Quonset hut is a semi-cylindrical structured home made up of curved pieces of Steel. These hut home ideas can be easily assembled and simply manufactured. They don’t need a framework as they comprise arched panels bolted together. Quonset hut homes are considered as the cheapest of all steel buildings, light in weight, easy to erect and expand and have an easily recognizable architectural form.
These types of huts were first built in the United States in 1941 during the second world war for housing and storage purposes for the US Navy, around 170,000 huts were built at that time because US Navy needed an all-purpose lightweight shelter that could be easily shipped anywhere without requiring skilled persons to assemble it again and again.
“Quonset” means small-long space. Also, this house design is so robust that it stands tall even in extreme weather conditions. The Durability, Distinctive and affordable characteristics of Quonset hut homes make them popular in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and other neighboring countries. So keep on reading and learn amazing validities about this unusual type of housing style.
Advantages of a Quonset Hut Homes
The sturdy design of the Quonset hut gives you a choice when you are looking to build a home. These house ideas not only provide strength and durability and give you customized options according to your needs. Most of the people utilize these arch frame structures for their low initial cost, high security and minimal maintenance.
Though they were initially constructed as drafty, drab military structures, however now these houses can deliver first-rate comfort if decorated with modern amenities and creatively adorned. There are many more advantages of building Quonset hut homes which we have mentioned below.
Strength
When we compare Steel with wood or other materials, we find Steel with much more durability. Also, steel used for Quonset hut homes is galvanized steel which is rust resistant and expands the steel’s lifespan, making it stand tall even in extreme weather conditions like Strong wind, Heavy snow, rain, and earthquakes. Unlike the Wooden structures, steel cannot be destroyed by Fire, cracks, termites, rotting or spitting.
Portable
Like using Quonset hut homes during the war period and moving to the following camp location easily, you can also move along with your home to any other location because these homes are portable. These hut homes have the unique ability that you can disassemble the structure and transport it to the new location for reassembling without using heavy machinery.
Easy to Construct
The Quonset hut is a DIY and straightforward home construction project. Around 80% of the people design and build their huts independently without professional help, as this also saves labor costs. For a small and straightforward Quonset hut design, you don’t need any heavy equipment, as most of the work has been done on the ground and all the nuts and bolts are of the same size.
Eco-Friendly
Steel is a recyclable material which means once you no longer want to stay or need that building, the home kits part can be recycled for making other metallic structures. Also, galvalume steel coating helps to make it more energy efficient and makes your Quonset hut homes warmer in winters and cooler on summer days. You can also add accessories like solar panels, skylights and rainwater collection systems to the home for more efficiency.
Models of Quonset Hut Homes
According to aesthetic preference and different climatic demands, Quonset hut homes are found in three different models.
Q Model
This model is called the king of the Quonset styling because this is the original style of quonset buildings which look like a semi-circle. This hemispherical-shaped hut has a small entrance and the overall design is on maximizing the structural principles. It is also said to be the cheapest style of Quonset hut homes.
S Model
This model is quickly becoming the most popular choice of Quonset hut homes. The vertical walls provide more interior space than other curved structured huts and look similar to Igloo. Mostly this hut is preferred for the snowy and rainy regions, where the arched roof helps to shave away snow and water very quickly from the roof.
A/P Model
This Model offers the most traditional Quonset hut look, having straight vertical walls and an angled roofline which aligns at its tiny peak and makes it the most common housing choice. This Quonset hut is a slightly more expensive model in comparison to Q and S models.
5 Common Quonset Hut Homes Ideas
After Knowing all about the Quonset hut and if you get inspired to have a cool hut, Below we have some cool and modern Quonset hut homes ideas from which you can take motivation and create and decorate your own.
Contemporary Quonset Hut
This style is designed in a contemporary style in both the interior and exterior of the home. They look appealing and fascinating with modest color varieties. Use high-quality home kits material while hut insulation keeps your place warm and comfy. These homes are a little bit more expensive than other residences, still they are value for your money.
Traditional Hut
This traditional residence idea might be the goal for those people who love residing in an ancient house and admire the ancient decor. The exterior part of this traditional hut appears to be old, but from the inside, this Quonset hut homes look stunning with all the necessary household accessories. Also, add some modern touch by Furnishing the interior space with some contemporary amenities, which gives a comfortable and hangout environment.
Wooden Hut
Quonset huts are mainly created with galvanized steel or metal, but in the countryside, there are still houses that are made up of wood. Talking about the benefits of a wooden hut is that you can customize the layouts as per your own style. Depending on your taste, decorate the rooms by creating dramatic graphics and dim lights for a unique adventure.
Desert Themed Hut
If you are living in a desert environment or you like the desert theme then this hut homes idea will be the ideal one for you and your family. The structures are made of unique materials and designed differently from other models. Benefits of having these Quonset hut homes are bitterly known for their overwhelming heat and the distinctive architectural design that allows them to function better even in the desert regions.
Modern Quonset hut
An arch structure is considered to be the strongest structure in architectural design. Quonset hut homes with modern effective designs and the light materials of the home strongly contribute to the uncompromising quality of the home. Having glass work and choosing modern color combinations will give the lavish feel altogether.
Quonset Hut Home Kits And Pricing
It is likely that Quonset hut home kits come in peanuts. Moreover, there are few factors that can affect the expense, and you have to first calculate the number before going to spend. Just keep one thing in Mind: the bigger the hut, the costlier it will be. Be sure to properly check the following Quonset hut home kits and their pricing before evaluating your expense.
- A small to medium sized hut homes kit for storage or garage purposes that measures approx 145 square ft. costs around US$1,500-US$15,000.
- A medium to large sized Quonset hut homes kit is estimated to cost around US$5,000- US$35,000, Depending on what size you order.
Note: The pricing mentioned above includes the base building, accessories, and delivery charge. The foundation and installation are considered as additional costs. If you want to include both in the package, then you have to pay almost double the numbers.
For instance, a 30’x40’ size medium storage of 1,200 square ft, has the price starting from US$13,000
A complete installation of a large residential purpose will cost between US$30,000 to US$400,000. If you wish to build the foundation of the hut by yourself, the pricing will be less expensive.
Grading the site, Creating a foundation and installing any home equipment like electricity, plumbing etc. can cost you around US$1,000- US$30,000.
Please note one thing that a complete and professional making of foundation with installation will charge you around US$10,000 to US$50,000.
The cost of Quonset hut home kits changes due to the location, dimension and also depends on what’s included in the package. Also the kit comes with an easy to assemble construction plan. And the basic home kits consist of panels, bolts, customized fasteners, and a user manual with installing instructions with pictures.
Conclusion
Housing design changes from time to time as technology gets advanced to provide better comfort and flexibility. A quonset hut is modest to assemble, needs less space and provides excellent insulation. They look incredible, strong, and long lasting. Quonset huts can be used as store, garage, or storage facilities as well.
Nowadays, Quonset hut homes come under various sizes and categories and many companies offer quonset home kits or prefabricated kits. These kits are straightforward to build and decorate, so you can do it yourself with four or five helping hands, and the maintenance is very minimal.
