Any of these log home books from Amazon worth buying?

[Jim McKenzie]

I recently bought the Scher book "Finding and Buying Your Lace in the Country" since it was recommended here. I bought it off Amazon and read it immediately. Nice easy rewad with tons of good info.

Amazon being Amazon they have now sent me a list of similar titles to buy, and I wondered if these book fit Skip's method (have not been to a class yet, hoping for one closer to Boston :) ) or if anyone had any comments positive or negative.



Log Construction Manual: The Ultimate Guide to Building Handcrafted Log Homes
by Robert Wood Chambers

Price: $37.95


Build Your Own Low-Cost Log Home (Garden Way Publishing Classic)
by Roger Hard, Kathryn Hard

List Price: $19.95
Price: $13.57
You Save: $6.38 (32%)


How to Build and Furnish a Log Cabin: The easy, natural way using only hand tools and the woods around you
by W. Ben Hunt

List Price: $17.95
Price: $16.29
You Save: $1.66 (9%)


Cabins: A Guide to Building Your Own Nature Retreat
by Jeanie Stiles, David Stiles

List Price: $19.95
Price: $13.57
You Save: $6.38 (32%)


The Classic Hewn-Log House: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building and Restoring
by Charles McRaven

List Price: $19.95
Price: $14.25
You Save: $5.70 (29%)


Compact Cabins: Simple Living in 1000 Square Feet or Less
by Gerald Rowan

List Price: $19.95
Price: $13.57
You Save: $6.38 (32%)

[Timberwolf]

I own:

The Classic Hewn-Log House: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building and Restoring

and I just browsed: Build Your Own Low-Cost Log Home on Amazon

The first one is a very good book detailing the hewn log cabin. It is also a very good read, and the author is quite endearing.

Ultimately you won't really find any book out there that has to do with LHBA construction. There are 1 or 2 that may mention Skip's teachings, but that's about it. The Class and forums is really the definitive and only guide you will need.

That said, if you are interested in the debt free lifestyle that is part of the foundation of the LHBA teaching, there are plenty of resources you may want to look into. I'm sure some members will chime in with their favorite reads (Dave Ramsey comes to mind).

[spiralsands]

If you want to try out a book before you buy it, I would suggest you take the title and author to the library (or get on your library's website) and research whether your library system has the book, or one like it. Most libraries are in a system where they share books between them and if you are a member of the library, you can go in and fill out an order for the book (if it's in the system) and the book will be delivered to the library. Then they will contact you and tell you when it's in.

There are lots of books on log home building, history, decorating. You may not find the same one as Amazon has but there are many more. So before you buy, go check out the FREE ones first.

Frances

[WNYcabinplannin]

I found a few of them to have a few good resources for thing like site planning. One had a cost estimator that listed a few things I had forgotten to budget for. Unknown costs can kick yer butt.
I just found that all of them said something like "when you get your kit delivered" or "whoever MILLS your logs for you", etc.

Some cute floor plans in a few, good info on positioning for passive solar. I'd pay 4$ for a used one somewhere.
Heck, I've got 5 or 10 log home books I got in the late 80's before someone introduced my to the LHBA, if you're in NY you can have 'em.

[rocklock]

Amazon being Amazon they have now sent me a list of similar titles to buy, and I wondered if these book fit Skip's method (have not been to a class yet, hoping for one closer to Boston :) ) or if anyone had any comments positive or negative.

In a word -no!

I have many more books on log homes and they are mostly worthless for the process and construction of the shell. I meant to sell them but getting out of Washington was a pain last Nov...

The class will set you up to answer most of your questions and give you a base of knowledge. They when you go to the member side the rest of your question will be answered...

Good Luck

[loghousenut]

"How to Build and Furnish a Log Cabin" by W Ben Hunt was first published in 1939. That means it was 25 years old when I got it for my birthday when I was in grade school. Great book if you can find a chunk of wilderness where you can plan on living life as it was lived before the word "chainsaw" became common in our language. This book is almost singlehandedly responsible for for my present internet handle, "loghousenut".

When I took the class in 1981, Skip's main challenge was to get me to unlearn everything I learned from this book so he could teach me how to build a log home. He was a very patient man and he succeeded in his task.

For years, my Wife and I owned an online bookstore. I either own or have tried to read each of the books on the list and many more. If you want to build a kit house or a plywood cabin they are right up your alley. Personally I think the LHBA class, and an empty mind are what you want to start with if your dream is to build your own log home with your own hands.

[John W]

Well I've certainly got the 'empty mind' thing covered. :)

[StressMan79]

you must unlearn what you have learned--YODA

[Jim McKenzie]

I'm glad I asked! It seems to me that there may be a lot of inaccurate info out there on log homes. I do believe I'll take the very next East Coast class...

[blane]

Sad to say, but I don't think there has ever been an east coast class. But there are plenty east coast members. I am in NC and one of the best decisions I ever made was to buy a plan ticket to Washington for a 21 hour course on building a log home.
I'm glad I asked! It seems to me that there may be a lot of inaccurate info out there on log homes. I do believe I'll take the very next East Coast class...

[WNYcabinplannin]

I thought there was one in Boston...?

[marronnin]

Yep, May 2008

[Steve]

In our roughly 40+ year history we've done 2 east coast classes, one in Boston and one in the Berkshires in MA. Both of those were "one time only" events.

At the moment all of our classes are being held in Las Vegas. There probably won't be any classes on the east coast again for quite a while...

[stamic55]

I think Elsworth mentioned in my calss that they did a rare East coast class once. Would've been a very long time ago though.

Sorry, didn't read page two before posting!

I do have a book on how to place your home for winter/summer and how to use such things to your advantage. Another book I got on cheap stick builts gave me some advice on driveways, plumbing, electrical, etc. Although the integration into the log home is not covered I did learn different options available. This forum also covers most of that it seems!

[dakota.abe]

I have found at least one book written by a person who built two homes specifically using the LHBA method.
You might check out this site:
http://www.hollowtop.com/cls_html/Log_Homes_Butt_and_Pass.htm
The author has several books which emulate the LHBA style; 'Living Homes: Stone Masonry, Log, and Strawbale Construction' is worth checking out and maybe others of his as well.
Good Luck!
Dave

[amy.bailey]

Hay loghousenut,

I was trying to find a thread all about the LHBA class coming up in Las Vegas next month to ask some question about it, like where do you need to stay to make it to the classes on times. I am trying to talk my husband into committing the time off to come with.

Thanks,

Amy Bailey

[loghousenut]

Hay loghousenut,

I was trying to find a thread all about the LHBA class coming up in Las Vegas next month to ask some question about it, like where do you need to stay to make it to the classes on times. I am trying to talk my husband into committing the time off to come with.

Thanks,

Amy Bailey
Heck if I know, Amy. I took the class 30 years ago from Skip up in Washington. I'm thinking that was probably before they ran the electricity to Vegas and built all those hotels. Haha

I have no connection with LHBA or the class they teach other than being a long-time member and in the middle of building my Wife's dream home. I know a lot of students stay at the Imperial Palace due to price and proximity to class. There are a dozen or more good threads on this forum where you'll read some better advice from folks who have gone through it in the last few years.

Wherever you stay, grab the Old Man and force him to go. It'll be a lifechanging experience in ways that you can't imagine. I'm sure some of the more recent attendees will chime in with current advice. Good luck and enjoy the ride.

[Danita]

Hi Amy, If you haven't already found any info, go to the home page or wwww.loghomebuilders.org and it has a link. Also, I think most of my info came after I signed up for the class. Then in a couple of days I searched out flight packages and got a great deal/pkg with Allegiant Air and staying at the Bally's Las Vegas. I chose that option as I will be by myself and our classes will get out late so I will be right there close to my room. I'm not much on the "Vegas-ing", I am just getting to the class. Hope this helps!
Danita

[exsailor]

There was a Boston, MA. class about a year or two ago. Just couldn't get to it and me being in Virginia, oh the shame of it all. I don't look for another class on this side of the muddy.

[Peach1956]

Well I've certainly got the 'empty mind' thing covered. :)

Me too... sounds like a empty barrel in here :rolleyes:

[ChainsawGrandpa]

Rocklock & LHN are right. "In a word, No."
and,
I too had to unlearn a lot of construction ideas. That probably took more time than anything else. When I took the class there were things that didn't apply or I already knew how to do so I didn't pay close attention. Big mistake. It all applies.

G'pa

[BenB]

I was up in the UP land searching last week and saw quite a few log homes being built. Maybe 4 were BnP (didn't want to trespass on a couple to get to snoopy) and many copes or hybids of same.
One was small but done nicely near Skanne. The guy was very gracious and I thought he was a builder as workmanship was brilliant. He laughed and said to look inside the place on the counter. He used a single book as reference and at best had handyman skills at the start. Here's the book he used - imagine it's out there on Amazon.
Log construction manual : the ultimate guide to building handcrafted log homes / Robert W. Chambers.

Anyone - regardless of method or manner - who creates one of these things commands my utmost respect.:)
And man - I looooooove the UP