hello... we have been looking for floor/house plans for the basic 1000'-1200' sq ft a-frame home, and have basically found nothing but modified versions. Does anyone have any idea where we can find this?! Thank

-- john fraley (dr_hannibal_mo@yahoo.com), January 31, 2000

Answers

John, since no one has answered publicly, I'll throw in my 2 cents. Try a couple of the nearest libraries. A frames aren't as popular as they once were given the wasted space, heating/cooling problems, and limits on remodeling. But many libraries have books devoted to house plans. Frequently, once the books are cataloged and shelved, they'll stay there for years. Check for older books, especially ones devoted to second/recreational homes. The company may still be in business. If so they should be able to dredge up their A frame plans.

Might not hurt to check with architects who have been in business for a while, or architecture schools. Never know what they might have tucked away. Possibly a builder or contractor has some old plans around.

But since A frames have fallen out of popularity, it might be hard. You may have to have someone create new plans for you. Good Luck Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), February 01, 2000.

You might try looking in thrift stores or second hand book stores. Many of them will put your name on a list and check the books as they come in and give you a call if they find one. I think a fair number of A-frames are still being built up in the Rockies, where it truly is snow country. You might check some of the internet sites for some of the colleges in that area and see if they have an architecture department that would have some books you could buy. Just a thought.

-- A.C. Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), February 03, 2000.

I don't know how much help it would be but, I've an old book (bought at flea market without the fleas) called "How to make it on the land". It has some plans on 3 different types of shelters. (A-fraim, 3 room cabin, & an Adirondac type shelter (looks like a garage without the big door.)) It's an old book with old plans. We are moving on March 1st. (husband is retireing from Marines), where we will go to Indiana. We are currently staying with a relative so all our stuff is being held by the moving company. I can get the book (when I get everything else) in one month, where if you want I'll make copies of the plans & send them to you. But to do this, (other then us both having to wait a month just to get the book), I will need your address to send the photocopies.

I hope this might help

animalfarms (aka Wendy Lewis)

-- animalfarms (j-wlewis@erols.com), February 04, 2000.

I bought a small booklet/set of plans from Mother Earth News. They advertise this set for around $25 in their magazine. Has everything you need. Good Luck

-- Jeff Hays (jbhays@triton.net), April 07, 2000.

Gerbil mentioned some down-sides to A-frames, and I would second that. We have friends who built an A-frame, and they have regretted it ever since. I know you can find plans somewhere if that's what you really want, but are you sure you really want it? A better alternative, if it's the style you're looking for, might be a chalet style -- the second floor is sort of like an A-frame, but the first floor has the normal amount of head-room and useable space.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), April 12, 2000.

It's been a while but, I've finally gotten a place and my stuff (movers had in storage). In a responce above, I said I had an old book with some plans in it (A-frame, log cabin, adirondac type shelter looking like a garage without the big door, & it also has plans for a simple greenhouse/cold frame, smoke house, & I think a maple sugaring house). If you are still interested in any of these plans, please contact me at the new e-mail address?

animalfarms (in Indiana) (aka. Wendy Lewis)

-- animalfarms (jwlewis@indy.net), May 06, 2000.

Download from http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/MISC.htm Jack

-- jack (jsweeney@northnet.org), April 12, 2001.

Jack, the North Dakota Univ. site doesn't have any A-Frame plans. Although they have lots of other interesting plans.

-- Michael C (nospamfrom@webposts.com), January 20, 2002.