Laura's A-Frame

A modified A-frame she-shed & home office, being built by hand in Franklin, Massachusetts.

DIY Build
200 sq ft Exactly at Permit Limit
16' Peak Height
24:12 Roof Pitch
Wood Stove Heated
Full Glass Gable Wall

3D Model

Interactive model — drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, right-drag to pan.

Blueprints

Full working drawing set for the build.

Site plan
S-0: Site & Utility Plan
Property layout, building placement, trench routing for electrical/water/sewer, and setback distances to lot lines.
Foundation plan
S-1: Foundation Plan
9 sonotube pier locations (12"ø × 48" deep), spacing dimensions, Simpson post bases, and beam layout.
Floor and deck framing
S-2: Floor & Deck Framing
Floor joists at 16" o.c. lapped over center beam, rim joists, deck framing for the entry wrap, and pier connections.
Wall framing
S-3: Wall Framing
4' pony walls on three sides, vestibule cheek walls at 8', stud layout, and opening headers.
Stove gable wall
S-3B: Stove / Rear Gable Wall
Back wall framing with stone veneer column zone (4' wide, floor to peak), stove clearances, and chimney penetration location.
Loft framing
S-3C: Loft Framing
8'×6' loft deck at z=8', joist layout, front rim beam, and connection to the rafter system.
Dormer roof
S-3D: Dormer Roof
Entry vestibule dormer roof geometry — how it seats on the 8' cheek walls, overhangs, and ties into the main roof plane.
Loft stair
S-3E: Loft Stair / Ladder
Ship's ladder geometry — angle, rung spacing at 12" o.c., landing position next to the entry, and clearances.
Rafter template
S-4: Rafter Template
Full-size rafter cutting template — birdsmouth, tail cut, ridge cut, and overall length for the 24:12 pitch 2×8×20 rafters.
Connection details
S-4B: Connection Details
Hardware callouts — Simpson hangers, post bases, structural screws, ridge connection, and rafter-to-plate tie-downs.
Roof framing
S-5: Roof Framing Plan
Rafter layout at 16" o.c. (13 pairs), skylight rough openings, dormer framing, ridge board, and rake overhang construction.
Section elevation
S-6: Cross Section & Elevation
Full building section showing the A-frame triangle, pony walls, loft, stove/chimney, and grade-to-peak dimensions.
Glass wall
S-7: Glass Gable Wall
12'-wide floor-to-peak pentagon — 4×6 mullion grid, glazing bay sizes, dual-plane detail (laminated exterior + acrylic storm interior).
Electrical
S-8: Electrical Plan
60A subpanel, circuit layout, outlet/switch locations, exterior feeds, dedicated stove circuit, and ethernet/PoE runs.

Design Highlights

The details that make this build unique.

Full Glass Gable

12-foot wide floor-to-peak pentagon of glass. The defining feature — maximum light, maximum drama.

Loft

8' × 6' reading and nap loft at 8' height. Accessed by ladder, tucked under the peak.

Wood Stove

Comfort Glow cast iron stove with a stone veneer column running floor-to-peak. Primary heat source for the space.

Entry Dormer

4' × 2' vestibule with side entry — keeps the glass gable wall completely uninterrupted.

4 Skylights

Venting pairs on each roof face for natural cooling via stack effect. No AC needed.

Entry Deck

Front deck at floor level with step-down arms flanking the vestibule. Outdoor transition zone.

Build Timeline

Phases of construction, from ground to finish.

Foundation

9 sonotube piers, 48" deep. Excavator and auger work.

~16 person-hours

Framing

16" o.c. rafters (2×8×20), floor joists lapped over center beam. The skeleton goes up.

~60 person-hours

Enclosure

Roof sheathing, glass gable install, skylights, and weather barrier. Getting it dried in.

~40 person-hours

Interior

Insulation, interior finishes, wood stove install, electrical, and loft build-out.

~80 person-hours

Regulatory Notes

What lets us build this without a building permit.

Franklin, MA — 200 sq ft Exemption

Structures at or under 200 sq ft of footprint are exempt from building permits in Franklin, MA. The A-frame is designed at exactly 200 sq ft to stay within this threshold. Setback compliance is met — for A-frame structures, the height must be less than or equal to the distance to the nearest lot line, which this design satisfies.