In this special episode of THLP, your host Ethan Waldman joins forces with veteran tiny house designer, builder and instructor, Lina Menard, to chat about "what we wish we knew before we started".
Plus, we bring you a sneak peak of our upcoming LIVE course, Tiny House Considerations, an interactive, 8 week course with Lina and Ethan as your guides.
To get on the waitlist for Tiny House Considerations, head over to: https://www.thetinyhouse.net/considerations
In This Episode:
- Could we have built our houses faster?
- Better together: the positive effects of a good support system
- How your budget can get away from you
- About our new course and who it can help
- The importance of knowing the ins and outs of your systems before you begin building
Michael Janzen is a legend in the tiny house world, having started his website, TinyHouseDesign.com in 2007 and just continuing to work as a prolific designer pretty much since then. Michael has put a lot of plans out into the world and I have no doubt that there are many, many tiny houses that are built either directly from his designs or were inspired by them. On today's show, Michael stopped by to talk about the second edition of his book, Tiny House Floor Plans. It now contains over 350 tiny house floor plans and it's just a really cool book to look through. The houses are arranged from small to large and if you are in the design or planning process it's a really cool resource to just get some ideas about how you can lay out a tiny house. Our conversation is wide-ranging from things in the tiny house design world that Michael thinks are maybe not serving tiny houses, things that Michael is looking forward to, and more.
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/171
In This Episode:
- Tackling burnout and re-energizing afterward
- Evolution of the tiny house through the years
- Unusual, innovative, and fun: Michael's designs and process
- What are we questioning in regards to tiny houses?
- Is it possible to build a tiny house for free?
This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Engage
The summer can be a little bit too much fun, full of family, friends, distractions, holidays... But for those of us who are planning and building tiny houses what we really need is motivation, inspiration, and accountability to get our tiny houses done. That's exactly why I started Tiny House Engage!
Tiny House Engage is an online community that brings together tiny dreamers, builders, and dwellers to inspire and support each other as we build tiny together. In Tiny House Engage, people are celebrating wins and navigating our challenges together. Let's face it: planning, building, and living tiny can be lonely. Tiny House Engage is a 24/7 online community designed to connect you with fellow tiny housers, get your questions answered, get inspired, feel that accountability, and progress toward your goal of living tiny.
I really look forward to connecting with you in Tiny House Engage and watching as your tiny house dreams progress into tiny house reality. Head on over to thetinyhouse.net/engage to learn more.
If you've been listening to the show for a while, you may recognize the name Natalie Bogwalker because she's been a guest in the past! Natalie is a wealth of knowledge about natural building techniques. In today's show, we are going to do a deep dive into two natural building techniques: slip straw and hempcrete. I went in knowing nothing about these and I asked really basic questions and Natalie really did a wonderful job explaining everything. Natalie also tells us all about how her online building school, Wild Abundance, had to shift to online learning during the pandemic and how she's now created what sounds like a pretty amazing online tiny house building course.
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/170
In This Episode:
- How Wild Abundance adapted and thrived during the pandemic
- Are online classes as effective as in-person classes?
- Slip straw vs cob: what's the difference?
- Natalie explains the slip straw technique
- Should you use slip straw in your THOW?
- What is hempcrete?
- Why we need to be using thatched roofs
This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Engage
Tiny House Engage is a really special online place where you can connect with other tiny house hopefuls, people who are DIY building their tiny houses, buying tiny houses, and even living the tiny house lifestyle.
It's a really supportive community and there are a lot of cool features and bonuses that you get when you are a member of Tiny House Engage, one of which is that you are actually able to listen live as I interview all the podcast guests and you are even able to submit questions for the show. You'll hear in this conversation with Natalie that there are actually some really great questions that I was able to ask on behalf of Tiny House Engage members and I would love to be able to do the same for you.
If you'd like to learn more and get on the waitlist to be notified when Tiny House Engage goes live on Tuesday, head over to thetinyhouse.net/engage.
My Guest today is Betsy Barbour. Betsy’s tiny dreams began in 2017. After downsizing and selling her condominium, she moved into her 200 sqft tiny home in 2019. She has since lived in 3 unique communities in 2 states. Betsy has become passionate about tiny house advocacy and community development. On today’s show, we’ll talk about the different kinds of communities that Betsy has found, the wins and challenges that tiny living has presented for Betsy, and more.
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/169
In This Episode:
- Betsy's tiny house story
- How Tiny Circles are helping build tiny house communities
- Is your tiny home really built for all seasons?
- Not all SIPs are created equal
- The long road(trip) to tiny house advocacy in RV parks
- What it's like to live in a tiny house community
- Build your community before you need it
- Reasons you may want to rethink the loft
This Week's Sponsor: PrecisionTemp
PrecisionTemp is making one product to solve two issues that I know everyone deals with in a tiny house: running out of hot water and heating your tiny house. PrecisionTemp has made the amazing TwinTemp Junior propane tankless water heater, which provides unlimited hot water for your tiny house and hydronic heating. This means you get warm heated floors, so there are no cold spots. It's designed specifically for tiny houses and features whisper-quiet operation as well as high efficiency. If you want more information on how PrecisionTemp can help make living tiny easier and more comfortable visit precisiontemp.com. While you're there, use the coupon code THLP for $100 off the TwinTemp Junior plus free shipping.
Can developing the tiny house mindset help you start tiny living sooner? What is the tiny house mindset anyway? My guest Angela Barnard is not only a tiny dweller but a life and career coach who specializes in helping people change the direction of their lives. IN this interview, Angela gives us the Be - Act - Have framework and explains how to use it to become a tiny dweller… even if you‘re not living tiny yet! I was really inspired by this conversation and I think you will be too!
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/168
In This Episode:
- You can entertain in your tiny home without feeling cramped
- Are you doing it backward? Angela's tips for living intentionally
- Which habits set tiny homeowners apart?
- Becoming who you want to be using the power of your mind
- How Angela financed her tiny home
- Using your tiny home mindset in other areas of your life
- What do values have to do with home design?
This Week's Sponsor: PrecisionTemp
PrecisionTemp is making one product to solve two issues that I know everyone deals with in a tiny house: running out of hot water and heating your tiny house. PrecisionTemp has made the amazing TwinTemp Junior propane tankless water heater, which provides unlimited hot water for your tiny house and hydronic heating. This means you get warm heated floors, so there are no cold spots. It's designed specifically for tiny houses and features whisper-quiet operation as well as high efficiency. If you want more information on how PrecisionTemp can help make living tiny easier and more comfortable visit precisiontemp.com. While you're there, use the coupon code THLP for $100 off the TwinTemp Junior plus free shipping.
I wouldn't hesitate to say that my guest this week is one of my all-time favorite professional tiny house builders. JP Marquis from Minimaliste Houses has been building gorgeous, modern, premium tiny houses since 2015, early on in the movement and his company really has staying power because of their pursuit of building excellence. And I'm not reading any pitch, this is all coming from me. They have continued to innovate to make their tiny houses both safer and better to live in. In this conversation, we go kind of deep on building for cold weather, why JP thinks that SIPs are the only choice for building a safe and warm tiny house on wheels, heating systems, and more. It's a really great conversation and I do hope that you stick around.
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/167
In This Episode:
- Why ventilation is so important and JP's recommendations
- What is thermal bridging?
- Building materials that reduce waste and cost
- Heating tiny homes in very cold climates
- Why Minimaliste makes wider homes
- Avoid these mistakes with your wheel wells
This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Decisions
Tiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!
I was really excited to invite Leslie on the show because she has just published a book called "Tiny Plants: Discover the Joys of Growing and Collecting Itty Bitty Houseplants" and I just knew I had to have her on to talk about plants that you can bring with you into your tiny house lifestyle. I had no idea that this was even a thing so I'm really excited to share this conversation! Leslie is a super outgoing and knowledgeable guest and she actually brought plants for show and tell. Members of Tiny House Engage were able to actually watch out interview streamed live, but she did send me some photographs of the plants we talked about. You can find pictures of those plants at thetinyhouse.net/166.
In This Episode:
- The difference between tiny plants and plants that are kept small
- Where does one find tiny plants?
- What if you don't have a surface to put a potted plant on?
- Creative DIY and repurposed vessels
- The best plants for people on the move
- Disturbing trends and how to find ethically sourced plants
- Tiny edible plants you can grow in a small space
- Sustainably support your plant habit with plant swaps
This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Decisions
Tiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!
I've known Sarah for close to 10 years but we only met in person last summer. Sarah is a bicycle touring professional and also a tiny house enthusiast who got in touch with me nearly 10 years ago when she was looking for people interested in both bicycle touring and tiny houses. It turns out that they are a lot in common! In this episode Sarah will share her story of how she fell in love with bicycle touring and how it goes so well with tiny house living. I also share my story of how bicycle touring led to tiny house living for me.
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/165
In This Episode:
- The various forms of bicycle touring
- Are your things bogging you down?
- Why Sarah chose not to build her tiny house and what she did instead
- Tiny living can take many forms
- Voluntary simplicity and living a life in reverse
- Lessons learned about creativity, the DIY spirit, and learning what you need
This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Engage
Is this the year that you're finally going to embark on your dream of living tiny? If you're serious about building or buying a tiny house, then I'd like to personally invite you to my online community where you can connect with other tiny housers, get your questions specific questions answered, and get support on your journey. If you need some encouragement or just need to know how someone else solved a problem, you’ll get those answers in Tiny House Engage. I’m also very active in the community, answering questions and keeping an eye on things, so if you want to interact with me, this is a great way to do it.
My fascination with houseboats really started when I saw a video tour of Bonnie's houseboat, the River Den, on the Exploring Alternatives YouTube channel. I've been trying to get her on the show ever since. It turns out I had no idea that Bonnie was a talented entrepreneur who has multiple houseboats and unique Airbnb stays. In this interview, we go through the ins and outs of what it takes to actually build a floating house on the water and also some insight about how Bonnie thinks about designing these homes and her philosophy on building.
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/164
In This Episode:
- Can a boat be a 4-seasons abode?
- Doing what you love with people you love
- The River Den: an overview
- Sometimes you have to tap into your inner pirate
- Recycled materials and innovation
- Greywater and toilets on the water
This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Decisions
Tiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!
In their own process for going tiny in 2014, Joshua and Shelley Engberg decided to design a custom trailer for their dream tiny home. Frustrated by how difficult the process was, they went into business as Tiny House Basics and now build over 450 custom tiny house trailers per year. In this interview, we’ll hear Joshua and Shelley’s tiny story, their tips for finding an ideal Parking spot, and we’ll nerd out about trailer features, from tube steel to threaded rods.
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/163
In This Episode:
- How to approach the search for land
- Why did they need a custom trailer?
- The one thing you probably haven't thought of - but should
- How to calculate the weight of a tiny house
- What to look for in your tiny house trailer
- Is weight distribution a big deal?
- Trends in the tiny house movement
- The best way to attach your tiny home to the trailer
This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Decisions
Tiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!
Certification of tiny homes has been a tricky topic for years now. I’ve been skeptical of many of the certifiers because I haven’t always seen the benefit. Last week’s conversation with Jenifer Levini only increased that skepticism. But this week, I’m happy to bring you my conversation with Alex Ontiveros from Pacific West tiny homes. Pacific West has been in the certification business for a long time, and in this conversation, we’ll see if Alex can convince me whether tiny house certification is worth it.
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/162
In This Episode:
- The certification process explained
- RVIA or ANSI: what qualifies for which?
- Egress windows and their importance
- What is the cost of certification and what does it include?
- Why should a DIY builder have their tiny home certified?
- Materials, techniques, and systems that comply with code
- Do you really need a contractor?
- The effect of the pandemic on the tiny house movement
The legal landscape of tiny homes is one of the most frustrating and confusing parts of the tiny house movement. In fact, “tiny home” isn’t even a legal term, so municipalities have had to figure out what form of existing law they fit into. My guest Jenifer Levini is a housing and land use lawyer, and author of Building, Occupying & Selling Tiny Homes Legally. I would consider this episode a must-listen: Jenifer walks us through the 6 types of tiny homes (from a legal perspective), why codes are critical for safety, RV vs. residential code, and her take on avoiding bad players. I hope you stick around!
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net.161
In This Episode:
- Tiny house isn't a legal term: here's an overview of the law
- What are the different categories of tiny homes?
- Is it worth paying to have your tiny home certified?
- The ins and outs of egress windows
- How to ask if you can live legally in your tiny home
- Mythology about registering your THOW
- What a good builder looks like
- Are you getting a great deal or being ripped off?
This Week's Sponsor: Tiny Tuesdays
Did you know that I personally send a tiny house newsletter every week on Tuesdays? It's called Tiny Tuesdays and it's a weekly email with tiny house news, interviews, photos, and resources. It's free to subscribe and I even share sneak peeks of things that are coming up, ask for feedback about upcoming podcast guests, and more. It's really the best place to keep a pulse on what I'm doing in the tiny house space and also stay informed about what's going on in the tiny house movement.
To sign up go to thetinyhouse.net/newsletter. I'll never send you spam and if you don't want to receive emails, it's easy to unsubscribe.
SquareOne Villages is an amazing organization creating self-managed communities of cost-effective tiny homes for people in need of housing in and around Eugene Oregon. My guest Amanda Dellinger is the Community Relations Director, and if you’re curious about tiny home villages, this conversation is a must-listen. We start by exploring the co-op model for housing and delve into all the details of how these tiny home villages are funded, built, and maintained.
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net.160
The concept of Lifestyle Design certainly predates the tiny house movement, but I see the two as very linked. Enter today’s guest, Jessica Malone, a lifestyle design coach who lives tiny herself. In the interview, we’ll talk about the difference between Decluttering versus Downsizing, life hacks for easy minimalism, and the mindset required to succeed. I hope you Stick around!
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net.159
In This Episode:
- Clutter is more than just 'stuff'
- Minimalism vs Decluttering: Are they the same?
- Tips for where to start and how to declutter
- Focusing more on what you do want and less on what you don't
- Should you build your tiny house yourself or have it built for you?
This Week's Sponsor: PrecisionTemp
PrecisionTemp is making one product to solve two issues that I know everyone deals with in a tiny house: running out of hot water and heating your tiny house. PrecisionTemp has made the amazing TwinTemp Junior propane tankless water heater, which provides unlimited hot water for your tiny house and hydronic heating. This means you get warm heated floors, so there are no cold spots. It's designed specifically for tiny houses and features whisper-quiet operation as well as high efficiency. If you want more information on how PrecisionTemp can help make living tiny easier and more comfortable visit precisiontemp.com. While you're there, use the coupon code THLP for $100 off the TwinTemp Junior plus free shipping. That website again is precisiontemp.com coupon code THLP for $100 off the TwinTemp Junior plus free shipping. Thank you so much to PrecisionTemp for sponsoring our show.
One of the best ways to spend time as a family is traveling full-time. Traveling together can be fun, interesting, and educational for your children too. But it can also be difficult. My guests today are Jessica and Will Sueiro, and they are two parents who have done it successfully. They left the American rat race in 2014 and haven’t looked back. In this interview, we’ll get into the nitty-gritty details of full-time travel as a family- from health insurance and medical care to homeschooling and finding friends. I hope you stick around!
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net.158
In This Episode:
- Making it happen, instead of waiting for it to happen
- How much space do children need away from their parents?
- Medical insurance when you're traveling fulltime
- The language barrier isn't much of a barrier at all
- Making an income on the road (pre and post-COVID)
- Monthly budgets and keeping expenses down
- The questions that everyone should ask, but don't
This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Decisions
Tiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!
In some ways, the Yurt is the original tiny house on wheels. If you’ve never seen one, a Yurt is a portable, round tent covered with skins or felt and used as a dwelling by nomadic groups in Central Asia. In America, Yurts have been popular since the ’70s, and I’ve wanted to interview a yurt dweller here on the show for some time. Enter my guest, Kevin Obrien, who lives year-round, off-grid in his yurt in New Hampshire. Kevin will explain why he chose a yurt over other forms of housing and what the benefits and drawbacks are for full-time living.
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net.157
In This Episode:
- What is a yurt?
- Is a yurt appropriate for cold-weather climates?
- Where to buy and what you can expect to pay for a yurt
- Wind, cold, and heat: the yurt can handle it all
- Kevin's unique sleeping arrangement sounds super comfy
- No fridge? Off-grid cooking and food storage solutions
- Plans for the interior of the yurt
This Week's Sponsor: PrecisionTemp
Let’s face it, most Tiny House dwellers want their homes to be small, but not uncomfortable. That means reliable, unlimited, hot water. PrecisionTemp’s propane-fired hot water heaters reliably provide unlimited hot water, and they’re specifically designed with tiny homes in mind. With their patented VariFlame technology, these are the only gas-fired tankless water heaters approved by RVIA and are ANS certified. Features such as cold weather and wind protection, precise electronic temperature control, and onboard diagnostics are standard. With higher efficiency and 55,000 BTUs of power, these units produce far more hot water than traditional water heaters. And since they don't come on unless you want hot water (or to protect against freezing), you may find that you use as little as half the propane or natural gas as before. So go ahead and take that long, hot shower! PrecisionTemp is offering listeners of the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast $100 off plus free shipping using the coupon code THLP.
Is it possible to convert a cargo trailer into a tiny home? On today’s show, I take with Nicoll Davis, who currently lives and travels full time in a 112 square foot converted cargo trailer with her husband Jake and their dogs. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the photos and total cost of the conversion. Oh, and a few days after scheduling my interview with Nicoll, I saw her featured prominently in a New York Times article about tiny home living during the pandemic. She wasn’t happy with how she was portrayed, so we start there. Stay tuned!
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net.156
In This Episode:
- Why a cargo trailer and what did the conversion take?
- What happens when your campground closes suddenly?
- The cost of the build and where everything is stored
- How to travel full-time with 3 dogs - and an essential piece of equipment
- Tips on cargo trailer conversions
- About the misrepresentation in the NYT article
Figuring out how to get your tiny house a supply of water is one of the biggest challenges you’ll face living off-grid. Wouldn’t it be great if we could simply capture and use the water that falls out of the sky? I had always thought that rainwater harvesting in a tiny house would be inconvenient and ineffective due to the small roof size. Enter today's guest, Brad Lancaster. Brad is a tiny house dweller and author of several award-winning books about rainwater harvesting, and he has completely changed my mind. Not only is rainwater harvesting doable in a tiny house, but I’m actually planning on implementing some rainwater capture in my own setup. Don’t miss this conversation with Brad Lancaster so you can learn how to get started with Rainwater Harvesting!
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net.155
In This Episode:
- Overview of rainwater harvesting strategies
- Winter water tips
- How to keep the water clean to avoid having to treat it
- Does a dirty roof affect rainwater harvesting?
- Brad's system and what happens during a drought
- What effects will rainwater harvesting have on your living situation?
- Legalizing and incentivizing rain and gray water harvesting
- Graywater differences, uses, and passive heating/cooling
- Simple is better (and cheaper): Brad explains why
- How to harvest condensate
This week's sponsor: Tiny Tuesdays
Did you know that I personally send a tiny house newsletter every week on Tuesdays? It's called Tiny Tuesdays and it's a weekly email with tiny house news, interviews, photos, and resources. It's free to subscribe and I even share sneak peeks of things that are coming up, ask for feedback about upcoming podcast guests, and more. It's really the best place to keep a pulse on what I'm doing in the tiny house space and also stay informed about what's going on in the tiny house movement.
To sign up go to thetinyhouse.net/newsletter. I'll never send you spam and if you don't want to receive emails, it's easy to unsubscribe.
Michelle Jones discovered the tiny house movement well before most of us, struck up a friendship with Dee Williams, and had her 84sf tiny house built by Dee’s company PAD. She’s been quietly living tiny in Portland, OR backyards for 11 years now, and in a lot of ways, tiny living has helped to guide and inspire her unconventional career choices. In this interview, Michelle shares her reflections on living tiny for 11 years and some of the unexpected things she has learned along the way.
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/154
In This Episode:
- Living tiny before it was a thing: Michelle's instincts, journey, and "aha" moments
- Is there room for a relationship in a tiny home?
- Getting to know your tiny house and preparing for the different outcomes of difficult situations
- Setting up systems for your environment and the importance of redundancy
- How living tiny helped Michelle realize and pursue her purpose
- Building your house out of materials that are meaningful to you
- Staying tiny for 11 years: how to keep from accumulating too much
- When living tiny helps you connect with and depend on your community
- What the Wayfinding Academy does differently than most institutions of higher learning
- Michelle's tips for finding tiny house parking
This week's sponsor: Tiny Tuesdays
Did you know that I personally send a tiny house newsletter every week on Tuesdays? It's called Tiny Tuesdays and it's a weekly email with tiny house news, interviews, photos, and resources. It's free to subscribe and I even share sneak peeks of things that are coming up, ask for feedback about upcoming podcast guests, and more. It's really the best place to keep a pulse on what I'm doing in the tiny house space and also stay informed about what's going on in the tiny house movement.
To sign up go to thetinyhouse.net/newsletter. I'll never send you spam and if you don't want to receive emails, it's easy to unsubscribe.
The home you build or buy may be the single biggest purchase you’ll ever make. That’s why choosing the right builder is such a consequential decision. But since we’ll only ever need to do this once or twice in our lives, it’s very easy to be taken advantage of, or miss red-flags before we plunk down our life savings on a tiny home. My guests this week, Paul Dashevsky and Jon Grishpul started the company GreatBuildz to connect homeowners with reliable, pre-vetted contractors. In the interview, I’ll ask them the tough questions about what to look for in a contractor, and they share so many gems! Don't miss it! Also, Paul and Jon created a downloadable checklist "How To Choose A Contractor" and they're making it available to listeners of the show. You'll be able to download that at thetinyhouse.net/153.
Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/153
In This Episode:
- You have homework: the steps you should take before you call a contractor
- The basic things your contractor must have and why
- Can licensed contractors legally build you a tiny house?
- How to determine whether a contractor is right for you
- Types of contracts and what to look for when comparing bids
- Why you should read the contract or have an attorney help you out
- Should your builder provide a warranty?
- Payment schedules and reasonable expectations
- You hired an out-of-state builder. How do you check in?
This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Engage
Is this the year that you're finally going to embark on your dream of living tiny? If you're serious about building or buying a tiny house, then I'd like to personally invite you to my online community where you can connect with other tiny housers, get your questions specific questions answered, and get support on your journey. If you need some encouragement or just need to know how someone else solved a problem, you’ll get those answers in Tiny House Engage. I’m also very active in the community, answering questions and keeping an eye on things, so if you want to interact with me, this is a great way to do it.
Chad Deschenes is a building inspector who is usually called in when issues like air quality, mold, and moisture have gotten out of control. Chad is here to blow the whistle on some of the standard tiny house building methods, and share some common problems he sees in buildings, large and small. Plus, Chad will share the one system that EVERY tiny house must have. Chad has kindly shared lots of photos to go along with this interview, and you can find them on the show notes page at thetinyhouse.net/152
In This Episode:
- Every home, even brand new construction, should have an inspection
- Symptoms of a mold issue and the lasting effects
- The one system you must have in your home (tiny or not)
- Workmanship matters: this is where people consistently get it wrong
- SIPs, insulation, vapor barriers, and your roof
- How to detect mold in your house and is it fixable?
This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Decisions
Tiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!
It’s every homeowner’s nightmare to discover a small patch of mold, and then learn that their floor, subfloor, and insulation have all become a soft, rotten waste. But that’s exactly what happened to my guest today, Chris Murphy. Chris and his wife Bri had to move out of their tiny house unexpectedly when it was discovered that there was a terrible moisture issue in both the floor and walls. In this interview, Chris tells his story so we can all learn from the critical mistakes that were made in Chris and Bri’s tiny home.
Full Show Notes and Images: https://www.thetinyhouse.net/151
In This Episode:
- From tiny house dweller to houseguest in 3 days
- How Chris's subfloor was built and how it should have been built
- Ask which spray foam your builder is using
- The builder's response
- How do you even fix a mold-ridden subfloor?
- Vapor barriers and insulation to get rid of extra water
- Why you should engage with others in the tiny house movement
- Where do you park in a town where tiny houses are illegal?
This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Decisions
Tiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!
Lindsay Wood is an evangelist for tiny living, and these days she’s as busy as ever. As the pandemic has put economic pressure on a large swath of the country, tiny houses are being increasingly seen as a solution to housing affordability and inequality. But there are some big legal hurdles to get over before we get there, and in this interview, Lindsay helps us explore them.
Full Show Notes and Images: https://www.thetinyhouse.net/lindsay-wood-2
In This Episode:
- Could tiny homes be included in the eviction moratorium?
- Lindsay's affordable housing investment plan
- New legislation in CA that's great for ADU owners
- Why the ordinances in CA can help legalize tiny homes elsewhere
- The reasons that many cities have not allowed tiny houses
- Additional expenses that are necessary to ready a site for tiny house parking
- Alternatives to trailers
- The difference between 'traditional affordable housing' and 'tiny house affordable housing'
- What is THIA doing to help with the housing crisis?
This Week's Sponsor:
Let’s face it, most Tiny House dwellers want their homes to be small, but not uncomfortable. That means reliable, unlimited, hot water. Precision Temp’s propane-fired hot water heaters reliably provide unlimited hot water, and they’re specifically designed with tiny homes in mind. In fact, the NSP 550 model was installed in my own tiny home, and the reason I chose it was because it did not require a large hole in the side of my home like other RV hot water heaters. Instead, it mounts discreetly through the floor of the tiny house and works quietly and reliably. With their patented VariFlame technology, these are the only gas-fired tankless water heaters approved by RVIA and are ANS certified. Features such as cold weather and wind protection, precise electronic temperature control, and onboard diagnostics are standard. With higher efficiency and 55,000 BTUs of power, these units produce far more hot water than traditional water heaters. And since they don't come on unless you want hot water (or to protect against freezing), you may find that you use as little as half the propane or natural gas as before. So go ahead and take that long, hot shower! Precisiontemp is offering listeners of the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast $100 off plus free shipping using the coupon code THLP. Head over to PrecisionTemp.com and use the coupon code THLP for $100 off any order plus free shipping. That website again is PrecisionTemp.com, coupon code THLP. Thank you so much to PrecisionTemp for sponsoring our show!
Contracts, Evictions, Housing Law. These topics might make your eyes glaze over, but they are becoming big issues for the tiny house movement. My guest today is Jody Gabel, a trial attorney with 25 years of experience in mobile home park law, RV tenancies, landlord/tenant and housing law, and local government issues. On the show, we’ll explore the challenges and solutions facing tiny house dwellers, landlords, and communities. I learned a lot and I know you will too!
Full show notes and links at thetinyhouse.net/149
In This Episode:
- Read your contract, read the lease, understand the expectations, and get it in writing
- What to look out for in a contract and what to be cautious of
- What does "replevin" mean and how might it apply to you?
- Do you want to rent to tiny house dwellers? Here's what you need in your contract
- Sometimes exceptions are reasonable and appropriate
- How to protect yourself and your build
- The obvious and not-so-obvious effects of COVID on the tiny house movement
- Should your builder have you sign an NDA?
- What should you do if you have an issue with your builder or landlord?
- The importance of knowing your rights as a resident and where to find the info
Let’s face it, most Tiny House dwellers want their homes to be small, but not uncomfortable. That means reliable, unlimited, hot water. Precision Temp’s propane-fired hot water heaters reliably provide unlimited hot water, and they’re specifically designed with tiny homes in mind. In fact, the NSP 550 model was installed in my own tiny home, and the reason I chose it was because it did not require a large hole in the side of my home like other RV hot water heaters. Instead, it mounts discreetly through the floor of the tiny house and works quietly and reliably. With their patented VariFlame technology, these are the only gas-fired tankless water heaters approved by RVIA and are ANS certified. Features such as cold weather and wind protection, precise electronic temperature control, and onboard diagnostics are standard. With higher efficiency and 55,000 BTUs of power, these units produce far more hot water than traditional water heaters. And since they don't come on unless you want hot water (or to protect against freezing), you may find that you use as little as half the propane or natural gas as before. So go ahead and take that long, hot shower! Precisiontemp is offering listeners of the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast $100 off plus free shipping using the coupon code THLP. Head over to PrecisionTemp.com and use the coupon code THLP for $100 off any order plus free shipping. That website again is PrecisionTemp.com, coupon code THLP. Thank you so much to PrecisionTemp for sponsoring our show!
If it has wheels, chances are someone has made a moveable tiny house out of it. On today’s show, the “it” I’m referring to is a 1985 Railroad Camp Car. My guest is Hannah Doss, who converted said railroad car into a gorgeous moveable tiny house in just 3 months and for less than 9000 dollars.
Full Show Notes and Images: https://www.thetinyhouse.net/148
In this Episode:
- What is a railroad camp car and how can you find one for yourself?
- The budget breakdown: creative ways to accumulate materials and what costs the most
- Did you know about the 10-year rule in some RV parks?
- How Hannah and her friend, Toobz, came up with the mural
- What inspired Hannah's children's book?
- It's not all rainbows and butterflies, but it's definitely worth the work
- Monthly expenses in the RV park and impromptu tiny house tours
- Creative bed configuration and repurposed store displays
This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House Engage
Is this the year that you're finally going to embark on your dream of living tiny? If you're serious about building or buying a tiny house, then I'd like to personally invite you to my online community where you can connect with other tiny housers, get your questions specific questions answered, and get support on your journey. If you need some encouragement or just need to know how someone else solved a problem, you’ll get those answers in Tiny House Engage. I’m also very active in the community, answering questions and keeping an eye on things, so if you want to interact with me, this is a great way to do it.
