Tiny House Designing, Building, & Living (Idiot's Guides)

Do you have what it takes to live tiny? Take the first step to achieving the dream of designing, building, and living in a tiny house (typically between 100 - 400 square feet). Idiot's Guides: Tiny House Designing, Building, and Living is the one-stop guide into this innovative concept of minimalist living. Dozens of helpful images and a full-color insert displaying different types of tiny houses help you visualize your dream. The book explores what it mentally takes to become a tiny house dweller and covers the best approach to designing and building a house that ideally fits your needs. The ebook includes an in-depth discussion on foundation types, financing and insurance, and legal standards, as well as building techniques, must-have utilities, and going off the grid, and home placement. Functional suggestions for décor, storage, and more are also featured. Bonus: three tiny house floor plans to illustrate what these homes entail. Contents iii......Page 5 Part 1: Gearing Up for Tiny House Living 1......Page 19 1 A House with Benefits 3......Page 21 Financial Freedom 4......Page 22 Improve Your Relationship Dynamics 5......Page 23 Cleaning Made Simple 7......Page 25 Mobility 8......Page 26 Free Up Your Time 9......Page 27 Living Simply 10......Page 28 Natural Disasters 11......Page 29 Rebuilding Communities 12......Page 30 Tiny Houses for the Homeless 13......Page 31 2 What Is a Tiny House? 15......Page 33 How Big Is Tiny? 16......Page 34 Tiny House Types 17......Page 35 Early Leaders Set the Stage 18......Page 36 Housing Crash Builds a Tiny Community 19......Page 37 Tiny Houses Gain Popularity 20......Page 38 3 Preparing for the Paring Down 23......Page 41 Finding the Perfect Fit for You 24......Page 42 Living with Just the Basics 25......Page 43 365-Day Rule 27......Page 45 Managing Your Emotional Attachment to Stuff 29......Page 47 Finding Fun and Freedom Through Decluttering 31......Page 49 Thinning Out by Digitizing 32......Page 50 4 Financing a Tiny Home 35......Page 53 Contractor-Built vs Owner-Built Homes 36......Page 54 How Schedule Changes Can Make or Break a Project 37......Page 55 The True Cost of the DIY Builder 38......Page 56 Lowering Tool Costs 39......Page 57 Corporate Sponsorship 40......Page 58 Lowering Your Living Expenses 41......Page 59 Banks and Credit Unions 43......Page 61 Finding Private Money 44......Page 62 Builder Financing 45......Page 63 The Importance of Contingency Funds 46......Page 64 5 Insuring Your Tiny House 47......Page 65 Homeowner’s Insurance Policies 48......Page 66 Automobile Insurance Policies 49......Page 67 Insurance Options for Each Tiny House Type 50......Page 68 Professionally-Built Non-RVIA-Certified Tiny Houses 51......Page 69 DIY-Built Tiny Houses 53......Page 71 Finding an Agent 54......Page 72 6 The Legalities of Tiny Houses on Wheels 57......Page 75 International Residential Code and THOWs 58......Page 76 IRC for THOSs and THOFs 62......Page 80 RVIA-Certified Homes 63......Page 81 How Zoning Works 65......Page 83 How to Approach Zoning 67......Page 85 Avoiding Common Pitfalls 68......Page 86 Parking in RV Parks 69......Page 87 Finding Creative Solutions 70......Page 88 Developing a Tiny House Community 71......Page 89 7 Tiny Houses on the Move 73......Page 91 Size Restrictions 74......Page 92 Special Travel Permits 75......Page 93 Hiring Out the Move 76......Page 94 Mapping Your Route 77......Page 95 Backing Up 78......Page 96 Driving Downhill 79......Page 97 Weighing In 80......Page 98 Part 2: Defining Your Style 83......Page 101 8 Kitchen Necessities 85......Page 103 How Many Live with You Full-Time? 86......Page 104 What Is the Power Source in Your Tiny House? 87......Page 105 Getting Ready to Design Your Kitchen 88......Page 106 Appliances and Equipment 89......Page 107 Ranges, Cooktops, and Ovens 90......Page 108 Refrigerators 91......Page 109 Laundry 93......Page 111 Tiny House Kitchen Layouts and Shapes 95......Page 113 U-Shape Kitchens 96......Page 114 Galley Kitchens 97......Page 115 Fun Storage Ideas 98......Page 116 9 Bedrooms and Living Areas 101......Page 119 Couples 102......Page 120 Families 103......Page 121 Multi-Use Furniture 105......Page 123 Accessing the Loft 107......Page 125 Ceiling Heights and Roof Layout 108......Page 126 Emergency Escape and Rescue 109......Page 127 Living Rooms 110......Page 128 Dining Areas 111......Page 129 Home Office Spaces 112......Page 130 Closets and Storage 113......Page 131 10 Bathrooms 117......Page 135 Design Considerations 118......Page 136 Bathroom Layouts 119......Page 137 Composting Toilets 122......Page 140 Flush Toilets 125......Page 143 Gray Water Management 126......Page 144 Ventilation 127......Page 145 Part 3: Custom Designing Your Tiny House 129......Page 147 11 Choosing Your Foundation 131......Page 149 Cons of Building on a Trailer 132......Page 150 Pros of Building on a Foundation 134......Page 152 Pros of Building on Skids 135......Page 153 What Are My Trailer Options? 136......Page 154 Bumper Pull Trailers 137......Page 155 Goosenecks and Fifth-Wheel Trailers 139......Page 157 Slab-on-Grade Foundations 140......Page 158 Skids—The Secret Weapon 141......Page 159 Engineered Alternatives 142......Page 160 12 Designing Your Tiny House 145......Page 163 Every Change Counts 146......Page 164 Start with Grand Ideas 147......Page 165 What You Really Need 148......Page 166 Double Duty 149......Page 167 Visualizing the Layout 150......Page 168 Designing Your Floor Plan by Hand 151......Page 169 Windows and Doors 153......Page 171 Design Programs 154......Page 172 SketchUp 155......Page 173 Home Designer Suite 156......Page 174 SketchPlan 157......Page 175 The Importance of Engineering 158......Page 176 Wind Loads 159......Page 177 Snow Loads 160......Page 178 Additional Stress Loads 161......Page 179 What Does This Thing Weigh Anyway? 162......Page 180 13 Working with Design Professionals 165......Page 183 Ask for Referrals 166......Page 184 Interview Multiple Design Professionals 167......Page 185 The Importance of Communication 168......Page 186 Designers 169......Page 187 Architects 170......Page 188 14 How to Read Construction Drawings 173......Page 189 Title Page 174......Page 192 Foundation Plan 176......Page 194 Floor Plan 177......Page 195 Electrical Plan 178......Page 196 Framing Plan 179......Page 197 Sections 181......Page 199 Details 182......Page 200 24' Tiny House On Wheels (THOWs) 183......Page 201 Tiny House On Wheels (THOWs) with Two Lofts 185......Page 203 Tiny House on a Foundation 188......Page 206 Part 4: Building Your Tiny House 191......Page 209 15 Identifying Your Team 193......Page 211 Ask for Referrals 194......Page 212 Solid Contracts Are a Must 195......Page 213 Working with Subcontractors 199......Page 217 Managing Your Subcontractors 200......Page 218 Time Management 201......Page 219 Don’t Multitask 202......Page 220 16 Tools, Glorious Tools 205......Page 223 Basic Hand Tools Required 206......Page 224 Recommended Power Tools 208......Page 226 Lowering Your Tool Costs 209......Page 227 17 Raising the Walls 211......Page 229 Flooring Systems 212......Page 230 Framing Defined 213......Page 231 Wood Framing 216......Page 234 Screws vs Nails 217......Page 235 Steel Framing 218......Page 236 Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) 219......Page 237 Anchoring Systems 220......Page 238 Ground-to-Trailer Connections 221......Page 239 Trailer-to-Wall Frame Connections 222......Page 240 Wall Frame-to-Roof Connections 223......Page 241 18 Utilities and Envelope Considerations 225......Page 243 Grid-Tied Electric HVAC Options 226......Page 244 Off-Grid HVAC Options 227......Page 245 Ventilation 228......Page 246 Gas Lines 229......Page 247 Sewer Lines 231......Page 249 Water Lines 233......Page 251 Electrical 234......Page 252 Internet and TV 236......Page 254 Natural Choices 237......Page 255 Spray Foams 238......Page 256 Installation Tricks and Know-How 239......Page 257 Roofing Considerations 240......Page 258 Gutters and Catchment Systems 241......Page 259 Siding Choices 242......Page 260 Windows and Doors 243......Page 261 19 Finishing Touches 247......Page 265 Interior Wall Finishes 248......Page 266 Flooring Options 249......Page 267 Stairways 251......Page 269 Ships Ladders 252......Page 270 Cabinetry and Counters 253......Page 271 Trim Work 255......Page 273 Paint and Stain 256......Page 274 Plumbing 257......Page 275 HVAC 258......Page 276 20 Off-Grid Living 261......Page 279 The Joys and Challenges of Making Your Own Power 262......Page 280 How Much Power Do I Need? 263......Page 281 Solar 101 265......Page 283 Well 269......Page 287 Trucked-In Water Systems 270......Page 288 Rainwater Catchment 271......Page 289 A Glossary 273......Page 291 B Resources 281......Page 299 Index 289......Page 307 Do you have what it takes to live tiny? Do you dream of simplifying your life, freeing up your financial resources, and ditching all of the clutter that's weighing you down? Learn the nuts and bolts of what it really takes to achieve this dream of designing, building, and living in a tiny house of 400 square feet or less!Tiny house professionals Gabriella and Andrew Morrison have been involved in the trade for over 20 years, helping others to construct their own tiny homes, and they have poured all of their expertise and firsthand experience into this guide.Tiny House Designing, Building, and Living is the one-stop manual into this innovative concept of minimalist living. Dozens of helpful images and a full-color insert displaying different types of tiny houses help you visualize your dream. Advice on how to embrace the tiny house lifestyle! How to design and build a house that's an ideal fit for your needs. The nuances offoundation types, financing and insurance, and legal standards Building techniques, must-have utilities, off-the-grid living, and home placement. Inspiration for functional dcor and storage. Three tiny house floor plans, with detailed illustrations! Do you have what it takes to live tiny?Do you dream of simplifying your life, freeing up your financial resources, and ditching all of the clutter that's weighing you down? Learn the nuts and bolts of what it really takes to achieve this dream of designing, building, and living in a tiny house of 400 square feet or less!Tiny house professionals Gabriella and Andrew Morrison have been involved in the trade for over 20 years, helping others to construct their own tiny homes, and they have poured all of their expertise and firsthand experience into this guide.Tiny House Designing, Building, and Living is the one-stop manual into this innovative concept of minimalist living. Dozens of helpful images and a full-color insert displaying different types of tiny houses help you visualize your dream. • Advice on how to embrace the tiny house lifestyle! • How to design and build a house that's an ideal fit for your needs. • The nuances of foundation types, financing and insurance, and legal standards • Building techniques, must-have utilities, off-the-grid living, and home placement. • Inspiration for functional décor and storage. • Three tiny house floor plans, with detailed illustrations! "Do you have what it takes to live tiny? Take the first step to achieving the dream of designing, building, and living in a tiny house (typically between 100--400 square feet). Idiot's Guides: Tiny House Designing, Building, and Living is the one-stop guide into this innovative concept of minimalist living. Dozens of helpful images and a full-color insert displaying different types of tiny houses help you visualize your dream. The book explores what it mentally takes to become a tiny house dweller and covers the best approach to designing and building a house that ideally fits your needs. The book includes an in-depth discussion on foundation types, financing and insurance, and legal standards, as well as building techniques, must-have utilities, and going off the grid, and home placement. Functional suggestions for décor, storage, and more are also featured. Bonus: three tiny house floor plans to illustrate what these homes entail."--Amazon.com A tiny house may be for you. This book offers: advice on embracing the tiny house lifestyle, starting with downsizing, guidance on securing financing and insurance of your project, tips on designing and building a home that fits your needs, pointers on ensuring your home is structurally safe from the foundation up, and ideas for organizing, decorating and loving your new small space