Handcrafted Log Home FAQ

Sue | May 12th, 2010 - 11:20 am

Handcrafted Log Home Frequently Asked Questions

Recently I had a very good conversation with a customer who was considering our handcrafted log homes. I am constantly writing personalized emails, but I thought that this information was a good summation of some of our more frequent questions.

Hi,
Thank you for your interest in our homes. Yes, we do offer four species for the handcrafted log homes to include a variety for our customers. The vast majority of our homes are custom designs, that is why we provide a price range verses specific prices. Once a customer has a floor plan they like, then we can submit it to our mill for a custom quote.
Handcrafted log home shells usually range between about $45 to $60 per square foot depending on the design size, complexity of log home, and wood species desired.  Usually log homes under about 900 square feet are more per square foot as they require the same number of log corners but there is less square footage over which to spread the cost.
For the dry in roof, no we do not supply the insulation. Many homeowners are choosing spray foam, and of course that has to be purchased from a spray foam contractor when they come and apply it to the home. The R factor you gain is based on how thick you have it applied. We have also found that if someone wants standard insulation that it is more cost effective for them to purchase it locally than to pay to have it shipped from our mill.
Yes, we do put character logs and log accents where ever someone wants them added. That is not a problem.
For the gable ends, standardly we use solid log to the top of the wall (approximately 9′), and then the gable end is framed and log siding or wood siding is installed over the framed wall. We have done some homes with solid log gables but not very often. It is less expensive to do the framed wall and then log side it. We can either provide thick ship lap log siding with a draw knife hand peeled finish or we can hand make log siding for your home.
One of the biggest issues is the shrinkage. By using framing lumber on the gable ends and gables it  limits the amount of area of shrinkage. The second picture I attached is of a handcrafted log home. This home and garage are stacked handcrafted logs with 1×12 tongue and groove covering the gable ends.
two car handcrafted log garage with tongue and groove siding on gable
Some interior log walls are usually found in our larger designs and are included in the $45 to $60 per square foot log shell estimate. The main time that an interior solid log wall is added is for increased structural soundness. For example in this  floor plan for the Idaho log home design we have three interior log walls, one on each side of the great room and one between the house and garage. The interior log walls can be spotted because they have a log tail extending out on the long side.
idaho 38 first floor
We can also supply 1×6 tongue and groove or log siding for the inside framed walls as well.
If you already have a plan that you like, we are happy to submit it for a quote.  We can also do a custom layout or modify an existing plan. It is also fine to give us one from a plan book. It is also helpful if we have any outside elevations that may come with the floor plan. That way the price quote estimate is based on as many details as we can.
Yes, we are low on ranches– and are working to improve that. But one other option is to look at the floor plans that have open lofts and just leave the loft out of the plan.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Also if you are even in Montana you are welcome to stop by our log home for a visit. We are located about 8 miles from the Bozeman airport.
Building Log Dreams,
Mike Lemmon
Cowboy Log Homes
406-388-3458
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Any projected costs, cost estimates, material costs, and estimated construction/ building costs, are only the opinion of Cowboy Log Homes and are drawn from our experience. Every home is custom tailored to meet our individual client's wants and desires. The construction of a log or timber home is based on two primary costs: material provided by the log home company and construction costs contracted with Cowboy Log Homes as the builder or another builder of the customer's choice. Final costs are obtained and contracted with each respectively. Cowboy Log Homes is simply the "glue" that helps bring these two together to provide a final culmination of a customer's project. * Please note photos and elevations may differ some from accompanying floor plans.
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