but I would run away from "kit homes." at best, they require a lot of maintenence, but will last OK. You don't have to look far for the bad side. Rot, separation, mandatory sealants, high cost, etc.

However, the biggest issue with Kit homes is in my opinion the lack of thought--you just follow the directions... you don't really know why you are doing something one way or the other...actually, the reason why details are done the way the kit does them is to keep the cost of the kit down.

I could not get the cost estimate link... just got a filefactory site--no link to the PDF... but I'm guessing that home will cost in excess of 170k by the time you are done, and it will last maybe 30 years. so, roughly 6k/yr + all the upkeep. Not to mention the heartbreak of watching your home fall apart around you.

All I can say is take the class. You'll change your perceptions GREATLY. It will pay for itself MANY MANY MANY times over. For example: I'm building a 500 sf guest house for my wife and I. Total cost: ~16k + land. You could build a 1800 SF home that will last longer than you, your kids, and your grandkids will likely have to touch up some chinking. total cost of materials: depends, but I would be surprised if it will run over 50k.

FWIW,

Peter

Unless he is going to do most of the work - I would bet that he will be spending closer to $300K by the time he is finished. Just getting the logs delivered will probably run $4-9K....We had no bids under $80K to do the foundation ~ erect the house ~ do the roof ~ electrical ~ plumbing ~ then flooring ~ kitchen etc ,etc, etc. back when we were looking at kit homes......

Thankfully, we found the LHBA!! Now - we're just counting down the days until the April class !

You mean the actual material such as sinks, bathtubs, etc?

I never purchased a home in my life, let alone rent an apt or a log home. I'm still learning.

The PDF quote is $174k for material and labor to build the house. Its stated on their site.

I would go to LHOTI. They had a couple of people posting about nightmares with the Log Home Conn. Problems with delivery, labor, materials, subs etc. You would probably run into the same problems with a lot of kit manufacturers also. The kit manufacturer delivers the kit. Somethings not right. They blame the contractor, the contractor blames the manufacturer. Before you know it, your screwed and have a half finished house and no money left. PLEASE go to the 2 day course offered here. The 800 dollars is well spent and it is a meaningless amount of money compared to purchasing a kit for 200,000 big ones.

Patrick

America's Log Home Builder

Chad I have to say that these log homes are great, and as the hard core students would say "it's a kit" is just plan bunk. These homes are hand crafted and extremely solid log homes, that far exceed any log home built by any former student. I have no idea what they are teaching there but stressman is a nut case and has no idea what he's talking about.

Not to mention that he is a total nutcase for that crack about them being superior to anything the members here have built. I wonder how many of his houses have had a tree fall on them and survive or been washed down a valley in a flood and the shell stayed intact? Peter, he may be right about you though, all that math is nuts! LOL

Hey, I thought I was "America's Log Home Builder"???
Chad, I would say this, DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Ask them for a list of 10 customers with phone numbers or email and let those 10 speak for them. Check the BBB; google them and look for any law suits, etc. Maybe find out what county/state their HQ'd in and place a call there or go to website and see how far back you can dig. Amazing what the internet will shove at you if you'll just look. As for their price guide, Find out EXACTLY what's included. And "all that small stuff" mentioned such as tubs, sinks, maintenance, well just find out what that'd set you back. They biggie here is maintenance because that's probably ongoing based upon the roof lines and lack of overhangs in the photo. Yea, even if you are totally sold on going with them, and got the $200 or $300k mentioned above, why not blow $1k and spend a wonderful couple of days taking the LHBA class? It will make you much smarter about your purchase. Now editorially speaking, I would take the class first and run from anything like this. If you love the floor plan so much, buy turboCAD on ebay ($23.95 for version 14 with free shipping) and learn it and draw it. Or once you have land, hire a local architech to redraw it. As for the aforementioned comment about this home being better than any student's, well that just doesn't even sound like anyone from this association.

You live on Long Island and you want to build a log home there? Have you checked the cost of a lot there yet? Have you any idea what kind of property taxes people there pay?

I'm just curious because my family is from there and I shopped that real estate market before.

Frances

> stressman is a nut case and has no idea what he's talking about.

You forgot to add that this is/was your first post here and "the nut case" has been on here for years with a few more posts than you. In all the time I've been here, the "nut case" has been one of the most helpful when anyone needs help. The crap of "mine are better than yours" is just a profit motive talking.

glad to be called a nutcase by a kit builder ;)

-Peter

But you're our nutcase.

And we wouldn't want it any other way.

BTW, good luck with your build this summer.

J.