Log Homes

[NuclearNed]

My wife and I are beginning to look at either buying a house or buying land and constructing one. So far we haven't had much luck finding something we like. We've always liked the look of a log home. There are a lot of companies that sell them, but I don't know much about them.

Are there any real drawbacks to owning one (energy efficiency, maintenance, etc.)?

Anyone have any examples of how much one costs? (online you can find floorplans, but generally no price info)

 

[NuclearNed]

nobody has ever owned or lived in a log home?

 

[wedi42]

i've never owned or lived in a log home yet.
i did take a 10 day class on how to build your own from scratch. my dad and i are planning on starting to build one starting this spring. should take 3-5 years of weekends.

first we need to clarify what kind of log you taking about, there is real log and kit log. big difference.
most companies sell kit logs, they cost 1.5-2 times more than comparable stick built.
kit logs are milled in a factory and pre-assembled then taken down to be shipped and rebuilt on your land.

to have someone build a real hand scribed log home on site will cost you about 3 times stick built prices.
if you have lots of time and trees, anyone can build there own log home with a chainsaw, chisels, drawknife and many more hand tools

if your interested in building you own log home check out: http://www.schooloflogbuilding.com/ it's a great school.
if your interested in buying kit log home check out a log expo near you: http://www.logexpo.com/r5/home.asp

 

[KillerCharlie]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1939618&enterthread=y

 

[Lalakai]

there are as many options as you have money.

if going with full real logs, at least have 'em notched top and bottom, for weather proofing. Don't scrimp on the preservatives and sealers or else you'll be paying for it down the line. give your electical system alot of thought especially on appearance and cost; you can channel it inside the logs, but takes time and more money. Real logs have a good energy efficiency and once you get them warmed up, they retain heat very well.

some sawyers will custom cut your logs, or you can buy package deals. You can build yourself or with assistance from manufactor. Spend some time looking at other homes and talking with the owners.

We use a log cabin for our hunting trips; it's approximately 90 years old with 2 additions on it. Very weather tight, with all modern conveniences, yet extremely rustic in appearance. Every 5-6 years we treat the logs with a preservative and about every 10 years replace the chinking. Worse problems we face it trying to keep mice out.

 

[everman]

I've done a few, linkin logs work great but if you build it too tall they tend to fall down, especially on carpet.