Tiny Houses

[HarleyXJGuy]

Thanks.

Mortgage free for many years now = cheap living. Now if I can only keep the value of my house from skyrocketing, my city taxes won't be going up all the time. 

Those canal boats are neat. I am 6 feet tall though. Living in something I couldn't properly stretch in one direction would be a little limiting, and claustrophobic.

This is something that has not been touched on I don't think.

Get something small and pay it off. No mortgage is a huge budget saver.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Barracks are probably governed by different criteria, like rooming houses, dorm rooms, hotels and the like.  But actual houses have to be built to certain standards, largely for fire and emergency services.  This is another thing I wonder about these tiny homes- how safe are they?  Do they have egress windows in each room, or at least in the bedroom?  I know commercially built trailers do.

Saving yourself a lot of money might make sense on the front of it, but burning to death because the house went up so fast that by the time the fire department was called you were already dead from smoke inhalation doesn't seem to make that much sense.

And not having enough space for paramedics to get in if you have a heart attack or other illness/injury doesn't seem to make a lot of sense either.

I also think that the concept of Tiny Homes is really only effective in warmer climates.  In Canada we have snow and seriously cold temperatures.  While these places might have small spaces that are relatively easy to heat, you also need a fair amount of space to store things like snowsuits, ski pants, heavy winter boots, jackets, coats, sweaters, shovels, rock salt... the list goes on. 

For example, I have one of these for working outdoors in winter:



You would be surprised at how bulky a suit like this can be, and how much space it can take up in a closet.  In fact, between that, a pair of ski pants, a pair of insulated rain pants, a winter coat, an insulated rain coat and a pair of winter boots a closet is pretty well filled- and that's not counting hoods, hats, gloves, mitts and the machine I use to dry them when they get soaked or the sweaters you often need to wear with them.

I don't think that is overkill, especially if you are employed outside, as many people are.  This stuff would take up half of most of those tiny houses.... and trying to put any of that on or take any of it off in an enclosed space....



Def

[HarleyXJGuy]

People are not meant to live up there.

Come to the sunshine Def.

[MadPlumbarian]

People are not meant to live up there.

Come to the sunshine Def.

Mi isn't much lower then "up there".. lol
JR

[Chako]

I would say. It is basically just "down there" from here...at least the UP anyhow.

[Syph007]

I watched some of the tiny house shows where they go to elaborate lengths to make a house towable, but they are so heavy I just didnt see the point.  Just buy a trailer they are designed to be light if you want to be able to tow them around.

[Grant Lamontagne]

People are not meant to live up there.

Come to the sunshine Def.

You have no idea how much I want to move somewhere warm all year round.... where I could wear flip flops and sandals and shorts until they find my rotting corpse on the beach.....

If I move south it will probably be WAY south.... like Oz or New Zealand where no one can understand my accent and I don't mind because it gives me a great excuse to stay the hell away from everyone! 

Def

[Syph007]

People are not meant to live up there.

Come to the sunshine Def.

You have no idea how much I want to move somewhere warm all year round.... where I could wear flip flops and sandals and shorts until they find my rotting corpse on the beach.....

If I move south it will probably be WAY south.... like Oz or New Zealand where no one can understand my accent and I don't mind because it gives me a great excuse to stay the hell away from everyone! 

Def

Hey this brings up a great point.... what parts of the world is a Canadian accent cool?  Australia sounds great except for snakes.

[Syncop8r]

I would happily live in a tiny house (I currently am in a little one) but would want a decent garage/workshop.

I think if you downsize your stuff the need for a bunch of rooms goes away. At least for me.

That's the thing, people feel they need big houses to fit all their stuff in... and they often buy lots of stuff to fill their big houses. Non-essential stuff.

Those canal boats are neat. I am 6 feet tall though. Living in something I couldn't properly stretch in one direction would be a little limiting, and claustrophobic.

Stretch in the other direction then 

[firiki]

I don't mind a tiny house. I've lived in some for years. What I do mind is good interior space use. Agreed on keeping only useful things.

Having said that, a tiny house is not a place for kids to grow up. They need space to play and learn how to be kids. So a tiny house needs at least a small garden as well. What if you live in a place with long winters though?

[Chako]

Mayhaps an Igloo is in order Sir!

Sorry Syncop8r, I need to stretch in at least 2 dimensions, possibly 3. 

[MrsSabrina]

I don't mind a tiny house. I've lived in some for years. What I do mind is good interior space use. Agreed on keeping only useful things.

Having said that, a tiny house is not a place for kids to grow up. They need space to play and learn how to be kids. So a tiny house needs at least a small garden as well. What if you live in a place with long winters though?

well for us the tiny house is for when the kids leave the nest.

[sLaughterMed]

I like the idea, but I know Mrs. sLaughter would never go for it. She's a tad... claustrophobic. At least I live in Texas. Land is cheap

[Grant Lamontagne]

I watched this like video and stuff ok, like the other day,  but, like I forgot to umm post it and stuff here,  for like everyone to,  like watch and junk.



Sure raises a few good points if you can tolerate her complete and utter disregard for the English language.

Def

[Aloha]

Like, uh I couldn't get through it, cause like, she was annoying the heck outta me, like seriously. 

[MrsSabrina]

I watched this like video and stuff ok, like the other day,  but, like I forgot to umm post it and stuff here,  for like everyone to,  like watch and junk.



Sure raises a few good points if you can tolerate her complete and utter disregard for the English language.

Def

omg somebody like gag me with a spoon

[Sea Monster]

My father used to beat me for using "like" inappropriately.
Man hated the word.

but onto other things

If I move south it will probably be WAY south.... like Oz or New Zealand where no one can understand my accent and I don't mind because it gives me a great excuse to stay the hell away from everyone!

You might as well, the rest of your bloody countrymates already have.

Hey this brings up a great point.... what parts of the world is a Canadian accent cool?  Australia sounds great except for snakes.

Canadian goes alright in Aus.
What do you mean "except" for the snakes?
Half the charm of this place is knowing that one day you'll forget to shake out your boots in the morning, and BAM, you spend the next 15 minutes having uncontrollable muscle spasms and emptying the contents of your body from every possible orifice

(the good news is, after than 15 minutes, you have significantly less to worry about... )



Seriously though, there's not that many fatalities in Aus from that sort of thing (Possibly because most of us grew up there, and know not to do stupid smurf)

[Grant Lamontagne]

You guys have snakes and spiders that try to kill you.  Here its Mother Nature herself, and you can die simply by being outside overnight half the year.  No spiders or snakes required....

Def

[Sea Monster]

You guys have snakes and spiders that try to kill you.  Here its Mother Nature herself, and you can die simply by being outside overnight half the year.  No spiders or snakes required....

Def

The upside of a (relatively?) small population, is that it is fairly easy to choose not to live in areas where you can't live

It is "mid winter" at my house at the moment, a brisk 32 deg C. (90F)

I have it on good authority that it's cold enough for some people to wear trousers.
The old folks have had to don shirts as well, to ward off the chill.

[firiki]

I don't mind a tiny house. I've lived in some for years. What I do mind is good interior space use. Agreed on keeping only useful things.

Having said that, a tiny house is not a place for kids to grow up. They need space to play and learn how to be kids. So a tiny house needs at least a small garden as well. What if you live in a place with long winters though?

well for us the tiny house is for when the kids leave the nest.

I know, I was just pointing that out. 

[MadPlumbarian]

You guys have snakes and spiders that try to kill you.  Here its Mother Nature herself, and you can die simply by being outside overnight half the year.  No spiders or snakes required....

Def

The upside of a (relatively?) small population, is that it is fairly easy to choose not to live in areas where you can't live

It is "mid winter" at my house at the moment, a brisk 32 deg C. (90F)

I have it on good authority that it's cold enough for some people to wear trousers.
The old folks have had to don shirts as well, to ward off the chill.

Back in the day I used to visit my grandparents who lived in Arizona, now here 80f starts getting hot, depending on humidity, but then it goes into the -0 come winter. Out there a hot day is 130f, but with absolutely no humidity it's like a hot day back here, but in the morning it's only like 65f? I walked out on the porch in only a pair of very light shorts, and my grandfather was in winter clothing, getting the golf clubs out, he yelled at me saying I was going to get a cold, lol..

Another funny thing, is it only has to get to a certain % of humidity for a certain amount of time to be called a monsoon, yet no rain!!
JR

[Mr. Whippy]

I watched some of the tiny house shows where they go to elaborate lengths to make a house towable, but they are so heavy I just didnt see the point.  Just buy a trailer they are designed to be light if you want to be able to tow them around.

 

So this is an excellent point. The custom build really cool tiny houses on trailers are massively heavy.  I would estimate 3-4 times the weight of a similarly sized travel trailer (not motorized, just the towable type). 

To me there are two opposing points on the axis:

Light, portable<------------------------------------------------------------->heavy durable

Then the other axis would be:
Maximize floor space <--------------------------------------------------------->Maximize functionality

The commercially produced travel trailers really do very well at maximizing light/portable while maximizing functionality.  The BossLady and I lived with our 2 kids and 2 dogs in one for 6 weeks while waiting for the county to decide if they'd approve our farm purchase--don't ask. 

The trailer was extremely functional, but not much for space.  And it was light, but that meant when it was cold, we had to run the heaters and quite frankly, I don't think the cabinets would have a 10 year lifespan (little more than 1/4 inch doors and such).  Still, if moving around were the goal, it would have been great.

The portability and convenience comes with a price tag however.

On the other end of the extremes, we just finished building a chicken house.  And before you think it's a shack, we poured a concrete foundation (4-6 inches deep with rebar reinforcement), frame built it with 2X6's with insulated walls and ceiling, doors and windows, ran 30A of 240V to a panel box, with central floor drain, vinyl siding and metal roof with gutters.  With the covered porch, it's approximately 384 sq feet, with 192 inside the building.  No internal walls.  All in, we paid around $7500 to put it up.  We could have saved by using shingles instead of metal but then we also did not run water inside.  It's all built to code and could easily be turned into a nice tiny house (or workshop).  We did do all the labor except pouring the pad, so if you had to hire work, figure on tripling that cost.

If I were inclined to a tiny house, I would go with a permanent structure, not a trailer based system.  I'd only go with a trailer if I planned on traveling a lot and then, I'd buy a standard commercial travel trailer and save a ton on the weight.

[Outback in Idaho]

You guys have snakes and spiders that try to kill you.  Here its Mother Nature herself, and you can die simply by being outside overnight half the year.  No spiders or snakes required....

Def

Radiation fallout, or wildlife?

Sent from me Pocket Parrot using Tapatalk

[Grant Lamontagne]

You guys have snakes and spiders that try to kill you.  Here its Mother Nature herself, and you can die simply by being outside overnight half the year.  No spiders or snakes required....

Def

Radiation fallout, or wildlife?

Sent from me Pocket Parrot using Tapatalk

Temperature mostly, and some wildlife.  When the temperature gets better though, the bears wake up, so when temperature is less likely to kill you, the wildlife risk increases accordingly.

Of course coyotes don't care what season it is to want a shot at your tasty entrails, other than they tend to get a bit hungrier in the winter.

Nate, you are absolutely spot on, as usual.  My questions are this though- does your area have different building code requirements for an outbuilding as a residential one?   If that's the case, you may find that your 384sq ft tiny home (easily two to three, anf in some cases four times the size of many tiny homes) may not meet the code for permanent habitation by people.

While the stucture itself may be sound, there's a good possibility that any internal walls, doors etc may not be suitable for modern fire codes.

And yes, I agree that one may be better off spending the money on a decent second hand unit, especially if you live down south. Sadly for most of Canada, and I imagine your area as well, trailers suffer greatly from lack of insulation.  Even if you can keep the inside warm enough it is difficult to keep the exposed pipes and tanks from freezing.

Def

[Mr. Whippy]

You guys have snakes and spiders that try to kill you.  Here its Mother Nature herself, and you can die simply by being outside overnight half the year.  No spiders or snakes required....

Def

Radiation fallout, or wildlife?

Sent from me Pocket Parrot using Tapatalk

While the stucture itself may be sound, there's a good possibility that any internal walls, doors etc may not be suitable for modern fire codes.

Of course, it's a chicken house, so we made the walls essentially "waterproof" (exterior coated sheathing with a vinyl wall covering.  Vinyl ceiling too).  But to get to fire code standards, one would only need to use the appropriate sheet rock instead (probably a little cheaper too.  All walls and the roof trusses meet/surpass hurricane code--it's cheap to do.  Electrical is strictly to code (actually every outlet is GFCI protected).  There is no plumbing (so that's $) and definitely no septic (in Baltimore County, that's $$$$$$^$--figure $30,000 to put in a complete system now), but if there's a previous septic system to tie into, you can get that down to around $5,000.  I don't know if everywhere is forcing people to install gold plated septic systems however.

[dks]

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/travel/adventure/526067/Tiny-camper-van-pulled-bike-bed-kitchen-shower

[Grant Lamontagne]

I think I've seen that guy before.  He has graduated well past the recycled political sign  trailer he used to live in.

I'll bet the mailman has a heck of a time finding him though.

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

My brother posted this on FB and it seemed like something a few people herec might be interested in:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m_N6OzPXppg&feature=share

Def

[Aloha]

I'm think in a few years these type homes will be sold off cheap.  I can see those who bought these later deciding they want a family, the composting toilet gets old,  rethink the tiny lifestyle, etc.   It appears lots of "builders" jumped into the market so theres that too, lots of inventory. 

MrWhippy made an excellent point about buying a travel trailer vs one of these rigs.  I would think if people really wanted to live this lifestyle they'd have come from a travel trailer or similar.  Its quite a different deal coming from a small apartment to this.  I know a guy who moved his family into a RV  for over a year while they saved enough money to purchase a home.  This is a family of 4 living in a vehicle designed realistically to be used occasionally.  Laundry was done at his parents home and he was hooked into the power gird.  They did have to empty their hold tanks and refill their water tanks quite often. 

I love the idea however I'm with MrWhippy on build a tiny home rather than trailer unless you really do plan on traveling, which would be awesome.     

[Grant Lamontagne]

It seems the people that seem to have the most success at this kind of living are the people with an empty nest- no one seems to have kids, and I wonder how long the younger folks (modern new age Bohemian types) would last if they started a family. 

We camped a lot growing up, and my parents always had a decent trailer, and I can say that it was excellent for short periods of time.  I can't imagine staying in one longer than that, again, especially with kids.  Perhaps as a single person, or even a couple, but not a family.

Also, I will point out again that these things are remarkably unsuited to either a Canadian or Northern US winter, or they are very, very heavy.

Def