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Hello all...Just bought 10 acres of land in Western SD. Been reading every book and looking up every possibility for the log cabin I want to build. Deciding now on 16'x16 cabin usin' 8" diameter logs...start building in May when classes get out for the summer. Would love to come out and take the class, but until that is possible hope to use the resources here to help me along the journey. Thanks for putting this website together!!
Wayne
:shock:Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve
Doh!
I new that...
Hi everyone. I live in Dallas Texas and I'm building a 37 ft by 37 ft log house. I think I want it to be 2 stories and have a 3rd story loft but haven't decided for sure. I took the class I think in 1999 sometime and was taught by skip. I took it again I think sometime in 2003 and was taught by Skip. Ellseworth, you were there taking videos. I needed the refresher course because I wasn't paying much attention the first time.
Last weekend I had the piers poured. I built really nice forms and fastened them together really well. The only thing I messed up on were the square forms for the porch I made on 2 pieces of ply wood. Out of 30 about 4 busted loose and concrete poured out. fortunately it wasn't too much so I quickly shoveled it into some other forms.
Now I'm getting ready to buy some 25 year plantation pine tree logs. They will be 1 ft in diameter on the small end and much larger diameter on the big end. I talked to a logger lumber dealer 30 years in the business who told me I would have no problem getting these. They will be 45 ft long. I think I will need about 120 logs although I may be overshooting. I want some extra in case I mess up or don't like the shape of some of them.
The concrete pier foundation cost me $1,169 in concrete and $350 for the 150 ft reach concrete pump truck. I'm not sure how much I spent building the forms but I would say maybe $1,000 from all the 3/4 inch ply wood and brackets I used. I can reuse them for my brothers house he wants us to build after I'm done. So the foundation cost me $2,519 although I can reuse the piers. I accidentally forgot to put rebar in two of the piers but they aren't the corner ones so no biggie.
I'm excited to have the foundation done.
Thanks for reading and responding - Donny Eisenbach
http://photobucket.com/albums/y148/nightcomes/
Congratulations, Donny!!! :D
Sara
Blah Blah Blah...Quote:
Originally Posted by Donny
Show us pictures!! :wink:
(congrats!)
Jim - Seattle, WA
Hi Al,
I know how that works, I was looking for a kit house on line for my lot in central Oregon. Then I found Skip's web site. Went to the class and now I have all the tools and am looking for a construction loan and logs :lol:
I plan on showing some pictures but my friend took the pics of the concrete pouring and I have yet to get them and post them to the internet. I will be sure to post them once I have them.
- Donny
Hello There,
Greetings from snowy Wales. And hello again to Ellsworth & Steve. I took you class in Sept '04 - Phil here, you remenber Steve aka Pig Vomit. Well I had to do some search'in but I finally found a picture of myself. Nice to log in.
Phil
Hi everyone,
I just signed up for the April, 05 class. I've been wanting to build a log home debt free for a couple of decades. Unfortunately I'm still not totally debt free yet.
I'm thinking about northern WI or the UP of MI for my location. Is anyone from those areas? Or the Chicago area?
Good luck to all and I hope to make some new friends along the way!
Hi, Grizz--
Welcome to the forum. I know there are at least two members from Michigan around here, but neither are U.P.
The class is GREAT! I remember how excited my husband and I were when we were getting close to our class date. :D We've not built debt-free (but we also live in California where everything costs a fortune :roll: :lol: ), but what you learn will at the VERY least have some great tools and skills for getting into a housing situation with much LESS debt than most other ways!
BTW, on our way home from visiting one of the Michigan members, we camped through the U.P. and Wisconsin a couple of days, and WOW, gorgeous country! Good luck to you!!!
Sara :D
Hello from Bellingham, Washington. My name is Judy Zucati and I took Skip's class in the '80s. You can read about the house that Judy (et.al) built => http://www.technohippie.com/me/pix/country.html
Word. My name is Tim and I hail from the outskirts of Baltimore. Right now Baltimore is number one in Murders and STDs which all of us are very proud of, give us a blue ribbon!
Anyway, what was I saying? I'm thinking of Taking the class in April but my cash flow is a little tight. Most people say that the class changed their lives but not many people I have spoken with have actually built their house so I'm a little leary. I must admit I thought the site was a scam when I stumbled on it but after a bit of Googling I discovered something much, much different. It seems that everyone I have read about has had nothing but kind words about these people. Perhaps I shouldn't think the class expensive. I can get my money back (Everyone who has taken the class seems to trust these folks like family) if I dislike it; I s'pose $800 bucks ain't expensive compared to a thirty year mortgage.
Besides for that I enjoy going to church, playing drums in hardcore bands and spending time with my wife and two kids, Patrick and Delilah (I have a third child in utero). I also run my website, somasoul.net, which is about anarchy and christianity.
Have a blessed day!
Hello Jim,Quote:
Originally Posted by Logbear
My late husband and I took the class in 1983 (I believe) and built our house on east Novelty Hill just south of Duvall. The only time I've been in the "big house" was during a class tour, before it was finished. I'm sure the course was held at the Monroe campus but I also remember visiting the cabins in Redmond. Maybe. I'm old. Who knows what I remember?
But I sure remember how to build a log house, thanks to Skip and the LHBA!
Judy DeNeal-Zucati
Formerly from Duvall, currently in Whatcom County.
Hello fellow log builders, dreamers, and go getters...
I am attending the class this april (9th and 10th) and look forward to meeting everyone. I was wondering if I should attempt a model before the class or wait until the class if over. To be honest, I am not even sure how I would begin the model but figure I can read about one and the forum can help. I am from Virginia and I don't expect I will get out to many meetings... :) Great idea having the forum.
See you in April
Hello and welcome.
Don't waste your time on the model before.
Steve and Ellsworth will tell you all you need to know at the class, and THEN making the model can help you cement those ideas into your head. :D
Have fun!
Sara
I live in the Panhandle of Texas right now, but my family will soon be moving to western Kentucky, the Land Between the Lakes region, where I will be working as a minister. My wife Kathleen and I would like to build a log house near the north shore of Lake Barkley. I attended Steve and Ellsworth's class in February 2005.
We have searched for a place to live in Lyon County, KY, for a few months now, but have not succeeded. Our options seemed to be either getting a mortgage that is considerably bigger than what we have now (don't want that at my age--early 50's) or buying a low-quality house. In searching for alternatives I came across this website. I liked the idea of building my own house and living debt-free.
We still have not found property or settled on a plan as to how and where we can live until ready to build.
These forums are really a great way for folks to help and encourage each other. Thanks to the administrators for making them available!
Steve Walker
Hi Everyone :)
My name is Doug, I took the class back in July of '04. It was a real eye opener, and I'm still as excited today about building a log home as I was right after the class.
I'm still in the planning stage of the whole log home thing. Working on my game plan and getting all the logistics ironed out before I really get my log home project under way.
I recently emailed Steve with some log home questions and in his reply he told me about the Association's new forum, wow this place is cool! I'm really glad to see a resource like this, I've already used the search feature and found info in the members area that is going to really help me a lot.
I also just noticed the Lucky Dog Lodge. Wow what a beautiful place that is http://www.bozemancottage.com/Lucky_Dog_Lodge.htm
I might have to schedule a vacation to Montana next summer!
Wishing my fellow members the best on their log home journey :)
Doug
Hello,
My hame is Matt and I live in MN. I have 5 acres in WI. that are full of trees I am looking to build a log cabin that looks like it has been thare for a 100 years. I don't want it to look new. If any one wants to help please E-mail me. thank you, And I hope that I can talk Steve into comming to the mid-west and teach a class or two.
Hi everyone,
I just surfed on in to see what this is all about.
grannyk
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...gANIMATION.gif
Welcome, GrannyK! (And good luck on the grand-baby-to-be!)
I'm not sure quite what you'd have in mind on the log/earth combo. But I'd think that might not be the way to improve insulation. A log's biggest enemy is the earth (and the bugs/fungus/spores/etc. that the earth holds.) Not sure where you're located or what sort of utility costs/issues you're facing. But our logs are pretty big, and we seem to stay quite warm in the winter and cool in the summer, even in a cool/cold winter- hot summer area.
Good luck to you in whatever's ahead.
Sara :D
I have had the log home dream since a kid... I loved skips site and the idea of building the rustic crafted cabins... however, I dream of one akin to a Swiss Chalet...
I will attend an upcoming class (however, am unable to make it this March to prior commitments...) and we have a 5 yr plan to be in a log home.... and a lil homestead (5-10 acre mini farm..)
I also am interested in learning from all the collective minds what works and what doesn't... tips and planning... also using solar heating (radiant floor), geothermal, passive solar design, and high efficiency SIPS for roofing...
Just happy to be here and will go into lurk mode and maybe learn something :D
Hello.
I will be taking the class soon. Would have this March but the pending sale of my house got in the way.
My oldest kid is a sophmore in high school so I am almost FREE :D (see signature). And my wife and I plan to build a log cabin on our 5 acres in Colorado mts. (already paid for) and travel in our 5th wheel as "workampers" and such.
I make pretty good money right now (though killing myself in the process), selling our house, live in the 5th wheel (to save a bunch of money to go toward the cabin and kid's education), and when the kid graduates....we are outta here!!!!
And that's The Truth. :mrgreen:
So I have got the land, I now need to do a "perk test" for the septic????? Is this the next step? Then need to make a drive and flat spot to build. My land is well treed but is 5 ac. enough to fell my own or is it even worth it? Plus, won't I have some trees down when they cut the drive?
Too much info I know.
All depends on how closely spaced your trees are and the maturity/growth rate of them. If they were all planted or naturally germinated at about the same time, they will be mostly about the same diameter. Since you are in Texas, I'm guessing you have pines. In my case, 5 acres would produce enough logs to build the 4 walls for a 30 X 30 single story log house using logs all pretty much the same diameter--depending very much on which 5 acres I picked out to begin cutting from. But, I gotta say, it would be cutting it close, even in the most densely forested 5 acres. It would also depend how large your planned home will be, whether you intend to use dimensional lumber for rafters/joists, or if you intend to use logs for everything possible. All you can do is walk your property over, measuring and counting as you go.
I did read a photo included narrative on a web site regarding a build in Alaska on 5 acres, that produced enough logs for the house, but it was really a hodge podge diameter mix, and by their own admission, they were flat running out of useable trees toward the top of the cabin.
As far as "the next step" goes, it also depends on a few factors. County building codes work into it. Where I am going to build, home electric service will not be tied into the meter box on the service box until an appoved sewage system in installed.
I can get a line dropped for building purposes tho.
I look at the perc test this way. It's pretty much a needed thing at some point, whether it's required before building or not. I'd hate to go to all the work of building a home, only to find out a septic system wouldn't work right after I got the house finished. There are other options open besides a septic/lateral lines system, but they aren't as inexpensive--not that a septic system is really inexpensive nowdays. You can probably get an idea of your soil properties by asking your nearest neighbors what they are using. There are several websites as well that explain how to do your own perc test if you just want to put your mind at ease, but bear in mind your local code may require some gubment employee also do one eventually, if only to generate a few more bucks for the county's coffers.
And, you have to remember, that the soil can pass the perk test fine, but you may not be able to use a septic system due to other reasons, such as a shallow water table, or close proximity to a natural stream that feeds a water supply, such as a lake, and a host of other things that some counties have come up with.
Some places actually require the perk test be done before ANYTHING at all is done to the site. They want an absolutely pristine site to evaluate.
You might find some answers here
Thanks for the reply. I live in Texas now :D but the land I am going to build on is on a mountain in Colorado :mrgreen: . I plan on taking the log class in late March/April and then going up to my land to see about this perc test. There aren't many neighbors around up there, but I have seen them and will stop and ask them about building requirements etc.
As far as trees, there is a mix of pin and aspen. Probably not enough to fell my own. That is why I can't wait to take the class to find out info on where to get trees at a great price. I was trying to check on trees in the burn area in Colorado. Any thoughts on that?
I used to live in Colorado, You could check with the forest service there about burn trees and or beetle kill trees, lots of state and fed forest to "shop" in. I would'nt use Aspen for my house just to soft in my opinoin, there is to many pines there anyway, and Aspen has an odor to me that is nasty. I do know depending on what county your in they have alot of reg's for building and that comes with additional cost to meet, I would get ahold of the county inspector and see if they have a building code breakdown or info sheet for their county.
good day
i've been a city dweller for some time now and its driving me nuts. i've been doing some digging around at the library for info on log homes and i'm going to have a lot of questions here. i lived in a log house for 5 years ( i was 12 when my brother and I helped my dad build it) or so when i was a kid and eventually like to have one again. this time an indoor toilet and some other indoor luxuries would be nice. there's no way i could talk the better half into moving to a log house like i was raised in! i'm located in nova scotia, canada and i'm an electronic technician by trade and a beginning woodworker who is starting to sell some scrollsawn pieces.
cheers,
graham
Hello,
Do you plan on taking the log building class offered by Log Home Builders Association (runs this forum)? From what everyone that has says, you learn alot abou the DOs/DON'Ts about log home building.
Hello all,
All I can say, Graham, is that you should take your other (better?) half to the course with you. When she sees the log home that Skip and his family built - believe me - she will be very interested in living in one.
The beauty of this system is that anyone with determination can do it. This is the best money I believe I have spent in my entire life, second only to my marriage license fee. I've just taken the class over the previous weekend and can't wait to start back on my plans (several changes to be made, as promised by the website). I only wish members meetings were held in other parts of the country for those of us who live near the east coast, for example (Hint Hint!) :D