Log cabin kits or log cabin building kits are the mainstay of most log home companies. They produce and package all the components in one bundle for specific cabin plans, ship it to you and then it’s up to you to build it or have it built. There are currently about 400 log home manufacturers and 125 producers that create handcrafted log homes.
Types of Log Home Kits
The log cabin building kit can be made up of either milled logs or handcrafted logs and can vary widely in make-up and price depending on what is included. This can range from:
shells which are nothing but the logs which make up the structure or shell of the cabin,
dry-in packages with windows, doors and roof components to get your cabin weather-proof,
turn-key kits offering interior walls, stairs, trim and kitchen cabinets to finish your home.
It’s often cheaper to source your regular lumber and finishing supplies locally and let your builder complete the cabin.
Standard Designs
The big advantage to these cabin kits is that all the design issues have been worked out and the logs are often numbered and lettered so it’s a straightforward process of re-assembling them.
If you’re purchasing a handcrafted log package the cabins are normally built at the log home company’s yard, then disassembled and their crew is sent out along with your order to re-build the cabin on your lot.
You can save money and use fewer resources with
small log home kits.
Using careful design to pack more useful areas into a smaller footprint, small log homes are more affordable and allow you to put the money you save into upgrades like
hardwood flooring
or a
stone fireplace.
Log Home Kit Pricing
Log home kit prices
can vary tremendously depending on a number of factors, such as log size and type, cabin size, build location and what's included. If you want to keep the price of your cabin package low, check out these
tips for cheap log home kits.
The only way to know what is included in the kit is to study the web site or brochure carefully and ask questions. It’s a good idea to have a builder lined up before you buy your kit and have them take a look at it and advise you as to what’s included and what’s to be added.
You should carefully
evaluate a log cabin kit for sale
before you buy it to be certain you fully understand what's involved in building from that log package.
You can
save money on your log home
with careful planning, thoughtful design and judicious materials selection.
Preparations
It’s important to
prepare for your log home package
before its arrival by setting up a staging area to handle the logs, erecting a shelter to protect them from the weather and being prepared with the right equipment for unloading and moving the logs and timbers as you build.
Prior to the arrival of your log home package, it is also vital to have your
utilities installed
so that you and your crew are ready to go as soon as the kit arrives.
If you’re set on buying a log cabin kit, my recommendation is to go with a dry-in package to get past this critical stage. You can save some money by buying interior lumber and components locally, but be sure to have your builder check out what else is required and quote a bid for that.
