Creating a Log Home Budget.

Let's briefly cover the estimated costs associated with construction of your custom home and how to manage the budget:

The first question is "How much to build my dream home?" The response to that question is as varied as the types of log profiles and home styles available to you. A good rule of thumb for an average 'turn-key' construction cost varies throughout the country but here in the West it currently ranges from $140 to $165 per square foot for the popular 'D' log profile to $200 plus for the Swedish Cope log, depending on the size of log used. However, these figures can change depending on many factors.

• Location - remote locations will typically cost more both in getting materials to the site and in construction labour costs.


• The log profile you use - CNW Log Homes of America offers many from the popular 'D' log, Swedish Cope and Hand Crafted.


• The way you are going to finish your home - Wood floors, Granite, and a lot of rock work will add to your costs.


• Your involvement in the project.


• Log Interior/exterior additional accents - gable trusses and log porches.


• Foundation type - crawl space, enclosed basement or daylight (walkout) basement. Are you using poured concrete or an ICF block poured wall? These choices are major factors, and while basements may be very inexpensive square footage, it also may take you out of your budget.

You can control your costs. Depending on your budget, you choose the items to finish your home. Often if your budget is tight it may be best to use standard grade materials now and plan to upgrade them in the future. For instance, install laminate counter tops instead of granite, vinyl floor covering instead of tile. The choice is completely yours. It is important to realize that it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of building your home. This is a trap that many fall in to. We all have our dream of what we want in our home. Often our dream and our budget are not the same, so you must make careful choices. It is recommended to get the home's shell built to the look/level you require because changes here down line can be very costly; you can always upgrade the interior at a later date.

Join the CNW Log Homes of America Inc dealership network, for more information log on to http://www.cnwloghomes.com/