Tiny Houses

[LarryHoward]

He is all focus. Not sure what you a...

Not another Butterfly! Cool!

[Rasp]

This place just went up seemingly overnight just down the bayou from me. Lots of neat innovations, especially the sodded roofs.

http://chuckbarnes.com/the-gulf-restaur ... nge-beach/

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[derekb]

Beau, thanks for the note on the compost heated wall, that is not something I knew about.

[BeauV]

Beau, thanks for the note on the compost heated wall, that is not something I knew about.

LOL - you should SMELL IT! You'd like to remove that memory from your brain - unless there's a gentle wind blowing and then it's great. BTW, every spring the "family" shovels all that shit out of the barn. This is a job you really don't want to be around for. I know, I made the mistake of being there in springtime. ARGGG!!!

[kdh]

LOL - you should SMELL IT! You'd like to remove that memory from your brain - unless there's a gentle wind blowing and then it's great. BTW, every spring the "family" shovels all that shit out of the barn. This is a job you really don't want to be around for. I know, I made the mistake of being there in springtime. ARGGG!!!

My thoughts. There is a whole world of bacteria, bigger than ours, one we couldn't live without. There are two kinds: aerobic, they do their thing with no smell; anaerobic, they smell, and some of them are bad for us, which is why natural selection has given us the ability to detect them.

We want to make the aerobic win the war of the bacteria. Best way: AIR. That's what aerobic means.

[Soñadora]

I've been playing around with this concept the last few weeks. Here's what I've come up with:

• The house will be 2 stories plus a basement. Each floor is about 400 sq. ft. Exterior dimensions approx 30' x 15'
• The sleeping quarters (staterooms) will be on the first floor.
  
  • Guest/Crew staterooms (2) are 8' x 8'
  • Head w/shower 6' x 8'
  • Master stateroom is 14' x 8' + ensuite head
• Galley, settee and saloon will be on the 2nd floor.
• Basement will house utilities, study
• Roof top 'flybridge'
• All furnishings built-in
• 24v electrical service with connection to grid for backup
• Propane gas service with natgas service for backup
• Public water and waste service (may consider a composting head)

I know this sounds like some kind of furry faced, tiny hands tree hugger mumbo jumbo, but I think it sounds intriguing from an engineering standpoint. All-in, the costs of going with a 24v system along with wind/sun charging system is comparable to grid service over time. So there's not a real cost saving and environmentally it's no better either since you will need to manage your electricity with batteries...lots of them when you consider stuff like laundry and refridgerator. It just sounds like a cool design problem.

The reason for having the main activity areas on the top floor has to do with location. I actually have a building lot in mind and it sits directly on a busy sidewalk. The staterooms are on the opposite side of the house from the sidewalk with the stairs on the sidewalk side leading up to the 2nd floor. On the 2nd floor, there's a clear view of the surroundings and a lot of sunlight will come into that space.

I've started a rough concept drawing and will share that once I get a few more details in.

[LarryHoward]

I've been playing around with this concept the last few weeks. Here's what I've come up with:

• The house will be 2 stories plus a basement. Each floor is about 400 sq. ft. Exterior dimensions approx 30' x 15'
• The sleeping quarters (staterooms) will be on the first floor.
  
  • Guest/Crew staterooms (2) are 8' x 8'
  • Head w/shower 6' x 8'
  • Master stateroom is 14' x 8' + ensuite head
• Galley, settee and saloon will be on the 2nd floor.
• Basement will house utilities, study
• Roof top 'flybridge'
• All furnishings built-in
• 24v electrical service with connection to grid for backup
• Propane gas service with natgas service for backup
• Public water and waste service (may consider a composting head)

I know this sounds like some kind of furry faced, tiny hands tree hugger mumbo jumbo, but I think it sounds intriguing from an engineering standpoint. All-in, the costs of going with a 24v system along with wind/sun charging system is comparable to grid service over time. So there's not a real cost saving and environmentally it's no better either since you will need to manage your electricity with batteries...lots of them when you consider stuff like laundry and refridgerator. It just sounds like a cool design problem.

The reason for having the main activity areas on the top floor has to do with location. I actually have a building lot in mind and it sits directly on a busy sidewalk. The staterooms are on the opposite side of the house from the sidewalk with the stairs on the sidewalk side leading up to the 2nd floor. On the 2nd floor, there's a clear view of the surroundings and a lot of sunlight will come into that space.

I've started a rough concept drawing and will share that once I get a few more details in.

Rick,

As you lay it out, make sure you account for wall thickness, both interior and exterior. when you lay out the room dimensions. In a "tiny house", they can make a huge difference. Also might look at dimensional lumber, siding, etc to make layout easier and reduce offcuts and waste. Recommend a "Powder room" on the floor with the galley and entertainment spaces. Even with built ins, 8X8 is a pretty small stateroom unless the occupant(s) are extremely efficient in storage.

Pretty neat project.

[JoeP]

Sounds cool Rick. I like the idea. Is this a budget constrained project? Have you contemplated an emergency generator or battery back-up? Soundproofing interior bulkheads and decks?

[Soñadora]

Thanks Larry,

In a former, former life, I had embarked on a promising career in Architecture. Then I worked as an intern for an Architect.

Too many a-holes in that industry. They didn't have room for one more

At least I got a rudimentary knowledge of home construction so I'm familiar with nominal, dimensional lumber, sheathing, siding, facia, etc. One summer project while in school was to build a house. That was a great experience. I still have a deep interest in architecture...especially residential architecture. In fact, I've developed an architectural library for use in SolidWorks (not typically used for Architecture, but a great tool for architecture nevertheless).

[LarryHoward]

Thanks Larry,

In a former, former life, I had embarked on a promising career in Architecture. Then I worked as an intern for an Architect.

Too many a-holes in that industry. They didn't have room for one more

At least I got a rudimentary knowledge of home construction so I'm familiar with nominal, dimensional lumber, sheathing, siding, facia, etc. One summer project while in school was to build a house. That was a great experience. I still have a deep interest in architecture...especially residential architecture. In fact, I've developed an architectural library for use in SolidWorks (not typically used for Architecture, but a great tool for architecture nevertheless).

Excellent. I've helped a number of remodeling projects/extensions where we burned a lot of left over lumber because they didn't plan for dimensional lumber. Personally guilty of the "thin line/thick wall" mistake.

Let's see. Sailmaking, architecture, three wheeler with snow tires. What else are you going to do this winter?

[Soñadora]

Thanks Joe

No constraints on costs right now since it's all just fantasy in my mind.
That said, the goal would be for it to be considerably cheaper than a 'regular' home.

This would still be attached to the grid. But the grid would be the backup. Soundproofing (and serious insulation...it's Minnesota ) would be throughout. Walls would be standard 2x4 construction.

As for 8'x8' bedroom, I have a practical reason for this. As a dad, it's irritating that my kids go into their room and shut the world out. There is too much room in there. They have all their junk. Computer. etc. And their rooms are a disaster. This seems very common for teens. But just because everyone else does it, that doesn't make it right. I figure a bedroom is for sleeping. For all the other stuff like eating, watching TV, studying, we can have space for that. I was thinking of having individual 'nav stations' for each of the kids to use for studying.

Think of a boat's interior. People don't typically stay in their bunk. At least, they shouldn't. Unless they're sleeping. Or they're sick. Bedrooms should be for sleepin' except for mom & dad's room

[Soñadora]

What else are you going to do this winter?

If I can get heat to the garage I may work on rebuilding the engine in my old Porsche.
This weekend I plan on running 50A service to the garage and building a 2-piece rolling workbench.

The admiral may have other plans for me though.

[Panope]

Rick,

We must be drinking the same water! I'm just putting the finishing touches on a design that I will build next spring. Might sub-out the foundations and get going this winter (we are mild enough to pour concrete all year).

The house is about 800 sq. feet living space. Foot print is 24'X24'. Will make a good rental and then possibly sell to snow birds with Boat and/or R.V..

The utility building is large enough to house Panope (or ?????). The building lot is about 1 mile from the haul-out on residential streets.

I thought very seriously about doing something like your "staterooms" instead of normal bedrooms. I chickened out and played it safe for re-sale.

Steve

[JoeP]

What's with all those straight lines???

[Panope]

What's with all those straight lines???

The straighter the lines, the higher the profit margin.

[JoeP]

What's with all those straight lines???

The straighter the lines, the higher the profit margin.

At the expense of good hydrodynamics though...

[Olaf Hart]

I have been having the same hallucinations as you Rick, including the power supply.

We also use rain water here, and with a composting toilet could be completely off the grid.

But I want to build my little house with a lighthouse attached to one side, always wanted to live in a lighthouse.

[Tucky]

Newfoundland is a great place to study tiny houses. Find a book called "Tilting" for an introduction. I know it would hurt resale but they used to build the second floors with about 4 foot ceilings- saves big on heat . . . . . .

[Soñadora]

I'm mainly interested in pursuing this in an urban setting. The lots in S. Minneapolis are 50 x 100. But think of a home that's affordable to build on a small lot in SF or NY.

[Soñadora]

so this isn't too tiny (35' x 14'), but it's a lot smaller than your typical house.

These are preliminary. I'll have some elevations later.

ground elevation:

00_stateroom-details.png

upper deck:

01_stateroom-details.png

[Panope]

Rick

I like the built-in table/settee. A real space saver for sure. Does the wall that divides the galley and settee go all the way to the cieling? Might be nice to have that be only a "half wall" so the cook can be part of the socializing.

Steve

[LarryHoward]

Don't bunk the crew against the master bedroom bulkhead. Trust me on this.

[Jamie]

These little houses are all very cute. But how do you get them to go to windward?

[BeauV]

These little houses are all very cute. But how do you get them to go to windward?

Flat bed truck!

[Pipe Dream]

With space a premium, why have two toilets?

[Soñadora]

With space a premium, why have two toilets?

As a father of 3 girls, trust me...there are levels of insanity I don't suggest anyone ever experiencing.

Even in a tiny house

As I look at this and compare to other 'tiny houses', I'm thinking I could lop off the rest of the house aft of the master stateroom if it were only going to be lived in by a couple.

As it is, I'm imagining this for a family of 4. Maybe 6 for a catholic family

also, to address the crew next to the master stateroom, this is the same arrangement we currently have in our home. Our house was built in 1922. Lath and plaster walls are excellent sound insulation. I figure a soundproof wall would be sufficient. There shouldn't be any 'bumping' as the furniture is all built in, if you know what I mean.

[derekb]

All this talk of tiny houses has us downsizing, we are in escrow on a floating home that is about 40% smaller than our already modest house.

Living on the water seams worth trading empty rooms for.

[Panope]

All this talk of tiny houses has us downsizing, we are in escrow on a floating home that is about 40% smaller than our already modest house.

Living on the water seams worth trading empty rooms for.

That sounds awesome Derek. How far will you have to Taxi from landing zone to your front porch?

Steve

[kimbottles]

All this talk of tiny houses has us downsizing, we are in escrow on a floating home that is about 40% smaller than our already modest house.

Living on the water seams worth trading empty rooms for.

That sounds awesome Derek. How far will you have to Taxi from landing zone to your front porch?

Steve

I think he is going to leave the float-plane in Kenmore.

[derekb]

I found a possible place to set up ramp launching and storage about 100 yards from the new house but that is more a long term project. Float plans are wide and hard to get into tight docking so the plane will stay at Kenmore for now. Besides they wash the plane for me, add fuel, launch and retrieve etc all in my fee. I would need to fly there anyway to get fuel.

How I get to Kenmore is up for debate however.