How Much Did You Spend On Your Log Home?

We are registered for the Aug. 30 class but it looks like I can't get into the members area until after the class so I will have to ask my question here and hope it can be answered.

We need an idea of what it will cost to complete our 36x36 home. I know there are a zillon options. I am simply asking what you paid to build your home. Whatever your configuration was. The land, basement, logs, roof, wiring, garage, drive way, drilling a well, septic, bringing power, water, etc. If anyone here has built a log home I sincerely ask you to simply let me know what the total cost was, what you did and how long it took you from start to finish.

Your help is more appreciated than I can express.

Thank you

Every build is different, location- fanciness, type of basement, etc. those that are willing to post their full cost breakdown only do it on the members side. Happy to share mine, but to the whole WWW, no thx ;)

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Originally Posted by WNYcabinplannin

Every build is different, location- fanciness, type of basement, etc. those that are willing to post their full cost breakdown only do it on the members side. Happy to share mine, but to the whole WWW, no thx ;)

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I seems like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard spot. Not being able to register for the members area because we haven't attended the class yet. Maybe a good solution would be for anyone to private message me. We are just looking for your experience so we have an rough idea what we might expect.

Thank you in advance everyone for helping us out. Please feel free to send a private message.

I had intentions to keep track of all my cost and started a spread sheet that lasted for the first few months. Now several years later and about 1/2 done I have no idea what I have spent. I am guessing most members also have no idea what it cost them including everything. very difficult for most of us to answer.
Permits alone cost me $8,000.

Exactly, so many reasons why this isn't a standard question..... Permits for us were less than $500....
You'll get more info on the members side.... Patience

Most people spend somewhere between 50k-250k. Depending on where, how big, how much they build themselves vs. Hire out(sometimes it's cheaper to hire out) log costs, etc. If I had to guess I would say the average for a 35x35 is 150k.

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Originally Posted by btwalls

I had intentions to keep track of all my cost and started a spread sheet that lasted for the first few months. Now several years later and about 1/2 done I have no idea what I have spent. I am guessing most members also have no idea what it cost them including everything. very difficult for most of us to answer.
Permits alone cost me $8,000.

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That's a good point. I had intended to track carefully, too, but odds are high I'd lose track. So having read your post, I just decided I'll dedicate my new checking account to my log home. Huntington Bank just offered me $100 to open an account, so I took it. All spending from there will be strictly for the log home, and money into it will be large round numbers, to help simplify.

That is a great idea for anyone new starting. I believe that is the only way we would have possibly been able to keep any kind of accurate track. Even then you will find it hard to be accurate because of time, travel, fuel, wear and tear on equipment ect.

Cost accounting for your project can also include tools and fuel. I found that visits to my property 80 miles away became fewer because of the rise in the cost of gasoline. Also, I spent quite a bit of money collecting tools like framing nailers, battery operated power tools, chainsaws, compressor, brush clearing equipment, an old travel trailer to stay in out there, etc, etc. Do you roll that into total cost?

I think once you attend the class, the how-to portion of building a house, then you can focus on what YOU want. One acre or fifty? Steep gable or shed roof? After the class, you can then focus on the rest of the details that YOU need to make yourself happy.

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Originally Posted by spiralsands

One acre or fifty? Steep gable or shed roof? After the class, you can then focus on the rest of the details that YOU need to make yourself happy.

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Indeed. I did a shed roof, 24x24. That's about as big as you will want on a shed roof. For the record, spent around 80 k, half of which was on helpers and gas, the 7 hr trip got spendy.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Forum Runner

I havespent way too much on our place and still not done. We are building slow enough that we can easily afford it and it has been a bargain. I think most folks spend too much energy worrying about the building budget... Now that I think of it, I suppose I think most folks get their LHBA homes built too fasr too. Don't listen to me. Figure out the budget and get that place built!

It will cost twice as much as you think and take twice as long as you planned.

Bo, you must have thought yours would go up really, really fast! ;-)

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Originally Posted by rckclmbr428

Most people spend somewhere between 50k-250k. Depending on where, how big, how much they build themselves vs. Hire out(sometimes it's cheaper to hire out) log costs, etc. If I had to guess I would say the average for a 35x35 is 150k.

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Wow. Going off that I'm going to guess mine is going to be around $750k.

Mine is bàsically done. Including the land I have spent around 150k and about 3 1/2 years but that was streached over 8 years. No loan. Just spent what was comfortable and then left for Hawaii. My dogs travel costs have been about 7k which are not included...I will continue working but the big stuff is done... maybe a garage...

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Originally Posted by donjuedo

Bo, you must have thought yours would go up really, really fast! ;-)

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When you have 3 of you working on a particular project, you estimate maybe 4 days for that project. Then the delivery truck breaks down, or they call and say the order isn't ready, or you're short a box of nails and it takes 4 hours for a round trip to Home Depot. Before you know it two weeks have gone by. Just saying, because of the uniqueness, and in my case, remoteness, it just takes longer than you think, regardless of how much help.

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Originally Posted by project

Wow. Going off that I'm going to guess mine is going to be around $750k.

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See how that # changes after the class....just a hunch.

It won't .

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Originally Posted by rckclmbr428

I would say the average for a 35x35 is 150k.

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$150k seems high based on the articles I've read on this site. Doesn't spending that much money for a log cabin go against the LHBA's philosophy of building for as little as possible? I mean...where I live I can buy a 2,000 sq ft home at auction for $150k (or less).

What's the point of building a log cabin when you could get a regular home for less? Unless, of course, you just really, really like log cabins (which I do).

I guess I'm trying to understand something by asking these questions. You see...I'm still thinking about taking the course. Based on the articles I've read on this site, I understand that the LHBA philosophy is to build a home for as little as possible. There's an article where one couple built a butt and pass home for $10k and another where someone else built one for $20k. Here's the article I'm referring to:

http://www.buildloghomes.org/log-cabin-homes

But then I read a thread like this where I'm seeing much, much higher prices quoted. I don't get it. I guess I just need a little enlightenment in this area.

Cy, I think such high estimates are coming from how people are "tricking" their homes out with very nice amenities. I also can buy a nice home with acreage over in the Adirondack foothills for 150K but I may have to live with linoleum clad plywood floors and ordinary kitchen counter tops (Not that I want granite or anything. I don't need kitchen counter tops to last for all eternity. I leave that job to my headstone.) I've seen some pretty fancy bathrooms in some of our member's photos too. Some people are building their dream house. But consider that many people here aren't building just because it may a cheaper way to get into a house. Some, like me, want to build to be free of a mortgage. I would rather build my own house than buy a 150K house with 200K mortgage interest over the next 30 years.

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I think such high estimates are coming from how people are "tricking" their homes out with very nice amenities.

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That's kind of what I was thinking, too. I don't need "fancy." In fact, I've never had "fancy" in my life and I'm perfectly fine with that. I grew up in a very poor part of the Appalachian Mountains. I would be perfectly content with a solid, functional, and simple log cabin.

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Some, like me, want to build to be free of a mortgage. I would rather build my own house than buy a 150K house with 200K mortgage interest over the next 30 years.

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This is my goal, too. I HATE debt with everything in me. I'll turn 40 in two weeks and I've never had a car payment in my life. That doesn't mean I've driven nice cars...just functional cars that get me where I need to go. My car now is a 13 y/o Honda. I saved up for it, traded in my old car, and wrote a check for the difference. That's just the way I roll. And I'm very interested in the idea of building a functional (but not fancy) log cabin and paying for it as I go (for as little money as humanly possible).

There are several threads just like this asked many times on the public side. It never changes: Take the class for training, to learn how to build, to learn how to save, etc. Depends on time to build, source of materials, where you build, etc. We aren't therapists (well, LHN may be) to convince you or not - we are here to help you build! The main website had the articles and info for the rest to convince me.

Land, $0 - $500,000 your choice.

Foundation, $500 - $30,000 depending on your ingenuity and how long you can wait.

Logs, $0 - $30,000 depending on your ingenuity and how long you can wait.

Building supplies (rebar, nails, lag bolts, etc), $500 - $25,000 depending on your source and ingenuity.

Code-enforced building supplies, $0 - $25,000 depending on your county, size of home, building inspectors mood for the day.

Town & count permits, $0 - $35,000 depending on where you live and B.I.'s mood for the day.

Flooring, $0 - $25,000 depending on your ingenuity and how long you can wait.

Roofing, $0 - $30,000 depending on your ingenuity and how long you can wait.


...starting to see a patter here? Time vs. Sourcing vs Permits.

And I didn't even get into labor and rental costs, which can be completely free by doing it all yourself using the LHBA Skip Lifting System for logs and roofing (yes, you can lift a 2500 lb log by yourself using the techniques taught in class), or hiring out teams and renting machines to do it for you.

This is why the money you spend on the class, aka lifelong training in all areas of the above, is something you'd never regret. That knowledge will be with you for the rest of your life even if you never build a log home.

That $150k average mentioned is what people invest into their homes to do it their way - some spent that much to get it done quickly, others spend that much due to many other factors above. Many have done for a tiny fraction of that cost, and many have been done for a lot more.

Every single build is different. The training you receive in class clarifies all of it and how to afford it without a mortgage. And, they give you the tools and knowledge to make the proper estimates yourself to know exactly how much it will cost you.

Anything in life boils down to these three things: Good, Fast, Cheap. you only get to pick two, which excludes the third.

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Originally Posted by rckclmbr428

Anything in life boils down to these three things: Good, Fast, Cheap. you only get to pick two, which excludes the third.

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OK, ignore my previous post... This is much better!

FYI, that guy has built dozens and dozens of log homes.

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Originally Posted by Cy

My car now is a 13 y/o Honda. I saved up for it, traded in my old car, and wrote a check for the difference. That's just the way I roll. And I'm very interested in the idea of building a functional (but not fancy) log cabin and paying for it as I go (for as little money as humanly possible).

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welcome Cy.
my Honda's 17 years old :)

We had to do a loan for the land but the house we are paying as we go. One thing to keep in mind is that building it on your own you may be able to pay as you go.
When you buy a house for $150,000 most are taking out a loan and not really paying for it up front but over 15-30 years with a lot of interest so that the real cost is well over $150,000. We will pay for our house our right over 5-7 years and be well under $150,000. Again I don't know the cost.

X2....
(my message is too short, please add 10 characters...haha)

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Originally Posted by btwalls

We had to do a loan for the land but the house we are paying as we go. One thing to keep in mind is that building it on your own you may be able to pay as you go.
When you buy a house for $150,000 most are taking out a loan and not really paying for it up front but over 15-30 years with a lot of interest so that the real cost is well over $150,000. We will pay for our house our right over 5-7 years and be well under $150,000. Again I don't know the cost.

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Originally Posted by project

It won't .

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That's fine, it's your money, have fun & enjoy the class. ;)

I will never forget the story about one of our members building one. I think they spent something like $28,000. And complained because $12,000 of that was for a really fancy fireplace. I may be off on the price by stating them too high. But you get the point.

Even those that build a $150K place, it's valued at far more than they spent. You can't compare a place built our way with a regular stick frame house. A stick frame ain't gonna last as long and will be expensive to heat and cool. One of ours, no matter the price is something that'll be around for generations.

Then again, I think most of us think of cheap more about building without a mortgage to save a hundred grand on a 30 year mortgage. Then add the cost to heat and cool on top. Plus we don't build in the now traditional residential housing developments.

Hehe. Actually, I'll be building beside $400,000 - $800,000 stick frame homes in our development (each lot about 2-4 acres) - all less than 5 years old.

They have no idea what is coming their neighborhood! He he...

(Though, we are in the far back corner of the development)

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Originally Posted by Cy

...And I'm very interested in the idea of building a functional (but not fancy) log cabin and paying for it as I go (for as little money as humanly possible).

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You are in the right place Cy. Just sign up for class and start planning. I see opportunities around me, Northern MI, all the time as far as land with trees on it. I am building with minimal investment. Payed very little so far.

Duncan,

You'll have the best house in the neighborhood and you know it'll be the most talked about. Very cool.

10 year bump seeking any recent data.