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Ted Male Sarasota, FL United States: Share

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Ted commented on Ted's blog post 'This is addressed to those of you who plan to Build from "scratch" using only a builder.'June 15

Hello Wes.You sure have it under control. I sometimes think in reading the various comments in Loghomeu that the only way to build is by going through a log home manufacturer. Well my experience has been just the opposite. I have already found 2 b...

Wes commented on Ted's blog post 'This is addressed to those of you who plan to Build from "scratch" using only a builder.'June 15

Ted, This is exactly what we have done. We found an individual (S&H Logcrafters, Ogden, UT http://www.shlogcrafters.com) that has been in the business for over 26 years. He has built log homes/cabins in Park City, UT, Jackson, WY, Sun Valley, ID ...

Alan D commented on Ted's blog post 'This is addressed to those of you who plan to Build from "scratch" using only a builder.'June 12

Ted, If I understand you correctly, you have decided to use a builder that has built log homes previously. I have heard of such builders, and have heard that some even have a preference on the logs and/or provider of logs they use. For most peo...

Shelley S commented on Ted's blog post 'This is addressed to those of you who plan to Build from "scratch" using only a builder.'June 12

Ted, Good morning! Here's Mark's contact information (Tori is his wife) www.benitezhomes.com, Tori@benitezhomes.com, 828-926-8733 office, 828-926-2733 fax, 828-400-7349 cell, I will send him your email address as well. Our Florida home will offici...

Ted left a comment for Bill BlackburnJune 11

Ted commented on Ted's blog post 'This is addressed to those of you who plan to Build from "scratch" using only a builder.'June 11

Nice to hear from you again Shelly. Thanks for the tip on Mark Benitez. I'll be sure to contact him when I'm back in NC in August or September ... Although I don't know how to reach him (yet). If you think he might be interested in my project (whi...

Bill Blackburn left a comment for TedJune 11

Shelley S commented on Ted's blog post 'This is addressed to those of you who plan to Build from "scratch" using only a builder.'June 11

Ted, Good afternoon! It's been awhile since we've touched base yet once again we're both on the same page. We, too, have decided to go with a builder to build our home from scratch. It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into your interview pr...

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Tell us about yourself:: Trying to sell current house to get enough money to build a log home in North Carolina. I am a carpenter so I plan to do a lot of the work myself.
After reading some of the comments by other members I thought I would add some thoughts, so here goes;
(1) It appears that many of you have the same problem that I have, selling your current home. Perhaps we should exchange ideas as to how to best do this in the current economy.
(2) I know we all have different tastes but please share your favorite log home with the rest of us. Most of us are not planning to build the biggest or most expensive log home, so let's share ideas.
(3) Even before we build the log home of our dreams we have ideas or need help with decorating... like lighting or plumbing fixtures or cabinets ... well you get the idea ... so let's communicate.That's it for now.

Are you lucky enough to be living in a log home?: Not yet

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Added June 4, 2008 at 9:52am

Ted's Blog

This is addressed to those of you who plan to Build from "scratch" using only a builder.

If you choose to build your log home using a builder only ... that is, you are going to have your builder build your entire home from scratch... and you are not using a log home manufacturer for any portion of the project ... well this is directed at you.

That is the direction I have chosen to take. I have found that with a great deal of patience you can fiend a builder who will take on the entire construction process from septic to excavation to foundation to purchasing all logs, windows and d… Continue

Posted on June 2, 2009 at 7:01pm — 6 Comments

A logistical question

Even though many of us have been "slowed down" by the recent economy we still are staying true to our objective of building our Nirvana in the mountains (or plains or by a stream or whatever).

I'm still planning to try to sell my current house at the end of 2009, make the best deal I can, fill in the shortfall with savings and loans and charge on.

So now I have a new quandary. Where do we go once we have sold our current house and before the new home is built? I'm sure many of you who have gon… Continue

Posted on January 26, 2009 at 4:43pm — 22 Comments

That Close

So, at the start of 2008 it seemed that the economy was in not to good a shape and my house value went down 17% and my dreams for a log home were starting to look not so good ... I made the decision that I would put my house up for sale at the end of 2009 and hope for the best. I would dip into my retirement fund (I'm over 65) to cover any construction short fall.

Well, as we all know, things have gone from bad to worse and it now seems that my house is worth about 20% less than when I started… Continue

Posted on January 13, 2009 at 10:14pm — 9 Comments

Share It

I think when I joined our group I was number 134 or close to it. Being that there were so few of us it was not surprising that very few were lucky enough to own a log home. At last count, I think the number of members is over 530 plus. With that come more folks who own log homes. But I find that most of the people who do own log homes simply state that they are owners and leave it at that. So my request of those of you who do own the home of our dreams is simple, PLEASE SHARE IT. Take some pictu… Continue

Posted on July 31, 2008 at 4:34pm — 5 Comments

Wishful Thinking

I find it amazing that there are so many people now who are "Log Home Neighbors". At last count there were 495 and growing. I also find it amazing that there are so many people from Florida who are members. Like me they have the vision of a different kind of life. Personally, I've been in Florida now about twenty years, coming from Westchester County in NY. I don't know about the rest of the members from Florida but for my part I'm tired of a year that seems to be made up of endless hot and humi… Continue

Posted on July 22, 2008 at 10:07am — 7 Comments

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At 4:16pm on June 11, 2009, Bill Blackburn said…: You are ` 3Hours away from us. You are welcome to come to Bedford and take a tour and ask all the questions you want. I am not a good typer so you could call anytime. The Webbs and workers were great. Tom is an Master carpenter. Bill & Sue 814-285-2700. I tried to upload some pictures but I don,t think the did.

At 11:02am on May 2, 2009, Tim Bullock said…: Ted, Can we be of any help?

At 2:47pm on April 29, 2009, Tim Bullock said…: Ted, This website tells you about what we are doing here in WV...www.tamaracklogandtimberhomes.com
This website is my portfolio of the past 31 years work www.bullockloghomes.com
We design,build and reassemble log and timber works only as it is too costly for us to work out of town for extended periods of time. We have two dovetail log homes that you might be interested in viewing at some point......one is Spartansburg, SC and one is in Waynesville, VA
We have just started a dovetail log home here in Jane Lew for delivery to SC later this summer. We use giant white pine logs milled to 8" thick and have an optional 10" thick X random height. All logs are full length up to 50'.....Have fun looking at the "eye candy"......If you have any questions/concerns, please do not hesitate to call or email.

At 8:40pm on March 23, 2009, CR (Yona) Dunning said…: Ted

Thanks for writing back.

We share the same mountain range although I see you are still in Sarasota

We have lived for the last 10 years in St Petersburg to your north but we leave for the mountains this coming Saturday morning - before sun-up

& hope to be in Tennessee Sunday afternoon

Since you were asking about water volume I called our builder tonight

He reports we are getting 20 gallons plus a minute

That sounds good to me & I guess if there's a moral to this story it is to drill until you find sweet potable water - & a lot of it.

Judging from your friend's misadventures - I'd say we are blessed by having both a good builder who knew the spot to drill & a good well digger who knew when he found good water

take care

& we hope to see you in the mountains

O:nen (Mohawk for Peace/Aloha/Shalom)

Yona

At 2:38pm on March 22, 2009, CR (Yona) Dunning said…: Ted, thanks for your kind note ...

We'll be getting ready to move this week & by this time next Sunday - for better or worse - we'll be living on the north side of Clinch Mountain, Thorn Hill, Tennessee.

We'll be living down a long one-lane crusher run road past a copse of second-growth cedar trees in a spanking-new white pine log house.

I'm sorry that I can't tell you more about the water & wish I had been there to see the process, but wasn't.

You asked "How far did you have to go down"

... the last report I had was that the well was at least 150 feet down before they found potable water. It was right where our builder said it would be..

"and how much water are you pumping per minute?"

I don't have a figure - though the builder insists it won't run out any time in my lifetime & that it is more than adequate for all our needs - two adult human beings, two dogs, two cats, numerous children & grandchildren & a large tribe of extended family - without a dishwasher.

As I have learned drilling for water is a crapshoot. Our friends next door had their well drilled a year ago by the same driller a hundred yards away down into what you would assume was the same aquifer. You might rightly guess that both they & we would be enjoying the same water. That is not the case.

Their water is heavily laden with minerals including sulfur.

Our water by all reports remains clean & sweet.

Three families are building homes on the same 14 plus acre plot. The same driller has drilled wells for all three of us & has consistently found water between 150 & 200 feet. The pressure is good - more than any of us will ever need.

We had the same hopes & prayers that you do & they panned out.

Where are you building?

We're - all three of us - located in the soouthern Appalchians in Hancock Coiunty - upper east Tennessee.

... best of luck.

We'll be interested to see what sort of water you get.

Take care

CR (Yona) Dunning

At 10:07pm on March 2, 2009, Gail & Robert said…: Hi Ted,
Hopefully we'll be out there by the end of this summer. The biggest potential stumbling blocks so far are getting the boys moved out into their own apartment, then selling our current house. Fortunately the housing market here in Tulsa hasn't taken near the hit that the rest of the country has, and prices are still holding fairly strong. The RV trailer option seems to be the best one for us, based on our research. It remains to be seen how the cats like the idea...
Robert

At 11:35pm on March 1, 2009, Gail & Robert said…: Where we are planning to build, there's not much in the way of codes to affect us. Anyway, we've changed our minds about the garage, and are now planning to move a 5th wheel camper onto the site once the well and septic are in, and live in that instead.

At 6:22pm on January 28, 2009, Ted & Bonnie Steele @ Mountain Venture Properties LLC said…: Ted,

We just stepped out in faith. We knew if we wanted to expand our business up here we needed to be here to do it.

Fractional ownership is showing a lot of interest these days and we have already had the opportunity to show the properties to interested clients. I am going to have to go to NC Real Estate school and get my brokers license.

My borther tells me things (economy) have slowed down a bit in Maggie Valley/Waynesville and after 24 years of management with the same cable company he was laid off after the first of the year! Fine howdy do.

Lets kep in touch. TED STEELE

At 6:17am on January 28, 2009, Chantal Despres said…: Hi Ted,

The fireplace is 65" wide....the insert is a Napoleon High Country model no. NZ6000 (wrought iron finish) 4.8 cu ft. The insert measures 48" in width and the doors are 36" wide x 24" in height at the highest point and 19" at the lowest. It is a huge firebox. Hope this helps...if you have more questions feel free to ask or check www.napoleonfireplaces.com

At 7:24am on November 24, 2008, Robin Dampier said…: Hi Ted,

It is good to hear from you. I would never forget you & Marilyn. I loved working and getting to know the both of you. I certainly understand you being on hold with your building plans. I would suggest holding onto your land for the time being. You got a good deal on the land. The market is really slow here, but it is definitely a buyers market. Not one like Florida/California, but a good area to get some reasonable deals. From your comment about selling your house--I take it the Fla. market is still in the tank?

Thank you for recommending me, but no, I have not heard from CJ. Is she a member of this Log Community? If so, send me her email address and I'll touch base with her. I really appreciate my clients recommending me to others. And this community is a great way to network.

I hope you and Marilyn have a wonderful Thanksgiving and I look forward to talking with you soon.

Thanks,
Robin