May 2024 issue of Honest Abe Living

The May 2024 issue of Honest Abe Living is now available online.

Included this month are:

1. Video tours of three Honest Abe Log Homes in Gatlinburg

2. Honest Abe Living In The Kitchen – Pint Jar Salad

3. Chalk Home – The Magic of an Open Plan

4. Financial Wisdom – Budget-friendly Building

5. Distinctive Design Sets Log Homes Apart

6. HALH Drafting Department Design Wizards

7. A video tour of the Crossville Cambridge Model

8. Cooper & Co Designs – Transforming Your Kitchen with Color

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

This is brought to you by Jack Hutslar, your Virginia and North Carolina log home dealer for Honest Abe Log Homes. We also reach out to people in any underserved area. I have been a log home dealer since 2001. It would be good 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 at Jack Hutslar.

Contact Jack@LogHomesByJack.com at 800-767-4916 or 336-407-2157 [m]

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.

# # #

Photo Gallery of Honest Abe Log Homes

 The Latest Honest Abe Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery of Log Homes by Honest Abe Log Homes with LogHomesByJack

100+ photo files of exteriors and interiors

Stock and customized plans

Many material package options

These plans are suitable for our 

Log, Eco-Panel and our Eco-Panel Timber Frame Homes

Serving VA NC plus any underserved area. 

https://www.honestabe.com/honest-abe-log-homes-photo-collection

Click on this link above or copy and paste it into your browser … 

Always available by appointment. 

For more information or to meet, contact Jack@LogHomesByJack.com at 336-407-2157 [m] or 800.767.4916 [USA only]

April Issue of Honest Abe Living

 

Rivergate Model

In the April 2024 Honest Abe Living, enjoy the following articles:

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

1. Timeless Design - four very different Honest Abe Homes designs that have stood the test of time

2. Making a House a Home – Designer Molly Cooper offers advice on making a new house feel like home.

3. Escape to a Small Town – South Florida couple build log forever home near an historic Tennessee town

4. Earth Day 2024 – explore the sustainable living options that harmonize with the environment offered by log, timber and SIP homes.

5. Teslia Timber Frame Video Home Tour – explore the sustainable living options that harmonize with the environment offered by log, timber and SIP homes.

6. Worth 1,000 Words – Honest Abe has a gallery showcasing thousands of photos of customers’ homes and other structures. Relax and enjoy!

7.Turkey Pickle Pinwheels – April Patterson's cooking show, Honest Abe Living In The Kitchen, features Turkey Pickle Pinwheels

8. DeSocio II – Take a video tour and download the floor plan for one of our favorite customer-designed homes.

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.

Contact Jack@LogHomesByJack.com at 800-767-4916 or 336-407-2157 [m]

Photo Gallery links for Honest Abe Log Homes

 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