So, you want to build a tiny house.
You’ve spent countless hours envisioning a tiny house life. Your Pinterest searching days are dwindling; maybe you’ve saved a handful for inspiration. You’ve decided on the size, design, and amenities for your tiny house.
现在,你想想你和你的小房子之间的差距。为了弥补这一差距,你需要明确的步骤将你的愿景转化为现实。This article will help you solidify that bridge.
Buy a Tiny House
There are several options to contract the construction of your tiny house; every day it seems a new business pops up that specializes in building tiny houses. To see some of the established home builders and a list of builders in your area, see ourTiny House Builders page. If you just want to get a tiny house and move right in, check outTiny Houses For Sale.
有些建筑商专门定制房屋——把你的设计带给他们,他们会帮你实现。较大的建筑商推销他们自己的设计,有各种布局选择。你有时可以定制这些设计,以适应你所寻找的,但如果你想要完全控制,去一个自定义的建设者或自己做。
Design a Tiny House
If you’re planning to design your own tiny house, you must document your vision. Happily, you don’t need advanced knowledge of design software. Graph paper, a pencil, and a ruler are excellent tools to begin drafting out ideas. A paper plan will help you fine-tune your layout, and help you when you’re measuring dimensions to obtain accurate proportions.
Tiny living expertsAndrew and Gabriella Morrisonsuggest usingSketchUp. They use the program fortheir own plans. You can input measurement, then view the design a few different ways, including 3-D. SketchUp tracks segment measurements, so it can help you produce a more precise materials list.
SketchUp will only take a few days to learn. Get help fromInstructables free online tutorialsor go deeper withLynda.com’s paid course.
Create a Materials List
Don’t start your materials list from scratch—remember, you aren’t the first person to build a tiny house. Track down others’ materials lists; many are published online. Thematerials list from Jenna & Guillaume at Tiny House Giant Journeyincludes links for buying the items on Amazon. You can also write out materials used intiny house dwellers’ budgets. Some other examples:
- Will Pedersen’smaterials cost list
- Siblings Tracey and Trever Powell’smaterials list
Or, reach out to a tiny house owner you admire and kindly ask for theirs. The tiny house community is a welcoming bunch so don’t be afraid to make a connection—you never know where it may lead!
By evaluating several lists, you’ll end up with a workable materials list. You also find out about materials you may not have known you needed—for example, if your house can’t exceed a particular weight because of the trailer you plan to put it on, you may need to investigate lighter-weight materials. Thiscommon building material weights listwill help you tally the weight of the materials you choose.
Get Blueprint Approvals and Construction Permits
The dazzle of tiny house design can fade when you pause to consider the legality of it all. Having a permit or approval before beginning construction will give you a sense of security as the project moves forward.
Don’t want to worry about government inspections and obtaining permits? Build your tiny house on a trailer. A tiny house on a trailer is simply classified as a trailer with a load.
If you are going to build on a site, and you know where that site is, you’ll typically need some form of government authorization before you begin building. The exact permitting process will depend on where you live and what utilities you expect to use.
为了获得这个许可,你必须遵守一些规则,比如遵守当地永久住宅的建筑规范——这种规范的最小面积通常超过大多数微型住宅的面积。2022世界杯四强亚盘赔率从当地政府获取适当的信息,小心行事。可以肯定的是,在当地政府知道你计划建造什么之前,你不会得到电力、水和污水处理服务。
A blueprint, signed by a licensed engineer, is often a prerequisite before obtaining a permit.
Should You Build Without Approvals?
例如,如果等待建造小房子的房产没有完全准备好,没有提供电力、水和污水处理,那么就必须发挥新的创造力。The Tiny LifeandTiny House Giant Journeyhave shared their experience with setting up their site.
One tiny houser told us his backdoor method for getting electric and water hookups. In an effort to gain access, he contacted the city notifying his plans to make a garden on his property, which currently did not have water or electricity. Once he got approval for water, he said he was also building a small shed that needed a light. He ended up with both electricity and water.
You’ll have to make your own moral tightrope walk between following your community’s laws and fulfilling your vision for your life. Know the consequences before you act—one way is to get information about required approvals—and the legal penalties for violating them—before you decide what to do.
Zoning
While no one can stop you from building a tiny house on a trailer, they may be able to stop you from being able to park it. Most places classify tiny houses as RVs, and enforce their zoning regulations accordingly. Many housing developments don’t even allow RV parking, let alone living full-time in a temporary structure. Some places have loosened such regulations for tiny house dwellers. In January 2016,Fresno became the first city to legalize tiny houseson the same lots as single-family homes. Other cities are following Fresno’s lead. You can see the latest national developments atThe American Tiny House Association’s building codes page.
If you don’t yet have a site in mind for your tiny house, we recommend readingCracking the Codeby Ryan Mitchell, an in-depth resource about tiny house zoning regulations. If you’ve already picked your location, you’ll be at the mercy of their current laws.
Preparing a Trailer for a Tiny House
Even though a trailer is mobile, you can’t put it just anywhere. If you put your trailer on soft soil, non-level ground, or an inadequately deep surface, your house will sink, sag, and eventually break apart. To prevent this, prepare a solid footing. Good options include cement, gravel, and high-clay-content material. Whether you rely on the local soil or another material, it must be compactable to prevent settling. ompactability is the characteristic is that it is compactable. Contact local paving companies or gravel suppliers for what’s appropriate and available in your area.
Cement Foundations For Tiny Houses
If a trailer is not in your vision, a tiny house can be built on a cement foundation, as well as situated on a raised foundation. Cement foundations can last up to 30 years, require less maintenance, but are more expensive to purchase and repair. You only get one shot at it, sotake a look at this how-to from The Concrete Network. If phrases like “air entraining admixture” and “liquid chemical curing” frighten you, you may want to lean on the advice of an expert before you get started.
Raised Foundations For Tiny Houses
提高地基的好处是它可以被视为半永久性地基。如果它符合一定的规格,它可以从它的滑橇,码头或跑道移动。不过,请注意,这可能涉及到建筑检查员,以确保房屋是合法的。2022世界杯四强亚盘赔率
Other benefits of a raised foundation are that wiring and plumbing can run underneath, making those systems much more accessible during repairs. If there is any chance of flooding due to nearby water overflow or excessive rain, a raised foundation will protect the finished floor.
Some tiny houses on both cement and raised foundations are displayedhere.
Lumber
你的框架材料是你要做的第一件事,它也应该是第一个承诺的材料。用新的木材做框架——这些是你房子的骨架,它们需要非常坚固。Expertsrecommend light structural lumbersuch as spruce, pine, and fir for framing.
木材是最常见的住宅框架材料,因为它没有经过大量加工,是一种可再生资源。Some opt forpressure treated woodfor floor joists, since they will be closest to the ground and more susceptible to the elements. The chemicals used to protect the wood prevent rot and insect damage. You’ll also need to buy plywood for trim, siding, flooring, shelving. Woodworkers Source offers excellent recommendationsfor which grades of lumber are appropriate for which uses
Roofing For a Tiny House
You might not use the same roofing material on a tiny house that you would be a traditional house. Shingles are not typically used with mobile tiny houses because, while you’re driving the house, wind will blow them off. Also, traditional materials like asphalt shingles and ceramic tiles are too heavy for a trailer’s weight limitations, or require robust roof framing that a small structure can’t support.
Metal roofing is the most popular material for tiny homes, show to the right. Metal is relatively lightweight but durable, lasts 40-75 years, recyclable, and you can harvest rain that flows off of it. Also, you can choose from amany colors and profiles.
Insulation For a Tiny House
If you plan to live in your home full-time, insulation is a must. Navigating these options begs the sequence of priorities: health or efficiency? The more rigid the insulation, the better, as with tiny houses on trailers, jolting of the house during transport accelerates settling. TheR-valueis higher inclosed-cell spray foam insulation—this type of insulation is both an air and moisture barrier. It boasts an incredible R-value of 6.5 per inch. Additionally, closed-cell spray foam insulation lends strength to the walls and roof.
喷雾泡沫的缺点是什么?It’s a very dangerous chemical thatcan make you very sick if you use it wrong. If you choose spray foam, hire a professional installer.
由于封闭式泡沫喷雾既昂贵又危险,许多小户型都在寻找替代品。Tiny housers Evan & Gabby used natural wool insulation, anddescribe their experience in this post. Other, more affordable insulation options include fiberglass batts, foam board, and wool. Just that keep in mind fiberglass, foam board and wool aren’t vapor barriers.
Wiring a Tiny House
复制一份你的小房子的布局,并决定你想把所有的插座、开关和灯放在哪里。这个练习将决定您需要多少线路。标准住宅护套布线用于微型住宅。你还需要一个子面板,断路器,插座,开关和灯来完成系统。你会遇到一系列的测量仪,或导线直径,设计为插座和照明,以及不同的测量仪更大的电力负荷。例如,10规通常用于电器像一个标准的电烘干机和14规的大多数插座和照明。
Other wiring needs will rely on whether you’ll have cable TV, telephone or internet, or a stereo system. Consider supplementing your knowledge with theShockingly Simple Electrical for Tiny Houses. Electrical is easy to mess up, so do your research before you get started. Then, have an electrician assess your system to ensure it is both safe and functional before sealing the wall.
Plumbing a Tiny House
Plumbing is divided into two groups: supply lines and drain lines.
氯化聚氯乙烯或CPVC,cross-linked polyethylene or PEX, andcopperare all possible materials options for your pipes. CPCV is the most commonly used material because it’s inexpensive and long-lasting. Copper is a natural material, but will break down—though probably not for 30-40 years.
Choosing Appliances For Your Tiny House
Propane appliances are more expensive and requiring external venting, but can be more cost effective in the long haul. Electrical appliances are much more common and affordable, though they currently cost more to operate.
Read more on ourTiny House BathroomsandTiny House Kitchenspages.
Choosing Furniture For a Tiny House
You’ll have tons of choices when it comes to furnishings. But because of the confined space of a tiny house, many opt to have their furniture built in, or at least designed around to accommodate what they already possess. Furniture must be as functional as possible, so multipurpose furniture is going to make the most use out of the space. Furniture that folds, that contains storage capability, or that can transform into another use (such as a couch into a bed) is going to fulfill your needs without taking up valuable floor space. Read more on ourTiny House Interiorspage.
Exterior Décor For a Tiny House
Since tiny homes are so small, you can choose materials that would be outrageously expensive for a typical house. Flashy exteriors like cedar shingles or tongue-in-groove wood may be within your tiny house budget. Metal is very popular since it requires little maintenance.
Using Salvaged Materials in a Tiny House
All electrical components, roofing, framing lumber should all be mint condition. The consequences of any faults are not only costly, but dangerous.
Ethan Waldmanbuilt his tiny house and writes extensively about his experience. He“>recommends you buy new windows, as they have the highest energy ratings and provide better isolation than older windows. Whatever you’d save on the cost of the windows you’ll soon lose from inefficient energy use.
With those components aside, there are bountiful opportunities to use salvage materials either for function or aesthetic. There is a direct correlation between time and money, and salvaged items though save money, usually take longer to accumulate. For an example, check outTemple Tantra, built with salvaged teak, pine, mesquite, and several kinds of oak, cedar, redwood, poplar—the world’s forests in a single home.
Tools and Skills Needed For Building a Tiny House
你为你的小房子项目选择的工具取决于你的技能水平。你可以学习操作先进的建筑工具来更快地建造你的房子,但你要为此付出代价。或者,有耐心、决心和对安全的持续关注,你可以建造一个没有以前建筑经验的小房子。
Special Tools Beyond Hardware Basics
如果小房子是你的第一个建筑项目,这些是你需要的工具。
- Eye/ear protection
- Gloves
- 12’ ladder
- Hammer
- Carpenter’s pencil
- Tape measure
- Level
- Square
- Utility knife
- Cordless drill and bits
- Circular saw
- Miter saw
- Hole saw
- Pliers
- PVC pipe cutter
- Wire cutters
- Steel snips for metal roof
- Grinder for metal roof
Other useful tools:
- Tool belt/nail apron
- Chalk Line
- Clamps
- Impact driver
- Flat bar
- Portable table saw
- Hacksaw
- Jig saw
- Steel scraper framing & trim nailers
Tiny House Building Procedure—What To Do in What Order
There is a practical order to use as guidelines when proceeding with a tiny house project. It’s not a fixed step-by step, but some steps have to precede others, which will be noted below.
Tiny House Framing and Exterior: Step-by-Step
- 获得或翻新准备建造的拖车,并在建筑现场将其水平。2022世界杯四强亚盘赔率
- Lay out aluminum flashing on the deck of the trailer and frame subfloor.
- Attach the subfloor to trailer and add insulation, then seal it with plywood sheathing.
- Frame exterior walls, add sheathing, frame roof, fasten sheathing to that as well.
- Apply house wrap, install windows and doors.
- Install the chosen exterior siding, trim, and roofing material.
- Once the exterior is complete, shift attention to the interior.
Tiny House Interior: Step-by-Step
- Frame interior walls in accordance to the layout.
- 从管道开始,安装电气设备。在继续之前,请专家验证两个系统是否正确安装。
- Spray insulation, or place other insulation.
- Seal the walls with the interior siding and trim.
- 将地板材料放置到位,建造或获得橱柜和架子。
The next steps after this will depend on your aesthetic, customized design and needs.
Procedure— Recommended Workshops/e-books
The process is undeniably a commitment, but you aren’t alone. Take advantage of valuable resources like hands-on workshops, e-books, DVDs— and groups on social media like Facebook’sTiny House People.
工作坊是向专家学习和与其他对微型房屋感兴趣的人交流的绝佳方式。Some workshops we recommend across the U.S.:
- Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
- Build Tiny
- Dan Bell Construction
- PAD
- Port Townsend School of Woodworking
- Relaxshacks
If you prefer to read, get a hold ofTiny House Design & Construction Guideby Dan Louche andGo House Go: How to Build a Tiny House on Wheelsby Dee Williams. Both were inspired to go tiny for different reasons, tackled the project, and shared their experiences.
This information should feel like the bridge leading you to your completed tiny house has been framed. The next step is to designate a notebook to compile all necessary information. Be thoughtful, but not afraid to begin. Surprises will be encountered, but the support will be in place and your unwavering vision will carry you through the process, into your new tiny home.