How Much Does A Log Home Cost?

Log home costs for a 2000 square foot home range from $180,000-$550,000. Log home prices range from $90-$275 per square foot depending on what type of wood is used and the contractor that does the building. Prices are also affected by whether the home is handcrafted or factory built; handcrafted homes cost significantly more than factory built homes. In addition, prices are also affected by where the home is being built; if the logs for the home need to be transported long distances the price of the home will be greatly increased. If the home is being built in an isolated area that does not have hydro nearby, the cost will be significantly higher as the contractors will have to run electricity to the home. When calculating log home costs, homeowners should also keep in mind that they will have to obtain numerous building permits, which will cost several thousand dollars.

Log Home Construction Costs

Log home construction costs account for about 30% of the total log home cost. Log home construction costs range from $25-$90 per square foot. Total log home cost for a 2000 square foot home is from $180,000-$550,000; $55,000-$180,000 is labor. Log home construction costs vary per contractor, location and on the complexity of the home’s design. Log home construction costs are considerably more for handcrafted homes than for factory built homes. Log homes that are being constructed in isolated areas have higher construction costs.

Prefab Log Homes

Prefab log homes are log home kits. Prefab log homes are made in a factory and are purchased pre-notched and ready to be built. Some companies sell prefab homes that include construction of the home, but most companies do not. If construction of the prefab log home is included, homeowners should expect to pay 30%-40% more for their home. Prefab log home prices range from $20,000-$100,000 depending on their size and style, without assemblage. A basic 800-1000 square foot prefab home costs $20,000-$40,000, while a 2000 square foot prefab home costs $60,000-$80,000. Large or elaborate prefab log home prices are around $100,000 or more.

Building A Log Home

Building a log home yourself can be a very satisfying and fulfilling experience. Log home prices can be significantly decreased by homeowners building the home themselves. Depending on how many people are working on the house and their skill level, building a own log home can take a summer or several years; the average log home takes 6-9 months to build. The time involved in building one of these homes is also greatly affected by whether homeowners buy a log home kit or modular log home, or whether they build their log home from scratch.

Homeowners that choose to build their own home will have to purchase numerous tools to do the job; homeowners will need everything from saws, levels, hammers or nail gun, hardware and other similar tools. Tools for building a log home cost at least a few hundred dollars, and can easily cost a few thousand. Most homeowners do not have all the required skill to completely build and service a log home themselves; most homeowners will need to hire someone to install the plumbing and/or electricity for them. Costs to have electricity and plumbing installed range from $10,000-$50,000 depending on where the house is located. Homeowners will have to purchase building permits to build their house and hire an inspector to come in and ensure it is safe and meets building codes before they move in; building permits and an inspector costs can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Many people dream of building their own log home, but the reality of it is, that they are difficult to build for the average person unless they are very experienced in home building. Homeowners with minimal home building experience are best to hire professional builders to build their log home or purchase a prefab or modular log home, as they are far easier to build than a traditional log home is.