I Built a Log Cabin From Scratch For Under $11,000

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Yes, I'm a tooling manager and Cathy is an industrial engineer at Boeing aircraft company.

How diet you manage to build the cabin while putting hi full days?

Well, during the work week Cathy and I would start right after work at 5 and keep going till about 9 or 10 P.M. Then we'd spend almost the whole weekend out there building. On Saturdays, we usually worked till about noon. Cathy drag races on Saturday afternoons—so the whole family would all stop what they were doing and go watch her. Then we'd go right back home and work some more. On Sundays we'd wake up early and work all day.

Do you have kids?

I've got four girls, ranging from ages three to 19.

Did they ever get fed up with the constant building?

Nope, we usually just found ways to entertain them while we were building. I built a tree-house for them to play in near the building site, and Cathy and I cut boards in different sizes and let them use hammers and nails to build boxes. They liked working with us—I think the younger kids thought they were helping us build the cabin.

When you look back at the cabin now, what accomplishment are you proudest of?

The roof—I was so happy when I got that roof up last July and the cabin was finally dried in. At that point, I was confident that no matter how long it took me to finish, it was safe from bad weather, there would be no deterioration of the wood, and I would get it done.

Did you call in experts to help you at any point—say, with the technical installations, the plumbing, or the design of the cabin?

No, 12 years ago I was a maintenance supervisor at a golf club for about three years and I did all sorts of electrical work and wiring and plumbing, so I had some experience. As for the design, Cathy decided which rooms would go where and what they would look like.

What do you suggest for people who want to build a cabin but don’t have all of this experience?

For people who don't want to bring in anyone, but don't have as much experience, rience, there are plenty of good books out there on the market that deal with the ordinary wiring and plumbing. I think any average person can do the basics. And you can always call up friends, relatives, or others in the business and ask them for help.

So many people say they'd like to build a log cabin and never do. What makes you different?

I guess it's mainly my pride—the desire to do things for myself, as much as possible, with my own hands. I think you've got to hang onto your goals and dreams and let them drive you. If you stop heading for your dreams, you'll end up lost in the wrong direction.

Now that you're almost done with the cabin, would you do it all over again?
Certainly!

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