My wife and I are looking at land for a second home to eventually be built in the coming years (land first, build later). We have always loved small log homes and we think this may be the route to go for this home. We have been looking at various log home kits and are aware of what is and is not included and the usual work that this entails.
Out plan would be to clear the land for the home, install the septic and drill for the well one year and have the foundation poured and home built weather tight by a log home builder. Interior will be finished by us (as was our current house).
My question is whether anyone has had experience with this type of kit and or building and are there any real pitfalls to watch out for.
As always, thanks in advance.
SJ
Replies
Are there any pitfalls to watch for? Oh yeah, more than you can imagine in the log home industry!!!
Go to http://www.lhoti.com and read the questions and answers forum....as in spend a week reading it. You will learn lots and lots.
I love our log home, but believe it when they say it costs more. It just does. Finishing is challenging due to the settlement issues. Things that you would do in a normal house, you can't do in a log home. Everything must be installed with the idea that the house will shrink....and if a log home company says it won't, run screaming the other way. So that means doors, windows, cabinets, plumbing, trim, framing, etc.
If I were to do it again, I'd get a handcrafted home. In the end I don't think they cost THAT much more, but they look so much better and use bigger logs. Actually, if I were to do it again, I'd use timberframe and sips, but that's just me.
There was a Hometime series a few years back on building a log home.
I'm sure it's still available from any number of sources.
Watching that was enough to prove to me that the hassles outweigh any amount of charm.
Try Neville out of Montanna...
You can spend K's or Millions.
I would need a 200 WPM typist to fill you in. My 5/6 WPM doesn't cut it.
I deal with log homes on regular basis here in CO. Call me if you want and I'll try to help in a more factual nature.
Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....
Thanks for the confirmation, that is pretty much what I fgured with the kits. There was no anticipation on my part that it would be easy or less work. The log home is one thing we were considering. I would also like to look at just timber framed homes and or Barn-style homes. Something open yet warm.
I have looked at all the extra considerations on the settling......unreal. The reason I was asking here was that every log home owner I have talked to never mentioned any of the issues I knew had to exist. The only one I actually spoke with that indicated some issues (we have spoken to a handful) mentioned some log shrinkage issues with the A/C.
I think perhaps a timber framed barn with a good floorplan would be an interesting option. I am trying to avoid a "standard" home as our vacation home.
Thanks
SJKnow a little about alot and alot about little.