Metro Portable Buildings’ Double Decker cabin is what any person wishing portable cabins had real second-story living (rather than cramped sleeping lofts accessed by ladders) would have been waiting for. This revolutionary model is the only portable cabin available that provides a real two-story experience with a full walk-around loft accessible by a proper residential staircase — not a pull-down ladder or ship’s ladder. The outcome is a cabin that resembles a tiny house in terms of space and is still entirely transportable on a single trailer.
The first thing which the Double Decker cabin’s traditional gambrel (barn-style) roofline made one think of was the over-the-top interior space. The steep pitch results in much higher walls and peak height than those of the standard portable cabins, which, in turn, means that there is a lot of headroom on both floors. So, in most cases, an adult will be able to stand anywhere in the loft – which is very much uncommon in the world of portable buildings. Depending on the size of the cabin, the loft extends around three or four sides of the cabin, thus, making it a real upper floor rather than just a narrow platform for sleeping.
By far the feature that differentiates this house from all the rest is the staircase. Being of residential building code, with strong stringers, treads, and handrails, it allows one to safely and easily move a piece of furniture, an appliance, or heavy storage boxes upstairs. The owners are frequently answering that they have converted the loft into bedrooms, home offices, playrooms, or even guest suites since the access is so convenient. The Double Decker cabin considers the second story as a real home thus, no more wagging the shaky ladder with a mattress on your back.
The innovation matches with the quality of the build. Every Double Decker cabin is constructed on pressure-treated 4×6 skids, 2×6 floor joists spaced 16″ on center (2×8 on the largest models), LP SmartSide siding of a premium grade and having a 50-year warranty, and a choice between 30-year architectural shingles or 40-year metal roofing. The placement of doors and windows is done for the greatest possible freedom of design, and the cabin may be ordered with or without a floor system depending on whether it will be standing on a foundation or an already existing slab.
Since the cabin comes as a shell that is not finished, the buyers have total creative freedom. Some will just finish the lower level turning it into a living area while the loft will remain unprocessed and used for the storage of kayaks, holiday decorations, or off-season gear. There are people who finish both floors entirely with insulation, drywall, flooring, mini-split HVAC, and plumbing to make it a real two-story tiny house or guest house.
The fact that it is not finished yet is what makes the initial price very affordable which is quite a big deal for a weather-tight, structurally sound building that is ready for your vision.
Practical applications of the Double Decker cabin are basically limited only by one’s imagination: – Master suite in the loft of a weekend cabin in the mountains or by the lake – Loft and basement full-time tiny home – Garage + apartment combo (park vehicles downstairs and live upstairs) – Hunting or fishing cabin with provision for gear storage and bunk space – Outdoor office cabin with a private conference loft – Homeschool classroom cabin with dedicated upstairs library – She-shed or man-cave with the lounge area above – Airbnb or VRBO rental cabin that is different from the single-story ones and therefore attracts more customers
The smallest one is 16×16 and the biggest one is 24×36; people usually prefer either the 20×30 or the 20×36 models. The largest 24×36 cabin can still be transported legally without the need for special permits in most states. The total possible finished square footage including the loft is close to 1,800 sq ft in the largest models — a transportable building, essentially, is able to offer that much space.
| Cabin Size | Starting Price (no floor) |
|---|---|
| 16×16 Double Decker cabin | $23,095 |
| 16×20 Double Decker cabin | $28,875 |
| 16×24 Double Decker cabin | $34,130 |
| 20×20 Double Decker cabin | $32,710 |
| 20×24 Double Decker cabin | $36,545 |
| 20×30 Double Decker cabin | $42,250 |
| 20×32 Double Decker cabin | $44,140 |
| 20×36 Double Decker cabin | $47,885 |
| 24×24 Double Decker cabin | $43,460 |
| 24×30 Double Decker cabin | $50,510 |
| 24×32 Double Decker cabin | $52,835 |
| 24×36 Double Decker cabin | $57,565 |
Delivery and setup are straightforward throughout most of the continental U.S., and Metro offers financing options, porch packages, window upgrades, and other customizations. Whether you’re dreaming of a spacious mountain retreat cabin, an oversized workshop cabin with office loft, or the ultimate garage-apartment cabin, the Double Decker cabin delivers unmatched space, quality, and flexibility at a fraction of traditional construction cost.
Source: Metro Portable Buildings – Double Decker Cabin Model