A Frame Houses Building them

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Hi All, 30 years back I lived in a A Frame house for a while. Still have a small Lake cabin that is a A Frame. Thought I'd look up and maybe build one and darn if I can find any plans or sites. It is probably just because I am a dumb redneck and am looking in the wrong places. Can anybody guide me to the info I need?? Thanks Bill

-- Bill Porter (porboy298@yahoo.com), August 21, 2001

Answers

Bill, I don't have an answer to your question wish I did. Southerland's has a kit A-frame cabin or did have it and I planned on getting it and putting it up. Cause my dream home is a litte A-frame in the woods and I will make it come true. Have you tried Mother Earth News? They use to have plans for one. Oh alibris.com is a cool book place that has out of print books and you might find something there. Have you tried any of the search engines they are helpful too. karen

-- Karen Mauk (kansasgoats@iwon.com), August 21, 2001.

Bill, Click on the link below, I think you'll find some help here. http://www.b4ubuild.com/plans/a-frame_plans.shtml

Regards, CJ

-- CJ (cjtinkle@getgoin.net), August 21, 2001.


I agree with Karen about searches. www.google.com gives plenty of responses to a search for "A-frame house plan". Also gives responses to "loft-house plan" - an alternative you may wish to look at, even if only to give a standard of comparision.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), August 21, 2001.

Hello Bill. Try this site. Not A frames but some possible ideas. CountryPlans Home http://countryplans.com/ They have a message board you might enjoy. I am sure they could point you in the right direction for what you want.

-- ed (edfrhes@aol.com), August 22, 2001.

Bill and Karen, I also wanted to live in an A frame. Husband put pen to paper and it actually costs more per square foot of living space than your normal square box home :) Now that my sister is moving into hers, a rental on the lake, at least I can visit! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 22, 2001.


Hello Bill, My wife and I have been building our A-frame since early spring and we are almost done with roofing it now. We got a set of plans from an advertiser in the back of Mother Earth News. for $14.95. Though we have modified the plans significantly, you will see the basic construction with this set of plans. Incidently, to the ones that posted that A-frame construction was as expensive as regulare "box construction", I will have to differ on that "opinion". We are in a near completion phase of ours and it has cost us approximately $2600.00 thus far. This has included a basement of which excuvation was only $135.00 The basement was slipped form the way Helen and Scott Nearing did it. The running joist were all out of 2x10s, the floor joist were 2x6s, and the decking was exterior 3/4" cdx. The trusses were made our of 2x6s. The span 26' wide and 28' in height. The second floor was erected automatically as the supporting brace on the trusses was made to be the floor joist of the second deck. Which was also covered with 3/4' cdx. The roof was simply 2x4 pirloins with 26 gauge custom made green steel roofing metal. The front and back is closed in with utility grade 2x4s. We expanded the running joist on the first level to make a nice 8' by 26' deck which overlooks our property. This cost has also including running water pipes from our creek to the house and electric hookup. The secret of our success was doing all the labor ourselves and shopping around for the best prices on materials. I honestly can not see so much house being built the conventional way with this little amount of investment. I research both A-frame and Box frame housing and A-frame came up being the best choice for our limited income. I hope this helps. Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), August 22, 2001.

Hey, thanks to all of you for taking the time to send info. Bill

-- Bill Porter (porboy298@yahoo.com), August 23, 2001.

Gee, I want to add my thank you's too. Vicki it looks like you can get your A-frame or at least a small one. I sure hope so anyway. I plan on looking up all the information given and get something started on my dream house. karen

-- Karen Mauk (kansasgoats@iwon.com), August 23, 2001.

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