One of the first questions we’re often asked once people have had a look at our beautiful log homes is ‘how much is a Scandinavian log home kit?’. Or, alternatively ‘do you have a price list?’ and ‘how much is a three- (or four-bedroom) home’.
We’ve developed our range of log homes in conjunction with our supplier over the years, and what we’ve found is that the vast majority of our clients actually use the designs as a ‘starting point’ for their own log home. The range has also evolved over time, and this has meant that it hasn’t been practical to create a price list. On top of this, raw material pricing has been very fluid over recent years, meaning that for each project, we’ve had to create individual estimates with short-dated validity. In addition, freight prices can only be estimated initially and then confirmed when a delivery is scheduled.
When we work with a client to put together the specification for their log home kit, we discuss all the various elements that will be needed. These elements include the log thickness and height they want, and the corner joint options that are available for the log size and which will best suit the house design. We also determine the internal insulation thickness requirements in the floor, walls and roof to achieve the level of energy efficiency they want.
So each house is very much custom designed to suit our customers’ needs, even though it may look like a ‘standard’ design. With so many variables, it just isn’t feasible to have a price list. We know that some suppliers of what are more often referred to as “log cabins” do provide indicative pricing, but when you examine the small print, such prices are often for a very basic kit, perhaps one that wouldn’t even meet building regulations.
However, we understand that you will want to have some idea whether building your own log home is remotely affordable.
Factors influencing the answer to “How much is a log home kit?”
What we suggest is that first of all you work out what budget you have available to build your house. After all it’s pointless looking at a grand mansion, if there’s no way your budget will stretch to it! You might not feel comfortable sharing your budget with a supplier, but it does actually make sense to do so – they’ll be able to say whether your plans are realistic or whether you’re going to need to reconsider various aspects of your build. The budget will have to cover land, planning and building control, surveys and legal fees, connections, as well as the cost of actually building your home.
The cost of the log home kit will only be part of the overall cost of your project – depending on the size of the home this could be between a quarter and a third of the overall project cost. A small log home kit, or ‘tiny house’ with just one bedroom could start from £35,000 plus delivery plus VAT, whereas a really large log home kit with four or five bedrooms could be around £220,000 plus delivery plus VAT.
From research, we’ve found that if you’re paying a main contractor to build your home to a high energy efficiency specification, build costs for different construction methods will be broadly comparable in the same area of the country. In practice, costs vary very little, regardless of the materials that the house is built from, if the overall specification is the same. What we tend to see is that ‘traditional’ buildings will cost less, but when you look at the specification you find that basic building regulations compliance is all that is aimed for, whereas we know that many self builders aim for highly energy efficient homes, often using far more sustainable methods of heating.
Build costs will also vary depending on where you are in the country; both labour and material costs in major cities (especially London!) and remote locations tend to be more expensive than elsewhere.
As an example of how project costs can differ significantly, in late 2023 we completed a two-storey three bedroom home as a turnkey project for some clients, where the total contract value was in the region of £550,000. Another single storey three bedroom home completed earlier the same year had a contract value of around £290,000. You’d describe both houses as three-bedroom homes, but they were rather different in size, and the specifications were very different.
Our clients usually find it is beneficial to have an introductory conversation during which we can answer their questions, give a broad indication of various costs and find out a little more about their project plans. This conversation helps us advise our prospective clients on what may be the best options for them, or in some cases conclude that this isn’t the right solution.
We’ve produced an e-guide called A Nine-Step Guide to Budgeting for your Self Build, to help estimate the costs involved in self build which are not directly related to the actual house you build. If you’d like a copy, please contact us to request it.
To find out more about typical costs and to discuss how much a particular log home kit is likely to be, book a call with one of our team at a mutually convenient time. Contact us and we can send you a booking link.