Cabin Rates An ‘A’ For Many Reasons

An A-frame cabin offers the traits most often desired in a vacation home: economy, simplicity, strength, openness, ample sleeping space, out-of-the-way storage areas and spacious decks. It’s no surprise that the design is one of the most popular for second homes.

This build-it-yourself A-frame cabin has 700 square feet of living space, including a compact but complete kitchen, a bathroom, a living room, a small bedroom and a deck on the first floor and two bedrooms and a balcony on the second. A central fireplace warms both floors.

The simplicity of the A-frame design also makes it relatively easy to build and easy on the pocketbook. The main structure is formed by two large frames of heavy end beams that are joined by a central beam. The roof is made with exterior-grade fir plywood panels lapped like giant shingles, while the foundation is limited to nine concrete piers.

It’s a big, long-term project but also a fun, highly satisfying and valuable one.

The A-Frame Cabin plan, No. 381, is $7.95 and includes complete floor plans, exploded diagrams and drawings, construction directions with 10 photos and a detailed materials list. The plan is scaled one quarter-inch to one foot. Do-it-yourselfers should be aware that some alterations may be necessary to conform to local building codes.

A package of three cabin plans, No. C81, is $17.95 and includes this cabin project and two others. A catalog featuring over 30 vacation-home floor plans, “Vacation Homes,” No. A50, is available for $6.95. A catalog picturing hundreds of do-it-yourself projects is $3.95. Prices include postage and handling (for first-class mail, add $1 per item up to $3 maximum).

MEMO: To order by mail, clip this article and send it with a check or money order to U-Bild Features, c/o The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2383, Van Nuys, CA 91409-2383. To order by credit card, call (800) 828-2453. Please specify plan numbers.