Will Glu-Lam-Log calculate an estimate for me?
The folks at our office would be more than happy to calculate an accurate estimate of the materials you need for your construction project, and the approximate cost.
Do you charge for calculating an estimate?
No. This is a service we provide free of charge.
What information is necessary for calculating an estimate?
In order to come up with a meaningful estimate of the amount of logs and/or siding you'll need for your home, we need to the following information:
- The height and length of all walls
- The numbers and sizes of all the windows and doors
- The pitch of your roof
- Your preferred corner configuration
- The size of the log you intend to use
- If you have a set of house plans with elevations, we'll be able to do a very quick and accurate estimate for you.
How is an estimate calculated?
Here's the process we typically go through:
- Calculate Square Footage of the Walls -- The best way to figure out how many linear feet of material you need is to first calculate the actual square footage of walls that need be built or covered. We calculate total square footage by figuring out the actual area of the walls less the square footage of rough openings, such as windows and doors. For gables included in your design, we make the base of the triangle two feet longer to allow for extra waste that results from cutting both ends of the material to match the pitch of the roof.
- Convert Square Footage to Linear Feet – To figure out the amount of linear feet of material this represents, you simply multiply the actual square footage times 1.5 for 8.5” stack height, 1.75 for 7.3” stack height, or 2.0 for 6.5” stack height.
- Account for Corners – Building corners requires a little extra material. The amount of extra material depends on the type of corner you plan to use. For example, a standard eight-foot tall wall, a butt-and-pass corner requires that you add 15 linear feet per corner, while an H-Notch corner requires an extra 30 linear feet per corner.
- Once we’ve determined the linear feet of material for your order, we apply the most current prices to calculate an estimate for your order.
Do estimates include enough extra material to account for waste?
Yes. The linear foot conversion factor we use builds in approximately 5% waste.
Your waste allowance seems very low compared to other companies. Will I have enough materials to finish my project?
Good question! Based on past experience, most builders typically build in a waste factor of 10%, or more. That would be gross overkill with our logs. Our lower waste allowance is directly related to our high product quality. Visibly defective, or unsuitable material, is trimmed off at our plant facility. You only receive material you can use. The only waste you should encounter is due to cutoffs and the occasional mistake that is inevitable in the building process.?