OWNER
Christo Morehead LOCATION Asheville, NC BUILDER Christo DIY and Wishbone Tiny Homes BUILD TIME - TO DATE 8 months COMPLETION DATE February 2017 - est. APPROXIMATE BUILD COST $80,000 DESCRIPTION Main living room in center with two lofts on either side; two sets of alternating staircases. Full kitchen and bath. Shed roof at 1/12 pitch. Special Features - Floor to ceiling windows in the rear, passive solar, sliders in back, french doors in front, mini split, Hampton H15 gas fireplace, Splendide vented w/d combo unit in separate laundry alcove, homemade shower, custom hand-made kitchen cabinetry and counters, recording studio and bedroom lofts, front and back landings, two alternating staircases that double as pantry closets and front-view bookcases, thorough energy-efficient design and architecture, whisper-wall bathroom vent, European range vent, creative and reclaimed materials throughout the inside for aesthetic features. SPECS Dimensions: 32'x12'x16' high 306 sqft footprint 460 sqft livable space Weight: N/A Electric: Electric with MMPT conversion for solar in the future Water source: City water Hot water: Electric 19 gallon Toilet/Waste Water: Standard, Septic Tank |
PROS
Safe, legal, code-approved with variances; it doesn't cost more than a decent THOW build. Passive solar with full-size windows facing South, zip system wrap, standing seam roof, energy efficient, vented shed roof, European vented kitchen area, private acreage, automatic moisture and condensation control, close to town. Most importantly, safe and legal. CONS Being your own General Contractor is tough work when balancing a job and building your own home....being flexible and having lots of energy and latitude go a long way to not tipping the tougher build days. It will save you thousands of dollars in the end, however. Also, you will make mistakes and changes. Accept this and move on. LESSONS LEARNED - Don't skimp on your important resources: windows, framing materials (use engineered wood only!), power tools, siding, sheathing, foundation, and roofing are all worth spending your money on as it will ensure your house will last as a quality build over the years. Once you get to the interior, you can cut corners on supplies and resources through reclaimed materials, upcycling, etc. On that note, ALWAYS buy contractor's shims for the windows and trim. They will save you hours of heartache and time in the end when it comes time to cutting them down to size after placement of your said materials. - Remember to allow for septic venting in your home for your sinks, shower, washer/dryer, and toilet...it's vital. - While building a tiny house for $10k sounds charming, it's not very realistic, and it probably won't last very long as an actual habitable house (unless you are a crack contractor that has resources and knows how to pull it off). A good quality build will cost you between 45k and 80k, if you are planning on the longevity of your tiny home. - People usually don't factor in the sheer amount of human hours that they will spend building their own home, which will cut into your most valuable resource: your ability to earn a sustainable income. If you have a decent job, factor that into your decision on how long you want to take building, how much you can afford, and your income -vs- cost analysis of expenditures. - If you don't have land, don't spend a year or two of your life planning and then building a THOW and then just expect to move into a major metropolitan area; most cities aren't zoned for RVs; and you will be facing a lot of heartache trying to find a place to move it when the city smacks down on your build and requires you to move it out of city limits. Do your research ahead of time regarding what the laws are in your area. Even within certain areas, zoning ordinances change from lot to lot. - If you do have land, look into making it on a foundation: it's really not that much more money, and you can easily work with the local planning and development department of your city's government to ensure that your house will meet code and ultimately be safe and legal. HUD and IBC are our friends, and they were put in place to ensure our safety within the home. You can always ask for variances and special permits for exceptions for building tiny as well. - Learn Sketchup. It's easy and your measurements will be perfect. It allows you to figure out every detail of your build ahead of time. - Always tell people what you're looking for when building. - You'd be surprised how fast resources flock to the cause of building a tiny house! - Invest in a decent small bluetooth speaker system, JBL makes a fantastic one that is water resistant. You'll want to build to music, trust me, itm makes it much more enjoyable...and you'll want to keep your phone out of harm's way: most bluetooth speakers have a phone alert on them and you can use it as an intercom speaker as well when your hands are full and you need to answer that important call. - Don't purchase a ventless W/D unit unless you want soggy clothes and like constantly filling your tiny home with moisture. Vented is the way to go, and the units are much more affordable. - ALWAYS vent your bathroom, fireplace, and above your cooking range! Moisture and carbon monoxide off-put are both lethal in a tiny home, and too many folks have learned the hard way that mold and mildew build up pretty quick without sufficient ventilation and moisture control. The most useful tools for building a tiny house are: Framing gun Finishing gun Compressor Chop saw Reciprocating saw Table saw Circular saw Power drill/driver combo Grinder Tape Measure Swanson carpenter's square Sander Wood rasp Hammer (of course) Crow bar 4 or 6-foot level Chalk Line Box cutter Rubber-coated vice clamps Contractor's Shims! (You can never have enough) - Invest in a decent apartment-size fridge that has a quality name and a company that will be around forever, such as G.E. Danbys seem quaint, but they have questionable customer service should something go wrong. - Avoid the Chinese knock-off range and hood vents. You might save some money, but they're noisy and aren't built very solid. |
RECOMMENDED VENDORS
- Teal Brown of Wishbone Tiny Homes for consultation services and carpentry resources. He is the authority on tiny houses in the area, hands down. - Triad Metal for roofing supplies - Lowe's for all bathroom supplies (best prices in town). I recommend Moen; they have excellent customer support for parts and services needs. Delta has questionable customer service. - Lowe's also price matches on most power tools. Amazon as well. - Zip System Sheathing is the best way to protect your home from moisture and create a solid foundation. It's also easier than using the older Tyvec house wrapping over OSB sheathing. - Blue Ridge Surplus for reclaimed materials...excellent selection and prices! - Builder's First Source for framing materials. - L.P. Smart Siding: NASA-tested, lasts longer than any other material, and adds R-value to your home. - Andersen makes fantastic quality windows. Check out their 100 series, which are affordable and built solid. - Hitachi and DeWalt make great, quality, affordable tools that will take a beating and still produce at a professional level. - Daikin produces the highest-rated Mini-splits on the market and feature heat pumps and moisture-control dehumidifiers. |