Where Do you Buy Logs for Building a Log Cabin?


where to buy logs when building a log cabin
where to get logs for cabins

As I have been looking to add a log cabin on my property in Northern Idaho, I was wondering where to find the right materials. I found some great resources on where to buy logs for my log cabin and I want to share what I learned with you. 

So, where do you buy logs for building a log cabin? A great place to start looking for logs is a local sawmill. There are also wholesale logging companies that will be able to get you logs at a cheaper price. Some logging companies even allow you to send in your floor plan so you get exactly how much you need in the right sizes.

Picking out the logs to build your dream cabin is one of the most crucial parts of the building process. Things like type of wood, price, and company location are going to be the things you want to keep an eye out for in your search.

Where to Buy the Logs For a Log Cabin

One of the best ways to find the right logs to buy is a sawmill close to you. Logging companies often don’t do business with other people because they deal only with sawmills. Looking and contacting the closest sawmill is therefore the closest you can get a log to the source.

Sawmills near you might be the cheapest option, too. The sawmills are close to you so you won’t have to pay so much for shipping. The logs will also be used to the climate that your cabin will be built on if you use a source nearby.

There are also great companies that are known around the U.S. There are many magazines that feature cabins designed and made by companies. Flipping through a magazine might be a great way to find ideas for your cabin.

Buying Logs Online for Your Cabin

A more update route might be through the internet. This site called eLog homes is a great place to start. This company does design, supplies and can even build your log cabin for you.

Their website contains prices, great designs and pictures so you can get a good start. This is an awesome resource for people who know what cabin they want, but may not want to build the cabin themselves.

Another great website for those looking for logs is Wholesale Log Homes. This is a company that helps those who already know just what they want. WLH, as this company calls themselves, gets you logs pricicly like you want them, cut and supplied for your floor plan.

All you have to do, once you get in contact with them, is give them your floor plan. They even have a link on their website that gets you a free quote.

This company is based in North Carolina, so it may be too far for me to ship my logs from them, but if you live on the East Coast, it is a great option.

Looking at proximity is a good way to cut back on price.

Wholesale Logs for Your Cabin

Wholesale offers quality logs for a cheaper price. Most of the time, these companies are harder to find, but are a great option.

There are many websites out there that offer wholesale prices. These are just a few:

These options are in addition to the other ones listed above. These companies will typically have cheaper prices. Also, they are great if you just want to add log siding to your house, opposed to creating a whole building out of the logs.

One reason that these wholesale logs can be cheaper is because they aren’t as well advertised, so the prices can be kept lower. According to Akerwoods:

The $15,912 price is for random-length logs. We can sell you your logs pre-cut to lengths you specify for an additional 33%. We can cut you an entire kit in which we determine the quantities and lengths needed for your entire home for a 66% additional cost. But if you have a chainsaw, a pencil, a square, and a fairly steady hand, you can cut your logs on-site and save some money.

Akerwoods 

Wholesale logs are going to a great, thrifty option for those who are willing to put in the work. 

There are other options that are available to those who want a log cabin built for them, or in a kit. There are many kits available on the websites mentioned in the beginning, or even on ebay

Possible Discounts in your Search

There could be some room to get discounts that are not from wholesale companies. The best way to save money is to stick to a smaller floor plan. Another great way to save is to build part of it yourself. Like I said before, wholesale is great but it requires work.

If you are up to the challenge, and you own the land you are building on, you can use some of the logs from your own property. Just be sure to check the laws in your county before cutting down. 

Using some of the dead trees, or cutting down some excess trees on your property can be a resource for you to get logs instead of having to pay for them. Just make sure that the tree does not have rot, they have close to the same width all the way around and are at least 8 inches in diameter. 

If you are looking for logs, one thing to know is that the higher the elevation, the better the log is. Logs at a higher elevation took longer to grow, which means the log will be denser and therefore sturdier. 

Another way to save big time on logs is to look for companies that do tree removal. They get paid to get rid of trees and might part with the logs they have for a cheaper price.

Also feel free to ask neighbors if they need any trees cut down, or if they are willing to part with any for a small price. Many people have been able to cut down significantly on their cost of a cabin by doing this. 

Types of Logs for your Cabin

Before you buy your logs from any website or sawmill, it is important to know what kind of wood you want your cabin to have. The type of log you buy can determine sturdiness, look, heat preservation.

Eastern white pine is one of the cheapest options out there. It looks fantastic and is a very popular log used. It has a little lighter look to it and is fairly dense, which means that it helps keep out the cold and retain heat. It can be stained to look darker, too.

Western Red Ceder is popular as well. It has a rich look to the wood, is dense and very good at keeping the bugs out and the heat in. It has a distinct, cool, and unique look to it which is why it is frequently used.

Douglas Fir is the long-time favorite for building cabins. It does a great job of lasting for years and year without warping. It is also a beautiful look, and is not as expensive as Western Red Ceder. 

What look you want is a key part of knowing where to look. A great place to start is log magazines. Artisan Log Homes is a wonderful resource to look into as well. It tells you what woods are great and what is different about each. 

If you are looking for logs, one thing to know is that the higher the elevation, the better the log is. Logs at a higher elevation took longer to grow, which means the log will be denser and therefore sturdier. This is especaiily important to keep in mind if you are cutting down your own trees. Watch out for tapered ends and rotting spots. 

Visit Our “Building a Cabin Page” for More Great Tips!

Related Questions

How much are does it cost to build a log cabin? It depends on the size and the location but it is possible to build a cabin for less than $20,000. Using your own logs can lower the cost while large cabins can be anywhere from $100,000 to millions of dollars. 

Can you build a cabin on your own land? It is definitely possible to build a cabin on your own land. It is crucial that you go through the correct zoning and building laws within the area you are living in. 

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