Planning/Brainstorming

By: Mara Yella and Nigel Slon

Questions:

1. What are they?

Tiny Houses are smaller, more compact versions of homes for people. They
have much less square feet (about 100-400) and normally cost a lot less to own
or rent.
2. Why do people choose to live in them?
More people are choosing to live in tiny homes for economical reasons,
environmental concerns and the want more time and freedom for themselves.
As well, a normal home costs double to triple the amount a tiny home costs and
if you are to build a tiny home yourself it around $155 cheaper than a normal
home.
3. Facts about tiny house people
68% of tiny house people have no mortgage
55% of tiny house people have more savings than the average American
55% of tiny house people are women
38% of tiny house people are over the age of 50
Per capita income of tiny house people is $42,038 which is $478 more annually
than the average american
89% of tiny home people less credit card debt than the average american.
4. Planning a tiny house
Determine your true needs: Info here
Select site
Talk with other tiny house people: Info here
Create rough floor plan
Determine major features
Draw up or purchase plans
Create budget
Address top 5 barriers: B arriers, Solutions Part I, Solutions Part II
Start skill building: Getting Started Guide
5. Construction of a tiny house
To construct you need to build a trailer, foundation, wall framing, sheathing,
windows, door, roof framing, roof sheathing, skylights, sliding and
porch/outside trim.
6. Interiors of a tiny house
 The Interior Contains a loft, kitchen, bathroom, windows, shelves, a couch and
closets.
7. Eco-friendly
An average house uses 28,000 pounds of CO2 per year, a tiny house uses only
2,000 pounds of CO2 annually. An average house consumes 12,773 kWh per year
while a tiny house consumes 914 kWh per year
Pros and Cons of Other Tiny Houses

House Pros Cons

On wheels so the Not many

house can be windows so
moved there might not
Nice open porch be much natural
that residents light inside the
can sit on house
Simple design so House tooks
theres minimal quite narrow and
cost on exterior it doesnt look
embellishments like theres a lot
Awning over of room to walk
porch for shade around inside

Solar panels to Colors are a bit

be even more too bright --
environmentally theyre very
conscious distracting
Many windows The small,
On wheels so narrow entrance
house is mobile might make it
difficult to enter
and exit the
house
 Shelf space for Space for
pictures or jars bathroom looks
Ladder to loft is too small to
compact and have a full
doesnt take up bathtub
much space The loft area has
For such a small a low roof so
space, theres taller people
still enough room cant stand up
for a full sink fully
and stove in the Large window
kitchen next to/over bed
Theres also will make it
enough space for difficult to sleep
a small counter when its not
dark out and
limits privacy

Large window in Kitchen space

living area so looks very small
theres lots of and cramped
natural light Staircase looks
Couch looks like very difficult to
its suspended walk up because
from ceiling so it of the different
could rock a levels on each
little side -- could be
Staircase a tripping hazard
provides shelving
area
 Stairs are out of Not much space
the way and for a full
small, but still bathroom
look stable and Storage area (at
safe foot of bed) is
Lots of open hard to reach
space and light from bottom
Large level
table/counter
with a window to
look outside

Components for Our Tiny House:

Loft space with roof high enough to stand up
Large bathroom (full with bathtub)
More windows (with shades)
Storage space
Counter space
Ladder leading to loft (saves space)
Closet
Porch
Eating space (maybe stools with counter)
Couch and living space (with TV)