A-Frames are STUPID | Rant and review from a happy a-frame owner
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- Опубліковано 25 чер 2024
- I love a-frames and even have the Den Outdoors A-Frame cabin kit but a-frames also don't make a lot of sense. They aren't efficient, there is a ton of dead space, they aren't a good bang for your buck so the ROI is terrible, and the list goes on. In this video, I have a bit of fun and have a quick vent/rant session about all of the reasons a-frames are just stupid.
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⏰ Timestamps ⏰
0:00 Intro
0:19 Reason number 1
1:18 Reason number 2
2:10 Reason number 3
4:19 Reason number 4
5:21 Reason number 5
6:43 Reason number 6
7:19 Reason number 7
8:45 Reason number 8
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You have convinced me to continue with my A frame build lol
LMAO - then i have failed my mission successfully. Carry on.
Right this guy is ridiculous
For real, dude poorly designs, engineers and builds an a frame HIMSELF then talks about all the issues he created as if there inherit. My favorite part is when he says "watch my other videos where I spout facts like this video".... uh you gave opinions with lack of facts while deliberately ignoring the ingenuity and factual analysis of the product in question. Just because you lack knowledge doesn't mean you need to convince others to he on your level. I wish you tubers would focus more on positive reinforcement and self admittance than negativity and blame... although I guess we as humans love drama and preserving the ego.
You are pretty dumb, aren’t you? 😘
@robbieadams4436 You’re the one being dramatic and drawing ridiculous conclusions.
I love the guy who’s obsessed with not being able to hang anything on the walls… actually has not one thing hanging on his vertical walls behind him. priceless 😂
okay you caught me.
And he's obsessed with storage space but builds a tiny house.
BUSTED ahaha
Not being able to hang things is a plus, it just clutters the space
This guy is an idiot.
You almost talked me out of an A-frame. Solution: connect an A-frame with a regular-shaped cabin shed; use the A-frame as the family room. The A-frame does not need to be the only room!
Thanks for the eye opening tips! I had already been wondering about those problems. Thanks to your video we see that these are real (but resolvable) issues.
It is so refreshing to see someone actually understand the point of this video! You are 100% right, the problems are real but resolvable. My goal was to just make people aware of them so they can know ahead of time. I love my a-frame!
Exactly what I want to do. Extend it
this comment is more useful than the video. thank you.
That's my idea too. An A-frame for me and if a woman ever decodes she can tolerate me a pole building on the back with the A-frame becoming a den and guest quarters up top.
The A frame makes perfect sense for heavily snow packed areas...
Where I come from the annual snow fall is roughly 10-12 feet of snow.
The A frame sheds it all naturally, negating the need to clear excessive buildup.
Also much cheaper & labor intensive to heat/cool.
All very true, these are some of the things I actually love about my a-frame.
We have plans to build one (30x60 footprint) in a very snowy part of Wyoming but the designer is calling out LVLs 12-16" on center (expensive!!) and the builder telling us it's going to be 700k instead of the 3-500 we have budgeted for that project. With such a steep roof, that's metal and will therefore be supporting zero snow, that seems pretty excessive. Does anyone have any feedback on this topic?
@@yonmoore Guessing you're in Teton county? Flat roof adjusted snow loads in much of Teton county can exceed 200lb/ft². From a building code perspective, your minimum snow load is going to be more than nothing, and then you have to factor in wind loading, and you're building in the windiest State in the Union.
With all that having been said, that still seems excessive, I would recommend maybe talking to another engineer.
@@microcolonel Star Valley so yes, similar snow loads. And the roof will not be completely flat, I guess what I meant to say was "shed style" roof. Metal roof also so that should facilitate snow sliding off it.
A normal cabin with a steep pitched roof will do the same thing though
A frames are for minimalists literally half of your issues are fixed by not having a bunch of junk to hide in storage. It's basically just necessities. Furniture isn't supposed to be against the walls even in normal homes, it's just bad decorating and makes the rooms look smaller than it actually is. high pitched roofs are supposed to be for much colder climates so the heat rising is intentional by design for sleeping in winter
The solution ? Build a bigger house . I lived in an a frame and didn't have those issues because it wasn't a tiny little house. The bedrooms upstairs weren't really to hot because the heat kept going up above the second floor to attic space where it was vented. But that's usually an issue in any case anytime you have multiple floors. As to the ventilation and ac thing . The vents were in that " unusable space you were talking about that in my house was flat. Windows were kinda odd. Bottom line an a frame house is not an apartment building in the city. If that's what you like then stay there.
Helped a buddy of mine build an A frame a long time ago. He built short 3' walls before the actual A frame which helped quite a bit with head clearance and furniture placement. Also gave him a place to put rectangular frosted windows to help light the center of the building. The real ingenious move tho was he put ducting between the rafters from the ceiling to the floor vertically with a small fan on each to recirculate the heat from the peak to the floor in the winter.
I'm a style over function type of guy...so I'll chose the A over □ all day
Triangle Life Forever. A all Day.
Nah
Hear hear 🙌
@@KeepItTiny Iluminati confirmed
@@zilic82 you caught me
I love my A frame. It's structurally strong. I had a 6.2 earthquake and nothing fell off the shelves. Less wood means less trees.
But the energy you get from the triangle shape is an amazing feeling you don't get from regular homes. It also hides very well alongside hills.
I get a jolt of energy just looking at my A-frame from afar! I certainly think the good outweigh the bad and I am happy to have built an a-frame.
Yes we build it knowing what we're getting into not like a yuppie who has no clue.
What energy do you get frome a triangle shaped house?
@@RUEZ69 go to a church or stay in an frame then you'll know.
@@PA96704 I've been in both, I felt no magical energy. I'll bet you believe in pyramid power as well?
The only real complaint here is that A frames have slanted walls. Every other complaint either comes down to poor design, or is a problem with any house you build. It all comes down to planning and execution. Ultimately the catch with A frames is that they are cheaper to build per square foot, but you need to build an A frame with more square feet in order to make the usable space similar to that of a traditional house. Also, if you can't find a builder who is confident in building an A frame, you just need to find a different guy for anything you build.
You are right, most of these complaints are minor. But when you live in it or spend a lot of time in it they become pestering. To be honest though i love my a-frame. I just wanted to put this video and info out there as I could not find ANY videos that talked about the downsides of having an a-frame and wanted to make sure people knew it wasn't only peaches and rainbows.
For someone who has an A Frame, you sure don't like them much! :) In all seriousness, good video to get everyone thinking, each structure has it's pros and cons that should be thought through. We're still going to keep loving A frames though and you can't convince me otherwise!
Just from living in areas prone to tornadoes, I don’t think I would ever build a house without a basement or cellar. Having a basement would add cost to construction, but could greatly improve the A-Frame experience due to added storage and square walls.
Are conventional houses better in wind prone areas? can a-frames suvive strong winds?
A pyramid top with a subterranean house would be kick fuckin asss
I love all of your realism and practical feedback as an A-frame homeowner. What interests me more than the aesthetic of the A- frame's iconic architecture, is how structurally sound they are in their ability to disburse seismic load, shed snow and water and with the right clad of roofing materials, also protect against fires. Essentially, if constructed well, they are virtually impervious to the wrath of mother nature.
With that being said, it seems that spray foam insulation in floor and ceilings/roofing is essential and a carefully ducted HVAC system, ceiling fans, fireplaces, and extractor fans in the apex are key to controlling temperatures. Perhaps even heating some of the floors and/or choosing carpet over vinyl/hardwood/tile in specific rooms may also help with regulation.
If money is no object, building it as large as possible, both up and out (lengthwise) will certainly help mitigate storage issues. Dormers can help with storage but I hate what it does to the exterior facade and would be more inclined to install a pony wall/half wall/perfectly vertical wainscoting wall in some areas, to allow for more ease in furnishing, finishing and decorating certain areas. That would obviously cost you some additional square footage that could be used as potential storage but if you can spare that space, it may allow for more livable functionality without completely sacrificing the appeal of the design.
Also, in terms of ladders, I loathe them and would opt for a spiral staircase to more easily transverse between floors without having to install a traditional staircase. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and personal experience with your home.
Lack of storage in an A frame is a failure in design. Build out dormers
Admittedly I had to google what dormers are. Thats a pretty good solution to add a little bit more space.
If you are a minimalist an A frame sounds perfect. Great video. thank you.
Glad you liked the video and thanks for commenting!
All I got from this video was crucial edification on A-frames I know what to look out for, what to expect and plan around. Thank you for that and I hope other people who love A-frames didn’t skip this video. Yes I do still love A-frames I’ll take what you say to heart and work around it.
YOU GOT IT!!! Seriousy, thats all i was trying to do! Educate and give people ideas on what to look out for. I love my a-frame. I think people should build and love their own a-frames - but there is undeniably some things to look out for and keep in mind.
Honestly, this is one of my favorite comments on this video because you were willing to not get mad or immediately shut down, but listen to what i have to say but most importantly coming to your own decision!
I have a love & hate relationship with a-frame homes. Thanks for making this.
lol, I hear you. I def am going a little hard on them but also I'm just being honest. Spend a few nights in an a-frame and you'll get what I mean.
For triangle windows we got one quote from Pella for like $112,000 but I called a local place and they quoted me around $500.00 per triangle window 2'x2' roughly. Of course the frame would need to be built but we're talking a price difference of several hundred percent.
What do you think? Are A-Frames stupid because they aren't efficient and have their setbacks? Or are they so beautiful and unique you can get past all of that? Are they meant to be misunderstood? Are they meant to be taken as art?
Efficient. We use way less materials, smaller foot print, fits well in the environment like nature, and has an awesome feeling.
I like your view point it shows an open mind of thought from the norm i think aproaching it as an art of lifestyle of living
Thank you for this. Gives me pause on building the A-frame that I have dreamed about for years. My wife and I stayed in one via Airbnb and I experienced several of the drawbacks you talked about, such as hitting my head coming down the stairs and having to navigate a treacherous descent at night to pee. Also, the lack of storage is a bummer.
Majority of what he talks about is not difficult. With an imagination and countless videos on UA-cam, you can find ways for everything.
I do want an A frame home, but if you plan to build one when it comes to space you just have to plan it well. I plan to hide the storage in the flooring itself. Basically these huge closet looking cabinets will rise up from the ground with the push of a button on the first floor, and will drop back down and be hidden within the floor designs. As for the stairs, I plan to hide the storage with each step on the stairs itself, all you have to do is lift up the step and you have some storage, just some ideas, but it is a thinking game. But I do plan to build it smart. And this home will have a foundation in the ground whereas I've seen most A frames above it. This will solve the AC issue since I can have the ventilation built into the floors, or like some people can buy wall units. But this video definitely helps with the thinking process of wanting to build one and how you need to compensate for the cons and work your way through them or around them. Thank you though this definitely gives me insight!
Thanks for commenting. You're a-frame sounds like it's going to be sick. Maybe in a few years we feature the house on this channel?!! What you're saying though is spot on. This video isn't about trashing A-frames but making people remember the limitations and inconveniences that a-frames bring up. All of which can be fixed or gotten around with proper planning and a willingness to spend a little more. Some people aren't even aware of this stuff so I really wanted to wake some people up before they screwed themselves over.
Glad I watched this, if these are the biggest issues I'm happy to continue!
Happy for you! If you can deal with these issues, or even better, fix them during the build process - you will love your a-frame!
Well we're going to build a large A-frame up in northern maine. I actually like how they look and I won't have to worry about snow at all with a black metal roof. As far as heat up above I'm going to install ceiling fans to help move the heat around. I'm also going to build it myself.
An A-frame in Northern Maine makes a ton of sense. They are almost made for that type of climate. It sounds like you have already given thought to heating which I think could be the biggest frustration. Good luck to you and your project! I wish I had the building/construction know-how to build something like that.
You forgot to mention how it is 3 times cheaper and 5 times easier to build A frame than a regular house!
Watching you rant passionately about A frames for 10 minutes was oddly entertaining 😂
Thank you for making this video! However I still love the A frame. We are planning to build a 2 story box for the bedrooms and bathrooms and utility/storage and keeping our A frame for our living space alone. As far as the heating though, you definitely gave us something to think about. We are keeping the a frame 1 level so we will probably need a huge fan at the peak as well as a wood burning fireplace on the opposite end of the house as the bedrooms
Good luck on your build! I'm happy this video was able to make you think about some problems you weren't thinking about before. That was def the goal, just to make people aware of issues before they arise. I love my a-frame and you guys will love yours!
Good idea doing a hybrid, we're being told that the A frame we have plans for is going to cost us an extra 200k compared with standard stick built construction but I'm skeptical. Do you have any experience in this area?
A-frames are great if you're not into having excessive amounts of stuff. It's far more efficient to live with only the things you need both financially and functionally. You have to want an A-frame home and be prepared to live in one. Super good for heavy snow, it'll slide right off. It's my dream home because I love the tiny home life style. I make use of a 24x24x7 bedroom in a two bedroom apartment while I save up to build my dream home. I want just enough room for a twin-xl bed and a small kitchen/dining room for maybe 4 people. The loft will be the living room, Bedroom downstairs. Though you do make a lot of good points. If you're going from a regular large boxy style home to an A-frame home. You'll run into the issues your having.
As the happy owner of a tiny 460 square foot A-frame, you are 100% right!
Thanks man!!! I think a lot of people are missing the point but it seems that you got it. I love my tiny A-frame and would def build it again. That being said there are some quirks that are specific to the A-frame and if somebody is going to walk down this road they should be aware of them.
Someone has never had to shovel the snow off the roof. Or went on vacation in the winter and needed someone to make sure the snow didn't get too heavy while you are away.
I always thought the point of an A-Frame was to handle super high snow loads. Great video!!!! A yurt it is!
I’m obsessed with the way roofs look 😍
I love a good roof as much as the next guy!!! Shingles, metal, solar panels. If it can go on a roof then it has a special place in my heart
For point seven on the windows a way to cut down on costs is to just have the glass cut and make your own "window" blocking it out. It won't open but it'll be about 20x cheaper. If you're on the slightly handier side, making tongue and groove cuts (what they use for cabinets to give the raised panel effect) is super easy and can fit glass panes to make an actual window.
My a-frame windows are exactly this. Just glass. But they’re original single pane glass from 1973 and are incredibly inefficient. Just to replace the glass on the front of my house is over $17,000. Still incredibly expensive. So I’m putting up with cold winters and hot summers until I can afford it.
I'm not going to build an A-frame. I'm going to build six of them!
haha, go big or go home! I love it. Good luck to you man.
Yup, still fully plan to build my own myself. Having been on crews building custom homes I have 90% of the main issues solved though. Pretty confident it will work out nicely🤙🏽
Thanks for the vid!
Go for it, it sounds like you can do it! Also, thanks for fully understanding the video, i'm not hating on a-frames, Just being honest about things people need to be aware of.
@@KeepItTiny For sure! You brought up a lot of things people don’t think about. Refreshing to see actually someone being real about what issues their are vs. the normal “look at how amazing this is! There are no issues, it’s perfect!” deal. Always a give and take with any style, just a matter of what you want to give and what you want to take🤙🏽
Curious about your solutions? My interest in (self) building directs me to a frames for the obvious affordability and simplicity, and since I had the idea I'm trying to brainstorm solutions to the aforementioned issues...
As far as storage the only thing I can come up with is curtain walls on the main floor and a basement 🤷♂️
Nothing will stop me from getting an A Frame, who cares about storage? I dont , Im a minimalist!
Use this video as motivation! Prove me wrong! You got this!
You’re so right I don’t know what I was thinking seriously considering building one instead of a standard shop
There are way more pros of building something standard than cons. But we can't lie and have to admit, there is just something so cool and alluring about an a-frame!
I like your rants cause they give some serious food for thought. One of the things I'd like to see you tackle a bit more of is zoning. Maybe a top ten style video on the best places in the country that allow these kinds of projects... zoning wise. That would've helped me tremendously earlier on in my journey.
Glad people understood the rant. I'm having a bit of fun but also speaking some truth. Thats a great video idea. Don't sue me when, in the very near future, that style of video comes up on my page! Thanks for the idea and feedback.
When I was house-hunting a few decades ago, I looked at some A-frames, because it turned out there were a few in my low budget. I grew up in the 50s, so the A--frame craze started back then, and into the 60s. Didn't ever know anyone with one when I was growing up, but there was an open model in our area at one point and that's when I fell in love. The problem with A-frames, and I even see that with the ones I can't afford online, is that I like only about one out of thirty of the interiors, and I'm just talking about the under 1,000 square foot models. They are ideal for high-snow areas and probably optional for anywhere else, and probably a mistake for anyone looking for lots of square footage and storage, unless you're loaded and can just buy a bigger one.
For the heating issue, do you think a heat pump from upstairs to downstairs might be able to mitigate it?
Love this video. My husband and I were initially thinking about building an A frame but I’m hoping this convinces him otherwise 😊
I agree with most of what you said! However, a lot of these issues can easily be solved with careful planning as well as a strategically thought out design. You can create storage nooks, dormers, benches, add ons, and rooms to create interior walls that will help lessen the negatives. This video really helps to get people thinking outside of the box when building their a-frame so thank you!!
Thanks for sharing andI totally agree !!! Some people aren't even aware of the these things and would only learn about them after the build is done and they are living or camping in the a-frame. The best time to think about these issues is before and during the build so you can get around it. I really wanted to make people think a bit more before diving in. That being said though, I absolutely LOVE my a-frame !!!
Fengshui says that triangles represent success in all walks of life
Never heard that before but if so then i'm glad I built a-frame. I always so I'm going to take the time to learn more about Fengshui but I never do.
Easy to build !
No wall !!!!
Low budget !!!
Large panel for Solar panel !!!
Most résistance !!! From wind.
Fresh in summer !
Low foot print !
Those are all some pretty good reasons to build and own an a-frame!
Well explained and substantiate the draw backs of what I also considered when building my A-frame. First off, coming from South East Asia, your point about having a roasting loft was big concern at first but have a vent on the top corners to let the heat out mitigated most of the problem. However, having glass front means I have to deal with a greenhouse effect. AC is must obviously.
Secondly, I agree with the slanted walls being a problem, but I think it's about perspective. If you designed the floor spaces of your house/cabin like stacked boxes, then that triangular space created by the extend roof can be converted to hidden storage or cabinets. You'll get the additional vertical wall if you decided to add it without lose of floor space.
I lived in an un insulated a-frame home with 2 floors in the desert mountains near Bend Oregon. The wood stove just had a stove pipe in the center with a stove pipe shooting into a slanted wall. There was a regular staircase that was opposite the slanted wall in the center built against a bathroom wall at the back. There was a surprising amount of storage in the kitchen and the built in cabinets upstairs. The windows were glass sliders on front and half the back. Porches nice living room. We only ever heated with the wood stove but the house seemed pretty evenly warm. It stayed as Icey cool as you wanted all day in the summer without any air conditioning. None of these issues happened. I think we just got lucky
Because of the low roof, also consider how fences, deck railings, and trees can create a natural highway for squirrels/pests if they connect to the house in the wrong places. If you have wooden siding, that can lead to a lot of chewing damage, as squirrels' teeth never stop growing so they often chew on wooden structures. I unknowingly bought one that had a long history of squirrel problems due to these issues.
I'm glad I came across your video that I wanted to make a house frame A. I laughed with tears at the office luckily it's a pandemic and I have no colleagues here, you're very nice! 😃
lol, i'm glad you enjoyed the video. I always try to be informational as much as entertaining.
A-frames are for high altitude alpine areas where snow build up on normal roof causes big problems. They don’t make sense if their purpose is not required.
I grew up spending many summers in my Grandpa's A frame. I absolutley loved it, easy to maintain and deep snow never stuck to the roof. Now with the heating, he's right anout ipstairs being so jot compaired to downstairs. Easy fix with mini splits and circulation ducting.
I think of A-frames as dream vacation cabins, not homes - unless there are a lot of dormers and such, which kind of defeats the purpose. Seems like they would be good for climates with heavy snow loads, with the steep slope and inherent structural integrity of triangles vs. rectangles. If I was so rich as to have multiple homes, a sweet little A-frame mountain cabin (with electric radiant heated floors) might be one of them.
This is the first video of yours that I've seen. I like it - will watch some more now!
Great warning! Appreciate the useable heads up. Lots to think about 🤔
To me, the reason for building a small a-frame cabin/hut is because it would be easier than a traditional cabin - if it is easier then it's worth dealing with everything else you mentioned. If it's not much easier for one guy to build then I won't build one, I'll just make a square cabin. I wish you addressed more important issues.
Great information. Thank you!
This popped up on my home page... and you've killed my hopes and dreams... lol my husband watched it too and you bring up some really good points... thanks for sharing!
lol i'm so sorry to ruin the fun! In your defense A-frames are awesome, there are just some practical shortcomings that you have to plan around to maximize their utility.
@@KeepItTiny haha totally fine... I am actually thankful that I watched this! UA-cam knew I needed to hear it 😅
I'm an Australian architect living in 40 degree C weather right now and just finished my A frame.
The A starts half way up the build so I have vertical walls on the lower living level and a basement garage that's tilt slab (concrete).
In the winter it's heated via a massive wood fired stove with a cold air intake for secondary burn, so extremely efficient and almost free given the abundance of constantly replenished fuel in the area.
In summer it's cooled top down via inverter splits. Heat can escape via remote controlled windows at the top and the cold air falls to the living areas.
The only issue is cost. It cost slightly more to build, but maintenance is more expensive, especially cleaning the Oregon exposed frame once a year for dust and cobwebs.
It looks like none of the cheap kit builds you see everywhere else, which is why there are people taking pictures of our place every day. It's gorgeous.
I sense you have a misunderstanding of why they have existed for hundreds of years, the main reason they aren't built much here is the cost.
Hi Jamie! Love the video! I actually had in a frame years ago the very bottom floor was the game room the laundry room and a tandem garage then steps to go upstairs obviously that floor had two bedrooms a bathroom kitchen dining room and living room and then steps to go up to the master bedroom loft didn't have 1 oz of trouble with that home and I definitely am going to recreate on a smaller scale if I can! I think your information is awesome about the space and about the hanging of the artwork I never had problems with the heating or air conditioning. God bless have a great day!!
So I’m in love with A frames. I want this guy to know that I have flustering hatred for him right now. I’m still going to have an A frame if it kills me, devours my soul, and breaks the bank. I bet he hates Gnomes too. Bastard!
LMAOOOOOO !!!
Well, there goes my plans to build an A-frame. I fell in love with the dunlap hollow a-frame, especially the kitchen/living area and loft. However, now I'm thinking maybe it is possible to recreate that loft view with a traditional "flat" roof by artifically making the diamond at the top.
I am thinking of creating a bed and breakfast because my fiancee's dream is to own a restaurant. Get her feet wet with bed and breakfast and then scale if she loves serving people.
That being said, drawing customers in with an a-frame diamond loft to sleep and then serve he food is easier and instagrammable.
Lots of things to chew up.
Thank you for your rant. Really opened my eyes. :)
I agree with you to a point. In small A frame houses you are 100% true. I built my off grid A frame with shipping containers. Every room downstairs, except the dining room, foyer and living rooms, have 8ft ceilings and regular walls. Even the first 3 rooms I mentioned have 8ft regular walls.
All I'm saying is size matters.
You know I'm building a double AFrame house right? Some of your points are valid but some are a little off. We have minisplits upstairs and flat walls on main floor to give you furniture space and storage. The history of AFrame is rather interesting. Anywho!
Damn, that sounds like a cool project. How many SQFT is it? And I agree with you, I know I’m not 100% correct on everything I’m just having a bit of fun and speaking my mind. I’m gonna do some research on the history of the a frame. Maybe that will be a future video.
Good luck to you with your project and don’t let me opinion get you down!!! Building from scratch can actually help you navigate through some of the issues I brought up. I think the most important one being the heating and cooling situation. It sounds like you already beat that!
@@KeepItTiny have you never shoveled snow off a roof, or seen structures that break in earthquakes or tornadoes/hurricanes? You don't build an a frame because it's cool. You build it because it sheds snow and wind, and is the least likely to kill you in an earthquake. Stay in the city. Go away. Have you ever been on ladders painting a house? Just toss up metal panels and you're done. No constant painting and caulking. You're really slow. Siding is very expensive, just like metal roofing. It all costs money. You're slow.
To each his own.
Thanks for this, very helpful way to look at it.
Glad you enjoyed the video! I hope this doesn't detour you from building an a-frame. Just keep these things in mind as you go down this route.
As someone saving up for my a-frame house someday, content like this is what I was looking for in case I would end up building the thing and disliking it! Accounting for potential disappointment before you start a project is super important, and I really appreciate being able to hear an actual a-frame owner's perspective on this!
I'm glad I could help man. I would def say I am very happy with my a-frame and I think you will be happy with one too. Now you know what the downsides are and you can plan your build out accordingly. Good luck to you and I hope my videos are helpful!
@@KeepItTiny Yes, thank you - I really appreciate it!
I was researching others who had built or were living in A-Frames, same as you. Seemed to look like a cheaper way to go until you consider roofing materials. Then the interior considerations, very informative video!!
@@reneap9049 mines I built is 16' x 20' it cost me $12,000.
I'm unpermitted and in Hawaii so installation is none. But inside is where your cost are.
Wrong place to look for design adv, learn where to look for improvement, architects or designers when it come to these things
Very good points. I would never consider an A-Frame for a home. I'm planning one for an off-grid cabin that I will sleep in maybe 10 days out of the year. Simple framing and build is the main reason I like the A-Frame. I can't transport trusses back into the woods.
The old A frame near me has a large basement, storage, space for vents. the one side is flat walled (large a-frame) so there are a line of large (triangle inside) of closets along one side and flat walls, the other side has a lot of windows.
You make a lot of valid points. As someone who lives in a large A-frame I value the expanse of empty head room. We have a facade facing south and that space fills with warm light on long winter days here in Canada. Our house was built in 1982 and has lots of custom windows and bump outs for stairs and headroom upstairs. I don't think the heating issue you describe is that specific to a frames, HVAC is just one of the more tricky things about designing your own home. I know this video is old but I just found your channel and I appreciate your perspective.
Im glad you made this so I can think about making it effcient
Thanks for watching! That was my goal, not to make people not build a-frames, but to have them thinking about this type of stuff early on.
Summery: guess what? No wall. Guess what? No space. 😂😂😂 you are funny man.
lol thanks i try to be
Very good points :D I've been in love with the look of A-frame for a long time and this was very healthy for my dumb confirmation bias.
I still like them, but damn there is a lot to consider with these types of houses. Quite a few cons.
I bought an A-frame before considering all of these issues. I can attest that it is all true. After moving in, I discovered that there is almost no place to hang a picture. A lot of the square footage is wasted by the ceiling; and when I get too close, I hit my head. Heat does rise. Nobody wants to work on ducts in a completed house. I went through five hvac contracts until I found one who removed the central heatpump and replaced it with five minisplits. I had a similar experience finding a roofing contractor to replace a few shingles. Most roofers don't want to scale the A-frame. I bought this house for the views, so I'll be here a while. However, had I realized all the issues concerning A-frames, I'm sure that I would have moved on.
It stinks but its true, a-frames are amazing to look at and are fun but they def have some serious shortcomings. Thanks for leaving a comment and joining in on the discussion.
Nice! Do circle houses next. Those guys really grind my gears!!!
I'm coming for every shape of house in 2022. Yurts, tents, domes, tree houses, all of them. NOBODY IS SAFE.
This guy gets it!
Peter is that you?
Of course I will build my A Frame in Sweden this year. And I will love it!
You should! I actually love my a-frame but it does have a few shortcomings. That being said if you can work out all of those kinks you will absolutely love your a-frame as well.
Spoken like someone who's never swung a hammer in their life. All these problems are solvable my friend.
Yeah, they are very solvable... with money. Also, whats a hammer?
I love my A-frame it has it benefits in the high Rocky’s, I have a wood pellet stove, a full size kitchen, a spiral stair case,and it’s cheaper to replace or repair a roof than siding. For me and my wife it’s great. If we had kids I’m sure I would feel different. Oh and any and I mean any repairs I have done are so cheap and I can typically do them in one day.
i have to disagree .
i once rented an a frame cabin , that had more storage space than my 3 bed 1906 british town house .
quite cleverly the guy that built it had fitted ducted a fan system in the apex of the cabin that ducted all the heat back down under the floor and through a tone of old storage heater bricks .
although this cabin had a wood stove for heating we never needed to use it ,
this place had off grid electric and at night you just flicked a switch that turned a small fan on in the sub floor /crawl space that was full of old storage heater bricks .
I WAS AMAZED .
and as far as having zero storage . this is a mith yet again .
the place i stoped at had all the utilitys behind the downstairs walls , built in draws and utilaty cupbords , washer and driers hid behind ,
this guy built it for his family 50 years ago , i did sugest to him to fit solar pannels but he simply said the old lister gen works like it was new ! and apart from replacing the batterys that it charged every few years it worked fine
WHAT AN AMAZIN PLCE IT WAS .
ABSOLUTLY NOTHING IN THIS PLACE WAS UP TO CODE / BUILDING REGULATIONS .
but it worked fantasticaly .
You can put storage at the sides.
When I think of A-Frame homes, I immediately think of my Fisher-Price A-Frame toy from the early 1970’s. Cute yes, but stupid to build and live in. As a kid I wanted to live in a A-Frame, but I grew up and realize they are not practical. I agree 100% with you sir. Great video!
Thanks for the kind words, I really needed something like this to put a smile on my face since people really are attacking me in the comment section right now. I am just trying to keep it real though.
@@KeepItTiny maybe you should list your A-Frame on VRBO and other sites and make money and build a house with walls and not all roofs. Yes they are cute, but cute isn’t comfortable. ❤️
Honestly great content bro I bought land in New Mexico and I’m trying to figure if it would be good to camp next to the rio grande mountains
Damn dude, what happened?
I’m actually just having a bit of fun. I love my aframe cabin. It’s sleek and cozy. I made this video to just make sure people are aware of what they are signing up for with an A Frame
Man thank you so much for opening my eyes, I was obsessed with A frames but after I watched your video it changed my mind.
Glad I could help! A-frames are cool as hell and if you aren't going to be spending a long amount of time in them they are awesome. The little things though do add up.
Great points!! Didn’t know and nice to get some info on what to look out for! Ty!
Glad it was helpful! I love my a-frame but it can be a pain in the butt sometimes.
In less than 10 minutes you convinced me to reconsider an
A -Frame!! Everything you said was everything I hadn’t considered. Thank you my friend!!
Glad I could help Renea - There is a lot to think about when building or buying an a-frame. Just make sure it is the right option for you! I love my a-frame even with all of its shortcomings. I just want to make people aware its not all rainbow and sunshine lol. Have a great day!
All things considered a lot of these points are valid. However, the temperature/heating can be controlled pretty well with a ceiling fan. Most have 2 settings. One to push air down and the other to pull air up. Just my 2 cents…
Thanks for commenting and also not being nasty lol. I've got a few people who aren't too happy with me lol. And yes, I agree a ceiling fan will def circulate the air better. There is a way around most of the things I brought up actually. I just more so wanted to shine a light on the not so bright side of a-frames. I also wanted to give people who were building or about to build an a-frame some food for thought.
Good tips. Thank you
"Have fun playing the A-Frame heating and cooling game"....
$6 thermostatic switch attached to a vent fan that recycles the upper 2nd floor heat to the ground level of the first floor...
I'm happy its working out for you! (wish that was the story for more people though)
Interior paneling or dry wall, you can add low walls to every room.
Starting to watch your video, i thought you have 500k subscribers, thinking purely just of information alone, plus your presentation is super. Keep up the good work! Amazed why you only have just 11k subscribers 🙃
Maybe one day! Thanks for checking out the video and supporting. I just have to keep grinding and i'll get there!
Thanks for talking about your concerns. These are really great perspectives to understand as a consumer, regardless of the choice of design in the end.
I have lived in a 900 sq ft A-Frame house for 13 years and 2 months. He ain't lying about space issues but I did find a window at a reuse builder warehouse that isn't quite the right angle of the roof and is designed to be for a low-pitch roof but I put it on its side and it doesn't look half bad. I put the window on an inside wall upstairs as there are no other spots for light to come in except the front and back as he said. Since I have walled off the upstairs I don't have the pesky heat issue he was talking about but I also insolated the interior wall which isn't too common. I have done other things like notch out the wall so my washing machine fits a little better. I store stuff behind the couch, washer, and appliances to make things work as there is plenty of void space. Mine has a custom spiral staircase that makes it fun and a super tall ceiling in the entryway. People are always excited to have a look and we just somehow managed to fit a dining room table in. I do like it because it's different but given the opportunity, I would probably trade it for a straight-walled house.
YES, 100%. Thank You for saying it
I have to speak the truth! I don't know how to talk any other way lol.
This is how I found you; I was looking for a tutorial on building one. I understand your complaints but appreciate their Mid Century aesthetic; they were a product of the 1950's DIY recreational cabin boom. They were inexpensive and easy to build. The Campbell & Wong architectural firm out of the Bay Area is attributed to be the originator of the genre.
Thanks for sharing this knowledge... Lets me know what I should investigate further... Imma still build the A-frame tho 😛❣️
You 100% understood this video! The goal was not to discourage but inform. I bet your a-frame is going to be amazing!
I have some questions to understand more of your view. What was the reason why you wanted to build an A-Frame for yourself? What were your ideas of how you were going to live comfortably in it? Did you think it was similar to living in a normal house or a tiny house? What were your thoughts before doing the build?
You are currently my favorite pessimist. I seek your counsel, then investigate the opposite, thus guaranteeing success.
I've seen where people put in rectangular windows in an A frame, even really small shack style ones. I think that would greatly reduce the cost.
Thank you for sharing, I was in the market for one until now.
no problem, glad you enjoyed the video.
I got my 10acres and I’m almost ready to purchase a AFrame . Not sure how big yet .. 1200sf maybe .. it needs a loft bedroom .. and a huge deck .. I have a beautiful yard too ,, I’m sure I’ll love it
It sounds like its gonna be sick!!!
This does need to be addressed when deciding to build. Efficiency wise you are correct. But they are quick affordable shelters that are well protected from falling limbs and high winds.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks this!
Hhaha, i'm glad there is someone else who agrees because I am getting absolutely tore up in the comments section.
@@KeepItTiny Hahaha! 👍🏽
Thank you for the reality check!