How Long Does it Take to Build a Log Cabin? - Tru Log Siding (2023)

The beauty of building your own log cabin is that you can have full control over the details – which means you get to call the shots for almost every aspect of the building project. From materials to manpower, you determine what’s best for your log home. With that said, many of those details can affect the overall project timeline.

You’re probably wondering – how long does it take to build a log cabin? The answer really depends on the details. Read on to find out what decisions can influence the project timeline and determine approximately how long it will take to build a cabin according to your project plans.

Create a Timeline and Count on Delays

How long does it take to build a log home? In general, you should plan on having 11 to 16 weeks or so to build an average-sized cabin from scratch, in ideal conditions – if you plan on working on this project full time and without any distractions.

From start to finish, most individuals can pull off a log cabin build within this timeframe, but it’s certainly possible to get it done even quicker, depending on your work ethic, experience, and utilizing certain material choices that can speed up installation. For example, choosing a durable log-style siding product with a built-in nail strip and bottom lock design can make the project go much faster than working with raw timber that you’re sanding and shaping by hand. Also, keep in mind that building a tiny home – a small log cabin with less than 800 square feet – can be accomplished quicker.

It’s also important to note that a log cabin building project can take much longer when issues pop up. Delivery delays and bad weather are two common problems that can drag out a building timeline. Always count on unexpected issues popping up and create flexible deadlines in the overall timeline to make sure the project stays on track. It’s also helpful to have small side projects ready to go so you can continue to work on days when original plans get halted for one reason or another.

Stage 1: Planning the Project

Planning the project to a tee is absolutely essential if you want to stay within that average 11 to 16 week timeframe. Stage one can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on your decisiveness and vision. Even if it seems like the easy part, don’t skip the planning stage!
Planning goes far beyond designing a floorplan. The planning stage should include every detail, right down to the paint samples, screws, and window placements. It should also include a construction timeline, budget, and cost calculations. Coordinating with contractors and locking down space in their schedule is a big part of the planning project.

Stage 2: Building Prep

This second stage is exciting, because it’s when things officially start to take shape and the log cabin begins to feel real. The building stage consists of securing all the materials needed for the project – not an easy feat, especially when having special timber delivered or transported.

If you don’t have the materials on hand, you should certainly have them scheduled and confirmed for delivery by the end of the building stage. This is also when you want to have the site cleared, leveled, and set with the foundation.

Stage 3: Erecting the Cabin

Finally, it’s time to get construction underway. If you’ve properly handled the plans and building prep, this last stage should actually feel like the easiest part. Of course, unexpected issues can always come up – especially when dealing with contractors. Overall, erecting the cabin is often the easiest stage because all you have to do is work according to the plans. Depending on whether the construction is a one-man project or you plan on hiring help, stage three can take anywhere from 4 weeks to a few months.

Don’t Skip These Considerations

Manpower, costs, and materials – these are three important elements you don’t want to leave out of your cabin building plans. In fact, these things can greatly affect how long it takes to build a cabin. Raw timber, for example, can be difficult to source or may require a long delivery time, while budgeting limitations may force you to do construction yourself rather than with a contractor.

Consider Steel Logs Rather Than Wood

Log cabins were born of their necessity and environment; living in a wooded, wild landscape limited milling options, so settlers relied on minimally-milled trees, or whole logs, to construct their homes. This is a great solution when building a structure far from civilization, but with milling now nearby, log cabins are more of an aesthetic choice than the ideal building method.

Wood is a great building material, and when used in the far, unsettled reaches of a vast, wooded continent, provided the physical structures necessary to forge new nations. That said, wood has plenty of issues, especially in harsh environments, and there’s every reason to avoid these issues in the modern world.

Putting all of this together, TruLog manufactures steel logs for use in log cabin construction to avoid the many pitfalls with wood. With steel, builders make significant gains by utilizing its strength, durability, and low-maintenance qualities, all while avoiding the time-intensive milling and shaping that needs be done to wood. TruLog steel “logs” arrive ready to be installed.

Make the Steel Log Choice with TruLog

If you’re looking for a durable, cost-effective log-style siding that’s easy to work with, TruLog is a fantastic resource. With a 30-year warranty and authentic woodgrain appearance, it’s an easy way to get great quality for your log home – without delaying the construction timeline! Download our Log Siding Buyers Guide today to explore an abundance of beautiful cabin-style exteriors that make building a log home fast and easy.