There’s something about a cabin with two porches. One is for your morning coffee while the sun comes up over the trees. The other is for evenings, when the light goes gold and you’re not ready to go inside yet. Most cabins make you choose. This one doesn’t.
Sweet Cabins, an Amish-crafted cabin company, has been getting attention for a two-story gable design with a covered porch on each side, advertised at around $69,995. That’s a notable number at a time when a basic new home can cost several times as much. Before you picture yourself on that second porch, though, it helps to know exactly what the price covers, what it doesn’t, and who this kind of cabin suits.
What Makes This Cabin Stand Out
Two porches, twice the outdoor living
The double porch is the headline feature, and for good reason. A porch on each side of the cabin doubles your usable outdoor space without adding interior square footage, which keeps costs and heating bills down. In practice, you get:
- A sunrise side and a sunset side, depending on how you orient the cabin on your land
- Shelter from wind and weather, since you can always pick the calmer side
- Room for different uses, like a dining table on one porch and rocking chairs or a hammock on the other
The porches are framed with treated lumber, which holds up to moisture and insects much better than untreated wood. If you want more, the design can be adapted with a wraparound porch, a screened or enclosed porch, an extended porch roof, or an open deck.
A classic two-story gable profile
The cabin uses a steep gable roof (Sweet Cabins lists a 12/12 pitch for its two-story gable models). That means the roof rises one foot for every foot it runs horizontally. The steep angle isn’t just for looks. It sheds snow and rain quickly, and it creates real, usable space upstairs instead of a cramped attic. Depending on the configuration, the upper level can be a full second floor or an open loft that looks down into the main room.
Built by Hand, On Your Land
Most affordable cabins are built in a factory and trucked to your property. This one isn’t. According to Sweet Cabins, an Amish crew travels to your site and builds the cabin by hand, right on your foundation, typically in four to six days.
That approach has a few real advantages:
- No size limits from highway transport. Factory-built cabins are often capped by how wide a load can legally go down the road. Here, cabins can be built up to 30 feet wide and extended to whatever length you need.
- Access is simpler. You don’t need a road that can handle a large delivery truck carrying a finished building, just enough access for a crew and materials.
- Craftsmanship you can see. Amish builders are known for careful, traditional framing and joinery, and these cabins are built with solid wood (pine and cedar are common choices) along with shingle or metal roofing.
Inside, the standard ceiling height is eight feet, and taller nine- or ten-foot ceilings are available for an added cost.
The Important Part: It’s a Shell
This is the detail that matters most, and it’s easy to miss when you see the price. The $69,995 cabin comes as a weathered-in shell. It’s closed up against the elements, with walls, a roof, and a floor, but the inside is unfinished. What you get is one big open space with exposed wood walls and floors.
Depending on your project, the shell usually does not include:
- Plumbing and fixtures
- Electrical wiring, outlets, and lighting
- Insulation and interior wall finishes
- Kitchen cabinets and appliances
- Bathroom build-out
- Heating and cooling systems
- The foundation, and in many cases the windows and doors (check your quote carefully)
Sweet Cabins notes that what you need to have ready before the crew arrives is a foundation, your windows and doors, and access to the site. Always confirm the full list of inclusions in writing before you commit.
Why a shell can be a smart choice
A shell isn’t a drawback if you go in with open eyes. For many buyers it’s actually the whole appeal:
- You control the layout. Want an open floor plan with a big kitchen? Two bedrooms and a reading nook? A studio downstairs and a sleeping loft up top? It’s your call.
- You control the budget. You can finish the cabin in stages as money allows, starting with the essentials and adding upgrades later.
- Sweat equity counts. If you’re handy, or have friends and family who are, doing some of the interior work yourself can save a significant amount.
Plan for finishing costs
The honest math: finishing a shell costs real money. Plumbing, electrical, insulation, drywall or wood paneling, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a heating system can add a large amount on top of the shell price, depending on your finishes, your local labor rates, and how much work you do yourself. Get quotes from local contractors before you order, so the total project cost doesn’t catch you off guard.
Other Styles to Consider
If the two-story gable isn’t quite right, Sweet Cabins builds a few other profiles:
- Two-Story Gambrel: The classic barn-style roof, which gives the upper floor nearly vertical walls and even more headroom.
- One-Story Gable: A lower roof (around a 5/12 pitch) for a simpler, single-level cabin. Good for anyone who wants to skip the stairs.
Who This Cabin Is Best For
This double-porch cabin works best for people who:
- Own land already and want a solid structure on it without a huge upfront cost
- Want a weekend retreat or hunting cabin they can finish over time
- Enjoy DIY projects and want to shape the interior themselves
- Are planning a full-time home and have budgeted for the finishing work
It may not be the right fit if you need a move-in-ready home right away, or if you’d rather not manage contractors, permits, and inspections.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy
Before signing anything, get clear answers to these:
- What exactly is included at this price? Ask about size, windows, doors, roofing material, and porches.
- Do you serve my area? Delivery and crew travel can affect cost and availability.
- What foundation do I need, and who builds it?
- What permits are required locally? Rules differ a lot from county to county, and some areas have minimum size or finishing requirements for living space.
- How long is the wait? Popular builders often have a backlog.
- What’s the deposit and payment schedule?
- Is there a warranty on the structure?
Final Thoughts
A hand-built Amish cabin with two covered porches for around $69,995 is an appealing starting point, especially for anyone who has land and a clear plan. What you’re really buying is a strong, well-crafted frame and a blank canvas. The porches are ready for rocking chairs on day one. The inside is yours to make into whatever you want.
Go in knowing the full budget, ask the right questions, and this could turn into the cabin you’ve been sketching on napkins for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the $69,995 price for a finished cabin?
No. The price is for a weathered-in shell with an unfinished interior. Plumbing, electrical, insulation, interior finishes, and in most cases the foundation are extra.
How long does it take to build?
The Amish crew typically builds the shell on-site in about four to six days once your foundation is ready.
How big can the cabin be?
Sweet Cabins builds up to 30 feet wide, and the length can be customized.
Can I change the porches?
Yes. The porches can be adapted into a wraparound design, an enclosed or screened porch, a larger covered area, or an open deck.
Can I live in it full-time?
Yes, once it’s properly finished and meets your local building codes. Check with your county about permits and occupancy requirements before you build.
Prices, specifications, and availability can change. Contact the builder directly for a current quote.
A couple of notes:
- I rewrote everything from scratch with a new angle: what the shell includes, what it costs to finish, who it suits, and questions to ask. I also added real details from the builder’s site (built on-site in 4–6 days, 12/12 roof pitch, 8-foot standard ceilings) so it’s more than a reworded copy.
- The source article doesn’t say what size the $69,995 cabin is, so I left the size out rather than guess. I also couldn’t confirm the current price, so I hedged it as “advertised.”
If you want, I can put this into a doc or add an SEO title and meta description.
Source: Sweet Cabins