A Lot of Trepidation

**JustMe** · 06-17-2014, 08:31 PM

Well, it's JustMe. North Texas. Thinking about enrolling in the next class. I need reassurance. You have to understand, this is the first time I've considered a log home. Back 17 years ago in Dallas I bought a house that, as it turned out, was a Craftsman kit built back in 1917. Beautiful and well-constructed pier and beam home. So, I understand the concept of 'kits,' even though, here, we're not talking kits. We're talking the pioneer spirit, the do-it-yourself and live free spirit -- just like that kindred spirit who built the Craftsman.

But, I'm still anxious about making the next step. I fully realize, from the public website of LHBA, that this concept is without fault. But can I do it? You probably know more about what I'm asking in that question than I do. I am in my late 50s with (having married late and divorced even sooner) a 9-year-old daughter. I'm cerebrally negotiating the dynamics of purchasing a sufficient property and building a LHBA home while providing my daughter the best schooling she can get. (I did an online assessment of a 'stick-built' home of the proportions I wanted and it came out to be $272K - 'material' and 'labor' included. NO CAN DO. Enough of that. (We're talking Sherman, TX-area for those of you in TX, Oklahoma). I have to be honestly realistic here about my decisions. I'll be working a 'job' for as long as she is in school.

So, I'm guessing I'm asking people to help be my conscience. My gut says 'go for it.'

**BoFuller** · 06-17-2014, 09:13 PM

I'm 64 and I just finished putting my walls up. I have a 9 yr old granddaughter.

If the gumption is in you to do it, then go for it.
If you're just looking for inexpensive housing, I'd recommend a nice fixer upper stick built.

My 2 cents

Bo (AZ Ranch)

**edkemper** · 06-17-2014, 09:26 PM

JustMe,

To start with, the cost of the class is a start in the right direction. We can't share here all you'll learn in the class. But if you read the posts of those that took the class who then the go back home and before they get on the member's side, you'll get an idea of the life changing info you receive. On the other hand, the cost of the class is just the key to the door. On the other side of that door are a huge number of people just like you. Some single, some with partners and most with children. But all seem to be of the same mindset, unhappy with the current state of affairs and looking for a better alternative. We members make nothing off the cost of the class or off you personally after you get on the other side. What we do gain is another member of the family. A family full of people with the expertise of just about anything you need or want to talk about.

Can you do it? Yes. I'm a gimpy old man of 63 with an "almost" 5ft, 100# wife and autistic son and we are going to be building our home. I'm not now and never been a contractor. But we plan on doing everything ourselves. Others choose to hire out some or most of their build. But mostly, we do most of the work with the help of old and new friends.

You're a spring chicken and will have a wonderful laborer to help with your build and in the process, become a much stronger and closer family.

Before you make the commitment, read everything on the public side. There is a lot of friendly advice by members on the public side. You'll get a feel for what we are and what we offer. You'll never again be alone.

PS: You'll also find we are a pretty insane group that love to have fun. But we all seem to share a common goal. Not everyone that takes the class builds a log home. But everyone that takes the class is changed in a profound way. Don't rush into anything. take your time and get a feeling of who we are. Either way, welcome to our site.

**loghousenut** · 06-17-2014, 10:30 PM

I wish I was still in my late 50's.

Follow your heart.

**rocklock** · 06-17-2014, 10:56 PM

Age is not a factor. Desire and stick to it are much more important. If you like to make stuff this is the ultimate project. Obtw I turned 70 this year and I'm not the oldest.

**loghousenut** · 06-18-2014, 07:37 AM

Mr. Me,

For the record, there are plenty of non-geriatrics building LHBA homes too. We old frats have to blow the trumpet every once in awhile to tell everyone we are still on the right side of the turf. You are not to old chronologically.

**blane** · 06-18-2014, 07:47 AM

Go for it! It want be easy and there may be moments you will say what have I gotten myself into. But in the end you will be glad you did it.

**Shark** · 06-18-2014, 08:29 AM

I had my 30th birthday in our first log home we built... Hoping I'll have my 40th in our second

**Brook** · 06-18-2014, 08:38 AM

Can I be the voice of caution?

First of all, you will not learn everything you need to know in class. It's only two days and it is not hands on. There are some big mistakes you can make with this method and there is not enough info in class given to help someone who is not a builder avoid those mistakes. I know because I took the class, I have no background in construction, am building, and am making those mistakes. I can not turn back now, but I would if I could. I would build a stick house if I had it to do over. It would be faster, easier and cheaper. I would be done by now.

I will love looking at my logs when it is done, but they are making life and house building so much harder than it has to be. Nothing in a house of this type will be straight, square or level ever. Think about that. It means the time and effort to do even simple things will be amplified exponentially. People take years and years to build these houses. House building does not have to be that hard. If you pay someone to help you build and you pay by the hour, you will be paying for that complexity. The time and money involved is more than you are led to expect in class.

I'm not even entirely convinced that the concept is "without fault". I doubt it can ever be satisfactorily sealed and I suspect that energy efficiency and weather tightness could be lacking. Yes, a log is great insulation, across it widest girth, but what about the chinking? What about the chinking gaps? I have yet to live in my house but I can imagine many potential problems and I hear about them from others.

I am sorry to sound so negative but this is actually a difficult technique. Yes, you CAN do it. But, you can also possibly get in over your head, be unable to reverse course, and be sorry. I wish you luck with whatever you choose.

**thoner7** · 06-18-2014, 01:02 PM

I have a lot of building experience and could build myself a stick frame house if I wanted, but I never will. Both before and after class I have considered doing an ICF house, but my better half and I decided that we don’t care about any of the draw backs to a log home, we just want to log home.

However I still think an ICF home with live-edge Adirondack siding and some log accents would look beautiful, be easy and fast to build, and be very energy efficient. If I ever do build a home like that, I would use the roof and exposed beam 2nd story style taught in the class.

This gives you an idea of how it could look when finished.

http://www.specialtywoodproductsadk....nstorm/two.png

**loghousenut** · 06-18-2014, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by Brook

Can I be the voice of caution?

First of all, you will not learn everything you need to know in class. It's only two days and it is not hands on. There are some big mistakes you can make with this method and there is not enough info in class given to help someone who is not a builder avoid those mistakes. I know because I took the class, I have no background in construction, am building, and am making those mistakes. I can not turn back now, but I would if I could. I would build a stick house if I had it to do over. It would be faster, easier and cheaper. I would be done by now.

I will love looking at my logs when it is done, but they are making life and house building so much harder than it has to be. Nothing in a house of this type will be straight, square or level ever. Think about that. It means the time and effort to do even simple things will be amplified exponentially. People take years and years to build these houses. House building does not have to be that hard. If you pay someone to help you build and you pay by the hour, you will be paying for that complexity. The time and money involved is more than you are led to expect in class.

I'm not even entirely convinced that the concept is "without fault". I doubt it can ever be satisfactorily sealed and I suspect that energy efficiency and weather tightness could be lacking. Yes, a log is great insulation, across it widest girth, but what about the chinking? What about the chinking gaps? I have yet to live in my house but I can imagine many potential problems and I hear about them from others.

I am sorry to sound so negative but this is actually a difficult technique. Yes, you CAN do it. But, you can also possibly get in over your head, be unable to reverse course, and be sorry. I wish you luck with whatever you choose.

Brook, I'm always on the side of hearing the naysayer minority but I think you have missed the whole LHBA premise. This is not the quickest, cheapest, simplest, longest lastingest, least amount of experience needest, no mortgage necessariest way for a family to build a home. This is all those things for a family to build a log home. If you want a log home and want all those "est's" this is one of (I think the best) the ways for a family to accomplish it.

The internet is rife with problems and solutions and solutions to the last problem for "log" kit houses. You got off easy by not building a kit. There are other ways to build a real log home but they have their problems also and a certain expertise is required to make them work. Be happy that you are not building a chinkless notched log house. Had you hired a log home contractor to assist you folks in building a chinkless notched home you couldn't afford it and it could easily still turn into one of those internet nightmares that you read about.

Nothing is square and that happens in any real log home. Yours may be better or worse than mine but it is still a log home and can't be compared to a stick house where everything HAS to be square. This is a handmade house that will show every flaw as a bit of your character... relish it. Your place is you. Any problem with that rascal floor framing is the kind of a rookie mistake that I, or anyone else around here coulda made at some point in their lives. I hammered my first nail long ago and I'll bet I bent it. Now get in there and straighten that thing out like I straightened out that nail. It was built by man/woman and it can be fixed by man/woman.

Your place is taking longer than it might if you'd built a stick house but it's going up faster than my place is. I still love my place and you will too if I ever get done. I could get on the phone today and have a crew out here next week to make quick work of it and I'd still be way ahead of the money game for a log home. Please don't compare your home or mine to a stick home. They are not... in many ways.

If this system can't work for you, I think you are the exception.

Nah... on second thought I think you just hit the wall and got all worried that the world is a mess because of some problem or other and had to hit the pillow a bit. Keep plugging away at it and build a home that your Grandkids will be proud of. You can do it.

**blane** · 06-18-2014, 01:48 PM

There is no such thing as a perfect house. They all have pluses and minuses. And it just comes down to what you want in the end. I certainly made my share of mistakes on my build and I am sure as time goes along I will find more that I am not aware of now but I can say that even though it was 4 of the toughest years of my life I would do it again.

My experience with LHBA has been extremely positive and that from someone who has never built more than a few decks. I believe I learned everything I needed from those two days along with the forum to build the best built house I have ever lived in. It is also the most energy efficient house I have ever owned as well. We almost hit 90 yesterday and the inside temperature only reached 77 with no AC.

The only things I did not learn from class were plumbing and electrical but the forum, YouTube and knowledgable friends got me through all that.

We had help from church members and LHBA members here and there but mostly my son, wife and myself muddled through our build together.

**JustMe** · 06-19-2014, 08:52 PM

Thank you so much for everyone replying. I truly appreciate the honesty of everyone's answer, including and especially the person who voiced his/her doubts about a project currently underway. All this helps. As someone mentioned, I'm sure the lingering doubts (which may more reside in just contemplating something new rather than in a specific 'genre' of abode) will continue, even if I were to take the class.

It sounds like many of you may have harbored similar thoughts, even after the excitement of the class itself. It's one thing to get enthused over an idea; it's another to purchase a piece of land and then begin paying others (whether they be earth movers or craftsmen of other sorts) to put the idea into action.

When I can grab some time, I try to find the best 'deal' in airfare/lodging for the next class to get an idea of what the bottom line looks like. I guess I will always struggle, even if the project were to actually begin, with the idea of: 'Am I capable.' Thanks again, everyone. Believe me, I continue to read as much as I can of the public site.

**loghousenut** · 06-19-2014, 09:14 PM

Just (I feel we are on a first name basis), Every one of us had a trepidation or two along the way. We overcome it along the way and just do it.

**Mosseyme** · 06-19-2014, 10:10 PM

We are a 60 something couple doing this from the stump up. No way I would say anything is easy about this. We have made mistakes that make me wanna cry, we have done a lot of good stuff. We have worked hard and will have a lot more work to do. My major goal is to get a roof on asap then take a break but not much. We are approaching retirement in very few years and the little 10x12 shack we live in when at the mountain will get a bit small for all our junk. I don't know what your resources are or your work ability or your willingness to be wet,cold, sore, scratched and blistered hands and legs. bug bites ect, ect but I love doing this and you might to. This is not a project for a "Princess" that can't get her or his hands dirty. The class moto of build as small as you can afford holds true here in a big way. You can always add on but going small so you are less likely to become overwhelmed is a good thing. Good luck whatever you choose.

**dakota.abe** · 06-20-2014, 01:20 PM

I joined LHBA & went to class 9/2012. True, I was not an experienced builder when done with the class; but I find the resources we do have available from those who have started from scratch (as I am) and built their own home(s) are priceless.
If you are unsure about any aspect of building, including dirt work, septic, and, as Blane said, electric or plumbing -anything- or just want advice, there are always solid answers from many experienced builders available in the member forum. It is reassuring and immensely educational to read through the thousand of posts there, and when I ask questions I have always got great advice.

**eagle** · 06-20-2014, 02:20 PM

As far as the class goes, sure, you won't learn everything you need. I went to a 2 year school to learn collision work, did I learn everything I needed? NO. You have to take the journey and just learn the basics for a good foundation to start from. I havent started mine yet but I embrace the journey and it will be something to be proud of when finished.

**ivanshayka** · 06-20-2014, 08:18 PM

You won't find me say anything negative about the class or this organization. Yes there are plusses and minuses on this type of build. But, if you like log homes, and you always dreamed of having one, this is the best choice compared to other log home styles of building. This is purely my oppinion. I also trully belive that if you don't mind building one by yourself (which I see you do), than this can come out to be cheaper than regular stick-built house. I want to be encouraging and say that this is very doable, regardless your age. Read as much as you can on public side of the forum. Good luck

**WNYcabinplannin** · 06-21-2014, 05:30 PM

Ditto! It is an adventure.
So glad I'm done, so glad I DID IT! Hardest part is pulling the trigger, in spite of friends and naysayers comments before I did.
I've thought of the movie shawhank redemption several times along the way!
Terrifying moments: watching my ICF blocks for basement get delivered (looked like a farm trailer full of styrofoam pulled by a pickup, thought 6k for foam and that's gonna hold 33 yards of concrete?!?)
Using a LULL on a side hill and seeing the tilt meter at 10degrees while lifting a log (note- get one with outriggers) or use a crane like we did with our big logs.
I surrounded myself with guys who knew more than me (easy to do) and I did fine. I could do a second one the same for 15% less after learning. The MEMBERS FORUM is priceless. Didn't have to reinvent the wheel. Several engineers and veteran builders that love to help. Again, priceless.
Two shawshank moments:
Morgan freeman on the bus, starting a new adventure, on faith- but feeling the joy only a free man can feel.
Tim Robbins escaping the jail with all the warden's money (me, escaping the 30 yr mortgage trap- I'm 43 and my cabin is PAID!)
Take the class, Even if you go on to build your own timber frame or ICF home, the wisdom you'll get and access to the best collection of owner builders ever. None of us get commission for saying this, (Ellsworth can still send me an XL shirt if you made too many)

Good luck,
Fletcher

**JustMe** · 06-22-2014, 10:08 AM

Thank you, everyone, for such encouragement! I made the plunge this afternoon and signed up for the August class. I feel like that moment, 20 years ago when I was working for a major newspaper in Dallas. I was covering a county commissioner's meeting and had been giving lots of thought to just taking off for Europe. So, during a lull in the proceedings, I went upstairs, stopped by the desk of a secretary I knew, pointed at an office and asked, "Would you mind if I use the phone in the office?" I stepped inside, called American Airlines, bought a one-way ticket to London.

All I knew was I was going to try to spend at least a year in Europe, back packing, camping, and working along the way. Well, the full truth of quitting my job and just leaving hit me that night as I was flying over the Atlantic. Miles above the ocean, I saw the moon's reflection in the emptiness below and, truly, I thought to myself: "What in the hell have I done." I ended up staying in greater Europe for 18 months, traveling throughout and working at an American air base in northern Italy substitute teaching at the elementary and secondary levels through the winter months. Absolutely fantastic voyage.

And, so, I'm off on another adventure. By the way, when can I read the member's forum: Only after taking the class?

**donjuedo** · 06-22-2014, 10:53 AM

Good for you, on both counts (Europe + LHBA). Yes, after class, and then after you submit your request. Easy, but don't forget to ask (by email).

Peter