Posted: 7/10/2007 5:28:21 PM EDT
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I just got a few days ago Cabela's 2000+ page mega catalog. I saw something in there that I've never saw before prefabricated Log cabins. They looked like it would be a nice place to put up on some survival land. Now what I'd like to know is I know there are other company's out there that have these type of cabins but I just don't know what company's would be good to deal with. So if anyone has built one of these or knows a good deal to go through I'd like to know. Cabela's Log cabins |
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I just got my new sportsmans guide hunting catalog today and they have cabin kits in them also. My wife and I looked at both and she seems to like the kits from SG. But with all the bad I read about them I don't know if I would order one. There is a ton of cabin kit websites. Google log cabin kits. We are looking at a company out of Montana right now. |
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I have researched this topic extensively and I believe that this site must be seen before you make any decision on purchasing a 'kit' log cabin home. Log Home Builders I attended their classes and it was some of the best money I have ever spent. I now have the knowledge to build my own home, from scratch. If I choose to purchase one, at least I have the know-how to spot a good home from bad. But really, these guys at this link, are 'like minded' when it comes to Survival and Doing it Yourself. Check it out. |
Here in Colorado, the joke is if you want a low maintenance, efficient, cost effective and comfortable home, you don't build a cabin. If you want the picture perfect colorado mountain home, you built it anyway. Still better than most stick frame(Barring something like icynene), but SIPS or ICF (man made) would kill it in terms of efficiency. But neither will ever have the aesthetics. These kits might make the utilities (light switches, water lines, etc) much easier to deal with than the individual log log homes. I know some folks who have built log homes (with logs cut and pre-fitted off site) and had some problems with details like chinking, light switches, and dormer flashing. |
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Years ago a bunch of us put up the shell on one of these kits in a weekend. It went up fast. As much as I love the look I am not a big fan of these kits. From a survival location perspective there are a few problems. 1) $$$$: These damned things are an expensive way to go. You can built a LOT less expensively. If you like the look and are willing to pay for it, fine. Its still a lot of money for a survival cabin 2) Delivery issues: Ya need to get a full semi in to the location. This rules out many places. These tiimbers are often pretty damned big and heavy 3) Maintenance issues: These are NOT maintenance free structures. |
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A GOOD log home will be leaps and bounds ahead of almost anything else. The problem is finding a good company with good logs and finding someone local that can get it put together right. The latter is probably the worst part around here for sure. The kit cabins, from Cabela's or most anywhere else, most likely won't be up to par for what people on this board would want. Little (or not so little) inconsistencies in the quality and dryness of the wood will lead to alot of upkeep in the future and will degrade the natural insulation of the logs. If your interested in a real log home, I advise you head to your local bookstore and grab some of the magazines. Start checking out the companies advertising and you'll learn in a hurry what makes a good home and what doesn't. |