Their Own Space. Your Backyard.
Built to Last Every Summer.

Is This Series Right For You?

Built for the Way Families
Actually Use Their Backyards.

The Bunkie series fits a specific family situation. Here's an honest look at who it serves best — and where a different series might be the more practical answer.

Size Configurations · Bunkie Series

Three Footprints.
One Build Standard.

Select the configuration that fits your property, your family, and how you plan to use it. Every Bunkie size is built to the same Appalachian Elite structural standard — the footprint changes, the craftsmanship doesn't.

Pricing shown is starting price for standard configuration. Electrical, interior finishes, and site-specific foundation work priced separately at proposal stage. No surprises.

Bunkie Questions · EdsBackyardBuilds.com

Questions Specific to the
Bunkie Series.

Parents ask practical questions about safety, permits, and long-term use. These are the ones we hear most often — answered honestly within Ed's scope of work.

• Is a Bunkie safe for children to sleep in year-round?

  The structure itself is built to the same standard as any Appalachian Elite series — the foundation, framing, roofline, and floor assembly are identical to the specs used in our Guest Suite and Backyard Office series. There is no structural compromise made because the occupants are younger.

  Year-round use as a sleeping space depends on insulation and climate control — the standard build is uninsulated. For warmer-season use, the passive ventilation system, gable vents, and operable windows keep the interior comfortable. For year-round sleeping, insulation installation and a small heating and cooling system are the upgrades that complete it for that purpose. Electrical service is the prerequisite for any active climate control. Discuss your year-round intentions at the site visit so planning is accurate from the start.

• Does a Bunkie require a building permit?

  Permit requirements depend on structure size, your municipality, and intended use. Many Greater Cincinnati and Ohio Valley jurisdictions exempt accessory structures under a certain square footage from permit requirements — the threshold varies but is commonly 120–200 sq ft. Larger structures and structures intended for sleeping accommodation may require a building permit regardless of size.

  Permits are the homeowner's responsibility. Ed will not advise you to skip a required permit. He will give you the exact roadmap for your municipality — which office to contact, what type of permit applies, and what documentation the application requires. Getting this right before the build protects your investment and prevents issues at the time of property sale or insurance claim.

• Can we add a loft or bunk platform inside the Bunkie?

  The Appalachian Elite steep roofline creates sufficient interior ridge height for a loft or sleeping platform in the larger configurations — particularly the 12×16 and 14×20. Interior loft and bunk platforms are not included in the standard build price — they are interior finish elements that are typically built by the homeowner, a finish carpenter, or a separate contractor after the structure is complete.

  The structural framing is designed to accept wall-mounted ledger attachments and loft support systems without modification, provided the installation is done properly and point loads are distributed appropriately. If you intend to install a loft, discuss it with Ed at the site visit — he can advise on attachment points and any additional blocking that should be built into the framing during the structural build to support it properly later.

• What's the difference between the Bunkie and the Guest Suite?

  Both series provide sleeping accommodation on the same Appalachian Elite structural foundation — the distinction is in the intended occupant and the level of finished comfort. The Bunkie is designed for children, teenagers, and casual family overflow — a fun, durable, backyard-integrated sleeping space that prioritizes a great experience over refined adult comfort.

  The Guest Suite is designed for adult guests who will be in residence for days, weeks, or longer — parents, relatives, or long-term visitors who need a space that functions as a complete, private retreat with adult amenities including electrical and potentially plumbing. If the primary question is "where will the kids sleep when their cousins visit," the Bunkie is the right answer. If the question is "where will my mother stay when she visits for a month," the Guest Suite is the right answer.

• Will the Bunkie still be useful when my kids grow up?

  This is the question that separates an investment from an expense — and it's the right one to ask. A well-built Bunkie transitions naturally across the stages of family life. What starts as a children's sleepover retreat becomes a teenager's hangout space. When the teenagers leave for college, it becomes casual guest accommodation, a home studio, a reading retreat, or a standalone workspace.

  The 30-year structural warranty and the Appalachian Elite build quality mean the structure itself outlasts every phase of its use. The interior is finish-ready and can be reconfigured as needs change without structural modification. The homeowners who get the most value from a Bunkie are the ones who think of it as a permanent part of the property — not a children's amenity with a limited useful life.