Raising an A Frame

Started by LoneWolf23, December 24, 2014, 11:46:15 AM

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LoneWolf23

Hello,

My wife and I are looking at an A Frame to purchase on a lake as a summer getaway. This specific house we are looking at is what I would call a double A frame. Meaning it is an A Frame and looking at an aerial view it looks like a cross. The main A frame is bisected by another perpendicular A frame. I hope this makes sense.

Anyways, I am well aware of the pros and cons of an A frame style house. Our plan is the purchase the home and turn it into a summer rental. It is located on a very popular lake that is frequented by tourists. When the time comes I would like to expand and update the house and make it our permanent home when we retitre.

The house does not have a basement so my question is how feasible is it to raise an A frame and build a walkout basement underneath he existing A frame. My friend raised an old farmhouse and build a basement so I know houses can be raised. I am just trying to plan for any concerns specific to an A frame structure when trying to raise it.

Any opinions on what my plan is? Pros? Cons?

Thanks!

MountainDon

 w*
Keeping the bottom ends of the A-frames tied together would be the concern. How the A and the floor is connected is the question.  Have you called any foundation contractors yet?  Don_P has had some experience in lifting and constructing a basement. He will probably see this in a day or so, though with Christmas around the corner there may be a delay.

Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.


flyingvan



   I believe you're referring to a 'double A frame'.  Sunset Magazine sold plans to one with a 16x16 footprint years ago.   A house that's 100% hip and rafter framing.  Hard to find a design with more surface area to interior volume ratio--notoriously hard to heat.  I think they look cool and would be fun to build though.
   As far as lifting an A frame---since a standard A fram is just a series of triangles, they are very strong.  I imagine they'll handle being moved better than any other framed structure

Find what you love and let it kill you.

Don_P

I agree that it "should" be a nice stiff structure to lift. Replacing the foundation is about as tough a job as it gets, you'd need to check members and connections. If the foundation is good I'd leave it alone and add on if possible. If the foundation is shot that should be reflected in the sale price and will help offset some of the cost of converting it to a basement.

LoneWolf23

The picture FlyingVan posted is basically what the house structure is.  Each end extends further which gives this house a lot more room inside. I went under the house yesterday and it's basically built on cement pillars and beams. Everything looked very solid. It should pretty easy to lift and excavate a basement.

The bad part is all of the duct work and plumbing is exposed underneath and hardly insulated at all. This is one of the reasons I want to lift the house and build a basement underneath. It is ideal for a walkout basement to the lake, easily adds to the square footage, gives me room for a dedicated mechanical room, and allows easier space to run ductwork and plumbing throughout the house. The existing plumbing and ductwork is a mess and needs to be totally revamped.

Anyways, that's for the advice so far. The next question I have is about insulation, or lack of for that matter. I will start that question in a different thread.

Thanks!!