Log Shell Prices
One of the first questions that anyone interested in building a log home asks is, "How much does it cost?" This is also the hardest question that you can ask. There are many variables that go into building a log home. Square footage prices seem to be the most common comparison to make and it doesn't take much to influence this number. For the past couple years, the favorite number to use for a "Turn Key" price is $150 a square foot. For some of you that are building, this may be a close approximation of the cost of construction. For most of you, this is no where close. Here's why.
Let's compare two homes. Both homes are going to be built using our hand-crafted logs. The first home is 2,000 square feet and the homeowners are planning to build it as their primary residence. They hire a general contractor and an architect to have the plans drawn. The home has a beautiful stone fireplace, hardwood floors throughout, a wrap around porch, and a full unfinished basement. The second home is equal in square footage but the homeowners want to build it is a secondary residence. They act as their own general contractor and use one of our stock house plans. Instead of a full stone fireplace they decide to use gas logs in their gathering room. The house is a blend of pine wood flooring, carpet, and tile. The house is built with a covered front porch but the deck on the back of the house is left open. Instead of being built on a full basement, the house is built on a crawl space.
The second house described above could easily cost $100,000 less to construct. The subtle differences between two houses can reflect a large price difference. Our log shells are similar in their nature. Ballpark pricing is difficult and could be costly. Deciding to build a home on ballpark figures is dangerous. You have a 50% chance of spending more that you had budgeted with this approach.
The best way to answer the pricing question is for me to take a look at what you want priced. Once we have an idea of what you would like to build, we can develop a sketched concept plan. We can talk about what you desire to have in your new home and how much those items cost. Together we can create a budget for the proposed house. If you have a sketch and would like me to quote the log and timberwork for you, feel free to email or fax it to me. I would be glad to put some pricing together for you.