Getting feed up with the choices of houses at Lake Sinclair, GA

KnotRight

KnotRight

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Has any body bought a log cabin house?

Looking for the pro and cons we as well as the cost and time period to build it. I do not think it is much more than a stick built house. Did you have the crew to put everything together? Who got the plumbers and electricians? I also figuring a dock will be around 30 to 40K.

Some of the counties around Baldwin County does not have High speed cable. Can you get it from Direct TV?Learning a lot.

Any help would be great.
 
I built a cedar log house in Virginia back in the 1980's. It was delivered as a kit. I hired a guy to build it. Family members did the electrical and plumbing. At the time it was about the same price as a stick built home.
 
I can’t type enough to tell you about our log home experience. Then again ours was a little unique. All that being said I love log homes. Do a bunch of research on the builder and check out some of their older work. And then hope he doesn’t have a heart attack half way through and leave his numbskull son in charge.
 
I had a long conversation with e-cabin (they are in Battleboro, NC) today. They will build the shell of the house and you have to finish out the inside and put the shingles on. Not really sure I am up for that. If I build a house (stick or log), i want to tell someone to build it and not worry about getting other contractor to finish it. Pink_Vapor, those are some really nice looking houses. I bet they demand a pretty price.
 
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This took almost two years of pain and suffering. Sorry I don’t have better pictures. It was made from a kit, but customized and approved by an architect. Simpler ways to build and cheaper logs can be bought, check out the Jim Barna dealer closest to you. They have a decent reputation up where we are.

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CZfool68 said:
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This took almost two years of pain and suffering. Sorry I don’t have better pictures. It was made from a kit, but customized and approved by an architect. Simpler ways to build and cheaper logs can be bought, check out the Jim Barna dealer closest to you. They have a decent reputation up where we are.

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Ready to build another one?
Nice
 
KnotRight said:
Ready to build another one?
Nice
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No thank you. We are getting ready to do a landscaping project in a few weeks and I am dreading that. I am writing a check, but still might take a week off of work to go supervise. And I also have some tree work that I may not have the skills to safely handle. It’s always something. Could use more time, time and money.
 
Before you really get your mind set on a log cabin, find out what insurance would be. When my husband and I were looking, they said stay away from them because insuring them is costly. The logs also have to be treated every couple of years, I believe.
 
@Graywolf I am not sure about the insurance but I did ask about the up keep on the outside of the cabin and was told that it might need to be stained every 6 or 7 year depending on the sun.
 
I’ve been around a bunch and worked in log homes. They require a bit of upkeep a few years down the road and have their own unique problems.
 
carpenter bees. My next home will be made from concrete siding and bricks :D

Seriously, my dad wanted a log home forever, and got one in Sawmills with 'D' shaped logs so his interior walls are flat. Between staining and bees he
knows he made a big mistake now
 
There are many types of wood boring insects, termites being the worst. I got the feeling insects and fire were the insurance companies biggest problem. Brick is best. Not the prettiest, but more bang for your buck. Hehehe:rolleyes:
 
My logs were Northern White Cedar, not affected by bugs and termites, but of course, the trim was pine. I applied stain with a garden sprayer every 6-8 years. A little messy but quick and easy. That house was very easy to heat in the winter.
 
They're not maintenance friendly, and they're difficult for trades. Plumbers, electricians, hvac, carpenters...they need to be closely coordinated and that's almost impossible with a regular house let-alone a log home. Much of it has to be done piece-meal and getting all the sub contractors on the same page the same day is a challenge. Quiz your builder intently on the sub contractors and their competence and attendance when needed. Log homes are unique in the home-world.
I love log homes they look wonderful and inviting, but I personally would never own one. You're never done...
 
@Friday I think that you are 100% correct after thinking about it. Also, living 2+ hours away would be a night mare. Wife would be concern about building a stick built house not living in the area.
 
Friday said:
They're not maintenance friendly, and they're difficult for trades. Plumbers, electricians, hvac, carpenters...they need to be closely coordinated and that's almost impossible with a regular house let-alone a log home. Much of it has to be done piece-meal and getting all the sub contractors on the same page the same day is a challenge. Quiz your builder intently on the sub contractors and their competence and attendance when needed. Log homes are unique in the home-world.
I love log homes they look wonderful and inviting, but I personally would never own one. You're never done...
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You are never done with any house. Owning a log home isn’t all that different. Just buy a good quality product and it is fine. Modern logs homes are pretty simple. And much warmer and cozier than brick. Now my brothers POS early 1970’s log home built by a stoned hippie has been a different story. But even that has been overcome.

Oh and my wife's family has a log home in Saranac Lake NY that was built in the late 1800’s. Been worked on a few times, but it still look’s about the same as it did when the Mark Twain picture was taken on the porch.

Anyone that would build a generic brick home on a lake shouldn’t won lakefront. Maybe build in Durham where the brick can block bullets or something.
 
KnotRight said:
@Friday I think that you are 100% correct after thinking about it. Also, living 2+ hours away would be a night mare. Wife would be concern about building a stick built house not living in the area.
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We are 3 hours from our log home in the mountains. No big deal. That’s why they make cameras, Nest T-stats and cool stiff like that.
 
I hated doing electrical and hvac on log homes. Freakin nightmare especially for an electrician. If you have an issue years later, there is no easy solution like sheet rock can cover.
 
Made on offer today for a house. Not sure if they will accept it but it was about 90% of listing price. What the hell did I get myself into????????????
I do have a little bit of wiggle room.
After the offer, made a couple of stiff drinks.
 
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I hate playing games. I made an offer that was 9% off the asking price (and I asked the real estate agent if she thought it was a fair offer and she agreed) and got a counter offer that was 0.03% off the asking price. I am going to tell that agent that was a slap in the face. I going to give them 1 more offer that is really over what I wanted to pay. They are leaving the jet ski (do not know if it works), TVs and furniture which I could buy for the difference in my offer and their counter. And I will tell her to relay to the seller that I am not open to a counter offer. If the do not accept it, I will looking into building a house. All new for the price that they were asking for that house.
 
BlackGun said:
I hated doing electrical and hvac on log homes. Freakin nightmare especially for an electrician. If you have an issue years later, there is no easy solution like sheet rock can cover.
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Unless you buy one that has raceways built in to the design. :D
 
KnotRight said:
I hate playing games. I made an offer that was 9% off the asking price (and I asked the real estate agent if she thought it was a fair offer and she agreed) and got a counter offer that was 0.03% off the asking price. I am going to tell that agent that was a slap in the face. I going to give them 1 more offer that is really over what I wanted to pay. They are leaving the jet ski (do not know if it works), TVs and furniture which I could buy for the difference in my offer and their counter. And I will tell her to relay to the seller that I am not open to a counter offer. If the do not accept it, I will looking into building a house. All new for the price that they were asking for that house.
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I don’t know the market in that area but in most of North Carolina houses sell in two days at full price. There is no inventory anywhere in this economy. I looked at doing HVAC on two spec houses under construction and both are sold while being built. Both little spec houses of 1500 square foot are listed at $225,000 in a horrible rural area miles from anything. Not the best builds and with vinyl siding. My daughter has been trying to buy for over two years in Huntersville, NC. There is nothing to buy and if it comes on the market you better take it as is with a down payment you will not get back.

The contractor is making around $75,000 a house. He is building 4 this year with that mark up. I have not seen those type of margins in my lifetime. He will not do one thing other than manage money and project manage for that price. He has a government job and this is just his side business. $300,000 profit in one year is quite the income for a part time job.

Many contractors went out of business between 2008- 2012 that those who have a license and the trades people are at a premium. All the workers on the site were Mexicans (illegal most likely). Very few younger people are going into construction. If you build you may find the cost shocking. Masons and framers are getting great money now. Most people look at the previous purchase price and tax value on county websites then make assumptions about value. You can forget that concept.
 
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