FAQ
___________
How can we help?
What is included with the kit?
Our DIY kits include a build manual, base plates (strips of metal that run the length of the arched wall and attach the ribs to your foundation), ribs (curved metal pieces), ridge beam (attachment point for ribs at center peak), insulation for the arched walls, metal roof paneling, color coordinated fasteners needed to attach the sheet metal as well as rubber trim (covers sharp edge of sheet metal for safety) and foam inserts that fill in the gaps by the front and back wall caused by the bumps in the sheet metal against the end cap walls.
Do you offer build services?
We do not, but anyone with basic carpentry skills can erect and frame in our kits. If you need documents to show local contractors to help obtain accurate quotes please find them here.
What colors do you offer?
Color selection options can be found here.
Has anyone near me ordered an Arched Cabin?
We have customers all over the US. Most are not available for public viewing. To connect with other customers, find build tips, and ask questions from people who live in and have built Arched Cabins, join our community group on Facebook.
How can I find floor plans for an Arched Cabin?
We suggest searching the size of the floor plan you’re looking for in Google Search or on Pinterest. We have a few example floor plans here, but most of our clients design their own using ideas from the internet or with an architect!
What is an inset porch?
The inset porch is created when you recess the end walls when you build your kit. This creates a porch by reducing interior space and extending the roofline out. You will need to order a kit that is the length of your desired interior and porch depth combined. For example, if you want a 30 x 40 interior with 6 ft of inset porch, you would need to order a 30 x 46. Typically, customers choose between 4-8 linear feet of inset.
Are there other options for a porch covering?
Yes, you can build an awning style porch covering. If you’d like to order metal for your awning that matches your kit roofing, let us know and we can add it to your order. We charge $3/ sq foot for metal roofing panels. The panels are 3’ wide and cut to your desired length.
What is the height of an Arched Cabin?
The following are interior dimensions from the subfloor to the bottom of the ridge beam. Add 6” for exterior dimensions.
| 8′ wide model | 7′ 2” tall |
| 12′ wide model | 12′ 1” tall |
| 14′ wide model | 11’ 5” tall |
| 16’ wide model | 14’ 4” tall |
| 20’ wide model | 16’ 9” tall |
| 24’ wide model | 18’ 2” tall |
| 24’ XL wide model | 21’ 5” tall |
| 30’ wide model | 16’ 4” tall |
| 30’ XL wide model | 22’ 4” tall |
What is your largest Arched Cabin?
Our largest Arched Cabin is The 30 XL model which is 30 feet wide, 46 feet long, and 22’4″ tall. This is enough room for 2 stories of living space and a third story storage or sleeping area. It is 1380 sq ft on the main floor. If you add a full second story, you can gain up to another 1340 sq ft on the second floor for a total of 2720 sq ft. A third story loft would have about 6′ of headroom in the center if lower floors are built at 7’5″ tall.
Do you have distributors?
No. All of our Arched Cabins are sold through our Cypress, TX headquarters where we have manufactured all of our Arched Cabins kits for the last 15 years.
Can I install windows or doors in the arched sides of the Arched Cabin?
Windows can easily be installed in the arched walls without modifying the sructure as long as they’re less than 22 inches wide. If you do want to install a larger window, door, or design a bump-out on the arched walls, we recommend working with an engineering team to make sure the cabin remains structurally sound if you plan on doing this. Reach out to us via email if you’d like a referral to an engineer familiar with our design.
Do you still install/build kits on trailers?
We do not, but you can definitely put our 8 foot wide kits on your own trailer as long as your trailer has the correct weight capacity.
It gets really hot/cold where I live, will this work for my location?
Arched Cabins come with Energy Star rated metal roofs, and R33.6 value insulation for the arched walls. We offer upgraded insulation for the arched walls up to R55.6, and we recommend spray foam insulation if you need a higher R value than what we offer. The cabin design is very efficient, and they can be heated and cooled easily with window units, mini-split systems, and wood burning stoves. Your local permitting office will know what your required insulation R-Value is for your area.
Do you have technical drawings/blueprints for your clients?
We have generic (non-size specific) technical drawings available to use for permitting. These are great for counties that don’t require size or site specific drawings. If your county needs size and site specific engineered drawings, you can use any engineering firm you choose, or we can refer you to an engineering firm we work with that can provide those for you. Engineered drawings take around 6-8 weeks to complete. Wait times are subject to fluctuation. For more information, please go to our resource page.
What are the wind/snow load ratings for your cabins?
Arched Cabins meet and exceed International Building Code MINIMUM standards of 150 mph wind speeds and 30 psf (pounds per square foot) snow loads. The highest standard we have accomplished for wind was 165mph in Gulf Shores, Alabama. In Washington state we received a 110 lbs psf snow load rating. We have also achieved seismic ratings in San Bernardino County, California. Arched Cabins have now received permits in many states/counties across the United States.
What kind of foundation will I need?
You may use any foundation that will suit your needs best. Pier and beam are usually best for properties with steep grades and are the most common type used for our kits. When you get your structural engineering for permitting, they will make sure that it is built to code and will pass permitting. If you don’t need structural engineering for your build, then call us and we can help steer you in the right direction regarding pier and beam. Concrete slabs would be best designed by a qualified contractor who can do a site visit.
Can I build an Arched Cabin over a basement or on a concrete slab?
Yes and yes. We manufacture steel embeds to place in the top of the concrete before it’s set to weld the Arched Cabin base plates to when the kit arrives. We can deliver those steel embeds to you prior to your kit delivery or with your Arched Cabin kit. It is also possible to build our kits on an existing slab. Please contact us for more information on how this can be done.
Can I buy one Arched Cabin kit and replicate the design for my own use or commercial use?
No. We currently hold a patent that protects our design and will legally persue anyone found to have replicated our design for either personal or commercial use.
Do you sell the materials for the loft?
No, these can be purchased from any local building supply store and shipping them would be cost prohibitive.
How does electrical and plumbing work?
Plumbing and wiring can be run from under the subfloor on a pier and beam foundation. For a slab foundation, it would be installed underground before concrete is poured just like in typical construction. In the interior, wiring can be run through the channels in the PBR roofing panels or through the interior framing.
Is welding required for your kits?
Welding is not required for kits attached to wood foundations. However, for kits wider than 16 feet we highly recommend welding in a 3×3 steel spreader bar on each end cap. This will make the structure much stronger. Welding is required on kits placed on concrete slabs as the base plates will need to be welded to steel embeds placed in the slab when it is poured.
I haven’t bought land to place my Arched Cabin on yet. Where do I start?
If you haven’t found property to build your Arched Cabin on, we suggest working with a realtor that will look into zoning and permitting requirements with you to find property in a county or parish that will allow your Arched Cabin build. Then you will begin the permitting process on your end. Depending upon where you’d like to build, it may not involve permitting at all. You will need to contact your local permitting office to see what they require. Once you’re working through the permitting process, you can secure a delivery date through us by placing a 50% deposit.
How long will it take to get my kit once I place my deposit?
On average, it takes around 6-8 weeks for us to produce your kit after you place your deposit. This is the same for pick up or delivery. Some times of year it’s shorter and other times it’s longer. Call us anytime to check on our current turnaround time.
What do I need to know if I plan to pick up?
-
- You will need a trailer that is one foot longer than your kit length (arched wall measurement).
- Shipping dimensions are 6 foot wide x 2 foot tall x length of kit plus 1ft.
- We charge a $250 loading fee. You simply have to show up with trailer with an adequate weight capacity.
- The weight of your kit is determined by size. See the image below to get the approximate weight in pounds for the kit size you plan to purchase.
How much does it cost to deliver to xxxxx ZIP code?
Shipping is calculated from zip code 77429 and is $2.50 /mile for standard kits up to 24 feet in length, and $3.00 /mile for kits over 24 feet in length. 24XL kits ship at $3.00 per mile and 30XL kits ship at $3.50 a mile. Our minimum shipping charge is $500. Bundled shipping for 2 or more kits: additional kits under 12’ long ship for $0.50 a mile, and additional kits 14’ – 40’ long ship for $1/mile. Bulk shipping rates are quoted on a case by case basis. Shipping rates are subject to market fluctuations but we’ve yet to have to change them after date of deposit.
Click here for a quote.
Click here for a quote.
Where do you deliver Arched Cabins?
We can deliver an Arched Cabin kit to anywhere in the lower 48 contiguous United States that has a paved entry and doesn’t require a 4×4 vehicle to access it. We also need a driveway that is at least 10ft wide and doesn’t have any hairpin or sharp turns that we would have difficulty navigating a work truck with a trailer through. We will load trucks or containers for shipping internationally if you take care of all logistics.
Is financing available to purchase and build an Arched Cabin?
In order to better serve our customers, we now offer financing through Hearth! Click here to see what you’re approved for. It is a soft credit check and will not affect your credit score. We don’t offer in-house financing, but many of our clients finance their Arched Cabin with a construction loan or line of credit. While our product is considered a permanent structure, traditional mortgages aren’t usually a good fit for an Arched Cabin because a traditional mortgage relies on similar homes in the vicinity on which to base their appraisal value. Since our product is unique, it’s unlikely that your banker will find similar homes to your Arched Cabin in the vicinity.
What are your payment terms?
We require 50% down at the time of placing your Arched Cabin order, and the remaining 50% balance is due one week before our truck leaves for delivery or before you load your own trailer with your Arched Cabin kit.
What is included with the kit?
Our DIY kits include a build manual, base plates (strips of metal that run the length of the arched wall and attach the ribs to your foundation), ribs (curved metal pieces), ridge beam (attachment point for ribs at center peak), insulation for the arched walls, metal roof paneling, color coordinated fasteners needed to attach the sheet metal as well as rubber trim (covers sharp edge of sheet metal for safety) and foam inserts that fill in the gaps by the front and back wall caused by the bumps in the sheet metal against the end cap walls.
Do you offer build services?
We do not, but anyone with basic carpentry skills can erect and frame in our kits. If you need documents to show local contractors to help obtain accurate quotes please find them here.
What colors do you offer?
Color selection options can be found here.
Has anyone near me ordered an Arched Cabin?
We have customers all over the US. Most are not available for public viewing. To connect with other customers, find build tips, and ask questions from people who live in and have built Arched Cabins, join our community group on Facebook.
How can I find floor plans for an Arched Cabin?
We suggest searching the size of the floor plan you’re looking for in Google Search or on Pinterest. We have a few example floor plans here, but most of our clients design their own using ideas from the internet or with an architect!
What is an inset porch?
The inset porch is created when you recess the end walls when you build your kit. This creates a porch by reducing interior space and extending the roofline out. You will need to order a kit that is the length of your desired interior and porch depth combined. For example, if you want a 30 x 40 interior with 6 ft of inset porch, you would need to order a 30 x 46. Typically, customers choose between 4-8 linear feet of inset.
Are there other options for a porch covering?
Yes, you can build an awning style porch covering. If you’d like to order metal for your awning that matches your kit roofing, let us know and we can add it to your order. We charge $3/ sq foot for metal roofing panels. The panels are 3’ wide and cut to your desired length.
What is the height of an Arched Cabin?
The following are interior dimensions from the subfloor to the bottom of the ridge beam. Add 6” for exterior dimensions.
| 8′ wide model | 7′ 2” tall |
| 12′ wide model | 12′ 1” tall |
| 14′ wide model | 11’ 5” tall |
| 16’ wide model | 14’ 4” tall |
| 20’ wide model | 16’ 9” tall |
| 24’ wide model | 18’ 2” tall |
| 24’ XL wide model | 21’ 5” tall |
| 30’ wide model | 16’ 4” tall |
| 30’ XL wide model | 22’ 4” tall |
What is your largest Arched Cabin?
Our largest Arched Cabin is The 30 XL model which is 30 feet wide, 46 feet long, and 22’4″ tall. This is enough room for 2 stories of living space and a third story storage or sleeping area. It is 1380 sq ft on the main floor. If you add a full second story, you can gain up to another 1340 sq ft on the second floor for a total of 2720 sq ft. A third story loft would have about 6′ of headroom in the center if lower floors are built at 7’5″ tall.
Do you have distributors?
No. All of our Arched Cabins are sold through our Cypress, TX headquarters where we have manufactured all of our Arched Cabins kits for the last 15 years.
Can I install windows or doors in the arched sides of the Arched Cabin?
Windows can easily be installed in the arched walls without modifying the sructure as long as they’re less than 22 inches wide. If you do want to install a larger window, door, or design a bump-out on the arched walls, we recommend working with an engineering team to make sure the cabin remains structurally sound if you plan on doing this. Reach out to us via email if you’d like a referral to an engineer familiar with our design.
Do you still install/build kits on trailers?
We do not, but you can definitely put our 8 foot wide kits on your own trailer as long as your trailer has the correct weight capacity.
It gets really hot/cold where I live, will this work for my location?
Arched Cabins come with Energy Star rated metal roofs, and R33.6 value insulation for the arched walls. We offer upgraded insulation for the arched walls up to R55.6, and we recommend spray foam insulation if you need a higher R value than what we offer. The cabin design is very efficient, and they can be heated and cooled easily with window units, mini-split systems, and wood burning stoves. Your local permitting office will know what your required insulation R-Value is for your area.
Do you have technical drawings/blueprints for your clients?
We have generic (non-size specific) technical drawings available to use for permitting. These are great for counties that don’t require size or site specific drawings. If your county needs size and site specific engineered drawings, you can use any engineering firm you choose, or we can refer you to an engineering firm we work with that can provide those for you. Engineered drawings take around 6-8 weeks to complete. Wait times are subject to fluctuation. For more information, please go to our resource page.
What are the wind/snow load ratings for your cabins?
Arched Cabins meet and exceed International Building Code MINIMUM standards of 150 mph wind speeds and 30 psf (pounds per square foot) snow loads. The highest standard we have accomplished for wind was 165mph in Gulf Shores, Alabama. In Washington state we received a 110 lbs psf snow load rating. We have also achieved seismic ratings in San Bernardino County, California. Arched Cabins have now received permits in many states/counties across the United States.
What kind of foundation will I need?
You may use any foundation that will suit your needs best. Pier and beam are usually best for properties with steep grades and are the most common type used for our kits. When you get your structural engineering for permitting, they will make sure that it is built to code and will pass permitting. If you don’t need structural engineering for your build, then call us and we can help steer you in the right direction regarding pier and beam. Concrete slabs would be best designed by a qualified contractor who can do a site visit.
Can I build an Arched Cabin over a basement or on a concrete slab?
Yes and yes. We manufacture steel embeds to place in the top of the concrete before it’s set to weld the Arched Cabin base plates to when the kit arrives. We can deliver those steel embeds to you prior to your kit delivery or with your Arched Cabin kit. It is also possible to build our kits on an existing slab. Please contact us for more information on how this can be done.
Can I buy one Arched Cabin kit and replicate the design for my own use or commercial use?
No. We currently hold a patent that protects our design and will legally persue anyone found to have replicated our design for either personal or commercial use.
Do you sell the materials for the loft?
No, these can be purchased from any local building supply store and shipping them would be cost prohibitive.
How does electrical and plumbing work?
Plumbing and wiring can be run from under the subfloor on a pier and beam foundation. For a slab foundation, it would be installed underground before concrete is poured just like in typical construction. In the interior, wiring can be run through the channels in the PBR roofing panels or through the interior framing.
Is welding required for your kits?
Welding is not required for kits attached to wood foundations. However, for kits wider than 16 feet we highly recommend welding in a 3×3 steel spreader bar on each end cap. This will make the structure much stronger. Welding is required on kits placed on concrete slabs as the base plates will need to be welded to steel embeds placed in the slab when it is poured.
I haven’t bought land to place my Arched Cabin on yet. Where do I start?
If you haven’t found property to build your Arched Cabin on, we suggest working with a realtor that will look into zoning and permitting requirements with you to find property in a county or parish that will allow your Arched Cabin build. Then you will begin the permitting process on your end. Depending upon where you’d like to build, it may not involve permitting at all. You will need to contact your local permitting office to see what they require. Once you’re working through the permitting process, you can secure a delivery date through us by placing a 50% deposit.
How long will it take to get my kit once I place my deposit?
On average, it takes around 6-8 weeks for us to produce your kit after you place your deposit. This is the same for pick up or delivery. Some times of year it’s shorter and other times it’s longer. Call us anytime to check on our current turnaround time.
What do I need to know if I plan to pick up?
-
- You will need a trailer that is one foot longer than your kit length (arched wall measurement).
- Shipping dimensions are 6 foot wide x 2 foot tall x length of kit plus 1ft.
- We charge a $250 loading fee. You simply have to show up with trailer with an adequate weight capacity.
- The weight of your kit is determined by size. See the image below to get the approximate weight in pounds for the kit size you plan to purchase.
How much does it cost to deliver to xxxxx ZIP code?
Shipping is calculated from zip code 77429 and is $2.50 /mile for standard kits up to 24 feet in length, and $3.00 /mile for kits over 24 feet in length. 24XL kits ship at $3.00 per mile and 30XL kits ship at $3.50 a mile. Our minimum shipping charge is $500. Bundled shipping for 2 or more kits: additional kits under 12’ long ship for $0.50 a mile, and additional kits 14’ – 40’ long ship for $1/mile. Bulk shipping rates are quoted on a case by case basis. Shipping rates are subject to market fluctuations but we’ve yet to have to change them after date of deposit.
Click here for a quote.
Click here for a quote.
Where do you deliver Arched Cabins?
We can deliver an Arched Cabin kit to anywhere in the lower 48 contiguous United States that has a paved entry and doesn’t require a 4×4 vehicle to access it. We also need a driveway that is at least 10ft wide and doesn’t have any hairpin or sharp turns that we would have difficulty navigating a work truck with a trailer through. We will load trucks or containers for shipping internationally if you take care of all logistics.
Is financing available to purchase and build an Arched Cabin?
In order to better serve our customers, we now offer financing through Hearth! Click here to see what you’re approved for. It is a soft credit check and will not affect your credit score. We don’t offer in-house financing, but many of our clients finance their Arched Cabin with a construction loan or line of credit. While our product is considered a permanent structure, traditional mortgages aren’t usually a good fit for an Arched Cabin because a traditional mortgage relies on similar homes in the vicinity on which to base their appraisal value. Since our product is unique, it’s unlikely that your banker will find similar homes to your Arched Cabin in the vicinity.
What are your payment terms?
We require 50% down at the time of placing your Arched Cabin order, and the remaining 50% balance is due one week before our truck leaves for delivery or before you load your own trailer with your Arched Cabin kit.