Random DYI Suggestion for log wall workers

 Random DIY Tip:

If you have more than one person setting logs at the same time, know that the burly 200+ pound guys [and girls] will probably drive the screws in more forcefully than a 150 pound guy or girl. So, rotate the log wall workers so they are not working on the same log section all the time. This prevents differing height problems of the wall sections when you get to the last few rows.

How can I reduce the cost of my log home?

 How can I reduce the cost of my log home?

by

Jack Hutslar

Log Home Dealer since 2001

When we built our log home in 2004, we did it for $105 per square foot and that covered everything including the land, site prep and the pump back septic system. Today, that total turnkey cost figure can be $200 to over $300 per square foot. 

Turnkey costs vary geographically across the USA and even within a state.

In recent times, the turnkey construction costs for your cabin or castle keeps going up and up. Here are a few suggestion for how to economize. 

Consider this!

Today, some building materials fluctuate on a daily basis. This makes it extremely difficult for contractors, usually small businesses, to cover these added costs and stay in business. However, our material package prices have not escalated like the other conventional materials. That is where we are in our industry right now. We do not see any immediate relief any time soon according to the managers at Honest Abe Log Homes. They are my long time material provider. Will materials get more expensive as time moves on? We do not know.

Basically, contractors are accustomed to giving turnkey pricing with allowances for some items in their “quotes” like fire places, appliances and flooring. These are their estimates, not the actual costs. Then you, the buyer, can select items that fit the allowance or you can go over those allowances. Your preference in a metal roof or a fireplace might cost more than their allowance. You pay for the added price difference.

Here are examples of other cost savings, whether to your loan or saving account.

First, the material package options that you select can move your total cost cost up or down. For instance, 6x8 D logs are less expensive than 8x8 or 6x12 logs not to mention our 10 inch round Swedish cope logs.

A crawl space is less expensive than a basement. That also applies to a short or long driveway, rough gravel, crush and run, blacktop or cement.

Standard windows and doors are less expensive than the upgrade premium wood or clad versions.

A truss roof system is less expensive than our highly popular heavy timber exposed beam roof system.

Note that additional savings can be achieved when you buy appliances, toilets, sinks, fans and fixtures when you find themat good discounts. Then store them until needed. Free storage trumps paid storage.

This also applies to unfinished kitchen systems. In this instance, the kitchen can be laid out to fit the discounted materials that you may find. If you have a free storage place like a garage or barn, that is more savings.

Finally, other cost cutting options is to do some of the work yourself with the help of “handy” friends and relatives. Staining the inside and outside, putting down flooring and cabinets are good examples of this.

We are in unusual financial times right now. Plan ahead. Know what you are being sold. Shop wisely.

# # #

All Material Packages Are Not Created Equal

The Honest Abe log home material package 

Call Jack when you have questions about our material package. We present an itemized list of materials for our buyers when we send you our estimated pricing.

It is customary for log home companies to leave items out of their packages to make their prices lower and seemly more attractive. However, buyers and the builders still need to purchase those items that we include for the dry-in. It is for this reason that we offer an itemized price list that shows what is being purchased.

Items that are commonly NOT provided in other material packages are ...

• the subfloor

• stains for outside and inside

• internal framing and doors

• basement framing when needed

• matching windows and doors for basements 

These are some of the usual omissions by other manufacturers. That reduces their costs. This is exactly why buyers need to see what they are buying. 

By the way, I have also prepared a "NOT List" for my clients. It reveals what is not in our packages like the foundation, HVAC, shingles, flooring, fixtures, support posts for decks and porches and more.

Understand and compare what you are buying from us and our competitors. 

Thanks for caring enough to compare offerings ... Jack

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LogHomesByJack ... est 2001

P O Box 2424

Forest VA 24551

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Jack@LogHomesByJack.com

HutslarJack@gmail.com

336-407-2157 [m]

800 767-4916 [US only]

= = = = =

Info Center

County Line Cafe & Mini Mall

Rt 460 Near Turkeyfoot Road

[1 mile East of Sheetz]

Forest VA 24551

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Authorized Dealer:

Honest Abe Log Homes

Southern TimberCraft Eco-Panel Homes

Sansin Enviro Stains

Photo Gallery links for Honest Abe Log Homes . NEW

 Photo Gallery of Honest Abe Log Homes

Custom Plans are first

Gallery of Honest Abe D-Log Homes

Then selected catalog plans

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Click or Paste each link in your browser

Press the Back or Delete the plan button to stay on this Blog

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Contact LogHomesByJack at HutslarJack@gmail.com or 336-407-2157 [m]

Serving VA NC and any underserved area

Photo Gallery of Original Chinked Log Homes

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/original-chinked-photos/

Foster Home, Custom Plan

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/square-log/foster-residence-custom/

Clay Cabin, Custom Plan

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/original-chinked-photos/clays-cowboy-cabin/

Shaneyfelt Home, Dovetailed, Square Logs

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/original-chinked-photos/shaneyfelt-chinked-dovetailed-square-logs/

Clayton Cabin, Custom Plan (Custom Plan Available)

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/square-log/clayton-log-cabin/

Desocio II Residence, Custom Plan (Custom Plan Available)

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/original-chinked-photos/desocio-residence-custom/

DeSocio I Cabin, Custom Plan (Custom Plan Available)

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/original-chinked-photos/desocio-cabin-custom/

Drummy Cabin, Custom Plan

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/original-chinked-photos/indiana-traditional-log-cabin/

Copper Home, Cambridge Plan, Customized

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/original-chinked-photos/copper-cambridge-modified/

Taylor Home, Custom Plan

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/original-chinked-photos/taylor-custom-square-chinked/

Honest Abe Murfreesboro, Tenn., Model Home, Custom Plan

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/original-chinked-photos/murfreesboro-model-home-gallery/

Newton Home, Livingston Plan, Modified

https://www.honestabe.com/newton-livingston-plan/

Godsey Cabin, Stanton Plan, Customized

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/original-chinked-photos/godsey-cabin/

Lowe Cabin, Jamestown Plan

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/original-chinked-photos/barry-carol-lowe-1982/

Hodges Cabin,

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/original-chinked-photos/hodges-mountain-log-cabin/

Sellers Cabin, Clayton Plan, Customize

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/original-chinked-photos/sellers-house-pix/

Livingston Plan Chinked Square Log Cabin

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/original-chinked-photos/livingston-plan/

Gallery of Honest Abe D-Log Homes

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/

Strunk Home, Custom Plan (Christmas Gallery)

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/strunk-christmas-house/

Fitzmartin Home, Madison Plan, Customized

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/fitzmartin-lake-cabin/

Howlett Home, Madison Plan, Customized

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/howletts-virginia-home/

Matthews Cabin, Aspen Plan, Customized

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/matthews-cabin-aspen-customized/

Holmes Bend Resort Lodge and Conference Center, Custom Plan

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/holmes-bend-marina-resort/

Cater Cabin, Algood B, modified

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/cater-cabin-algood-b-modified/

McNeese Cabin, Creekside, Customized

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/mcneese-creekside-custom/

Bertrand, Highlander Plan, Modified

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/bertrand-highlander-modified-8x8-d-log/

Strunk, D-Log Custom Plan

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/strunk-d-log-custom-plan/

Diamond Home, Custom Plan (Outdoor Living Garden Photos)

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log homes/nggallery/album/diamond-garden

Carney Cabin, Newport Plan, Modified

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/carney-cabin/

Rubenacker Home, Grandfield Plan, Customized

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/rubenacker/

Riley Cabin, Custom Plan

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/riley-home/

Suiter, Mountain Majesty aka Cloud 9, Custom Plan

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/mountain-majesty/

Williams Home, Clearbrook Plan, Customized

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/williams-d-log-home/

Red Boiling Springs, Mayberry Plan (Custom Plan Available)

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/red-boiling-springs-log-home/

Hofstetter Home, Custom Plan

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/hofstetter-d-log-home/

Cookeville Model Home, Bellwood Plan

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/bellewood-cookeville-model-home/

Miller Cabin, Oakbrook Plan, Modified

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/miller-cabin-modified-oakbrook-plan/

Busch Residence, Custom Plan (Custom Plan Available)

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/busch-residence-custom/

Grandfield Log Home Plan, Modified

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/grandfield-plan-custom/

Westport Plan, Modified

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/westport-plan-modified-2/

Highlander Floor Plan, Modified

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/dovetail-d-log-homes/highlander-plan-modified/

Diamond Home, Custom Design

https://www.honestabe.com/diamond-home-custom-design/

Swift Cabin, Darlington B Plan, Modified

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/swift-d-log/

The Pointe – Commercial Log Home, Custom

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/swan-ridge-lodge/

Shane Smith Home, Westport Plan, Modified

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/westport-plan-d-log-modified/

Bailey Log Home, Westport Plan, Customized

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/bailey-12-inch-d-logs/

Hespe Cabin, Highlander Plan, , Modified

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/highlander-plan-modified/

Chalk Cabin, Eagledale Plan, Modified

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/eagledale-plan-modified-2/

Swift Home, Bellewood Plan, Modified

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/bellewood-plan-modified-2/

Marshall Home, Custom Plan (Custom Plan Available)

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/marshall-residence-custom/

Apple Cabin, Westfield Plan, Customized

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/apple-2/

Gilchrist Cabin, Oakbrook Plan, Modified

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/oakbrook-plan-modified/

Diamond Haven on the Hill, Custom Plan (Christmas Gallery)

https://www.honestabe.com/pictures/8x8-d-log-homes/diamond-haven-on-the-hill/

That's All Folks!

Call Jack at 336-407-2157

Testimonial for Honest Abe Log Homes

LogHomesByJack on Facebook

Log Homes . Eco-Panel Homes . Timber Frame Homes

Cabins and Castles

Jack Hutslar is the VA NC authorized dealer for Honest Abe Log Homes

336-407-2157 (m)

LogHomesByJack.com

March 2024 Issue . Honest Abe Living with LogHomesByJack

Honest Abe Living with LogHomesByJack

March 2024

 

The March 2024 issue of Honest Abe Living is a free interactive online magazine published monthly by Honest Abe Log Homes with LogHomesByJack. It is available now right here:

https://www.honestabe.com/honest-abe-living/honest-abe-living-march-2024/.

This issue features:

Woods Hill Log Homes: Creating Dream Home for 35 Years as Independent Dealers

Cooper & Co. Designs Video & Blog: Revitalize Your Living Space

Download Info: Honest Abe Overview

Tip: Planning the Move to Your New Home

Event: Why Attend Log Raisings? & Event Invitation

Homeowner Story: From Hunting to Home

Honest Abe in the Kitchen Video: April and Liam Patterson Cook Lil’

Piggies in a Blanket

Floor Plan Video Tour: Silver Point Timber Frame

* * *

This is Jack Hutslar, your VA and NC log home dealer for Honest Abe Log Homes. We also work with people in any underserved area. I have been a log home dealer since 2001. It would be nice to meet with you and go over your plans, ideas, questions, budget and timetable plus construction needs.

Find the most up to date information on Facebook at LogHomesByJack.com and Jack Hutslar.

The Monticello at 624sf

 The Monticello is generating some interest lately.

It is a one story with a loft at 624sf. Living room. Kitchen. Bathroom. Bedroom in the loft.

24x20 base and 12x10 loft.

Option for one or two porches.

We can take this design and make it larger.