Archive for September, 2011
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22 September 2011
Tiny House – On The Move
Seeing the frame of this tiny house being pulled by our truck helps put the size in perspective. As people learn more about the true cost to our planet of building, heating, cooling, and cleaning a large house, a tiny house becomes much more attractive!
The owner of this house will be living in 144 square feet with her four legged canine friend. And the lower cost of building and maintaining this house will allow her to significantly reduce her need to work for an income. If we are waiting for retirement to follow our dreams because we need to stick to a 9 to 5 job just to pay the mortgage, is there another way?
Not everyone will choose to live in a 144 square foot portable house. But there are some amazing and creative ways to reduce our space needs and our ecological footprint, while increasing our financial freedom to pursue our dreams or enjoy more time with our loved ones. The book “Little House On A Small Planet: Simple Homes, Cozy Retreats, and Energy Efficient Possibilities”, by Shay Salomon, has photos and descriptions of many different ways people have been inspired to live simply and more sustainably. Well worth a read, whether you are creating a new house, modifying an existing structure, or ready to really think outside the box. http://www.littlehouseonasmallplanet.com/
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15 September 2011
Tiny House – Portable Foundation
Besides the incredibly low cost for building and heating, this tiny house is easy to move, which is a primary reason why the owner chose this style. This tiny house was custom designed to suit the owner’s needs, and the foundation for the house is a steel frame that was fabricated locally. Jacks fit into each of the four corners, so the frame can be raised and set onto a flat bed trailer for transporting it.
The floor is insulated, and the owner chose to have sheet metal installed on the bottom of the steel foundation. The floor of the house is not completely flat – there is a step up about halfway along the length of the house to provide an implied separation of space for the bedroom area. Having flexible space that can be used for different purposes, and using open concept design with implied separation rather than walls, are important keys to having a small house feel comfortable rather than cramped.
