BASIC COST ESTIMATING

For handcrafted construction, a basic rule of thumb is that the cost of the log shell should be around 1/3 of the total turn key project.  For example:  Say your log shell is 150,000.  Your project budget should be around 450,000.  This is just a reference guide to help in the planning stages of your project.  Our final contract quote is based on the final drawings that the owner provides to us.  The minimum project size for a handcrafted home is around 1,000 sq. ft.  The handcrafted home is suited for white collar professionals , investors and business owner's who want and can afford only the very best.  The handcrafted home offer's to the owner's the highest return on investment.

       For planning purposes, a budget of 145.00 per square foot  is a good starting point for a pine log shell.  See the log shell package page for more info on what is and is not included.

Milled log construction is an affordable alternative to the high end handcrafted home. In the home building industry, a log building is going to cost about 60 % more than a typical conventional stick frame home.  On the flip side is the higher return on investment when you sell a log home.  Here are some basic budget planning figures.  Cabins around 500 sq. ft. /  175.00 sq. ft.  Cabins around 1,000 sq. ft. /  225.00 sq. ft.  Homes from 1500 sq. ft. and up /  275.00 + .  The biggest difference is always the quality of materials chosen. The log shell should be around 25 - 33% of your total turn - key budget.  For example:  if your log shell is around 75,000 then your budget should be around  300K.  For smaller sized cabins in the 500  sq. ft. range, the 9 & 10  inch diameter logs or the 6 x 6, 6 x 8,  square milled logs are suitable.  For larger sized project's around 1,000 sq. ft. or more,  using 10 or 12 inch diameter logs is recommended.  Owner's that are able to do a lot of the finishing work themselves can save around 40 - 60 % on the cost of their project.

       Square footage is based on the area of the main floor plus the area of any loft space or a full second story. 

  Exterior porches, log railing, stairs, log floor joist, log roof framing pieces, add to the total contract price, based on the final drawings.

• Handcrafted logs are each unique and one of a kind and are much larger in diameter.  Milled logs are uniform in shape and size and are smaller in diameter.
• Handcrafted logs involve more extensive labor and skill to produce.
• Milled logs are uniform in size and shape and are much faster   to produce.  
• Milled logs come in a variety of profiles and log sizes.  See the milled construction page for more details.
• A handcrafted home will have a higher re - sale value than a milled home.
• Milled logs will require chinking.
• Splice joints are common in a milled log wall.
• Handcrafted log walls utilize full length logs.