Moose Mountain Log Homes Inc.
PH# (403) 932-3992 Fax (403) 932-9299
email - for more information
|
Log Homes,
Handcrafted by Moose Mountain Log Homes Inc. PH# (403) 932-3992 Fax (403) 932-9299 email - for more information |
How Much Should I/We Budget for a New Log Home?
The information below is intended to help you determine if
the
highest quality of handcrafted Log Home is right for you.
To be able to give an exact price, working drawings need to be finalized to almost every
detail. The final cost on a home is as uniquely individual as the plan created for that structure, and
one also needs to consider its location and local costs. The costs below do not normally
include land related costs such as the price of the land, water well, septic, the cost of
bringing the services to the home, driveways and/or landscaping. Except for land, most of
these costs do not need to be a major expense but could be significant depending on the
specific circumstances of your site.
If we look at previously built quality log homes, a price per square foot may
be generalized. No doubt if you have read the technical aspects of our
approach to construction, you now know that Moose Mountain Log Homes Inc. is unequaled in quality. As
well we are the only log home company that has patented joinery that is
GUARANTEED
by WARRANTY, to remain AIR and WEATHER-TIGHT. The people who build with us
tend to have the same commitment to quality when they choose the other features and
finishes that make up the rest of their log home. The numbers below apply to a
standard of finish in the caliber of granite counter tops, slate or hardwood
floors, natural rock fireplaces very high quality doors and windows along with
radiant heating etc. similar to what you would find in the finest handcrafted log homes
featured in a log home magazine.
Today people are spending a minimum of $250
to $300 per
square foot to the stage that they are ready to move into their new home,
based
on a minimum size of 2000 square feet. A large percentage, perhaps 40% of our clients,
exceed $300.00 per square foot, especially when building on the lower end of our
2000 square foot minimum. The reason that smaller homes cost more per square
foot is that you are making things more compact per square foot. For homes
larger than approximately 4000 square feet this rule of thumb is not
always accurate due to the situation that large floor space areas in great/living rooms,
dining rooms and bedrooms etc. normally cost less per square foot. These areas tend to
make up a larger percentage of the total square footage in larger homes. However
many of these larger homes tend to have more costly materials used in finishing
their homes to the highest of standards found anywhere. It is our
recommendation though, that until you have accurate pricing off final working drawings
that you budget for the previously mentioned minimum $250 to $300 per square
foot even for the larger homes. Moose Mountain Log
Homes, because of our intense involvement in the log re-assembly process on your site, is
not geared to homes smaller than the previously mentioned minimum size of 2000 square
feet. Size can be calculated by adding the main floor area to the usable loft area and
multiplying that to the above numbers. Bungalow designs, especially with an open beam roof
system tend to be more expensive than the allowances above because of the higher ratio of
foundation and roof area to the per square foot of living area (stacked floors share
some of the foundation / basement and roof areas). While some designs are possible in some
areas for a little less than $250 per square foot, a certain amount of
sweat equity or a simpler than our standard owner level of finish usually plays into the picture. For the developed floor area in a walk out
basement, one may want to allow an additional $75 plus per square foot
for the area being developed. Garages built of log tend to run starting in the $100
range per square foot
depending if they are attached, independent or if they have a developed loft or
if conventional "2X4" trusses are used. A log
garage maybe compared to the cost of a log home at the "lock up", "dried
in", or "weather tight" stage depending on the terminology of who you talk
with. Of the completed home budget number of a minimum $250 to $300 per square foot in North
America, generally you can expect about 1/3 to go to log associated costs such as log work
including log walls in pine, log roof and second floor systems, log stairs, log railings,
log deck work, delivery, the complete assembly labor and crane costs etc. (With
today's' cost of Cedar you should allow for an additional 25% to 35% of
the log work budget.)
Of your total budget, more than 1/3 should be set aside for finishing,
fixtures and special feature costs. The balance should be able to cover
excavation, foundation, subfloor, roof, doors and windows. If there is one cost category
area that fluctuates the most it would be the finishing budget. The majority of our
extremely well appointed homes have had a finishing budget around $100
to $175 per
square foot, in today's values, but we have also built for those who are less budget minded, with
very specific finishing details in mind who have spent upwards of $250 per square foot on
finishing alone. This allows for those incredible floor, ceiling and other
finishes, comfort specialties and characteristics that make our homes virtually
impossible to duplicate. A log home, in my mind, should be a very personal undertaking and when
done with care and pride should be an expression of your personality and lifestyle.
Consider that it probably will end up being more difficult to part with than any other
type of home you have ever lived in so far!
We would rather inform potential clients of what other past clients have actually spent on their log homes than take the "salesman's" approach by saying "sure, you can build your dream home for as little as $150 - $200 per square foot" and then have our new home owners find that almost everything they felt was important to the atmosphere of their home is an extra. In log construction, possibly more than in most other things you get what you pay for, or perhaps more accurately, you don't get what you don't pay for so, it is very important to thoroughly research all your options. We, the craftsmen and principals of Moose Mountain, have built an excellent reputation and most often friendship with the people we have built for and we do not believe that would have been possible if we had not demonstrated honest information and the very best quality and value for their investment.
Lloyd Beckedorf
What Does Moose Mountain Include in it's Pricing
