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Small modular homes cost $20,000 to $80,000 on average for the prefab base unit, or $30,000 to $130,000 after site prep, installation, and finishing. Over time, the brick siding construction will deteriorate and need to be repaired. These start at around $2 per square foot and can go up to $15 per square foot, depending on the condition of your wall.
Each type not only has its own costs but also a range of sizes, making them hard to compare directly with one another. Costs are based on the most common sizes for that building type and are indicated in the building methods available. Log homes are comparable in construction costs to traditional homes. Modular homes can be built on a basement foundation or a pier and beam system with a crawl space. Adding a basement to a modular home costs $20,000 to $29,000 on average, depending on the size.
How Are Modular Homes Built?
Our average log home’s cost between $350,000 to $400,000 from start to finish, as a turnkey package. That cost is right in line with a wide variety of traditional homes. Modular log homes cost $50 to $100 per square foot on average, not including site prep, foundation, utility construction, finishings, or assembly, which adds $15 to $80 per square foot. An average 1,500 square foot log home costs $100,000 to $150,000 for just the base kit without installation. While cabins are a specific home type that may be categorized into different styles, lake houses have no such categorization. Any home built on a lake or in a lake-front community is considered a lake house.
It will depend on your priorities; your location, codes in your city, your intended curb appeal, and other features that are important to you. For example, a family with 6 children will need a different build than a retired couple. Also, consider things like if you need a garage built, and which type of home you’re going for. Building your own house is a great way to get the exact home that you want. But because most builders charge by the square foot, you may be wondering just how much house you can expect to afford.
Cost to Build a Post and Beam Cabin
They must be built onsite and are one of the least common log cabin types. The cost of exterior finishing work for the cabin averages $60,000 to $100,000. Exterior work for a cabin involves finishing the roof, the log siding, and adding the windows and doors. This can mean many different things for log cabins, depending on whether you use full or partial logs and how they are set against one another. Ensuring the walls are airtight and watertight and all the windows and doors are properly installed and framed can be more difficult for a cabin, which can raise the installation cost. Some people stain the cabin, while others allow the logs to naturally weather, impacting costs.

To prepare to build on the land, you’ll likely be charged impact fees to connect to city sewers ($1,300–$5,000), the city electric grid ($1,000–$30,000) and city water lines ($1,000–$5,000). The average cost is roughly $8 per linear foot for installed gutters and downspouts. A metered hookup fee with a municipal water supply is generally $900 to $1,300, but check with your local utility provider for a more precise estimate.
Disadvantages of Modular Homes
The main difference affecting price is that log cabins tend to be much smaller than traditional homes. The average price of a full scribe log shell tends to be more expensive than a timber frame and post and beam log shells with an average cost of $90 Cad – $130 Cad per square foot. Foot 3-bedroom log home costing between $180,000 Cad and $260,000 Canadian, with another $340 – $405 per sq.ft being spent to completely finish the home. The maintenance type and extent vary depending on the materials, cabin type, climate, and location. All log cabin homeowners should conduct an exterior inspection of their homes at least twice yearly.
The lesson here is that it's incumbent upon the builder to meet the prospective client where they are. We had an amazingly positive experience working with Gingrich Builders to build a log cabin on our property in Lebanon county. Bruce and his team were always professional, courteous and went above and beyond to work with us.
Cost Per Square Foot to Build a House
Finished – Typically includes land preparation, foundation, install and buttoning up, utility construction, permits, and optional additions. For the full brick siding, the costs are already presented above. Log cabins do require regular upkeep and maintenance above and beyond that of a typical home. This can include refinishing and corncob blasting, a process similar to sandblasting that shoots ground-up corncob with compressed air.

Delivering a modular home includes transportation, an on-site crane, and a crew to set the modules onto the foundation. Delivery does not include “button-up” fees for finishing the home. Prefab House Kits PricesQualityCost Per Square FootMid-range$30 – $90High-end$150 – $200The manufacturer sends the home kit as a complete package of pieces for homeowners or contractors to assemble. Setting up a small cabin takes a few days, while installing homes with multiple rooms takes contractors a few weeks.
As well, we’ve included a sample budget of one our most popular designs to help give you a rough estimate. Using square foot estimations as a predictor of building cost per square foot is unreliable and often leads to poor decision making. Depending on the type, materials, foundation, and height, this could cost $40,000 to $160,000. Hose down the exterior of your home once or twice a year to remove dirt. At this time, inspect your windows, doors, and walls for signs of water infiltration and leaks. Have someone repair any areas that show warping, rot, or settling.
If you are budget-conscious, you’ll want to ensure that your design expectations are compatible with your budget. This is why, we believe, it’s important to include an experienced and reputable builder in the design phase. By working collaboratively with the architect, the builder can offer suggestions on ways to value-engineer your project to ensure your expectations and budget are aligned. Modular homes are a good investment because they increase in value over time, like any other property. Plus, they’re more energy-efficient and last as long as site-built homes. The highest appreciation rates are for modular homes with a permanent foundation that includes the land and building ownership.
It’s important to remember that your log home structure will not include all of the finishing needed to make your house a home. Finishing items will include site preparation and foundation, interior finishes, local trades and other details. There are no standard guidelines or rules for using the $/SF equation, which leads to inconsistency and inaccuracy.

Building a cabin usually costs less than building a house because cabins are typically smaller in size. However, log homes require a different type of maintenance than a traditional home, which can get costly. You'll likely pay at least $1,000 yearly in staining, caulking, and cleaning materials, whereas homes with siding don't require nearly as much exterior upkeep. The least expensive approach is do-it-yourself using recycled materials, and costs will vary depending on the time devoted to the project and the resources available. Tools and personal safety gear can cost $850-$1,100 or more, according to the Great Lakes School of Log Building . A member of the Log Home Builders Association paid $100,000 for materials to build his luxury log home.
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