What is the cost of a custom log home?
On average, our hand crafted log home shell packages cost approximately $48 to $60 (USD) per square foot, and generally work out to 1/3 the cost of your finished home. By working directly with us, the builder, you will save 10-20% compared to working through an agent AND you will be closer to the action. We would be pleased to give you an exact quote once we see your final plans.
What species of wood do you recommend?
While the final choice will depend on your personal preferences, we highly recommend Douglas Fir or Red Cedar which are two excellent species for log homes. This is based on: cost, value, durability, availability, and ease of use. Some individuals “click” immediately with certain species. However, if you aren’t sure which to choose, we would be happy to help you decide, based on your location, availability of species and budget.
All of our wood comes from the coastal and interior regions of British Columbia which produces the best logs in the world for home construction.
Find out more about each wood species:
Douglas Fir
The most common for use in log homes and widely available. It is a strong, moderately heavy and very beautiful log. Often recommended by engineers for use in key structural locations. The inner layer (heartwood) varies from light brown to reddish and even pinkish in color, while the outer layer (sapwood) remains a nearly white shade.
Western Red Cedar
Also widely used for log homes. This log species is naturally resistant to decay, insects and mold, thus a perfect choice for wet humid and tropical climates. This species has similarities to the Redwood except for the cedar-like aroma. A good choice for “character wood”.
The inner layer (heartwood) is a nice soothing reddish to dark brown color, while the outer layer (sapwood is very light, almost white in color.
Yellow Cedar (Cypress)
Also known as “Alaska Yellow Cedar”, it is truly prized for its resistance to decay and its strength. However, as it is less available than other species, it is the highest in cost. The countless positive characteristics of this amazing wood make it the number one choice for expert wood carvers of all sorts. A pale yellow colored wood with a very distinct aromatic odor.
Other Log Species
We do have experience working with other species, such as spruce, pine, hemlock and others. If you have a particular species in mind, please discuss it with us.
What about settling (shrinkage)?
Building with green logs (moisture content greater than 19%) is a standard construction method for today’s log homes. Generally, it takes an average of 2 to 5 years of drying time for a log home to settle.
As a rule, logs do not shrink in length, so only the loss of diameter must be considered for settling. We follow the Log Building Standards Act rule of 3/4 inch per foot of wall height. During the construction process, we make allowances for shrinkage to key locations. As time moves on, it is a standard practice ot make minor adjustments to these areas.
If you are particularly concerned about shrinkage, please let us know. We can suggest alternative ways to help reduce the total overall shrinkage, such as using drier logs, older growth logs or even going to the “chinking” method.
Depsite the shrinkage, logs are the only building material that actually gets stronger with time, so a log home is a good choice for a long-term investment.