In my last blog I talked a bit about log home packages and how they vary between log home companies. As said earlier, the package is only part of the costs. Going past the package, build costs include excavating and backfilling, foundation, drain tile and waterproofing to get started. Some homes built on a slope will require retaining walls but that is site specific and w are here to help you with that. Past the foundation, the costs involved will be shell labor which will get the house up and dried in with the roof on, soffit and fascia completed and windows and exterior doors installed. Interior carpentry will be installation of T&G, trimming, setting doors and all other labor related items. Mechanicals such as plumbing, HVAC and electrical then come in to play. Lighting fixtures can vary wide and far, we have seen each end of the spectrum! Personal tastes will dictate costs associated with both pluming and lighting fixtures. We can’t forget about insulating your log home. Here in Minnesota the winters can get cold! Fiberglass insulation is the norm but quite a few upgrade to a spray foam product such as Icynene. Spray foam insulation is a great product, it offers insulation and vapor barrier all in one product. Cabinetry, vanities and countertops are also part of the equation. We can help you with everything from a laminate top to granite. The same goes for flooring. A wide range of flooring can work with log homes. Many of the log homes here in Minnesota and Wisconsin that we build incorporate a mix of carpet, wood flooring and tile. Some log home enthusiasts still want some drywall in their home so drywall materials and labor need to be accounted for. Painting, staining and caulking is also part of the equation. Some of the homeowners we have worked with have opted to invest sweat equity and taken on those tasks themselves. If you don’t want to, no problem, we can take care of it for you. When we go through your plans we will go over all the above items and more to make sure items and costs are accounted for.
Other costs related to the project will be permit, driveway, culvert if needed, well and septic or city water and sewer hook up. Again, we have contacts for these items statewide and can arrange for it all to be taken care of so you don’t have to worry about it. Utilities such as power and phone also need to be figured into your log home budget. Power and phone are usually figured with a base price plus so much per foot to run to your site.
Edlund Construction is here to help you from beginning to end if you are building a log home in Minnesota or Wisconsin. Don’t hesitate to call us or Wild River Log Homes early on in your log home research stage with questions.