Susanna and Mika Laine wanted to build a log home near the centre of Savonlinna. But there were not that many plots available for new developments and they were also held back by expensive price tags on log houses. Then, one day a property that had stood neglected for 15 years came to the market and the Laine family decided to take action. Today the dilapidated building is replaced with a handsome solid wood house. The model is called Lounatuuli and it is a real head-turner. The final bill was also a positive surprise.
The Laines knew from the start that their new home had to be built of proper, solid wood. The only thing that held them back so long was the expensive price tag.
But they did their homework and found out that there is also a more cost-effective way.
”We’ve built one home of large prefabricated elements before and comparing the construction cost of both; the log house was not more expensive at all!” Mika Laine explains.
Both Susanna and Mika say that the secret lies in details. Thanks to Mika’s careful budgeting and the detailed project plan and specifications, the Laines now own a solid wood home with a highly functional floor area.
”We made sensible compromises: for instance, increasing the size of a certain room would have meant making the whole house wider. Honka, too, came up with some really clever ideas like the sliding doors, that allowed us to increase useful area without increasing the floor space. If you really focus on such things, you can save considerably,” Mika explains.
From the outset the Lounatuuli house was designed to be their home for the rest of their lives. The family of four fits comfortably in the only solid wood house amongst the veterans’ houses that were built in the 1940’s for the families of the soldiers who fought in WWII. As their children grow and leave home, there will be plenty of room in the timber house for two adults.
”We wanted to show respect to this beautiful community by choosing a classical solid wood house. The exterior of Lounatuuli immediately caught our attention with its Long Island style. We draw the layout on graph paper with Mika and Honka’s architects gave it the final touch ,” Susanna says.
An important element in decision making was the fact that timber is an ecological building material suitable for modern buildings.
”We wanted to invest in quality and long lasting interior decoration and other materials without compromising on comfort and style,” she continues.
We firmly believed that a prefabricated solid wood house is going to be at least 20% more expensive than investing in other materials. We were proven wrong as we managed to affect the total price by a number of smart solutions.
Turnkey delivery fits the Laine family’s current phase of life
Both parents go to work and lead a busy lifestyle and neither Susanna nor Mika wanted the building project to continue too long. Therefore the turnkey solution was a perfect fit.
Honkarakenne sales manager in Savonlinna Jari Tolvanen recommended the couple a team of skilful carpenters from his professional network, who built and then assembled the ready-made timber home ready to move into.
”We didn’t have the time, nor the skills to build the house. Thanks to the professional contacts of Jari Tolvanen, we were able to move in 9 months from the demolition of the old building,” Mika remembers.
All schedules agreed with Honka kept. Our cooperation with Honkarakenne sales manager Jari Tolvanen worked really well.
Timber smells even years later
The most important thing for the Laine family, in addition to the straightforward and simple construction phase, is to have a beautiful and functional solid wood home filled with light that floods in through the glass sliding doors of the sitting room and the bedroom. The garden is just a few steps away.
Other lovely surprises after moving in were the smell of the wood that will stay even years later, the fantastic acoustics and the way solid wood keeps warm air in and cold air out, even with severe frosts.
”It’s very nice to live in a wooden house. Each time we’ve been away for a while and come back home, the first thing to greet us when we unlock the door is the smell of wood. That feels so right,” the Laines smile.
Tips from Mika and Susanna for a successful and cost-effective project to build a solid wood house
- Draw a detailed project plan and specifications and a cost plan
- Monitor costs throughout the project
- Save money with smart layout and compromises
- Affect costs with clever and timeless choice of building materials
- Leave the tasks that require specific knowledge to building professionals
