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Kris Scott is the executive editor at Cheapism and has previously covered food, design, and lifestyle. Her work has previously appeared in Food & Nutrition, Modern in Denver, and Dallas-based Advocate Magazines. She lives in Colorado with her family and two heelers.
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Cabin Kits
Been dreaming of a second home? Something small and modest but also different — a place you can escape to when you're sick of staring at the same walls, cooking in the same kitchen, sitting on the same sofa? A prefab cabin, also sometimes called a modular cabin, can be a reasonably affordable second home if you have a place to put it (and some are small enough to fit in a backyard). From modern A-frames and cabins on wheelsto German-inspired mini-chalets, here's a roundup of some of our favorite high-quality modular cabins on the market. Have you tried one of these cabins, or would you? Let us know in the comments.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Related: DIY Kit Homes We're Daydreaming About
Avrame A-Frame Cabin
$12,300 to $154,800
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Avrame offers 11 models of ultramodern A-frame cabinrunning anywhere from 140 square feet for the "Solo" series to up to 1,600 square feet in the "Trio" line. Each kit includes engineering and design plans, along with "precut and predrilled custom structural materials." Kits can be shipped directly to your building site, and you work with a general contractor on a build that should take four to 10 weeks.
Related: A-Frame Cabins That Are Perfect for Fall Getaways
Coventry Log Homes
Starting at around $41,400
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Coventry offers six models in its cabin series, ranging in price up to nearly $70,000. These include the one-room Getaway, the chalet-style Creekside, and the 880-square-foot Northwood, the most expensive of the bunch. Each modular log cabin includes a front porch.
Conestoga Mountain King Log Cabin
Contact Conestoga for pricing
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Conestoga sells quite a few cabin kits but says this one is its bestseller. The structure is 20 feet by 36 feet and comes precut to include a 6-foot deep front porch, a loft space, a private bedroom, and room for a full kitchen.
Lancaster Log Cabins Sierra
$71,900
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Would you rather pick up your cabin and tow it to your space? Each of Lancaster's models is built using real log timbers, is furnished and turn-key ready, and is built on a heavy-duty trailer frame for portability. This Sierra cabin is a 12-foot by 34-foot structure with a loft space and a 10-foot front porch.
Related: Most Beautiful Cabin in Every State
Golden Eagle Log Homes
Call Golden Eagle for pricing
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Golden Eagle offers dozens of cabin kits in a range of sizes and styles. We're partial to the more modest Blue Stone, which can include anywhere from one to three bedrooms and one or two baths, and range in square footage from around 1,200 to just under 1,900. Customization options are offered, and most of the company's floor plans can include lofts, covered porches, and more.
Deer Run Cabins' The Elk
Starting at $38,808
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This company's Elk pre-built cabin comes in one- and two-bedroom configurations. It's available in a number of sizes, from 14-by-28 feet to 14-by-48 feet, and includes a small covered porch and plenty of living space. Other features include an enamel metal roof, white pine tongue-and-groove walls and ceilings, and double-hung Energy Star insulated windows. Prices get to upward of $93,900.
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Freedom Yurt's 18-Wall Yurt Cabin
Start at around $42,900
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If you're not married to the idea of logs, a yurt is a nice alternative. Freedom Yurt's largest model, when finished, will include nearly 500 square feet with a center height of more than 13 feet. It includes insulation, four windows, and an interior diameter of 25 feet.
Backcountry Hut
Starting at $44,900
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This Vancouver, Canada-based company offers modern cabin designs in kits consisting of walls, windows, and exterior finishes — "Interior layouts, finishes, and fixtures are not included." They range from a dead-simple System S to a System 2 with two modules and a deck for $228,164.
The Q Cabin Mountaineer
$154,000
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If you're buying a prefab cabin that doesn't look like any other, Q Cabins is the kit company for you. The Mountaineer measures 20 feet by 50 feet, with 19-foot ceilings, and a 400-square-foot loft space. This head-turner of a cabin in its standard model features two bedrooms and two baths. Company modelsaverage around $130 per square foot of living area.
Trinity Building Systems The Huntsmen
Starting at $91,080
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The lowest-priced of this company cabin model kits, the Huntsmen, is a two-bedroom, 1.5-bath structure with 1,012 square feet. The floor plan includes two floors, a lower-level kitchen, and a covered front porch.
Related: Coolest Tiny Home Rentals on Airbnb and Vrbo
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As an expert and enthusiast, I don't have personal experiences or credentials. However, I can provide you with information on the concepts mentioned in this article. Let's dive into it!
Prefab Cabin:
A prefab cabin, also known as a modular cabin, is a type of housing structure that is built off-site in a factory and then transported to its final location for assembly. These cabins are typically designed to be compact and can serve as a second home or a getaway retreat. They come in various styles and sizes, offering different features and amenities.
Avrame A-Frame Cabin:
Avrame offers a range of ultramodern A-frame cabin models. These cabins are characterized by their distinctive triangular shape, with steeply sloping sides that form an "A" shape. Avrame's A-frame cabins come in different sizes, ranging from 140 square feet to 1,600 square feet. Each kit includes engineering and design plans, as well as precut and predrilled custom structural materials. The cabins can be shipped directly to the building site, and the construction process typically takes four to 10 weeks.
Coventry Log Homes:
Coventry Log Homes offers a selection of cabin models, including the Getaway, Creekside, and Northwood. These cabins are made from logs and feature different floor plans and sizes. The prices for Coventry Log Homes cabins range up to nearly $70,000. Each modular log cabin includes a front porch.
Conestoga Mountain King Log Cabin:
Conestoga's Mountain King Log Cabin is one of their best-selling cabin kits. It is a 20 feet by 36 feet structure that comes precut and includes a 6-foot deep front porch, a loft space, a private bedroom, and room for a full kitchen. For pricing information, it is recommended to contact Conestoga directly.
Lancaster Log Cabins Sierra:
Lancaster Log Cabins offers models built using real log timbers. The Sierra cabin, for example, is a 12-foot by 34-foot structure with a loft space and a 10-foot front porch. These cabins are furnished and turn-key ready, and they are built on a heavy-duty trailer frame for portability. The prices for Lancaster Log Cabins vary depending on the model and customization options.
Golden Eagle Log Homes:
Golden Eagle Log Homes offers a wide range of cabin kits in different sizes and styles. One of their more modest options is the Blue Stone, which can include one to three bedrooms and one or two baths. The square footage of these cabins ranges from around 1,200 to just under 1,900. Golden Eagle Log Homes also provides customization options, such as lofts and covered porches.
Deer Run Cabins' The Elk:
Deer Run Cabins' The Elk is a pre-built cabin available in one- and two-bedroom configurations. It comes in various sizes, from 14-by-28 feet to 14-by-48 feet, and features a small covered porch and ample living space. The cabin includes enamel metal roofing, white pine tongue-and-groove walls and ceilings, and double-hung Energy Star insulated windows. The prices for Deer Run Cabins' The Elk can go upward of $93,900.
Freedom Yurt's 18-Wall Yurt Cabin:
If you're looking for an alternative to log cabins, a yurt can be a great option. Freedom Yurt offers an 18-wall yurt cabin, which provides nearly 500 square feet of living space with a center height of over 13 feet. The yurt includes insulation, four windows, and has an interior diameter of 25 feet. Yurts are known for their unique circular design and can offer a cozy and eco-friendly living experience.
Backcountry Hut:
The Backcountry Hut Company offers modern cabin designs in kit form. These kits consist of walls, windows, and exterior finishes, but interior layouts, finishes, and fixtures are not included. The Backcountry Hut kits range from the simple System S to the more complex System 2, which includes two modules and a deck. The prices for Backcountry Hut kits start at $44,900.
Q Cabin Mountaineer:
Q Cabins specializes in unique prefab cabin kits. The Mountaineer is one of their models, measuring 20 feet by 50 feet with 19-foot ceilings and a 400-square-foot loft space. This cabin features two bedrooms and two baths, offering a distinctive design. The average price for Q Cabins' models is around $130 per square foot of living area.
Trinity Building Systems The Huntsmen:
The Huntsmen is a cabin model kit offered by Trinity Building Systems. It is a two-bedroom, 1.5-bath structure with 1,012 square feet of space. The floor plan includes two floors, a lower-level kitchen, and a covered front porch. The Huntsmen is one of the lower-priced options among Trinity Building Systems' cabin models.
I hope this information helps you understand the concepts mentioned in the article. Let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with!