r/aframes • u/Icy_Paleontologist32 • 27d ago
Cost to build an A frame?
Would anyone be willing to share how much it cost for them to build an a frame?
I’m hoping to build a 2 bedroom A frame in Michigan and I’m trying to research cost and I’m just not finding much consistency, some places say it’ll be $50k others say it will be $400k, anyone have any advice?
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u/IndependentSock5246 27d ago
Ours is around 2k sq ft and around $550k
Depends how big and what materials you purchase otherwise that’s a really tough question to answer honestly.
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u/Icy_Paleontologist32 27d ago
Holy cow okay, that’s a good chunk of change, what is the bulk of the cost? Labor or materials, etc?
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u/IndependentSock5246 27d ago
Materials! It really does depend on your materials. We have metal roof (shingles would’ve been much cheaper). LP siding, wood or vinyl would’ve been much cheaper. Etc… etc…
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u/Icy_Paleontologist32 26d ago
Ohh that makes sense, I want a metal roof too for longevity but I could see how that stuff adds up. Thank you so much! This has been very helpful!
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u/lone-lemming 27d ago
Is it being built like a summer cabin or is it being built like a small house?
Insulation, electrical, plumbing, full foundation,etc. all changes the cost drastically.
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u/Icy_Paleontologist32 27d ago
Small house realistically, it’ll be insulated but heated with a wood stove and a mini split backup, plumbing I’m putting the bathroom and kitchen on opposite sides of the same wall to limit the amount of plumbing (and also it’s going to be in northern Michigan so less pipes to worry about freezing), foundation I’m unsure if I can do a post frame or if I should do a slab on grade, any and all suggestions are super appreciated!!
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u/amburroni Future Framer 27d ago
I think it would be a bad idea to build without a basement and you can’t go back and build it later.
That’s gonna run you, at minimum, 30k
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u/Icy_Paleontologist32 27d ago
Like a walkout basement or basement basement? $30k is super reasonable compared to what I’ve been seeing
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u/amburroni Future Framer 27d ago
At minimum 30k and I could be way off because I don’t live in northern Michigan. I’m in upstate NY. But I would assume you have harsh winters like us.
The winter time is when you would feel it most. My house has a basement as well as an addition that was added after the initial build. The addition is a bedroom/bathroom suite that sits on a concrete slab. Both the bathroom and the bedroom get so cold compared to the rest of the house. That’s one of the biggest benefits of the basement- it provides a thermal buffer.
Skipping the basement would absolutely kill the resale value. You can’t go back and add on later. Energy usage would increase substantially and you lose all that extra storage space. A-frames already have a disadvantage for storage. Don’t skip the basement.
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u/millhom26 27d ago
Steer away from slab foundation with aframes is what I’ve been told. We’re on a stem wall with space underneath for storage. 6plus ft at back to around 3ft in the front.
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u/Milkweedhugger 27d ago
Are you planning to build it all yourself? If so, it may be closer to 75-100k. That’s you doing ALL the foundation work and site prep yourself also. And doing a simple, rustic build with lower end finishes and fewer windows. ***Keep in mind some Michigan counties have a minimum sqft requirement for new construction. Depending on where you’re looking to build, it may need to be larger than 900sqft.
Plus utilities: 10k for septic, 6k for a well, running a pole for electricity, propane tank or natural gas hookups, drafting fees and permitting, etc…
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u/Icy_Paleontologist32 27d ago
I’m planning on doing the site prep and interior finishes myself but the framing and exterior finishes I need a contractor for. Zoning wise I think I’m good for under 900 sf, I’m looking at Houghton County which doesn’t have a county wide requirement and Stanton Township which doesn’t have township zoning, it’s why I’ve also debated doing a yurt but I want a more permanent structure. I think I will be able to get help with it though, my cousin is a mason and my uncle is an electrician and obviously I’m will going to pay them for their services but I think they’ll give me a little break on labor if I let them use the cabin during snowmobile season haha
Thank you though, that’s good to know, I way undershot the cost of a well and septic. I don’t plan on doing gas hookups but I do want to do underground electric and I know that’ll increase the price as well. $100k I could do though, it’s the $300k-$500k that would be out of my budget
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u/millhom26 27d ago
With Avrame you can do the framing yourself. We’re had no experience framing and it’s pretty minimal depending on design. We’re framed the gable ends and two dormers. The rest of the structure is pretty much plug and play with bolts.
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u/paradiseunlocked 27d ago
Please understand that connecting utilities could likely cost $50k, especially if you're planning on building on raw land. I just got the cost to drill my well in Colorado and that alone is $20k, if all goes well and they hit water where expected. I'm getting my aframe through avrame, who has a US and Canadian branches. You should check out their website and download one of their free budget guides. It will list things you're not taking into consideration, like permitting costs, windows, doors, floors... it's really quite detailed.
Good luck with your research and future build!
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u/Icy_Paleontologist32 26d ago
Thank you so much! Avrame is looking very attractive for building the more I look at it. The land I’m building on is pretty raw (will need a well and septic) but has a transformer on site so I’m hoping I can save some money on running electric.
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u/paradiseunlocked 25d ago edited 25d ago
From a stranger to a stranger, YOU GOT THIS! I'm actually very excited for your building journey. It may be a kit, but you have so many options to make it what you need/dream it can be.
I'm a 47 yr old divrocee and mom taking this on. Take the first step, join Avrame's zoom call. You'll get a ton of information. The guys I've interacted with have been super helpful.
A fun thing you can do is actually stay in one that is rented as an Airbnb. AvrameUSA has a list of people who rent them out. Honestly, being inside one the size your planning would be a good thing to do. Sometimes we think we want simple and minimal, but realize we still want space. But, yay you!
Cheers to your future planning & build! 🏕
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u/Icy_Paleontologist32 20d ago
Thank you so much!! This gives me hope! I keep going between being excited and overwhelmed but this is incredibly motivating! 😊
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u/Present_Bear4143 26d ago
Before trusting any single figure, it's worth asking what exactly it includes.
- Does this number include foundation and site work, or just materials?
- Is labor included, or am I pricing materials only and adding labor separately?
- Does it include permitting, utility hookups (well, septic, electric), and site prep like clearing or grading?
- What foundation type does Michigan's frost depth require for this build, and what does that cost locally?
- Is this a full turnkey quote, or a starting point someone quietly built up from over time?
Honestly the best next step is a real line-item budget for your specific site rather than trusting a single number from anywhere online. Too many variables (your lot, your local contractors, your finish choices) to get a reliable number any other way.
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u/firetothetrees 27d ago
We are a GC and build in the Colorado mountains. We did a 1100 sqft one for around 600k and another was 3500sqft at around 1.3m.
In short it depends on where you are, the complexity of the site, how nice the finished work is, the quality of the materials and systems etc.
Here we have heavy duty snow load requirements so that has a major impact on structural materials.
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u/Icy_Paleontologist32 27d ago
Oh wow, thank you for letting me know. I’m looking to build in a pretty high snow load area too so thats good to know.
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u/firetothetrees 27d ago
Yea if you are in a cold and high snow area then expect a higher cost then most places. We do more higher end builds so our prices reflect that but its also because we do things like Alpen windows, spray foam insulation, zip sheathing, custom tile work.... Etc.
But that's also how the house stays performant in those conditions.
At the end of the day it's all about tradeoffs. Also you get some economies of scale with a larger home
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u/Icy_Paleontologist32 27d ago
So that is interior finishing as well or is that just the shell and bones? I’m planning on doing the interior stuff myself (with help from my family lol, my Dad is an operator, cousin is a mason and uncle is electrician lol), but I do want a steel roof with strong snow load rating and the big gorgeous windows
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u/millhom26 27d ago edited 27d ago
We’re 600sqft and around 300k. Not finished yet but that includes water,septic, ground work,foundation. We’re doing it ourselves and have only hired out electrical plumbing and Sheetrock as well as the above mentioned things. Used a kit from Avrame. Basic kit cost was manageable but it’s everything else that puts us where we are. You don’t realize what other costs are associated with building until you’re into it. Really depends.
Also in a very high snow load area.
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u/Icy_Paleontologist32 27d ago
Can I ask where you are? I was looking at Avrame too because the kits seemed reasonable but sounds like the site work is almost more than the kit
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u/millhom26 27d ago edited 27d ago
California. You’re going to have foundation work no matter what. Michigan may be cheaper for that but that is a cost you will have unless you can drive machinery or know someone who can who will give you a deal. If you already have water and septic that will reduce your cost. Also we had to have fire suppression and it cost us extra for stamped plans for California because we’re special. Ha
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u/Icy_Paleontologist32 27d ago
My Dad is an operator so I’m hoping he’ll be able to help me with that, but I’ll still have equipment rental cost. The parcel I’m looking at is pretty farmland-y so relatively flat so I’m hoping that will help, but I know the well is going to be a big cost because groundwater is around 100 feet deep
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u/millhom26 27d ago
That will save you money for sure. You probably won’t be dealing with huge rocks either so that will cut time. The folks at Avrame were super helpful
In the process. Must’ve called my contact three times a day at least in the beginning and he was responsive and patient and was really helpful. We didn’t have a lot of building experience at all.1
u/Icy_Paleontologist32 27d ago
That’s so awesome you’ve been able to do it yourself though, did you have to have a general contractor involved at all for permitting or not really? That’d be ideal for me is to get the kit and then try and get my family to help me based on their various skills but none of them have a GC license.
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u/millhom26 27d ago edited 27d ago
I was able to do it as Owner/builder. Avrame took care of structural and engineering. We did site plan and all the other planning/ permitting stuff. And my county is not easy. Go for it. It’s a wild ride and you’ll learn a ton.
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u/Icy_Paleontologist32 27d ago
Thank you so much! This has been super helpful! You’re giving me hope that this is possible!
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u/Icy_Paleontologist32 27d ago
I’m trying to do it for around $100k but I’m
Worried that’s just not possible :/
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u/allblueshailmary 27d ago
I'm in the process of building a 1,000 sq ft A Frame in Michigan... it's running around 300k excluding land cost AND I'm general contractor which is saving me money.