A-frame houses, more suitable for holiday homes than permanent residences

In the bids from builders, especially those of houses on wooden structure, we also find A-frame houses, also called type A houses. Due to the holiday home, they arouse the interest of those who want such a house for personal use or to rent. While they may seem like the latest fashion in our area, A-frame houses are not new to other areas. Those looking to rent vacation homes in other countries often find A-frame homes on offer in mountain areas, ski resorts or seaside resorts. They are perfect for couples and small families, but not as convenient when the group is larger.

Although they may not seem very suitable as permanent housing, there is demand for such uses. What are the advantages and disadvantages of an A-frame house and when is it a good choice, find out below.

What are A-frame houses

First of all we should clarify what A-frame house means. As the name suggests, it is an A-frame house. Basically, the shape of the letter A comes from the two roof spans that extend up to the foundation or slightly above. The only exterior walls are at the front and back of the house and are heavily glazed, these windows being the light sources. Inside, depending on the size, the house can be arranged on one or two levels, with a living room, kitchen and bathroom on the ground floor and a bedroom/bedroom upstairs. This is the classic type A house.

Type A houses are not a modern invention. Traditional houses of similar appearance exist all over the world and are a simple and efficient way to build. In modern times, experts believe that The first Type A house was built in 1934 in California by architect R.M. Schindler.

The post-World War II boom led to increased investment in vacation homes. Architects picked up on the 1934 model, which was cheap and easy to build. Between the 1950s and 1970s, Type A houses were common at the seaside or in the mountains, both in Europe and the US. High demand led to the search for quicker construction methods, and kits that allowed you to build the house yourself were sold in DIY and building supply stores.

For some time now, the fashion for building simple A-shaped houses has been making a comeback. Architects' inspiration has led to more elaborate designs with windows or dormer windows in the roof and other adaptations that add extra space. Depending on the building materials, interior design and fittings, the price of a house can vary widely, so they can still be considered cheap if they are classic and unpretentious.

When choosing an A frame house

If you think of it as a permanent residence, you should know that space is limited. That's why it's suitable for singles or young couples who aren't too fussy and don't need a lot of storage space.

It is a very good choice as a vacation home. The distinctive design makes it very appealing and suitable for green mountain areas. The large glazed areas make it possible to admire the landscape from inside, giving the feeling of being in the middle of nature. However, it's not very pleasant if placed in the vicinity of other residences because the large windows don't allow much privacy.

If you want an affordable wooden house, the A-frame house is an option. But if you use more specialized insulation materials, like natural wood fiber insulation, the price can go up. If you have land in a nice area, it can be a good investment. The house builds quickly and can then be rented out as a source of income.

Advantages of this type of house

Each type of construction has pluses and minuses. To be a good choice, the pluses must hang more heavily in the balance compared to the minuses. In the case of A-frame houses, the following aspects can be counted as pluses:

• simple and clean design with wide open spaces and plenty of light
• very good insulation possibilities and can therefore be placed in cold mountain areas as well as on the seaside
• the high, open space allows air to circulate and so prevents mold growth
• Large glazed areas combined with the lay of the land help maximize the use of sunlight, reducing energy consumption
• the steeply pitched roof prevents snow from accumulating and causing problems
• designs are very easy to find so the house can be built on your own, at low cost
• find built on wooden structure working time is not very long
• Structural and interior wood is a natural, environmentally friendly and very pleasant material.

There are downsides

There are also a number of disadvantages to consider before building or buying an A-frame home:

• small space, suitable for a small number of people
• large open spaces reduce the privacy of residents and large windows add to this inconvenience
• not much storage space
• poor insulation can lead to heat loss in winter and heating loss in summer, just like the roof
• there may be wasted space due to the slope of attic walls
• sloping walls are difficult to decorate (you can't hang pictures, for example)
• High re-roofing costs (when there will be a new roof).

If A-frame homes are new to you, I hope the above information is helpful. And if you've vacationed in one or own one, let us know what it's like to live in an A-frame home. We'd love to be able to complement the article with your personal experiences.