FAQ’s
The published kit prices do not include shipping. Your shipping and local sales taxes are based on the delivery location of your kit and can be quoted once that information is received. Each kit is shipped via a flatbed tractor trailer. Although the bundles can be broken down and unloaded by hand, it is strongly recommended you rent a 6,000 lb. (1.5 ton) all terrain forklift or lull, to quickly and safely unload the log materials.


Eastern White Pine and Southern Yellow Pine are the species most commonly used. The natural beauty, strength, density, and durability make them excellent choices to build your cabin that will last generations. The density and natural thermal mass properties of the species also make them very energy efficient.


DIY Log Cabin materials are very environmentally friendly. The logs come from nearby forests and are considered a rotational crop. Growing trees consume more carbon dioxide than mature trees, and the crops are generally rotated and harvested every 15-20 years. Trees are a renewable resource. This means they can be grown, harvested, replanted and harvested again and again in a never ending cycle to provide clean air and water, habitat for wildlife, beautiful views and thousands of products for both today and in the future. For more information, check out our "Green Features" link in the menu or at the bottom of the page.
Our kiln dried, solid log walls, have been proven to outperform an R-15 conventionally framed wall. Because logs have high density with thermal mass properties, a log home can be heated and cooled from 25% to 46% more efficiently than conventional construction, as determined by Department of Energy testing. Also, studies at Lincoln University have confirmed that the natural thermal mass properties of the log construction are superior to any conventional framed construction.
Solid log construction better protects you during a fire due to the fact the material burns at such a slow rate. Unlike conventionally framed or sided homes, that can be quickly engulfed in flames and collapse, you have time to escape in a log home in case of a fire. Also, if not a severe fire, the wood can be sanded and reused after a fire.
Because your logs have been properly dried and treated, the only maintenance required for our cabins is the application of exterior stain. After an initial application, exterior surfaces that are exposed to the weather may require follow-up applications of stain every five to seven years. This is an inexpensive process that many homeowners do themselves. It is usually easier than painting or pressure washing an ordinary house.
DIY Log Cabins require the same treatment as any conventionally built home. Most treatments for termites are administered to the foundation and the surrounding area of the structure. Topical applications to the fascia boards of the home provide a barrier for carpenter bees.
All logs for our cabins are kiln dried to minimize movement in the wood and prevent shrinkage and twisting. The logs are then inspected to remove any logs that do not meet or exceed our grading standards. During production, the logs are pre-cut, notched, numbered, and then treated with a naturally occurring borate salt solution to provide long-lasting resistance to termites and other pests.
Construction time will greatly depend on the size of your cabin, weather and site conditions, utilities, as well as other factors. Also impacting the construction period, is whether you plan to build it yourself or perhaps plan to enlist the help of friends, family or a general contractor. The actual construction process is very similar to other types of construction with exception of the log walls. Because the logs are precision milled, pre-cut, notched, and numbered, they can be stacked precisely and quickly. Also, once the logs are stacked, the wall systems are complete, unlike conventional builds which require framing, insulation, interior finish and exterior siding.
There are no inherent limitations on where, or how, your cabin can be built. However, depending on the location of your build site, there may be local building codes or community regime requirements with various restrictions. Absent those requirements and any local laws or codes, your log cabin can be built on any foundation as conventional homes, such as piers and pilings, crawl space, basement or slab.
DIY Log Cabins provides all of the log materials and sundries needed to erect the exterior log walls of your cabin. A detailed list of materials will be based on the design, but may include the following if applicable to the plan you select:
Wall logs, gable logs, second floor beam logs, porch logs, porch gable log siding, girder sill plate log siding, other log siding, engineered log fasteners, tan caulking, exterior wood finish, interior wood finish, dowel pins, foam tape, pre-cut window and door bucks, log stacking overlays and log bundle sheets.
For more detailed information on these materials, please click on "typical material list" in the menu or at the bottom of this page.
When determining how much it will cost to build your cabin, there are a number of factors to consider, including: size and complexity of the design, location, local building codes, topography of the site, foundation choice, and choice of interior finishes. Another significant factor is whether you intend to build your cabin yourself, with family and friends, or hire a general contractor. If you choose to "Do It Yourself" you generally can save 10-20% or more of the total cost to build by not hiring a general contractor. In addition, by shopping locally you save on shipping and can potentially purchase materials on sale, or at discount warehouses.
Financing your log cabin is the same as any other typical mortgage. FHA, VA, Conventional financing are all available.
Not at all. It can actually be simpler to install the wiring and plumbing in your cabin than in conventional construction. An electrical chase is designed in the bottom course of logs, behind the baseboards, making it very simple to run the conduit throughout your cabin. Interior stud walls of the cabin are conventionally framed. Therefore, electrical and plumbing are installed in a conventional manner.
DIY Log Cabins are special because of their superior quality and craftsmanship of materials. These materials come with a system designed to make it easy for a handy person to install. Unlike most logs on the market, which are only available by the linear foot and have to be cut on the construction site, DIY Log Cabins come precision milled and precisely cut to be stacked immediately. No measuring or pulling out the chainsaw to cut windows, doors and corners. You simply follow the stacking chart provided and the steps to correctly assemble the logs in a weathertight manner. This system makes it perfect for a family or group of friends to come together for a “cabin raising,” finding great satisfaction in building your own get-away, destination location!
We source our logs from a premiere production mill that has been producing the highest quality logs for almost half a century. Tremendous production capability and capacity ensure an “on-time” delivery of utmost quality and craftsmanship.
DIY Log Cabin Kits contain all the logs and sundry materials needed to erect your log walls. This includes the following, if applicable to your specific cabin plan and design:
Wall logs, gable logs, second floor beam logs, porch logs, porch gable log siding, girder sill plate log siding, other log siding, engineered log fasteners, tan caulking exterior wood finish, interior wood finish, dowel pins, foam tape, pre-slotted window and door bucks, log overlays and log bundle sheets.
For more detailed information on these materials, please click on "typical material list" in the menu or at the bottom of this page.
Our kits are designed to allow the purchase of logs-only materials and all the necessary sundry items that are needed to construct the log walls. There are companies in the market today that provide everything needed to dry-in your cabin. Basically a "one-stop-shop", total solution, that accumulates all the dimensional lumber, windows and doors, interior stud walls, roofing, etc. That can be a real value for some customers that want that level of service.
However, at DIY Log Cabins, we provide all proprietary materials needed for a log cabin. Logs that arrive precision milled, pre-cut, notched along with all the components you need to erect the walls. That allows you to shop locally at any discount warehouses to find dimensional lumber, windows, doors, flooring, roofing, etc., at perhaps bargain prices. At the very minimum, you save on shipping costs for those items.