Log Homes >> Cutting Costs

Building a Log Home: Cutting Costs

Building a house is never a cheap proposition, and building your dream log home can quickly become expensive. Does this mean it needs to be put off until you win the lottery? No, but once you've figured out what you can afford, you may need to take a realistic look at your log home design plans.

The easiest way to cut costs when building a log home is to simplify the design. Every extra corner and every dormer will add to the price tag. Also remember building up is cheaper than building out. Instead of designing a sprawling rambler, consider adding a basement or a loft for extra square footage.

Aside from simplifying the design, you may also be able to save by doing some of the work yourself. Whether or not you have experience with construction will influence how much of the work you can realistically take on, but even a novice can do such things as sanding the logs. Jim Cooper's Log Homes Made Easy has 60 pages or so on "Sweat Equity" which covers this very subject.

Source: 2004 Log Home Workbook from Log Homes Illustrated