Comments on: Is it cheaper to build a log home or a framed house with log siding?

By: Jennifer H

Jennifer H — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 20:51:19 +0000

A great question and one that is asked all the time.

The real battle is finding a company that can custom design a home for you. There are many different designs options available when it comes to building log & timber frame homes. You can have a handcrafted log home, milled log home, timber frame, a hybrid log & timber home, or a stick frame home that incorporates log & timber accents.

Combining stick frame construction with log elements is actually a very common way of reducing construction costs. The other benefit is that you can get the look and feel of a log and timber home without going with a full log structure.

So, first and foremost, look for a company that offers custom design services & high quality floor plan options. Find out if that company offers different product lines so that there is more flexibility when it comes to actually designing your home.

Some other factors that greatly affect the cost of your home include: the size of the home you want to build (this is the biggest cost variable), the complexity of the home (referring to rooflines and valleys), your build site (the steeper, the greater the cost), the level of finishes you wish to include in your home, and the density of log and timber you are looking to have.

Good luck in your adventure.

By: Helpme2helpme

Helpme2helpme — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 10:32:24 +0000

My husband and I just watched a program on the Travel Channel or on HGTV and it was a couple in Georgia who had a log home vacation home. However, it was a prefab log home! You could not tell at all that the home was a prefab. I cannot remember what they spent but I think it was around 140K. The prefab home was built in South or North Carolina. You may want to check into a pre-fab log home. YES they use REAL logs in the prefab log homes too! Maybe save some money and use it towards making the prefab home more unique or upgrading the fixtures. Good Luck. Log homes are so beautiful!

By: Fallon B

Fallon B — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 09:29:25 +0000

Definitely a framed house with log siding. Timbers can cost $6-$10 per linear foot, depending on the circumference of the log. Log siding costs around $3-$5 per linear foot (framing factored in). In the long run that’s a lot of money. I would suggest the siding. Besides, in twenty years, you can change it to stone or whatever else you want instead. I think a frame house with siding is more diverse as far as future options go. Good Luck with the build!

By: bearino

bearino — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 21:10:30 +0000

Frame house with log siding is cheaper. Here is the reason why. If you build a log home, you have to finish the interior. Most times, that means you have frame walls to hide wiring, plumbing and ducts. So unless you are really roughing it, you are building the frame inside log house anyway and at a higher cost.

By: arklatexrat

arklatexrat — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:33:00 +0000

I was told that log siding was cheaper (that’s in Texas).
You will also need to check on insurance rates–log homes (and probably log siding homes as well) cost more to insure per square foot or valuation than brick or stone because of fire hazard I guess.

The other concerns would be termites and treating the wood for long-term maintenance. I think it is also more of a challenge to do wiring and such with log homes because there is no way to run wires behind the walls.

I do love the look of log homes, though and think that sounds perfect for a cabin in the mountains! We have an older home here in the East Texas woods that we are in the process of remodeling and my dream is to add a large great room on the front either timber framed or log.

Good luck!

By: ♥ Shortstuff ♥

♥ Shortstuff ♥ — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 20:26:16 +0000

I would think a framed house with log siding would be cheaper, but that’s just a hunch. Consult with a builder or with a company that deals with the sale of log home kits.

By: NeptunesSon

NeptunesSon — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 03:26:59 +0000

Logs ONLY they are cheaper and it’s a magnificent structure “0″ upkeep!!

By: CEO JasonP

CEO JasonP — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 07:09:41 +0000

A log home is probably cheaper.

By: Smeek

Smeek — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 02:25:25 +0000

i would assume a framed house with log siding. thats what my neighbors got and they arent the richest people in the world.

By: Hein Kenival

Hein Kenival — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:53:42 +0000

Log home. It will also be cheaper to demolish, just burn the thing down.