Six Series. One Build Standard.
Find the One Built for You.

Series Comparison  ·  All Six Configurations

Six Series, Side by Side.
Every Difference That Matters.

The table below compares all six Appalachian Elite series across the dimensions that affect your decision. Every series shares the same structural foundation — what differs is the configuration, the intended use, and the upgrade path.

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All six series are built to the same Appalachian Elite structural standard — 6×6 PT foundation, 2×6 framing, 3/4" 7-ply PT plywood subfloor, LP SmartSide® siding, 30-year structural warranty. Pricing confirmed at proposal stage for every configuration.

The Appalachian Elite Standard  ·  Every Series. Every Build.

The Series Changes.
The Build Standard Never Does.

This is the most important thing to understand about the EdsBackyardBuilds lineup: choosing the Garden Storage series does not mean choosing an inferior structure. Every series is built to the same specification. The footprint and configuration change. The craftsmanship, materials, and warranty do not.

Series Questions  ·  EdsBackyardBuilds.com

Questions About the Lineup
as a Whole.

These are the questions that only make sense at the overview level — before a series has been selected. Each series page has its own FAQ for use-case-specific questions.

• Are all six series built to the same structural standard?

  Yes — without exception. Every Appalachian Elite series is built to the same structural specification: 6×6 YellaWood® pressure-treated foundation beams, 2×6 pressure-treated floor joists at 16" OC, double center beam, 3/4" 7-ply PT plywood subfloor, 2×6 kiln-dried wall framing at 16" OC, LP SmartSide® siding, and the full Appalachian Elite steep-pitch roofline with hurricane ties and 6" overhangs.

  The series determines the configuration — the layout, the use case, and the upgrade path. The structural standard is identical. Choosing the Garden Storage series does not mean accepting an inferior build. It means selecting the configuration designed for storage use, built to exactly the same specification as the Guest Suite or Workshop.

• Can I change my series selection after the site visit?

  Yes — and this happens more often than you might expect. The site visit frequently changes things. A homeowner who came in thinking they needed a 10×12 Garden Storage structure sometimes discovers the site can accommodate a 12×16 comfortably, or that their actual use case is better served by the Workshop series. Nothing is committed until the written proposal is signed.

  The site visit is an assessment and a conversation — not a commitment. Ed will give you his honest recommendation for series and size based on your site, your use case, and your budget. If his recommendation differs from what you initially had in mind, he will explain why before the proposal is written.

• Which series has the shortest build timeline?

  Structural build time is similar across all six series for equivalent footprints — typically 5–10 business days on site for a standard configuration. The variable that separates a short timeline from a long one is not the series — it's the permit processing time for your municipality and whether electrical or plumbing upgrades are included.

  A Garden Storage structure without electrical in a municipality with a streamlined permit process can move from signed contract to completion in 4–6 weeks. A Guest Suite with electrical and plumbing in a municipality with detailed ADU review can take 10–16 weeks — mostly waiting on permits, not on the build itself. Ed will give you a realistic timeline estimate at the proposal stage based on your specific municipality and configuration.

• Which series has the highest property value impact?

  All six series contribute positively to assessed property value when properly permitted and built to the Appalachian Elite standard. The Guest Suite — particularly with electrical and plumbing — carries the highest potential value impact because it addresses the growing demand for multi-generational living capability and provides functionality that no amount of primary residence renovation can easily replicate.

  A fully finished, permitted Guest Suite in the Greater Cincinnati market functions as a near-ADU and is increasingly valued as such by buyers and appraisers. The Backyard Office series has also seen strong appraisal outcomes in the post-2020 market where dedicated work-from-home space is a documented buyer priority. Ed is not a property appraiser and will not speculate on specific dollar values — consult your county auditor or a local real estate professional for jurisdiction-specific guidance.

• Can features from different series be combined in a single structure?

  To a degree — and this is worth discussing at the initial conversation rather than assuming. The series designations describe the primary use case and the configuration optimized for it. A homeowner who wants a structure that serves as both a garden storage area and a small potting bench workspace is describing something close to the Garden Storage series with a few Workshop-adjacent features — which is a straightforward conversation at the proposal stage.

  What doesn't transfer cleanly across series are the configurations that require fundamentally different structural or permit approaches — sleeping accommodation, plumbing, or ADU classification requirements. Those aren't features that can be blended into another series without the full planning implications of the series they belong to. Ed will be direct about what's practical and what creates complexity — the conversation is always worth having before assumptions are made.

• Why are all six series available in the same three sizes?

  Because site constraints — not use case — are the primary driver of size selection for most homeowners. The limiting factor on most Greater Cincinnati and Ohio Valley residential lots is setback requirements, available yard space, and HOA restrictions — not the ideal size for a given use. Offering the same three footprints across all series means a homeowner with a constrained site can still access the series that fits their need in a size that fits their property.

  That said, use case does influence size selection in practice. Workshop and Guest Suite buyers tend to select larger configurations; Garden Storage buyers tend toward the 10×12 or 12×16. The 14×20 is most commonly selected by homeowners with larger properties or multi-purpose intentions for the structure. Ed will give you his honest recommendation on size at the site visit based on your actual site and use intentions.