Lazarus Log Homes Design | Price & have your log home built

Getting Started...Log Home Kit Pricing, Design and Budget

Design price and build your log home bedroom for less

We quickly provide rough cost estimates for your log home design, both for our log home package materials and for the total cost to build, ie “TURNKEY COST”. Your budget is key, so you need to know what that is. Read this whole page to help you with some background help.
We eagerly help you every step of the way, sharing pictures and experiences, and talking about options to save money or create changes...and why. We continually provide guidance through design, construction drawings to permitting and through construction.
During the design process we provide cost estimates for each of your ideas to make sure they are in line with your goals.
Provide line-item materials list showing the contents of our log home package for your design
Fire-killed and naturally dead-standing logs are used, which reduces major settling issues which often result in others’ logs which have higher moisture content, and theirs are not high elevation, slow growth dry Lazarus Log Home logs from Montana...the best logs!
Stunning hand-peeled large character posts showing their natural colors and contours on all our homes. Hand-planed Swedish coped, notched and trimmed wall logs showing the facets of the hand planer, reflecting the light and accentuating the beauty of the wall logs, as well as accepting the stain best. We glue each row with an expanding urethane foam, and lag bolt each row down to make the strongest log wall on the market, with less settling!
We coordinate with your contractors to aid them with any questions they may have as well as send them pictures if needed of the specific area of interest. We have a 30 page full color construction guide with drawings, photos and how-to-build for the homeowner, or the seasoned contractor.
We are happy to show you our “model homes” in Dayton, MT, Whitefish, MT and McCall, ID.
Lastly, we are always available for future questions throughout the build and beyond. Get started looking at log home plans!

Log home office idea for a log house plan

THE LOG HOME BUDGET - Whether you have cash or are financing, you need to know what you want to spend. This is called the “turn key budget”. Do not include land in this figure, but a budget should include all improvements needed on the lot, like well, septic, road, bringing power to the building site, the materials and labor of the home, etc. in that turn key estimated cost. If you are going to a bank or mortgage company, you need to pre-qualify for a construction loan so you know where you are on the up-to amount you can borrow, or own the land outright and borrow against that for the down (equity type loan). Some banks don’t offer construction loans, some require a general contractor, etc. so usually you will be talking with a few banks until you find one who has the right product for your needs to build. We don’t want to try to sell you something that won’t fit in your budget. The budget is king. We want to help you design around a doable budget. If you have cash, we can help you ballpark at first, then you still decide what you want to spend. Click here for our information on Financing

YOUR OWN LOG HOME DESIGN - Your log home plans are classified and grouped by log home styles. So if you want it all on one floor…that is a ranch style log home (so click on “plans“, then on ranch style, and start there). Any log home can be on a basement. If you want a main floor with loft, it is a little less per square foot, and if mid size, it is a chalet log home design. If the log home is larger, with the main floor and a loft, it is typically a lodge style log home. If small, select a log cabin kit. If you want a loft and a basement (build the basement into a hill - daylight or walkout), just select the same model log home plan with a basement, or we can add one. For those that want a large custom log home, pick a lodge style or the custom log home design page to start, and we design your home for free on any of our models irrespective of size. We also do log home garages, log commercial buildings, log shops, log barns, and hybrid log/framed log homes. Click on the plans link above and go from there.

Q. Why let Lazarus know what my budget is?

A. We want to help you, just like if you were family, we would try to advise you the best way to get what you want, and have it be in your budget. If your dream log home is out of your budget range, it will not be successful. We have a good idea of what something will cost, completed, on your lot, once we find out more about your site, your participation in the build, and what you need. You need that information.
Q: I like a design, but it will cost too much...how can I reduce the cost of my dream home?

A: At Lazarus Log Homes, we understand that building your dream log home is a significant investment, and we are committed to helping you find cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality and aesthetics. Here are some ways to reduce costs: 1. Simplify the design: Opt for a more streamlined architectural design that avoids complex angles and intricate features. Simple shapes are more cost-effective to construct. Chalets are the most efficient, add a basement to a smaller home, add a loft (all less expensive per square foot). A ranch on a basement or Lodge is also a good choice, depending on the size needed. Explore our plans and call our office to get some help. 2. Material Selection: Choose smaller wall log sizes (8, 8.5") that provide the same look and feel but are less expensive (same materials everywhere else). They perform just like a framed home, but are full logs, and you still get the massive character logs with any size. 3. Size Adjustments: Consider reducing the overall square footage of the home. Smaller homes are less expensive to build and maintain. Build with a basement or loft. 4. Phased Construction: Build your home in stages. Start with the foundation, get the roof on, dry in the structure, and finish the inside in the winter or the next year. Finish your basement later (if you have one), and add luxury finishes as budget permits over time. Build your garage later, if needed. 5. DIY Labor & Finishes: If you have the skills, consider doing some of the interior finishing work yourself, such as staining and trim, to save on labor costs. At Lazarus Log Homes, our expert team is available to work closely with you to explore these options and tailor a plan that aligns with your budgetary needs. Contact us for a consultation to discuss how we can make your dream home a reality within a budget you are comfortable with.
Q: Are log homes from Lazarus a good investment?

A: Yes, log homes from Lazarus Log Homes are an excellent investment. At Lazarus Log Homes, we pride ourselves on designing and manufacturing high-quality, durable log homes that are both aesthetically pleasing and built to last. Our homes are crafted using superior materials and construction techniques that ensure longevity and structural integrity. Log homes also have the advantage of being energy-efficient, thanks to the natural insulating properties of wood. Logs have thermal mass (absorption), framed homes have R-value (reflection). Additionally, log homes appreciate in value over time and can be a sought-after property type, making them a potentially profitable investment. With our commitment to quality and sustainability, choosing a log home from Lazarus Log Homes is a wise investment for your future.
Q: Is it hard to build a log home package from Lazarus Log Homes?

A: Building a log home package from Lazarus Log Homes is designed to be a smooth and manageable process, whether you're an experienced builder or a first-time homeowner with no construction experience. We provide detailed, step-by-step instructions in our guide, and all the necessary materials to ensure the construction goes as planned. Our packages are meticulously crafted to simplify the building process, featuring methods that are the fastest, strongest, and least expensive. Additionally, we offer comprehensive support, including expert advice and customer service, to help guide you through every stage of the project. With Lazarus Log Homes, building your dream log home is an achievable and rewarding experience.
Q. I have some cash, but need to finance some. Why get pre-approved?

A. Pre-approval for financing offers several advantages. It provides you with a clear understanding of your budget, ensuring you can be confident in your design decisions and customize around that. It can also help identify your position with the value of your land, cash, credit, and construction costs, so if you have equity in your land, they (and we) help you with creative ways to complete an overview of what your dream log home on your property might cost up front, so you can focus on this being successful from the start.
Q: Should I try to build a log home now, or wait a few years?

A: Building now versus waiting a few years can depend on several factors including market conditions, personal circumstances, and long-term goals. Material prices as well as labor slowly rise, as a general rule. If you're ready to start enjoying the unique beauty and comfort of a log home, there's no time like the present. We recommend consulting with our experienced team to evaluate your specific situation and help you make an informed decision. Why pay rent, put money in savings, only to have to pay more for the home, so all your savings just goes toward the increased cost due to inflation and overall cost increases. Equity in your new log home can begin right away. Whether you choose to build now or later, Lazarus Log Homes will be here to provide expert guidance and quality craftsmanship when you decide the time is right for you.
Q. When do I build this new log home?

A. Spring...Many say they will wait until Spring to start building, but it is the busiest time of year to start. There are road weight limits, Concrete is behind, builders are busy with roads, site work, but if you can find a builder who is willing then or want to do this yourself, Spring can work well. Summer...Drier climate, if you can plan here, and have things in order, great! Fall...Best time to put a foundation in, if waiting until the next year, to beat the rush and get that behind you, and if you have a few in your crew, even in Northern Climates, you can get the roof on before winter in many areas with decent snow. Winter...Least expensive, most readily available labor, but slightly slower builds in the Northern States. Some of our customers get the concrete in quickly in early winter, put on the main floor, cover it, and get started when March comes around to beat the rush. Others just broom off the snow, and keep working, as your schedule is our schedule. We ship year around, even into Northern States.
Q. I know a builder, but he has not built a log home...

A. Our log homes are easy to build. Many of our homes are built by homeowners (first time), carpenters who have never done a log home, and even some seasoned veteran log home builders. We incorporate the best technology, fastest, least expensive, and strongest methods. We keep tabs on successful builds in almost every state, and have a good list of builders who have done our homes too. Some have done many homes for our customers, and build Lazarus Log Homes almost exclusively (subject to their workload/timing) and travel to do it. We have a full color, 30 page construction guide, along with 3 sets of plans we give our customers, material lists with how many boards go where, etc. We make it easy.