How much will my log home cost to build?

Estimating the cost of a custom log home is always a bit of a challenge. Each and every home we build is unique in design and therefore has different associated costs. For example, with log work, the more complex the structure, the more expensive it will be. Size is a factor as well. When determining a construction budget it is important to be realistic and always keep the final budget in mind during the design process. Our designers will help to insure that the home design will fit within the proposed budget.

The costs of construction also vary depending on the job site location. In some areas it is simply more expensive to build than others. A remote building location will cost more than an accessible location.

The single most important part of predicting costs and establishing a realistic budget is a well developed set of plans.

How much per square meter do you charge?

It is very difficult to price our homes by the square meter; it simply doesn't work well. For example, we have constructed 100 square meter houses with only 4 log walls and corners. We have built other houses with the same square meterage and as many as 8 log walls and corners. As you can imagine, the prices were quite different. When we price a house we look at the following:

• How many log corners does it have? — A lot of time and effort is spent notching the corners. This is typically the most costly part of the log shell.
• What is the log species? — Each wood species costs different amounts depending on its current market value and availability.
• How high are the walls? — Simply put, the higher the log wall height the more it will cost. The higher the walls, the more logs we need, which requires more labor and material.
• What diameter of log is requested? — We buy by the cubic meter, so larger diameter logs cost more.
• Are we supplying log staircases, log railings, log trusses, character posts, carvings, etc? All of these are available, but we must consider whether or not we are including these when we are quoting, and the cost will increase.
• What is the current exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and the client's currency? 

In VERY general terms, log shells cost $250 to $550 per square meter. Turnkey, handcrafted log homes are now costing anywhere from $450 to $1500 per square meter, depending on the construction details.

Some GENERIC pricing:

• Post & Beam milled SA Pine with plastered sand bag walls and standard foundation : R3700 psm.
• 150mm milled soft wood outer shell with corner posts on standard foundation : R4250 psm.
• Post & Beam milled SA Pine with timber cladding walls and standard foundation : R4700 psm.
• Full scribe milled SA pine, 4 corner, outer log walls and inner dry walling on standard foundation : R5500 psm.
• Piece en Piece handcrafted SA pine single story with timber framed inner walls and suspended timber flooring : R6500 psm.
  
• Post & Beam milled Cedar/Douglas fir(oregon pine) with timber cladding outer walls and inner dry walls on standard foundation : R6750 psm.
• Handcrafted Full scribe Cedar/Douglas fit(oregon pine) on standard foundation : R8900 psm.

 These are very rough guidelines so please treat them as such. For an accurate quote please consider these factors, we will be happy to assist with any further information.