Learn how to build an a frame house (complete with a cozy sleeping loft) in this illustrated, step-by-step guide. One of the sturdiest of all structures is the A-frame, whose skeleton consists ...

Mark the A-Frame Plan out the A-frame ends. On the 11-3⁄4" sides, make a mark with a sharp pencil at 4" on both sides, and use a combination square to draw a 1⁄2" line.

A-frame kits from Avrame cost around $12,000 for their smallest "Solo" kit and up to $70,000 for their largest "Trio" kit. But the final cost to build an A-frame is much higher, Rob explains.

A-frame houses have always appealed to me, and I think I want to build one. I’ve done scads of research on these unusual homes, and I’m convinced it’s the right decision.

Nothing captures the beauty of the mountains or a forest setting quite like an A-frame home—but would you dare build one without any experience? That's precisely what Rob and Melinda Daniels did ...