In the Woods

How much do your log homes cost to build per square foot?
The cost to build an In The Woods log home will vary depending on your area since a significant portion of the cost will reflect local labor and finishing material costs. Generally a log home's cost will be just about the same as any custom, site-built home in your area. However, there are a few things you can do that can allow you to reduce your costs. First, acting as your own General Contractor can help you knock 10%-20% off the finished cost. In addition, being flexible with timing can help you save--very busy or pressured subcontractors will make you pay! And, of course, any work you can actually do yourself cuts your costs. Using these methods, and exercising some economy in their selection of fixtures, carpeting, etc., has allowed our customers to build their log homes for $90.00 per square foot and up, exclusive of land, well and septic.

What's the average price per square foot of just your log package?
The package price per square foot will range from about $18.00 and up. But any average, ours or someone else's, can be misleading as the per square foot price will vary depending on the size of the home, whether one story, one and a half stories or two stories, the wood species selected, when delivery is to occur, the amount and type of windows/doors and any options selected. And, as most log home companies have their own definition of what their kit or package includes, it's almost impossible to make any comparisons based on the cost per square foot of the package. Once we identify which model you are interested in, we believe you will find that our price will be very competitive with, and may well be lower than, that of any other log home company with a similar materials package.

What's the R-factor of your log walls?
R-factor is not a reliable indicator of the energy efficiency of solid wood walls because it ignores what's known as the "mass effect". That effect has shown, in a couple of different studies, that the log walls act as a heat bank, storing energy that can be released back inside (or outside) as temperatures change. For example, during a winter's day the logs will actually store heat and release that heat back into the inside of the home in the evening; a framed wall simply passes that daytime heat through its various layers until it ends up outside. Of course, air infiltration is the primary culprit in heat loss. In a study performed by the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Research Center, the low log home air infiltration rate contributed to a predicted annual heating energy use comparable to that predicted for a conventionally framed home with 2x6 framing.

Are your logs treated?
During summer months, we will dip our white pine logs in a mildicide designed to control blue mold while the logs are in our yard. Other than that, we apply no treatment because, after all, half of each log will end up inside your home; anything strong enough to actually protect the exterior of your home is not something you want on the inside. Some people have even proven to be allergic to the chemicals used for treatment. Therefore, we recommend that the exterior log walls be treated right after they're erected (usually within 60 days or so of delivery) and then every 2-3 years thereafter depending on local climate conditions or the type of preservative applied.

What about termites?
If your area is prone to termite attack, you should be certain to treat your building site before you begin construction-your building department and/or your lender may even require it! In addition, you should make sure that your builder installs a termite shield all the way around your house between the top of the foundation wall and the sill plate; this is simply a continuous piece of flashing material bent downward so that termites tunneling up the outside of your foundation wall can go no farther. And, of course, you should make sure that deck or porch posts in contact with the ground are salt or pressure-treated. Finally, be certain not to store any piles of wood around the outside of your house; if any such pieces come into contact with the walls, they can become termite highways. It's important to realize that termites are subterranean insects particularly vulnerable to ultra-violet rays. That means they nest in the ground and, to reach any wood not in contact with the ground, must build "mud tubes" up the side of a foundation-the termite shield stops their progress before they find wood. Contrary to belief, termites do not attack by air. Where swarming termites exist (only at the extreme southern tips of Florida and Texas), their flight is restricted to a search for a new nest site where a new colony will be founded.

How are your logs graded?
We have been trained by professionals from Timber Products Inspection to grade logs in accordance with their standards. On a monthly basis, TPI makes unannounced spot inspections at our plant to make sure we're following those standards; we've never scored less than a 95% rating.

Is homeowner's insurance, in particular fire protection, more expensive for log homes?
Homeowner's insurance is no more expensive for a log home than for any other type of wood or wood framed home (that includes brick homes). The cost of homeowner's insurance will be more a function of the history of your area, what sort of fire protection service is available and how far away from your house it is and, of course, your own claim history. Log homes, when they do burn, burn much more slowly than conventionally framed homes and, thus, damage can be substantially less than to a stick built home by the time the fire is discovered and extinguished. The reason for this is due primarily to the size of the logs (if you've tried to start a campfire without kindling, you know what we mean) and the fact that no cavities exist in the walls. In stick built homes, the space between each stud can act like a fireplace flue when there's a fire, creating a draft that sucks the fire upward.

Tell me about your warranty.
Our Lifetime Limited Warranty assures you that your log wall materials are free from manufacturing defects when you receive them. And, that Warranty extends for the lifetime of the original owner! Of course, it doesn't mean that the logs won't undergo their natural processes and it does require that you treat the exterior walls on a regular basis with a recommended preservative.

I've heard people talk about the log walls shrinking and settling. How do you allow for that?
There are several construction techniques used to allow for the shrinkage and settling which can occur in log walls. For example, lag screws are predrilled and countersunk, a settling space is left over all windows and doors, window and door bucks and interior partitions are attached to the log walls with slip joints and a settling space is to be provided around any fireplace that extends through an exterior wall. If recommendations are followed, the natural settling and shrinkage of the logs won't be a problem.

I want log or timber rafters in my house. Can you do that?
We certainly can and we can do it economically! Our cathedral ceiling and decorative beams package provide the look and substance of a heavy timber rafter system without requiring the need for an expensive double-roof system. Of course, if a double roof system is a consideration; our structural beamed roof system is the real thing! Solid, milled Douglas Fir timbers serve as rafters, ridge and collar ties with 2' tongue and groove, V-notched decking above.

Do your log homes meet all building codes?
All of our homes are designed to meet or exceed the minimum standards established by CABO (Council of American Building Officials), a national building code agency. Generally, most localities and municipalities will utilize the same or similar standards for their building codes, if they actually have any. Where local requirements are more stringent (high wind or snow load areas typically), we've always been able to meet such requirements by making the changes specified by an engineer familiar with the local code.

I want my logs to be round inside and out. Can you do that and is it more expensive?
Yes, either our 8/8 or 12/8 White Pine log can be milled to what we call our "double round" profile. Since both end up requiring significantly more wood (about 39% more) than our standard 8/6 logs, there is an extra charge. The standard 8/6 does not, in our opinion, lend itself to a double round profile as the seating area-where the top sits on the bottom-becomes too narrow if both inside and outside surfaces are rounded.

There are a lot of log home companies and all of them tell me about their quality. Why should I buy from you?
If you'll consider what materials we supply, from both a quantity and quality standpoint, in relation to our package prices, we know you'll see that In The Woods offers the best value among experienced, national log home companies. And our quality is one we back with a Lifetime Limited Warranty that extends for the full lifetime of the original owner. Beyond that, we offer nationwide financing at competitive rates and terms, a nationwide network of experienced builders ready to help you with your log home shell construction, a custom design service that insures your home is what YOU want it to be and the experience we've gained producing thousands of log homes over the last 20 years. We can help you achieve the house you want to be comfortable in for years to come and we can do it at a price that can't be beat!

Aren't log homes a lot more expensive than anything else?
Absolutely not! In finished cost, log homes will compare favorably with custom, site-built homes in any area. In fact, if you act as your own General Contractor, you can probably come in 10%-20% less or more!

I don't understand why I'd have to pay for a planning guide. Why don't you just give planning guides to people who are interested?
We understand your point but our philosophy calls for us to keep our overall costs down so that those who do buy a log home from us get our very best price. We couldn't do that if our actual customers had to cover the costs of our giving away expensive literature to everyone who was interested. We may be asking you to spend a few dollars for our planning guide but I can promise you that once we start talking about the price of your log home package, you'll see that it was well worth it!

My site is pretty much on top of a mountain. Will your trucks have any problem getting to it?
The truck drivers make the final call regarding site accessibility at the time they arrive. They are professional drivers but they won't risk their equipment (or their boss') unnecessarily. So, if you have any concerns that they might consider your site inaccessible to a tractor-trailer, you should have an alternate unloading site selected before delivery occurs.

Why don't you supply things like insulation, sheetrock and kitchen cabinets?
It's a combination of shipping, local availability and selection issues. Insulation is available pretty much everywhere but it's bulky to store and ship and absolutely shouldn't be allowed to get wet. Sheetrock is similar, though it's not so much bulky as heavy. We feel these items are better obtained locally when you need them, rather than having them arrive with your entire log home package and requiring you to quickly find a storage site. Kitchen cabinets come in all sorts of styles and price ranges. We feel that our customers would prefer the option to make a selection from a wider variety than we could reasonably offer.

You're asking me to send you a lot of money before I ever get any materials and then you want the rest before the trucks are unloaded. How do I know I'll get everything I've paid for?
We've shipped well over 3,500 log homes over the past 20 years and we haven't done it by not delivering on our promises. Certainly, we can make mistakes and if we happen to leave something off your truckload of materials, all you have to do is call us and we'll either get it to you pronto or, if it's something you can obtain locally, we'll reimburse you for the cost.

I'm pretty handy. Will I have any problem building one of your log homes myself?
Probably not, but unless you're a capable, professional carpenter yourself, we recommend that you get someone who is to assist you. Your home will likely be one of the largest investments you'll ever make and having an experienced professional involved in its construction can insure that it's a solid investment.

Do your logs come precut?
Our logs are not pre-cut as a standard; however, that option is available for a nominal charge. We leave that choice to you because many builders prefer to cut the logs themselves from supplied random lengths. It is best to check with your builder to see how he/she prefers the logs supplied.