Has anyone built/had built a log house from a kit? Or do you know someone who has? Do you love it or hate it? Why and what would you do different? How do the costs compare to "stick built" houses?

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), August 13, 2000

Answers

Check w/ the local Jim Walter dealer. Friend of mine had one built down here on Lewis Smith Lake. He bought the "rough shell" model and it cost less than 17000.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), August 14, 2000.

Debbie:

If you are considering a log kit home I would suggest you subscribe to Log Home Living magazine (P.O. Box 54403, Boulder, CO 80323-4403, $28.95 for monthly issues). Lots and lots of information and photographs. What some people do is to start a scrapbook with cut out photos of things they want to incorporate into theirs. Take your time and view lots of models. Once completely finished they cost about the same as a convention one, but you have something totally unique and different. If I ever build, it will be a lot kit house.

-- Ken S. in TN (scharabo@aol.com), August 15, 2000.

Of course purests pooh-pooh log kit homes. I've thoroughly researched the whole log home mess and have settled on hand-hewn, air dried, full length logs. I did see some kits that I thought were excellent tho. Try this site:

loghomes

they have a tool that you can figure the approximate turnkey price choosing different building options. If nothing else, it'll give you an idea of how much things cost...good luck.

-- JimR (jroberts1@cas.org), August 15, 2000.

Debbie

My husband and I constructed our log home from Mountain State Log Homes here in WV. We love it and have since started a business constructing them and other kits for people. Check out all of the different log home magazines hundreds of manufactors advertise in them. Let me know and I will get MS # for you. We prefer the kiln dried logs, it reduces shrinkage. Good Luck! Lisa

-- Lisa Estes (wv2xmommy@aol.com), August 17, 2000.