| If you've read my first article, BUDGETING YOUR | | | | choices). Poured concrete is the most expensive. |
| LOG HOME: Where do you start?, you've got a | | | | These days, many people choose precast |
| very basic overview of the process. However, | | | | foundations for log homes, because they are so |
| there are still a number of questions I'd like to | | | | accurate and don't require a footer. If you go this |
| address. Again, many of these questions will come | | | | route, you'll have to hire a mason to pour the |
| up if you build any custom home, but I'd venture | | | | floor after the precast foundation is erected. |
| to guess the log home owners find themselves | | | | Remember that if you choose to build on a slab, |
| deeper in the decision-making process than | | | | you're going to have problems routing your wiring, |
| someone dealing with a custom builder. After all, | | | | because this is normally done from the |
| the differences become apparent immediately as | | | | basement.Your log home manufacturer is going to |
| the owners have to find their own | | | | give you a quote for the package. Many people |
| manufacturer.Unless you have a pocket full of | | | | want the manufacturer to quote on a "turnkey" |
| cash, you're going to have to follow the | | | | house or at least a weathered-in shell, as a |
| construction loan mindset throughout the | | | | matter of convenience. However, this might not |
| budgeting process. I plan to devote a whole article | | | | be the way to go if you live in a different state |
| to the construction loan, but this pursuit will serve | | | | from the mill. Do you really want to pay shipping |
| as a preliminary step before going to the | | | | for plywood? In the end, having your contractor |
| bank.The biggest part of your budget will be the | | | | purchase lumber locally could save you thousands |
| purchase of the land. With today's new | | | | of dollars, even it it's a little less convenient to |
| construction market - especially in New Jersey - | | | | calculate it initially. Your local builder will gladly give |
| the raw land constitutes 30%-40% of the total | | | | you a quote as long as he has a good set of |
| project (of course, in other states the land won't | | | | preliminary plans to work from.I started with a |
| be so much but your overall costs will be less, | | | | simple check list to sort out my budget. Luckily, I |
| too). It helps to purchase the land first so you | | | | found a contractor who was willing to take over |
| know how much money you're going to have left | | | | the project and hire his own subs; his itemized |
| over.Then you need to figure out how much to | | | | quote helped me visualize all the elements that |
| set aside for your excavation, your driveway, and | | | | went into the project. Then I added subs that I |
| your septic system. Before you can get to this | | | | hired separately (excavator, mason, landscaper, |
| number, it helps to hire a civil engineer to draw up | | | | etc.). Here are some line items that went on the |
| a survey and plot plan (you'll need the survey for | | | | checklist: Air Conditioner, Appliances, Builder's |
| the mortgage company anyway). This will cost | | | | Profit, Doors (interior), Doors (exterior), Driveway, |
| you a few hundred dollars. The plot plan will | | | | Electrician, Fireplace, Flooring, Foundation, Furnace |
| diagram where the house will go (and footprint of | | | | (or Boiler), HVAC Installation, Insulation, Interior |
| the house), the length of the driveway, where | | | | Trim, Kitchen, Labor, Landscaping (Grass seed), |
| the septic and well will go. With this document, | | | | Lift equipment, Lighting Fixtures, Logs, Lumber |
| you can go to the excavator for a quote.Since | | | | (plywood, joists, 2x6s), Mason, Permits, Plumbing, |
| most log homes tend to be built in rural areas, | | | | Plumbing Fixtures (sinks, bathtubs, toilets), Roof, |
| you will probably have to install your own septic | | | | Sanding and Staining, Septic, Staircase (if not |
| and well. The excavator who does your driveway | | | | included in log quote), Tiles (kitchen & bath), |
| will most likely be the one who will dig your septic. | | | | Utilities, Well, Windows.Depending on your job site, |
| The well driller will probably be a different | | | | you may have other expenses. If the flatbed |
| company. These are both "wild cards", because | | | | truck carrying your logs cannot make it to the |
| the cost of the septic will depend on how well the | | | | site, you'll have to make provisions to off-load the |
| land percs (short for percolate), and you don't | | | | logs elsewhere and have them brought in. If you |
| know how deep your well will go.Once again, the | | | | are set way back from the road, you may have |
| engineer will design a septic plan which will have to | | | | to pay for telephone poles, or pay for the |
| be approved by the county (in most states). The | | | | trenching. Also, your builder may require that you |
| cost of your septic could range anywhere from | | | | bring power to the site for his tools (most allow |
| $10,000 - $30,000. If you are setting the house | | | | you a few days of generator power, but not for |
| way back from the road, you must budget for | | | | the whole job).It took a while to fill in all the blanks |
| that extra-long driveway. And if your lot is heavily | | | | on my check list, but once I started looking at |
| wooded, you will have to pay extra for tree | | | | each task individually, the project as a whole |
| removal; remember that you need to clear plenty | | | | made sense. Actually, the log package was the |
| of space to accommodate both the house and a | | | | easiest part to deal with. In our case, the |
| large area around the house for the machinery to | | | | manufacturer provided the logs only (and the |
| maneuver. You also have to consider a space to | | | | design), which came out to less than 1/6 the total |
| put the logs after delivery.Once the location and | | | | cost of the house (not counting the land work). |
| footprint of the house is determined, you may | | | | For the rest, the costs are like any other custom |
| need to use a different contractor for the | | | | home; then the question becomes "Who does |
| foundation. Foundations are not provided by the | | | | what?". After all, a little sweat equity goes a long |
| log home manufacturer (with rare exceptions). | | | | way.Mercedes Hayes is a Hiawatha Log Home |
| There are several ways to go: you can build on a | | | | dealer and also a Realtor in New Jersey and |
| slab, a crawl space, or a full basement. You can | | | | Pennsylvania. She designed her own log home |
| use a block foundation, a precast foundation, a | | | | which was featured in the 2004 Floor Plan Guide |
| poured concrete foundation (these are the main | | | | of Log Home Living magazine. |