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The links in this table will take you to a compilation of log home plans contributed by all sponsors. The square feet of living space indicated below does not include decks, basements (unless otherwise indicated), porches or garages. |
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Log Cabin Plans for Camp Sites |
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Ranch (one level) designs Designs with only an open loft on the 2nd level are considered one level designs. |
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Click Here for our Sponsors & Links to Their Contributed Plans |
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17 Opportunities for Saving Money when Designing and Building your Dream Log Home.
The savings start with the design of your log home. - That is the idea behind this web site! Here you will find many log home plans from a growing number of North American manufacturers, dealers and designers. New sponsors and plans will be added in the future; if you are in the market for a log home, please bookmark this page. The best way to begin your design is to find a floor plan that is close to what you are looking for, mark it with your changes and send it to one or more of the sponsors of this web site. Any sponsor will gladly advise you on your custom log home design, where to save money, and then quote a kit price. Don't be reluctant to begin a design with your unique requirements. Rarely (and I do mean rarely) does a company ship the same log home kit twice. If you cannot find a plan on this site that "tweaks" your interest, visit The COOL house plans company where you will find log home plans and conventional house plans in searchable data bases. Remember, any of the sponsors on this site will gladly convert a conventional house plan to a log home plan.
Limit the foundation to four corners. - In other words, limit the shape of the foundation to a rectangle (or more rarely, a square). Additional corners, inside or outside corners, will increase the cost of your log home from the foundation footers to the roof design and construction.
Build the log home yourself. - This
is the opportunity for the greatest saving . Of course, most of us work full time
at other jobs and do not have the time for such an undertaking. However,
if your heart is set on researching this option, here are links to three "must
read" books available from Amazon.com:
Log Homes Made Easy: Contracting & Building Your Own Log
Home,
Log Home Project Planner: Your Complete Workbook for
Managing a Log Home Construction Project and
Muir's Original Log Home Guide for Builders and Buyers.
Act as your own general contractor. - This is your
option for the second greatest saving. Many log home buyers decide to be their
own general contractor. However, be aware, this choice is not without its
headaches. That is why you save all those bucks! Local building officials can be
difficult to work with; subcontractors will be late or never show up; deliveries
will be late or the wrong materials will be delivered; the weather is
unpredictable; subcontractors and suppliers may take advantage of your
inexperience. And the list goes on. Regardless of the pitfalls and stress,
acting as your own general contractor will still save you about 20% - and that
is big bucks. If you are not sure you can handle being the general
contractor, click
here and you will find
information on (and order if you so desire) Amazon.com's extremely popular book,
Log Homes Made Easy:
Contracting & Building Your Own Log Home. If you are
seriously researching log homes,
click
here and you will
be taken to a complete listing of Amazon.com's log home books.
Shop for financing the same as you shop for building materials, appliances, etc.
-
Click here
(close the pop open window to return) and you will find
many lenders that will
finance log homes nationwide, including those log homes that are constructed by
owner builders. This directory of financial institutions that offer
log home loans & mortgages may be the largest such directory on the Internet.
Select your building lot with caution. - How long will the driveway be?
If you must install a septic system, a health permit is a prerequisite, and
then, will it be necessary to pump to the drain field (add $1,500 - $2,000 for
the pump system)? Will it be necessary to cross a creek? How much grading will
be involved? Is tree and stump remove going to be a problem? In other words, a
"cheap" lot can quickly become an expensive lot. If you are having
difficulty finding a lot, contact a local real estate agent. Give the realtor
your lot selection criteria (price range, location, size, etc.) and tell him/her
to search the Multiple Listing Service data base. There is no charge for this
service.
Select your log home builders with caution. -
Visit our growing list of
experienced, independent
log home builders.
Or try the
Home Building Directory
where you will find many conventional home builders
and several log home builders. When
talking to builders, ask for references and visit
other log homes he/she has built. In other words, you as the potential buyer
must do proper due diligence.
Select carpet as your floor covering rather than hardwood floors. - Yes,
hardwood floors are a "natural" in log homes. But we are looking for
opportunities to save money. Perhaps you can compromise. Put hardwood in the
great room and carpet elsewhere. Of course, you can always add hardwood
floors later "after your ship comes in."
Stick stone to plywood and studs in lieu of a full masonry chimney. -
Don't tell your friends. It's impossible to see the low cost plywood and studs
thru the stone.
This decision can save you $8,000 -
$12,000 over the cost of a full masonry chimney.
Consider an efficient wood stove over an inefficient fireplace. - Select
black flue pipe instead of a masonry chimney. The black flue pipe looks
great in a log home.
Build your log home on a crawl space rather than a basement. - Again, we
are looking for opportunities to save money. Sure, a basement is cheap floor
space and many buyers opt for the extra storage, shop and/or recreation room
space. Never the less, eliminating the basement will save $8,000 - $12,000 in a
typical home.
If yours is to be a two level log home or cabin, consider standard construction lumber for 1st floor ceiling joists in lieu of exposed beams. - In reality, which is best is in the eyes of the beholder. No doubt the construction lumber (e.g., 2"x 8", 2"x 10", 2"x 12") will be cheaper than the exposed beams (e.g., 4"x 8", 4"x 10") supplied by the kit manufacturer. The advantage of the exposed beams is purely visual; in other words, the homeowner's preference. However, if the 2x's are used as ceiling joists and tongue and groove paneling is used as the ceilings, there are definite advantages. First, the tongue and groove paneling is not an additional cost because this paneling would have been used on top of the exposed beams. Second, the space between the 2x's can be used to run HVAC ducts and wiring. Finally, the 2x option offers the possibility of installing "pocket"
ceiling light fixtures.
Have your custom fixed glass manufactured locally. - Yes, your window
supplier will want to order your fixed glass from the factory. While he/she is
getting a quote from the factory, visit a local glass shop. You may be
pleasantly surprised.
If you are using stone, compare the installed cost of man made stone vs. the
real thing. - If the thought of using man made stone in your
"natural" log home is a turn-off, visit a local supplier and inspect
the product. Again, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Use manufactured roof trusses rather than exposed beams and rafters. -
Yes, exposed beams and rafters are classic in a log home. But the roof trusses
can save about $10 per square foot. You can still have vaulted ceilings with
roof trusses and you can have a tongue & groove paneled ceiling under the
trusses. You can even add a few exposed rafters for "looks."
Select your windows and doors with care. - This is a major opportunity
for savings. Compare the quality and cost of several manufacturers before making
a decision. We recommend
JELD-WEN Caradco windows over the popular
Andersen or
Pella
windows, if saving money is a priority for you.
MW Windows is an even lower cost, popular
option.
Select your plumbing fixtures, electrical fixtures and kitchen cabinets with
care. - These are also major opportunities for controlling your costs.
Start shopping early. - Even if you hire a builder to do a "turn
key" job, you can save money on individual items in the house - for
example, appliances, floor coverings, windows, doors, plumbing fixtures, kitchen
cabinets, counter tops, etc., etc. The earlier you start shopping the more
likely you are to find items on sale. Just let your "turn key" builder
know in advance that you plan to shop for sale items and BE AWARE, if you slow
down or inconvenience the builder, you will quickly lose what you saved and
probably much more. If you are acting as your own general contractor, this is
where you start saving that 20%.
Best wishes as you embark on an exciting and rewarding journey!
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A leaky roof can cause several problems including water damage, and the development of mold. Don't let this happen to your most important investment and get a quality Roof Contractor for your repairs. Many houses today have out of date Bathrooms, Look at our directory of contractors for your Bathroom Remodeling and if you need a larger Kitchen because the kids are growing up and need some more room for family dinners we also do work in Kitchen Remodeling. Thinking of buying a plot of land and need a Home Builder to build your custom planned house? Come to Signature Contractors for all of your general contracting needs.
Apply for Conventional and FHA
Home Loans from the FHA Experts at MLP
aBetterPlan.com - The Country Building Directory
Websites full of country
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hard-to-find building products and helpful resource links
LogHomeLinks.com
Hundreds of links to assist
with log home building and buying research.
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Log Homes, Plans
& Kits via the
Internet
65 Nottingham Dr.
Fredericksburg, VA 22406
Phone:
540-752-4106
Email:
info@log-home-plans.com
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Copyright 2000 - 2008
This page was revised on
07/19/2008