What Is An A-Frame House?

"The A-frame house is a type of construction that uses A-shaped triangular trusses as loadbearing construction," Kuldkepp explains. "Instead of having exterior walls, as traditional houses do, A-frames are just roof." Kuldkepp agrees that A-frames were popular in the 1960s and '70s, as they provided homeowners with a way to build an inexpensive first or second home in an unusual style. "But the building technology wasn't as sophisticated as it is today," he adds. A-frames were challenging to insulate, weren't used year-round, and thus became less popular. "With modern building materials," he adds, "it's now easy to construct an affordable A-frame house that's comfortable in all weather and locations." After designing his own A-frame to be comfortable and energy-efficient, Kuldkepp realized his house cost about half as much to build as other homes. His home is also off-grid, with a 10 kWh battery bank, 4 kW inverter, and six photovoltaic panels at 250W each.

How Much Do Avrame A-Frame Kits Cost?

"In the US, current custom home builds average more than $200 per square foot," Kuldkepp says. "Avrame kits are designed to be considerably more affordable, from the foundation on up." "The original concept was conceived with a DIY approach in mind," he continues, "so you can estimate between $100-$125 per square foot for your total budget (outside of land expenses)." If the homeowner uses a builder, "local rates and building costs will come into play, and the total budget can range from $135-$225 per square foot (outside of land expenses). The materials you choose to include in your kit, access to your building site, sourced finish materials, sub-contracted help, and local market rates will all impact the final build cost."

What Companies Sell A-Frame Kit Homes?

Avrame isn't the only A-frame kit company. Other innovative options include Den , Ayfraym , and Backcountry Hut Company . Options vary in size and shape, but all are insulated for four-season use and pay close attention to efficiency and resource management.