Frequently Asked Questions to eLoghomes
Please review the information below to get answers to your questions about Log Cabin Home Building:
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1. What's the average price per square foot of just our log package?
The average price is $45 to $85 per heated square foot.
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2. How much do our log homes cost to build per square foot?
Our log homes are estimated to cost anywhere between $180-$325 per square foot once fully built, depending on the part of the country and additional materials used.
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3. How long does it take to build a log home?
It typically takes 3-4 months for the entire process. Construction of the shell may take up to 1-2 months, or more, based on the size of the home.
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4. How can I get the home I want to fit my budget?
Some common approaches are to reduce the square footage or build on a slab. Our Log Home Specialists can help you with other ideas.
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5. What's included in your log home materials package?
The materials package includes everything on the exterior except the top cover of the roof (shingles, metal roofing, etc.), the fixed trapezoidal glass in the upper gable, and the outside stairs to the grade. On the inside, all framing is done, including stairs and you will be ready for mechanical rough-in.
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6. What's NOT included in your log home materials package?
The general answer, of course, is anything that’s not on our applicable materials list. But, the work and materials you will be responsible for include:
- Excavation, foundation, supports to grade. All site preparation.
- Roof shingles or metal roofing, fixed glass in upper gables.
- Exterior stairs/stair rails to grade (unless added to your eLoghomes materials package if distances to grades known)
- Mechanical systems: Electrical, HVAC, and plumbing;
- Finished flooring, framed interior wall coverings, finished stairs;
- All additional insulation
- Installation of eLoghomes supplied interior stair/loft rail systems
- Lighting fixtures;
- Cabinets, vanities, appliances;
- Preservative for exterior log and log sided walls;
- Driveway, landscaping.
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7. What is the difference between your Silver Complete and Gold Premium Materials Packages?
The Gold Premium Materials Package incorporates the following upgrades to the Silver Complete Materials Package:
- Low-E, insulated wood windows and patio doors are upgraded to Andersen Series 400 Vinyl Clad units
- 4×6 porch posts are upgraded to 8 in. -14 in. diameter Handcrafted Log porch posts
- Soffits and porch ceilings are upgraded from 3/8 in. rough sawn plywood to 1X6 White Pine Tongue & Groove V-Notch paneling
- Gable end overhangs are extended from 12 in. to 24 in.
- Final Blueprints sealed by an engineer licensed for your state (if needed)
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8. Why don't you include trapped or fixed glass windows?
Because of the complexities involved in transporting those larger pieces of glass, it is much more cost-effective and reliable for our customers to purchase that locally, and have a professional installation company from your area install it. As part of our Construction Service, we will frame out the area for the fixed glass to be installed.
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9. How can I get more info and specifications?
Most of our specifications are on our website in the log home gallery. You are always welcome to contact one of our Log Home Specialists as well.
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10. Do I need to buy blueprints?
Blueprints are included as part of your log home materials package order, from the Preliminary Blueprint stage (elevations, floor plans, with revisions made in consultation with you) all the way to Final Blueprints (elevations, floor plans, subfloor, and roof framing plans, interior framing, porches/decks). We also supply a basic, preliminary foundation plan.
We will supply PDF’s of blueprints at no charge. If printed copies of final blueprints are required, we will provide up to 5 sets at an additional charge.
You can also purchase standard blueprints of our models for $279.95 after you’ve registered on our website before completing the agreement with eLoghomes, and that amount will be credited to you whenever you buy the material package.
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11. Can we see floor plans online?
Yes, all models on our website display floor plans and elevations!
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12. Can I change the floor plan of one of your models?
Yes. Our over 200 designs are all customizable.
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13. Can I get it with a garage?
Yes. Any model can have a garage added, whether attached directly to the home, attached via open or closed breezeway, or detached from the house.
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14. Are they available with wraparound porches?
Several models feature a wrap-around, or near wrap-around, porch as part of their design. But porches and decks can be added to virtually any area or side.
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15. Can these be built on any type of foundation?
Yes, indeed! Our homes have been built on basements (using a variety of wall systems), crawl spaces, slab, and piers/pilings.
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16. Do you have a catalog?
Our complete range of customizable homes, including floor plans, elevations, square footages, log sizes, styles, and corners, and more! – is on our website. We no longer provide catalogs so we can save more trees!
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17. Can I come see these models?
We have several models at each of our Sales Centers, and we can often coordinate a visit to one of the customers’ homes in a convenient area for you to visit. Ask a Log Home Specialist for more information.
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18. What is your warranty?
Our packages include a lifetime warranty extended to the original purchaser. For more information view our Warranty page.
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19. Do your log homes meet all building codes?
Our homes are designed in accordance with the current International Residential Code (IRC) and meet, or exceed, all related minimum standards. Most areas use some version of the IRC, and/or incorporate its standards into their own. However, from time to time, there are local requirements which, once we are notified by the customer or general contractor of those details, we will make changes to our homes to accommodate those requirements.
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20. Where do I obtain eLoghomes prices?
Once you register on our website and set up a log-in, all pricing will show up there! Our Log Home Specialists will contact you with additional information about any additional promotions and discounts then in effect.
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21. How can I qualify for discounts?
Your first step is to simply register on our website. Following that, you’ll be contacted by one of our Log Home Specialists and hear about all promotions and discounts currently in effect.
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22. Can I get financing?
We do not offer financing directly. However, we can refer you to a financial institution that offers construction loans for log homes, and you can be quickly pre-qualified.
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23. How much time does it take from the time I order until I receive my log home materials package?
Our packages are typically delivered in 4 to 6 months, but that timing is subject to change based on our business at different times of the year.
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24. What type of wood are your logs?
We exclusively use Eastern White Pine for our log walls and log siding. Eastern White Pine is one of the best species for log walls because of its:
- Superior Stability
- Strength and durability
- High insulation value
- Moderate checking
- Minimal knots
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25. How are your logs graded?
Each log is graded by a trained grader at the mills that we work with directly. We specify Grade 1 Eastern White Pine.
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26. Do you precut your log home packages?
Our logs are all cut from detailed blueprints for each home. Each log is numbered to represent where it should be placed during installation.
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27. Are your logs pressure-treated?
No, our logs are intentionally not treated as half of each log will be inside your house for years and years to come.
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28. Do the logs need to be treated?
After installation, you should treat the exterior with a specialized preservative for log walls. The exterior log and other wood surfaces are to be treated with a preservative (with UV protection built-in) within about 60 days of delivery. Re-treatments will generally be required every 4-5 years, but it’s important to both follow the preservative manufacturer’s specific recommendations. Some walls that are highly exposed to sun and wind may require more frequent treatment while sheltered walls (i.e. those beneath porch overhangs) may need to be re-treated less often. We do also offer a top brand of preservatives for sale.
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29. What about termites?
We supply a termite shield with our log home packages, which are applied on top of your foundation. However, we do recommend further termite prevention, as with any type of home.
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30. How do these homes hold up in a hotter climate?
Superbly! In fact, one of our most popular states is Florida!
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31. I've heard people talk about the log walls shrinking and settling. How do you allow for that?
Our logs are methodically dried to the point where any shrinkage or settling is minimized. Our WeatherLink™ system and the components used between each log that is either stacked on top of or adjacent to another offers the best solution available to compensate for any movement over time. Please ask your Log Home Specialist about the WeatherLink™ system.
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32. Do you have a quality control program?
Yes. At every step of the process of building the log home shell, we have quality control steps to ensure the accuracy of the cuts and the overall quality of the logs.
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33. What is your policy on broken or missing material?
Before we wrap each unit of material, and also take photographs before they are shipped. We also mark on each wrapped unit exactly what materials are in that unit. If something is reported missing, we check the packing list and our photographs to ensure that we loaded those materials. If our packing list and/or photographs show we missed something, we will replace the material at our expense.
For broken material, we will ask you to send photographs of the material (with something that shows scale if required). We’ll check those against our own photos to determine, as best we can, when and how the material became damaged and, if it’s clear we shipped the material in that condition, we will repair or replace it at our expense.
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34. How does the company ensure that everything that has been paid for is delivered?
Our quality control program is designed to make sure of just that. Furthermore, we add a quantity of extra materials to each shipment to help resolve those rare instances when we might have missed something.
The most important thing you can do is to use the Packing List/Intended Use List that arrives with your delivery to (a) check off that all materials listed have been received and (b) insure that all materials are used for the specific use, and in the specific area, intended.
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35. Who pays for the delivery of my log home?
Depending on the area of the country that the log home kit is delivered to, our team will provide a quote for shipment and delivery to your site. We offer highly competitive rates through our carriers.
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36. What do I need to unload my log home materials package?
You will need a 6000-lb fork truck. You also need to make sure there is clear access to the site.
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37. My site is pretty much on top of a mountain. Will your trucks have any problem getting to it?
That’s very possible. We caution every customer that, if there’s any question about site accessibility, an alternate unloading site should be identified prior to the arrival of the delivery truck(s). Each driver is responsible for his or her equipment, safety, the safety of others at the unloading site, and also bears in mind the possibility of damaging the road or any other property. So he or she makes the call when they arrive and check out the access, the unloading area, and the egress.
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38. Do you deliver and/or build outside of the US?
We do ship (and have shipped) log home packages outside of the US.
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39. Do you build log homes?
We install the materials that we sell, the complete shell of the log home, anywhere in the US. However, we do not build the entire home. Think of us as providing the “framing” of the home.
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40. Do you charge mileage for a certain distance for construction?
Yes, our Construction Service pricing is different depending on the area of the US that you are planning to build, and the market rates in that region.
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41. How do I find a good log home general contractor?
Our Log Home Specialists or customer service professionals can assist by recommending some experienced General Contractors in your area. However, the final choice of a GC, or your builder, is entirely up to you.
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42. How do I get plumbing and wiring in the log walls?
Log walls should be drilled for wall outlets on the first level and likewise for wall switches by entry doors. Then, provided an electrical box is on-site to use as a template, the logs are notched out for that piece. So, by the time the shell is complete, the log walls are electrician ready. Neither plumbing supply nor drain lines should be installed in an exterior wall, whether those walls are log or framed. Those lines should be installed under the home.
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43. I'm pretty handy. Will I have any problem building one of your log homes myself?
An experienced carpenter or framer should be able to install our materials package as long as he or she will take the time to review all the instructional information we provide. If you do not have that kind of experience, we do not recommend installing the log home shell yourself.
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44. Are you hiring or looking for contractors?
We are always looking for experienced and reputable contractors to work on installing our customer’s packages. Please contact us here.
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45. Do you have a glossary of construction terms?
Yes, click here to view the glossary.