around the corner but that's just icing on the cake.

There's no hurry to trim them to length. I'd like to wait til the windows and doors are figured out and maybe even get an idea for sure where the deck/patio will begin and end before I shorten them up. Trimming the overdangles can be almost a Zen experience if you get the entire family sitting calmly in lawn chairs on a pleasant summer evening arguing about aesthetics versus eyebrow banging. Eventually the winner of the argument is the one who fires up the chainsaw and cuts some firewood off of the log house.



This brings to mind several of the benefits to building the LHBA way that rarely get mentioned on this side of the forum:

1... Windows and doors can be almost unplanned until the log structure is up and roofed. You won't have to custom order the windows that the architect drew on the plans. Most of us find a "pennies on the dollar" deal on a pile of expensive new custom windows from somebody else's cancelled order. More about that in class.

2... Your outside deck/porch and any roof that you put over it can evolve somewhat as you build. There are no screwjacks required for the posts that hold up any of the upright posts that support your second floor porch or the roof over your full length covered deck. More on that in class.

3... You can use ugly, gnarly, free logs to build your LHBA home. I did and we logged them ourselves. Most folks are smart enough to pay a logger to deliver pretty, straight logs with very little taper, but you can build a beautiful, as well as fully functional, LHBA home out of logs that the mills might consider junk. In class you will learn a few priceless tips and tricks about dealing with loggers and what logs to look for. Once you are a member, you will be hooked into the members only side of the forum where we help each other over the little hurdles that get thrown in our way as we build. There are probably 500 posts on the members side about deals on logs and dealings with loggers. If you really do want to build your own log home with your own hands, you will save the cost of going to class as you acquire your logs. Just one man's opinion... But I'm right and I rarely admit to loosing an argument, even when I'm wrong (tongue partially in cheek).

[rckclmbr428]

now now LHN, you can say that everyone likes to cut them off flush.....If I remember correctly, I have seen that style of corners before...
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk122/rckclmbr428/20x15/IMAG0333.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk122/rckclmbr428/10x15%20cabin/2.jpg

[loghousenut]

What I meant to say was:

Nearly everyone but me cuts them off nice and even about 18" from the corner. I want to whack them off kinda randomly and then make each end sorta imitation beavercut looking like Ronnie Rcklmbr does.

You're not gonna argue about the eyebrow bangers are you. Darned whippersnapper kids won't let an old rascal get away with nuthin.

HAHahaaha

[buck_cooper]

Dear Nut,
Thanks again for just a sliver of your vaste knowledge. I am going to the Jan class so soon will be able to harass the newbies about, TAKING THE CLASS.It is all in good fun. I do like the idea of choosing windows and doors as the shell evolves. And the porch areas. I also like the idea of trimming the dangles to what ever blowes your skirt up. I did see a picture some where of a log home with like a 40 inch diameter log just above the porch deck. They let it stick out about 6 feet and carved that area into a cool seat. That is the kind of thing that can make you own home special and unique to what others do.
Speaking of dealing with loggers, I have a little story for you. Starting to look for info and materials, I spotted on Craigslist a company south of Denver that showed selling raw logs, unpeeled for home building. Lodgepole pine. So I sent them an email inquireing about ballpark price for logs delivered to my area in Colorado Springs. Just so I could get an idea about what they are selling for. So I get a response from the lady and she says, the price would be $6500 for a 22 ton load. I don't know about most folks, but that doesn't mean much to me. Doesn't the weight change a lot if they are still green versus cut 2 years ago. What I thought I would get was, this load would be about 50 logs, would be 18 inches diameter logs, 40 feet long or whatever a load is. So I responded with, what diameter log and length would that be, and her response was ,what ever size you requested. The first thing that popped into my head was, heres your sign!. So I didn't pursue it any farther because I am waiting for all the secret info in the class. But just out of curiousity, about how many 18 inch logs would fit on a log truck log?
Panderson, also thanks for your input until the nut woke up again.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. Getting excited for the Jan class so am only half fanatic so far?

[happyquilter]

Hi Buck! My dear hubby and I are also signed up for the January class, so we will get to meet you and your wife there. I too can't wait to bug newbies to TAKE THE CLASS! Lol! I think I might be as fanatic as you. I woke up this morning (Christmas morning) with dreams of floorplans dancing in my head. I was designing my cabin in my sleep and mentally trying out the stairs in different places.

Thanks to all the members on these forums who have so generously (and patiently lol) shared their advice with us. The best advice I've received so far was to talk my husband into attending the class with me. It just feels so much better knowing he will be there from the start. I feel confident we can do this together.

[Plumb Level]

How many logs? Probably aboout 12 or 15 green. But that number could double easily if the logger cuts them in half to better fit on his truck!

[buck_cooper]

Thats funny, my wife is a happy quilter.
She decided to stay home and not attend the workshop. We have remodeled a lot of properties and she is the color person, and other things. She always teases me about being the 6 foot 3 inch brute and she is the 5 foot 3 inch backup. But I am getting more excited about going, and I too am reading books, looking at floor plans, trying to decide how big, how to arrange things. My wife Quinna says I am going to wear myself out. Ha Ha It will be nice to meet all the folks.

[buck_cooper]

I found a calculator on the web that shows a log 14 inches in diameter mid log and 33 feet is about 1500lbs. So that comes out to 14 for a load. At $6500 a load that is pretty spendy. Wonder how many logs it takes for a 30x30 house?

[loghousenut]

Buck asked..."So I didn't pursue it any farther because I am waiting for all the secret info in the class. But just out of curiousity, about how many 18 inch logs would fit on a log truck log?"


I'm not one of those "facts and figures, engineer types"... I'm more of a "I wonder how we can finagle this into working, screwball type". I'm thinking with the seat of my pants that your guess in post #24 is about right on for the number of 35' logs for a truck load. I'm also guessing that $6500 per load is kinda high.

Here's more or less how it worked for the logs that are making up our 36x36. The trucker made 4 trips that were about 110 miles one way and at least one of those loads was really badly overloaded. Ended up with 58 logs at our homesite that he offloaded fairly carefully onto sacrificial logs in four different spots. He only broke one log and it was an ugly one anyway. He didn't have to look far to find an ugly log to break. All of our logs are ugly but we love them anyway.

We paid him $2500 but that included hauling the ridgepole and one ridgepole support log some seven miles. He quoted that it would be less but I think the job was worth more. We compromised and paid him what he asked for at the end of the job. Remember, that is just what the trucker got but it was worth every penny if you ask me. I have hauled logs one at a time just a mile or so on a single log trailer. It's not easy and it's not fast. The trucker is worth it.

We have plenty of logs left over to mill into lumber... I'm guessing 10 or 15. Most folks would have made their walls one or two rows taller than we did but we like it the way it is turning out.

I think it is halfway through the first day of class where they will teach you all this but now you have a headstart so you'll be able to nod off and catch a nap. Don't feel guilty about it unless you snore enough to wake Ellsworth up too.



This was our ridgepole the day after we cut it down. It was a short trip so nobody bothered with an overlength permit

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/Our%20Home/The%20ridgepole/P1000836.jpg

[buck_cooper]

Thanks LHN,
What would you say the average size of log is used in your house?
http://www.jwiwood.com/houselogs.html
This is the link to the vendor I was talking about. Now looking in the picture of the loaded log truck. I would guess the average log to be about 14 to 20 inches. By viewing part of the load I would estimate about 30- 40 logs on a load. Not sure of the length. But this seems it would be more than the 22 ton the lady was talking about. LHN you mentioned one load being way over weight. Do you know what a standard weight load is? Also how long is your ridgepole in that picture on the truck.What diameter is your ridgepole? Just wondering if their is a standard length for log truck and trailer. I don't know if you are always right, but you are right on with my views on most things you talk about. So your tongue will probably be fine.When you were talking about coworkers, It jogged my memory. Several years ago when I was about 25, one of my coworkers told me he was going to build a log house. At the time I thought oh man is he taking on a huge project. He was around 50 where I am now. Now I understand the urgency he felt. Here is how I played into the deal. Just a young guy with 2 small kids, i used wood for heat in my new modular home. So several weekends that year I met Fred up in the woods about 25 miles away. I know he bought a permit from the forest service and they walked out in the area and helped him mark the trees. He had a small 4wd ag tractor that was very narrow and good for skidding down through lodgepole pine. I helped him fall some trees, skid them down and help load them. At the end of the day he would make sure we had skidded enough firewood down to load my truck and 16' trailer. It was a good for both of us. After that I did not see much of the build but heard about it once and away. Kicking myself now. I will tell you how the story ended. Fred had some back problems and about in the middle of the build his back got worse and he retired on disability as he could no longer be a mechanic. Him and his wife sold the house and was able to pay for half of a nice new stick built house. Not the idea they started with, but they were able to have a nice house and a reasonable payment. I guess you just never know. Buck

[irace2win41]

Interesting thread. I'm taking the class in January also. Ellen and I have been looking at land, how much sq footage we want/need, and reading as much as possible. Have a couple of designs in mind but that may change with the class. We are probably going to purchase the logs as I travel for a living and time will be pretty valuable. So, finding a logger in NC at a great price will be one of our first goals. We are hoping to get started as soon as possible after the class. We are also waiting until after the class to finalize our plans (of course with me that will change too).

We are both on board with the build with no mortgage agenda. Looking forward to meeting everyone in the class and getting access to the members side of the forum. :D

Rod

[buck_cooper]

Is Bobby Goodson from swamp loggers in your neck of the woods? He could probably hook you up. Ha Ha.
will be nice to meet you at the class Rod.
Buck

[loghousenut]

Thanks LHN,
What would you say the average size of log is used in your house?
http://www.jwiwood.com/houselogs.html
This is the link to the vendor I was talking about. Now looking in the picture of the loaded log truck. I would guess the average log to be about 14 to 20 inches. By viewing part of the load I would estimate about 30- 40 logs on a load. Not sure of the length. But this seems it would be more than the 22 ton the lady was talking about. LHN you mentioned one load being way over weight. Do you know what a standard weight load is? Also how long is your ridgepole in that picture on the truck.What diameter is your ridgepole? Just wondering if their is a standard length for log truck and trailer. I don't know if you are always right, but you are right on with my views on most things you talk about. So your tongue will probably be fine.When you were talking about coworkers, It jogged my memory. Several years ago when I was about 25, one of my coworkers told me he was going to build a log house. At the time I thought oh man is he taking on a huge project. He was around 50 where I am now. Now I understand the urgency he felt. Here is how I played into the deal. Just a young guy with 2 small kids, i used wood for heat in my new modular home. So several weekends that year I met Fred up in the woods about 25 miles away. I know he bought a permit from the forest service and they walked out in the area and helped him mark the trees. He had a small 4wd ag tractor that was very narrow and good for skidding down through lodgepole pine. I helped him fall some trees, skid them down and help load them. At the end of the day he would make sure we had skidded enough firewood down to load my truck and 16' trailer. It was a good for both of us. After that I did not see much of the build but heard about it once and away. Kicking myself now. I will tell you how the story ended. Fred had some back problems and about in the middle of the build his back got worse and he retired on disability as he could no longer be a mechanic. Him and his wife sold the house and was able to pay for half of a nice new stick built house. Not the idea they started with, but they were able to have a nice house and a reasonable payment. I guess you just never know. Buck

Buck, You ask such tough questions. Look at the photo below and try to tell me what YOU think my average log size is. Mine is an abnormal case using ugly logs with a lot of variation and taper and I left as many logs as I could extra long so I could be creative trying to fit them together into a wall. You will use nicer logs than I am building with. I am pretty sure that the smallest diameter you see is about 10" and the largest you see is about 30".

As I look at the load of logs in the link you provided, I am supposing that those logs average 8"-12" but it's just a wild guess on my part. They are really pretty logs and they'll go together fast to make a great looking house. If it were me I'd push for larger logs but I have been in a bunch of fantastic log houses built out of logs just like those in the link. Those logs will certainly be MUCH easier to make a house out of than ugly ole Ponderosa Pines like mine. I am guessing that the load in your link is legal weight but that can vary by state. Here in Oregon a straight, 5 axle log truck can haul 80,000 lbs. The empty truck will weigh close to 35,000 lbs if it is a self loading truck (the crane). That 22 tons you were talking about is 44,000 lbs and that works out about right.

Your contact is selling standing dead logs that will be dry and lightweight and most of the bark will be off of them. They will be nice, from the looks of them, but expensive. If you got back from class and called the gal selling those logs and just sent her a check, you'd like the outcome... But you won't do that. This is all covered somewhere between hour 4 and 7 on day one and you'll probably save your tuition by what you learn in ten minutes. That will be ten of the minutes when you will want to NOT nap.

My ridgepole is 53' long, 4' on one end and 3' on the other. The upper 35' of that tree became one of the supports that holds it up.

Now as for your old Buddy who started building his log house after he was 50 years old. Well I wish I was only 50 and I'm a young pup compared to some of the old codgers on this forum and they seem to be building just fine. On day two of class, probably just before lunch, you will be told of a famous quote that Skip Ellsworth used to pass around fairly freely. It is a quote that, if taken literally, will help you to build the size of log home that will perfectly fit your needs while keeping the job limited enough in scope as to practically guarantee a successful completion of the build.

Buck, You're only 50. The urgency that you feel is completely unfounded. You have plenty of time to build the dream home that your family has always expected you to build before you kick the bucket. The only requirement is that you live to be a functionally above average 95 year old superman. Go to class NOW...


hahHAhahhaa. It'll all work out just fine.


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/Our%20Home/The%20logs/1stloadoflogsleavingC035.jpg

[irace2win41]

Is Bobby Goodson from swamp loggers in your neck of the woods? He could probably hook you up. Ha Ha.
will be nice to meet you at the class Rod.
Buck

Haven't heard of Bobby or swamp loggers but will look him up today. Buck, looking forward to meeting you in a couple of weeks. You sound like you have a lot of the same questions I do. Should be a fun time. Can hardly wait to start building.

Rod

[rckclmbr428]

Where in NC are you? I'm not far from NC, and have a home I designed being built near asheville, and might I ask, what do you race?

[irace2win41]

Where in NC are you? I'm not far from NC, and have a home I designed being built near asheville, and might I ask, what do you race?

Had never heard of swamp loggers...ha,ha. I'm in Salisbury about 45 minutes north of Charlotte. Ellen and I are looking for land just north of Winston Salem around Pilot Mountain/Rural Hall. Liked your website and am looking forward to attending the class in January.

I had been involved in professional racing in everything from SCCA to American LeMans. The economy killed my business and am now working as a field engineer. Hope to get going on OUR log house this coming year. Lots to learn and lots to do....

Learning a lot from the experts here.


Rod

[edkemper]

As I remember in my class, the boys gave us a few ideas on getting logs. Most of it was how to get exactly what we want/need and at the cheapest price.

What were those ideas?

Don't necessarily buy from a mill.
Same with a large logging firm.

A few items that can make a huge difference in getting exactly what we want?
Make the delivery site as easy as possible for a logging truck.
Cash on delivery.
No receipts necessary.
Can deliver to me AFTER the mills close. (Meaning after a day's wages, another source of immediate cash)

4 huge ideas that can make a significant difference in the bottom line.

As for Swamp Loggers? I'm betting firms like their's are not interested in the small needs of a log home builder. They deal in volume. I'm going to do my best to use neighbors or nearby drivers to get my logs I can't get off my own property.

[buck_cooper]

Dear LHN,
Our seat of the pants view is off, like 100 percent. I was thinking 1500 lb logs divided into 22 ton. It should really be 1500 divided into 44000 lbs. Which would come out to 29 logs for $6500. Much better, but as you say we will see how that comes out in class. I seen a news blipp awhile back of discovery of a monster redwood in oregon. I thought for sure that maybe you were going to upgrade you ridge pole. Why did you stay with the small one? As far as hard questions, my dad used to say, as many questions as you ask you are going to be really smart when you grow up. HAHA. I lost my Dad 8 years ago to cancer. I will be building my log house with my Dad on my shoulder, and we both we had a big smile on our face! Take care my friend and I will see you next month on the log side!!!