Prefab Builder Pluspuu Makes New and Improved Log Cabins Starting at $175K

The Finnish company’s models come as a kit of parts made from engineered lumber that stack together like a 3D puzzle.

This prefab also has a wraparound deck with a shaded dining area.
This prefab also has a wraparound deck with a shaded dining area.

Welcome to Prefab Profiles, an ongoing series of interviews with people transforming how we build houses. From prefab tiny houses and modular cabin kits to entire homes ready to ship, their projects represent some of the best ideas in the industry. Do you know a prefab brand that should be on our radar? Get in touch!

A decade ago, Markku Miettinen identified a problem with the classic log cabin. It kept out the cold, which was a must in his native Finland, but the elements warped the wood, fast. Miettinen founded prefab company Pluspuu to fill gaps in homebuilding in literal and figurative ways. His company’s column-and-beam structures are made from non-setting logs that fit together like a 3D puzzle, mitigating moisture with a natural seam.

There are currently a dozen different prefab options in the Pluspuu collection, which range in size from small cottages primarily meant for occasional recreation to multilevel escapes to live in year-round. We spoke with Miettinen to hear about how Pluspuu is continuing to build on its original idea.

Nauvo, one of the company's newest models, comes with a roof deck.
Nauvo, one of the company's newest models, comes with a roof deck.

What’s the idea behind Pluspuu?

Pluspuu houses are mainly built as leisure homes for customers who value design and quality. We mainly build our own models in Finland, which are modified according to the needs of the customer and the plot the prefab will inhabit. Our top seller is the Iniö series.

This prefab also has a wraparound deck with a shaded dining area.
This prefab also has a wraparound deck with a shaded dining area.

What does your base model cost and what does that pricing include?  

The Iniö 100, part of a series, starts at approximately $175,000 in North America. Assembly, construction, and finishing costs vary widely based on the homeowner’s design choices and geography.

The Scandinavian, sustainable wood used in the construction process is on full display inside.
The Scandinavian, sustainable wood used in the construction process is on full display inside.

See the full story on Dwell.com: Prefab Builder Pluspuu Makes New and Improved Log Cabins Starting at $175K
Related stories: