How Much Does A Log Home Cost?

"How Much Does a Log Home Cost?" is the single most asked question in the industry, and also the most difficult one to answer. The customers aren't the only ones who are frustrated; dealers and manufacturers are fully aware that not giving an easy answer could lose a sale. However, in reality the answer is "That Depends", and the sooner the homeowners accept this stateMent the sooner they can start looking in the right place.

How Much Does A Log Home Cost?

How Much Does A Log Home Cost?

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How Much Does A Log Home Cost?

How Much Does A Log Home Cost?

WHAT DO I MEAN BY THE RIGHT PLACE? Like everyone else, my husband and I started our oohing and aahing search by at the majestic, multi-faceted homes with numerous peaks in the roof trusses, giant, huge windows, and big logs. What we didn't realize right away is that every one of our favorite log homes were hand-crafted, and so far out of our pricerange that we might as well have been shopping for a castle.

The first thing you need to do is distinguish between a handcrafted log home and a milled log home. Handcrafted log homes will cost anywhere from 2-4 times as much per square foot as a milled log home, when you take into consideration the size of the logs and the intense labor required from the first day the logs are selected. If the logs are not evenly sized, you know right away you are looking at a handcrafted home.

MILLED LOG HOMES: If you select a handcrafted log home, you don't need to be reading this article! For the rest of us, there are other basic factors to consider if you are looking at price: diaMeter log, log, log corners, and species. The first two factors speak for themselves. The corner systemhowever, can make a big difference. For instance, think about how the logs are stacked. If you remember your Lincoln Log toy, you had to find the half-log to start the first course. This is the way to Saddle-Notched corner system is constructed. The courses are sTAGgered and logs are notched to fit snugly together, and when you look at the corner you will see each log end lying on top of the one below it, creating a continuous unbroken stretch from top to bottom. The notches require another run through the mill, and will add to the eventual cost.

When you look at a Butt-and-Pass log home you will see a gap between each log past the corner. This is because all the logs are laid on the same plane; the first course is started with a full log and it butts up against the other walllog which runs past it. The next course reverses the process. There is no notch to hold them together, hence in less time in the mill. If you compare to butt-and-pass house to a saddle-notched house Dollar for Dollar, the butt-and-pass house should be less expensive. This is where aesthetics kicks in.

At home with logs that are flat inside-and-out will probably be joined with a dovetail system, where the logs are notched at an angle and fit together snugly. Think of the corner of your kitchen drawer. These also require more precision equipMent and are a little more expensive to build.

There are other corner systems, but these three are the most common. Just bear in mind that the corner creates one of the big differences between one milled manufacturer's product andanother 's.

LOG PACKAGES. After you have decided on the corner, you'll find that every company quotes their logs differently. To get a real apples-to-apples comparison, you must ask for a quote on the logs ONLY. And remember that the logs 1/4 to constitute 1/5 the cost of the eventual house. I think you're going to find that within the same size, species and corner system, the basic costs will not vary all that much from one manufacturer to another ... not including shipping, of course.

Many companies quote on a Weathered-in Shell, which means all the components for a weather tight house: logs, windows, doors, roof sheathing. It's tempting to get this kind of quotas, but remember that you may be paying thousands of extra Dollars to ship generic lumber across thecountry. And when the extra stuff is delivered, it's up to you to store it all safe and dry on site. If your contractor buys the lumber locally, you can get it delivered when you need it, rather than months ahead of time.

IT'S A CUSTOM HOME. Once you get past erection of the log walls, you're going to discover that your log home is not a whole lot different from any other custom home. The roof materials are the same, the heating systems are the same, the windows are basically the same. Most of your decisions are on the inside of the house: stock kitchen vs. custom cabinets, granite vs. Formica, wood floors vs. moquette tachée, dommage, tongue-and-groove vs. sheetrock, antler chandelier vs. wagon wheel ... here's where the wild differences in price can add up. It's a custom home, remember,and the choices are up to you. In the mid-Atlantic states, the square foot price of a custom framed house and a custom log home will be pretty equivalent. When looked at from that point of view, the whole pricing equation starts to make more sense.

BOTTOM LINE: This is where we all get into trouble. There's no agreeMent as to price, because local budgeting costs vary so much. Four years ago, when I started designing my home, the magazines said to budget $ 150 per square foot. I thought this was outrageous, but in the end, we spent about $ 157 per square foot for a saddle-notched home with 8 "pine logs and some upgrades, so I'm glad I paid attention. If you start there, you'll at least be in the ballpark.

How Much Does A Log Home Cost?

Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs

Dog owners, who recognize the early signs and symptoms of illness or pain in their dogs, will not only relieve their loved one's suffering but may also be able to save themselves an expensive trip to the veterinarian. Not only is it important to recognize these signs early to relieve pain and suffering, but it is much more effective to treat an illness when it is detected early.

Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs

Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs

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Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs

Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs

The dog owner should keep an accurate and detailed account of their dog's symptoms to help the veterinarian correctly diagnose and effectively treat the dog's illness or condition. Most canine illnesses are detected through a combination of various signs and symptoms:

Temperature, Respiratory Rate and Heart Rate

A newborn puppy will have a temperature of 94-97° f. which willeventually reach the normal adult body temperature of 101.5° f. at the age of 4 weeks old. Take care when trying to take your dog or puppies temperatures as the thermoMeter can easily be broken off into the dog's rectum. Also any form of exciteMent can cause the temperature to rise by 2-3° when the dog is actually in normal health. If your dog's temperature reaches 105º or above OR 96º or below please take him/her to the emergency vet immediately!

An adult dog will have a respiratory rate of 15-20 breaths per minute (depending on such variables as size and weight) and a heart rate of 80-120 beats per minute. You can feel for your dog's heartbeat by placing your hand on his/her lower ribcage just behind the elbow. Don't be alarmed if the heartbeat seems irregularcompared to a human's heartbeat, it is irregular in many dogs. Have your vet check it out and get used to how it feels when it is normal.

Behavior Changes

Any behavior changes that are not associated with a change in the household, such as jealousy over a new pet or child may be an indication of an illness. Signs of behavioral changes may be:

or Depression

or Anxiety

or Fatigue

or Sleepiness

or Trembling

or Falling/Stumbling

If your dog shows any of these signs, he/she needs to be kept under close Watch for a few hours, or even a few days, until positive signs develop or he/she has returned to normal. Do not try to exercise the dog or put him/her in any situation that may cause stress. Most veterinarians will want for youto keep track of when the symptoms first appeared, whether they are getting better or worse, and also whether the symptoms are intermittent, continuous, or increasing in frequency.

Pain

Dogs that are in pain will likely indicate that they are suffering by giving you clues as to where the area of discomfort. For instance, a dog that has abdominal pain will continually glance toward their belly, bite or lick the area, and will not want to leave his/her bed. The dog may stand hunched over, or take the ' prayer position ' which is when a dog gets down on it's forelegs with the hind legs still standing because of the pain in her abdoMen area.

Dogs can not tell you that they are hurting or cry real tears but a dog may vocalize their pain in a different way. A dog thatis hurt suddenly (such as being stepped on) will cry out in pain or clue Club. This also happens when an external injury or internal injury (such as an organ) is touched. Whining or vocalization that is unprovoked may be caused from an internal injury as well. Some breeds of dogs (such as the American Pit Bull Terrier) have a higher pain threshold and need to be Watched more closely for signs of pain. Breeds with a high pain tolerance are more likely to endure the pain without vocalization.

Another clue to pain is a change in temperaMent. A dog that is in pain may show signs of aggression. Please take note of this before concluding that a dog has become vicious and let your veterinarian know so that the correct treatment can be administered. Also females in general (even humans!) havedays when they are just in a bad mood for no obvious reason. Take note of days of times that these mood swings occur as well as any events that might have triggered them.

Other signs that your dog may be sick:

or Ears: discharge, odor, debris, crusted, scratching, twitching or shaking tips.

or Eyes, swelling or redness: discharge.

Nose: runny, or thickened, crusty or colored discharge.

or Coughing, sneezing, vomiting or gagging.

or Shortness of breath, irregular breathing or prolonged heavy panting

or Evidence of parasites in the dog's stool, strange color, blood in the stool, or lack of a bowel movement (constipation).

or Loss of appetite or not drinking as much water as normally would.

or Weight Loss.

or Strange color of urinesmall amount of urine, straining, dribbling, or not going as frequently as normal.

or Bad odor coming from mouth, ears, or skin.

or HAir loss, wounds, tumors, dander or change of the skin's color.

or Biting of the skin parasites, scratching or licking the skin frequently.

The preceding article was meant to help educate you to the signs and symptoms of probable pain or sickness in your dog. If any of these symptoms occur over a prolonged period of time, please seek the help of a veterinarian. I hope that this article will help stress the importance of keeping watch over your dog's health patterns and the importance of keeping an accurate, detailed health record for your veterinarian's convenience.

Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs