Introduce yourself

[rreidnauer]

I think the reason you don't see more LHBA homes is because either they think it can't be done or they don't want to be bothered with doing it themselves
welcome ICE.

It's probably more like, in comparison to the pool of construction methods out there, LHBA members, even after 50 years in the business, still only make up an incredibly miniscule portion of the builders in the field.

Combine that with the fact that many true, die hard log home builders like rural settings and their privacy, it makes it that much less likely you'd come across one randomly. I know my place won't be found by accident.

[Mosseyme]

Same here, if you see our place without an invitation you are somewhere you shouldn't be.

[loghousenut]

Same here, if you see our place without an invitation you are somewhere you shouldn't be.

Call me paranoid, but I worry that if I don't invite everyone in openly, I may miss somebody. This is the version of the LHBA "KEEP OUT" sign that was left, tacked to a pine tree by the driveway, a few years ago by a dear friend.

It still hangs and has served me well.

[Arrowman]

Looks like the state might be missing a road sign somewhere...

[loghousenut]

Looks like the state might be missing a road sign somewhere...

Supposedly Jake inherited that yellow sign from a buddy while he was a college kid. Don't know why he wanted it but it would make a great skid plate for the dune buggy. It reads "SPEED HUMP".





Still can't figure out why a college kid would want such a thing.

[donjuedo]

People get wiser as they get older.

[blane]

I like that my place is hard to find as well. In the summer you would never see my house till you turned into the drive.

[Arrowman]

I like that my place is hard to find as well. In the summer you would never see my house till you turned into the drive.

And in the winter you will barely be able to get up the snowy drive. But your place is beautiful, Blane. Made me jealous.

[Marie]

Hello all,
I am Marie, a professional classical musician living in the Mexican interior with my husband and son since 1998. I love natural building techniques (live in a 350 year old adobe home). I want to take the course and hope to build a log home in BC, Canada someday.

[LowKey]

Welcome, Marie.
In BC you shouldn't have any problems finding logs for your build!!!

[rckclmbr428]

Mexico to Canada? thats a change of scenery!

[rocklock]

(live in a 350 year old adobe home). I want to take the course and hope to build a log home in BC, Canada someday.

If you can, I would live in both places (note where I live). Adobe and log homes have similar thermal properties, especially if the walls are two feet thick. I would not ignore Washington State if you can... Also WE have a member that lives in Point Roberts and built a 25 by 25.

[Marie]

Yes! Unfortunately BC land is quite expensive though... especially when paying with pesos! Currently looking at .5 acres which has "high slope instability". Seems like a bad idea, right? Hey, do you recommend I take the course before buying land?

[StressMan79]

Yes! Unfortunately BC land is quite expensive though... especially when paying with pesos! Currently looking at .5 acres which has "high slope instability". Seems like a bad idea, right? Hey, do you recommend I take the course before buying land?

Definitely.

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[Marie]

YES! It is my dream to live in both places. Not sure I can swing it financially however. My husband is Canadian so he really wants us to move back there when I retire. Really struggling with finding affordable land in BC though. Any thoughts?

[rreidnauer]

Yes! Unfortunately BC land is quite expensive though... especially when paying with pesos! Currently looking at .5 acres which has "high slope instability". Seems like a bad idea, right? Hey, do you recommend I take the course before buying land?

Not a class taught thing, but steeper the land you build on, the more expensive your entire build becomes. Cheap sloped land will only cost you more on the back end.

Rough calculation I would estimate: Take percentage of slope, (45° = 100%) and that will also be the percentage of cost increase for your entire build.

[LowKey]

YES! It is my dream to live in both places. Not sure I can swing it financially however. My husband is Canadian so he really wants us to move back there when I retire. Really struggling with finding affordable land in BC though. Any thoughts?

If you're both going to be retired, then depending on the amount of exposure to civilization you require on a daily or weekly basis, you could look for properties further out from population centers.
I bought land in SE Alaska. Anything that even approached what I considered "affordable" had the phrase, "Access by water or float plane only".
It will raise construction costs, but if you find a parcel on navigable waters that's within acceptable boating distance for your tastes it may be quite a bit cheaper than the same sized parcel on a road system. You'd need to keep a skiff, and you'll most likely need to hire a LC to bring in some of your building supplies, but (for example) for the same price 5 acres that's an hour from shopping beats .5 acres that's 1o minutes from shopping....at least in my opinion. It's not for everyone, but it is an option.

[ncaress]

Hello from New Mexico!
My name is Nancy and I just joined the forum. I will be attending the class in May and can't wait!

[rreidnauer]

Wow! The Southwest is all of a sudden becoming the LHBA hotspot. Welcome to the party Nancy.

[ncaress]

Wow! The Southwest is all of a sudden becoming the LHBA hotspot. Welcome to the party Nancy.

Do you know if there are LHBA homes in New Mexico?

[rreidnauer]

I think you might be the first. BoFuller will give some insight when he reads this.

[Marie]

Yes, good ideas to consider. Makes me realize that I need to think this thing out better and get on the same page with my husband… I think he requires more access to civilization (museums, restaurants) than I do. It's hard to plan so far in advance, not knowing really how I will want to live when I am older. For a retirement plan, access to medical care seems important, for example. Wow, Alaska. Must be amazing!

[Marie]

Not a class taught thing, but steeper the land you build on, the more expensive your entire build becomes. Cheap sloped land will only cost you more on the back end.

Rough calculation I would estimate: Take percentage of slope, (45° = 100%) and that will also be the percentage of cost increase for your entire build.

Ooh boy. Okay. These development costs add up, don't they? Septic, well, electricity, plus slope. Important things to think about. The log home dream may have to stay simply a dream for now…

[rreidnauer]

Well, don't give up. It took me three years before I settled on a piece of land. The irony being, it was in an area I thought I wouldn't be able to afford. Stars aligned, and the impossible became possible.

[LowKey]

Nancy,
Welcome on board. You'll love the class.

[ncaress]

Nancy,
Welcome on board. You'll love the class.

Thanks! I see that you are a newer member....Did you take the class recently? If so , did you stay at Harrahs? I've got my flights booked but hotels are a bit pricey over the holiday weekend.

[LowKey]

Thanks! I see that you are a newer member....Did you take the class recently? If so , did you stay at Harrahs? I've got my flights booked but hotels are a bit pricey over the holiday weekend.

I had booked into Harrah's, but due to circumstances the class was moved to the Flamingo that week and I re-booked.

Vegas isn't really that large. Look for rooms somewhere along the monorail line any you should be fine.

[TrailRdr]

Just wanted to take a moment to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the class (Feb20th). The trip was so worth it!
My name is Debbie. My husband and I live in East TN. We have land and I think enough trees. I’m reading all the cool info on the forum and trying to learn all I can. Would love to hear from anyone in this area, maybe help and get some experience.