Has anyone had any experience with building one of these. Been looking at the kits for a number of years. Thanks

I am also looking for info. I am looking to build in the 1700 to 2000 sq ft range. Any contacts or price estimates would be greatly appreciated.

My aunt and uncle are building one. They wanted to do it themselves and 5 years later they are still building it.

My inlaws had a couple built by Satterwhite.

My Dad lived in a Satterwhite. Well made. And a TX company.


http://www.satterwhite-log-homes.com/

I grew up in one. They're a lot of work, but if done right, and by the right people, they can be quite enjoyable. They're also quite inexpensive to build compared to other construction types. Or at least they used to be. I just have a ton of memories of buying endless canisters of caulk for the cracks in the logs, and then fighting off wood bees with an oversized plastic baseball bat.

High maintenance in a a humid climate. Lots of joint expansion and contraction. They look cool, but you realy need to live there to keep up with them from what I have heard. They do very well in cold climates.

We have a log cabin (not a kit) and I second the wood-bee infestations....we've been fighting those little monsters for years and it's a losing battle all the way!

We lived in a log house outside of Calgary Alberta. I loved that house but you need an exterminator to provide regular treatments or the flys and bees will be bad. I will some day get another one in the mountains but not in Texas.

We did a log cabin at deer camp back in 2001. It was awesome, two rooms with a breezeway in the middle and a large front porch. I helped in the building...it was a lot of work, but worth it. Although it did suck attempting to caulk the thing in 20 degree weather, but it turned out great! The only problem as stated above is infestations with bugs/mice. It is easy for them to find a way in and nest!

[This message has been edited by aggieamber05 (edited 2/20/2007 1:26p).]

We looked at them for a while. Satterwhite seemed the best option. However, the ones we liked were in the $180 - $250/sq.ft. range turnkey. I'm guessing the Satterwhite would end up over $100/sq.ft turnkey. And, after speaking with the people who were selling the expensive cabins, the Satterwhite no longer seemed like such a good option. (Of course, they want to justify their price but, they really knew how to attack the Satterwhite type companies.) In our corner of the sticks, we found that the bare minimum turnkey home goes for around $80/sq.ft. under roof (covered porches being about 19% of that total sq.ft).

You can go cheaper but, not much and would have to live with vinyl floors and formica counter tops if you did.

So, we chickened out. I could see building one myself but when we get out of town, the last thing we want to do is maintenance on a log cabin. Give me a concrete slab and slap on the hardiplank, the beer tastes the same...d8)

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My aunt and uncle are building one. They wanted to do it themselves and 5 years later they are still building it

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82ATM - My brother decided he wanted to build one. He bought a kit out of Cloud Croft, NM. I want to say it was like 65-75k. He decided to build it himself, (never having personally built a home of any kind). Start to finish, it took him over 2 years, and he ended up hiring a contractor to come in and finish it for him. It was a tough task, and he ran into lots of problems.

I would recommend hiring someone who has lots of experience with log homes to build it for you.

Another thought might be purchase an authentic log structure or more than one if desired. Additional square footage could be obtained by using cedar that will weather grey in color and matches the old logs (pine. poplar, oak, etc. ) Not only looks great, but is very livable---solid and is airtight like any new home. Never heard much good about new log homes. Don't see them much around here. If any of you know where a circa 1800 log structure is please let me hear about it. Smokehouse, home , or corn cribs are my interest--would be willing to purchase or just save from rotting down. They especially make wonderful weekend homes.

this is my moms satterwhite, i think the foundation was 5000+ sq ft.....it took a long time to finish and they hired a local guy that did the majority of the interior work (walls, etc...) unfortunately, due to my step dads inability to act like a man and keep his package to himself she will be moving out and it will probably be sold also...

honestly with the right tools, home depot, and a group of hard working day laborers it could be a relatively painless project

edit: the total sq ft also includes garage and porch

[This message has been edited by callum (edited 2/22/2007 2:20a).]

Thanks for the feedback.

If you have the time & know-how this is a great way to build a place. I have known lots of people who contracted their own Satterwhites and did well, but for every one good story, there are probably 5 bad ones. If you're not sure what you're doing, get a pro.

My parents and I built one ourselves while I was in high school. It took two years to finish but it was worth it. They haven't had any problems at all with bugs (no more than any other house out in the middle of no where.) You do have to treat and stain the wood every few years which can be time consuming.

You do have to know what you are doing when it comes to the doors, windows and internal walls due to the settling.

The actual log frame itself can go up 3 days or so if you have plenty of help. It isn't rocket science. Invite your friends and family for a long weekend. That is what we did and the log part was up in no time. It is everything else that takes time.

They designed the home themselves and then sent the plans off to have a custom kit built. The logs are numbered and you just put them in place and use spikes to hammer them down. They are tongue and groove so you put weather stripping and caulk on the top of each log, then just lay the next log on top.

I can't remember who they used to build the kit but I can find out.

Oh, one last tip. When you figure out which company you are going to use ask them if they have any other homes going up in your area. People have log cabin raisings all the time and you will learn a lot from helping them for a weekend. In turn you can invite them to your place to help for a weekend when you do yours. Talk to people who have done it before and you will get a ton of advice.