Six Great Danes in a Tiny Happy Tennessee Home – Podcast

There is nothing tiny about the monumental family effort that is takes to keep Tennessee Tiny Homes and Tiny Happy Homes up and running. This week we interview Joe, another tiny house pioneer, and the leader of the crew which includes his mom, wife, brother, and his beloved rescue dogs. Joe waxes poetic about the struggles of managing a business with a creative mind, keeping his tiny house prices low and the quality high, and maneuvering the mind-numbingly complicated RVIA standards. We loved Joe before, and have admired his made-famous-by-TV houses from afar, but we have a whole new appreciation for him now. See more photos etc. here.

Making Your Tiny House A Smart[Side] House

We were casually walking through Lowe’s sometime in early 2011 (as we so often did then) talking about our tiny house and what in the world we were going to put on the outside. We had long since determined we didn’t want to use lap siding or a cedar product that had (remember, this is 2011) become a staple of tiny houses but we also hadn’t determined a good substitution. My dad had once built a shed that he wrapped in T1-11 and I had personally seen an old hunting cabin that was dressed in Masonite^®. Maybe one of those two would work. As kismet as it seems though, just one aisle over was the siding product where we caught our first glimpse of LP^® SmartSide^® 38 Series Strand Substrate Panel Siding (which shall further be referred to as LP^® SmartSide^® Siding). Lowe’s had a stack of 4′ x 8′ sheets that had a wonderful cedar texture to them and truly captivated us right then. The price seemed more than reasonable and as we started looking at the product specs we almost totally resolved that we were going to make our tiny house a Smart[Side] house.

LP^® SmartSide^® could reportedly:

• Withstand everyday impacts like baseballs or rocks from a lawn mower
• Resist harsh weather (such as hail and strong winds)
• Easy to install using standard woodworking tools
• Take paint, delivering optimal adhesion and consistent application, due to its pre-primed nature
• Withstand rot and termites by LP’s proprietary SmartGuard^® manufacturing process

We ultimately went with LP SmartSide choosing to finish our 30ft., single-level, tiny house on wheels, to look like a beach cottage using:

• LP^® ProStruct^® Flooring with SmartFinish 19/32″ x 4’x8″ No Groove, Square Edge
• LP^® ProStruct^® Roofing with SilverTech^® 19/32″ x 4’x8″ No Groove, Square Edge
• LP^® SmartSide^® Panel with SilverTech 3/8″ x 4’x8″ 8″OC Shiplap Edge
• LP^® SmartSide^® Reversible Fiber Trim 4/4″ x 3″x192″ and 4/4″ x 6″x192″
• LP^® SmartSide^® Cut to Width Strand Cedar Soffit 3/8″ x 12″x192″

What about the “other” guys though? I’ve talked about the differences before but after having lived in a house for over two years and then watched from the sideline as another family has lived in it for two more, I feel infinitely more qualified to revisit the definitions of some comparative materials and make an educated recommendation. If we chose a brand like LP^® SmartSide siding in 2010 and are going with it again for a full size barn project we call Tiny r(E)volution v.3.0, why did we not choose something like T1-11 or OSB or even Masonite^®, then and now? What are those products anyway?

MASONITE®

By definition masonite is a type of hardboard made of steam-cooked and pressure-molded wood fibers in a process invented by William H. Mason.¹

Invented in 1924, Masonite gained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s as a material for doors, roofing, walls, desktops, and even canoes. Post WWII it began being used for house siding.

How Is It Made? Masonite is formed using the Mason method, in which wood chips are disintegrated by saturating them with 100psi steam, then increasing the steam or air pressure to 400psi and suddenly releasing them through an orifice to atmospheric pressure. Forming the fibers into boards on a screen, the boards are then pressed and heated to form the finished product with a smooth burnished finish. The original lignin in the wood serves to bond the fibers without any added adhesive. The long fibers give Masonite a high bending strength,tensile strength, density and stability. Unlike other composite wood panels, no formaldehyde-based resins are used to bind the fibers in Masonite.

So What Is The Problem? On the outset, there is no problem. However, masonite swells and rots over time when exposed to the elements, and may prematurely deteriorate when it is used as exterior siding. In fact, in 1996, International Paper (IP) lost a class action suit brought by homeowners whose Masonite siding had deteriorated. The jury found that IP’s Masonite siding was defective.

T1-11

T1-11 siding is a wood based siding product that reached its height of popularity in the 70’s and early 80’s, when a more natural, wood-grained look was popular. Said to be the most environmentally friendly of siding products T1-11 siding comes in two types. The first type is known as the T1-11 plywood siding and the other is known as Oriented Strand board (OSB). T1-11 plywood siding is more expensive than the wafer board sidings or OSB sidings.

So How Is It Made? T1-11 is made from engineered wood .

So What Is The Problem? The maintenance of T1-11 siding is very important as it has to be protected against water, sunlight, and heat. Painting or sealing is mandatory and must be repeated every few years. T1-11 siding is strong and does have a long life as compared to other sidings. However, it is thought of as cheap in the building community, is considered a barn material, and has been shown to have a high moisture absorption rate on the edges after being applied.

SMARTSIDE

LP^® SmartSide^® products deliver all the warmth and beauty of traditional wood, plus the durability and workability of engineered wood. The SmartGuard^® manufacturing process actually improves upon nature, creating products that are engineered for strength, performance and protection against fungal decay and termites. The LP SmartSide, is backed by an industry-leading 5/50 Year Transferable Limited Warranty. ²

So How Is It Made? The process begins with either wood strands or wood fiber. A zinc borate compound is then applied throughout the substrate to help protect against fungal decay and termites. Exterior-grade resins are used to create extremely strong bonds within the product. LP SmartSide Panels with SilverTech feature a finish-grade radiant barrier that resists flaking and peeling. The panels also help reduce the sun’s radiant energy.

IN CONCLUSION

LP SmartSide isn’t for everyone. I understand that. But it is time tested in my eyes. It was easy to install for even a novice as I was in 2010. It held paint well. It withstood scorching hot, Southern summers, and even a snowy winter. It never wavered in high winds and never once made us feel less than safe within its walls. I encourage you to at least have a look for yourself and see if you can make your tiny house a smart[side] house.

¹ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masonite
² http://lpcorp.com/media/1419/lp-smartside-warranty-english.pdf

By Andrew M. Odom for the [Tiny House Blog]

Evenson’s Freedom Yurt Cabin in Minnesota

We moved to northern Minnesota from Denver when we retired. Erik had taught with Outward Bound up here for many years; I’d grown up in a mining town in Colorado; and this was affordable. So here we were.

While there’s a lot more water up here than there is in Colorado, there are not nearly as many mountains or cliffs (that pesky geology). As lifelong outdoor bums and overly-enthusiastic rock climbers, this was a troubling lack. One day, we spotted a line of cliffs alongside a dirt road not too far from town. Inquiry produced little information other than “It’s private property” of someone who didn’t live there. Vaguely disappointed, we went about our lives, but continued to long for climbable terrain close to town, and, separately, some land out of town.

Three years ago, Erik stumbled across a real estate listing touting a 10-acre parcel with huge views and 160′ cliffs. The drive to check out the property showed us that the cliffs we’d seen earlier were on this land. Rock lust ensued. The 360-degree view at the top sealed the deal. We made an offer that afternoon, and it was accepted!

After housing experiments involving a small trailer, a small tent and a large tent, we decided that a Real Building was in order. Unable to convince ourselves of the relative merits of yurt over cabin, or vice versa, we stalled. Freedom Yurt Cabins in Colorado proved to have the perfect combination with what is essentially either a round cabin or a hard-sided yurt.

The engineering was very impressive: the whole thing is a sophisticated jigsaw puzzle that goes together just about lickety-split. The yurt cabin arrived on three truck-borne pallets on a rainy Saturday morning. A local contractor hauled them up to the building site around 10amthe same day. The rain cleared off, and we got to work. By Sunday afternoon, the building was up. Over the next couple of weeks, blessed by the longest, most beautiful autumn anyone could remember, we installed hardwood floors, a wood-burning stove, and a rolling island that Erik built from scratch. We calculated its location very carefully, so that morning coffee is augmented by a view across Moose Lake toward Canada.

Earlier in the season, we’d acquired LP-powered stove and refrigerator. They have worked flawlessly, fed by a 50-lb. cylinder which will be joined by a twin this summer. A La-Z-Boy, a bookcase and some bar stools completed the furnishings.

For short-term bathroom needs, we utilized the land roundabout us. When winter set in, tending to such matters in knee-deep snow and -25 temperatures became less than attractive. We ‘installed’ a Luggable Loo in the Solar Shack you’ll see alongside the yurt/cabin. This worked perfectly. And speaking of cold, our little Jotul stove keeps the place cozy warm, once it’s taken the chill off the building. The standard insulation package does a great job for us, even in a climate that features sustained cold temperatures.

The characteristics that made this beautiful site such a flawless fit for us are what made it undesirable for many other people. It is high up, and sits on rock, the farthest south reaches of the Canadian Shield. So there is no ground water, and a well would be prohibitively expensive. Given the ubiquitous nature of that bedrock, and the thin (less than a foot) ground cover, septic fields are impossible and outhouse pits difficult.

It also has no access to electrical power without another budget-busting expenditure. As I said, perfect for a couple of dirtbags whose idea of luxury is a nice, comfy rock!

Plans for this summer are, loosely speaking, to make the place completely liveable. Erik has built a sink cabinet. We’ll use carried-in water for now, disposing of it gray-water style: a bucket with a splash-limiting top will sit below the sink drain. Its contents will be given The Great Fling on regular occasions. We intend to make use of a rain barrel system as soon as we figure out exactly how to filter the contents and get them from the barrel to the sink. Our neighbors have a very workable system that they have invited us to inspect and duplicate.

The composting toilet and its bale of peat moss will take up residence in the Solar Shack. (We bought this for a few hundred dollars from a good friend and neighbor. It came with the solar panel atop its roof; hence its nickname.) Augmenting the solar power system and connecting it to the yurt cabin is a major priority this summer. For now, our Aladdin lamp gives wonderful bright light. But last Christmas Eve, we needed headlamps and a lantern for cooking and reading.

We’ll build a small entry way to keep most undesirable substances out of the cabin and help the floor last longer. Screens will replace the windows. While the skylight can be opened, it doesn’t have a screen, and so is not compatible with Minnesota, er, wildlife, specifically the six-legged kinds!

When we’re not building, we’ll be relaxing on the slab of rock nearby, gazing down on Moose Lake and the Bald Eagle Diner, a venerable white pine which seems to be a favorite perch for these raptors. Loons, gray jays, white-throated sparrows and gulls are also neighbors. There are also plenty of cliffs yet to be explored; trails to be discovered and brushed; and that all-day, every-day view.

This has been, without reservation, some of the best money we have ever spent. It has given us a different world, a place out of reach of day-to-day chaos, a healing, calming place. The land welcomed us when we first saw it. The yurt felt the same way. It really is home.

If you would like more information on the Freedom Yurt Cabins  check out their website and/or email kent@freedomyurtcabins.com

Evenson’s Freedom Yurt Cabin in Minnesota

We moved to northern Minnesota from Denver when we retired. Erik had taught with Outward Bound up here for many years; I’d grown up in a mining town in Colorado; and this was affordable. So here we were.

While there’s a lot more water up here than there is in Colorado, there are not nearly as many mountains or cliffs (that pesky geology). As lifelong outdoor bums and overly-enthusiastic rock climbers, this was a troubling lack. One day, we spotted a line of cliffs alongside a dirt road not too far from town. Inquiry produced little information other than “It’s private property” of someone who didn’t live there. Vaguely disappointed, we went about our lives, but continued to long for climbable terrain close to town, and, separately, some land out of town.

Three years ago, Erik stumbled across a real estate listing touting a 10-acre parcel with huge views and 160′ cliffs. The drive to check out the property showed us that the cliffs we’d seen earlier were on this land. Rock lust ensued. The 360-degree view at the top sealed the deal. We made an offer that afternoon, and it was accepted!

After housing experiments involving a small trailer, a small tent and a large tent, we decided that a Real Building was in order. Unable to convince ourselves of the relative merits of yurt over cabin, or vice versa, we stalled. Freedom Yurt Cabins in Colorado proved to have the perfect combination with what is essentially either a round cabin or a hard-sided yurt.

The engineering was very impressive: the whole thing is a sophisticated jigsaw puzzle that goes together just about lickety-split. The yurt cabin arrived on three truck-borne pallets on a rainy Saturday morning. A local contractor hauled them up to the building site around 10amthe same day. The rain cleared off, and we got to work. By Sunday afternoon, the building was up. Over the next couple of weeks, blessed by the longest, most beautiful autumn anyone could remember, we installed hardwood floors, a wood-burning stove, and a rolling island that Erik built from scratch. We calculated its location very carefully, so that morning coffee is augmented by a view across Moose Lake toward Canada.

Earlier in the season, we’d acquired LP-powered stove and refrigerator. They have worked flawlessly, fed by a 50-lb. cylinder which will be joined by a twin this summer. A La-Z-Boy, a bookcase and some bar stools completed the furnishings.

For short-term bathroom needs, we utilized the land roundabout us. When winter set in, tending to such matters in knee-deep snow and -25 temperatures became less than attractive. We ‘installed’ a Luggable Loo in the Solar Shack you’ll see alongside the yurt/cabin. This worked perfectly. And speaking of cold, our little Jotul stove keeps the place cozy warm, once it’s taken the chill off the building. The standard insulation package does a great job for us, even in a climate that features sustained cold temperatures.

The characteristics that made this beautiful site such a flawless fit for us are what made it undesirable for many other people. It is high up, and sits on rock, the farthest south reaches of the Canadian Shield. So there is no ground water, and a well would be prohibitively expensive. Given the ubiquitous nature of that bedrock, and the thin (less than a foot) ground cover, septic fields are impossible and outhouse pits difficult.

It also has no access to electrical power without another budget-busting expenditure. As I said, perfect for a couple of dirtbags whose idea of luxury is a nice, comfy rock!

Plans for this summer are, loosely speaking, to make the place completely liveable. Erik has built a sink cabinet. We’ll use carried-in water for now, disposing of it gray-water style: a bucket with a splash-limiting top will sit below the sink drain. Its contents will be given The Great Fling on regular occasions. We intend to make use of a rain barrel system as soon as we figure out exactly how to filter the contents and get them from the barrel to the sink. Our neighbors have a very workable system that they have invited us to inspect and duplicate.

The composting toilet and its bale of peat moss will take up residence in the Solar Shack. (We bought this for a few hundred dollars from a good friend and neighbor. It came with the solar panel atop its roof; hence its nickname.) Augmenting the solar power system and connecting it to the yurt cabin is a major priority this summer. For now, our Aladdin lamp gives wonderful bright light. But last Christmas Eve, we needed headlamps and a lantern for cooking and reading.

We’ll build a small entry way to keep most undesirable substances out of the cabin and help the floor last longer. Screens will replace the windows. While the skylight can be opened, it doesn’t have a screen, and so is not compatible with Minnesota, er, wildlife, specifically the six-legged kinds!

When we’re not building, we’ll be relaxing on the slab of rock nearby, gazing down on Moose Lake and the Bald Eagle Diner, a venerable white pine which seems to be a favorite perch for these raptors. Loons, gray jays, white-throated sparrows and gulls are also neighbors. There are also plenty of cliffs yet to be explored; trails to be discovered and brushed; and that all-day, every-day view.

This has been, without reservation, some of the best money we have ever spent. It has given us a different world, a place out of reach of day-to-day chaos, a healing, calming place. The land welcomed us when we first saw it. The yurt felt the same way. It really is home.

If you would like more information on the Freedom Yurt Cabins  check out their website and/or email kent@freedomyurtcabins.com

UK’s ModuLog Combines Log Cabin and Modular Design

For those who have a hard time deciding between a traditional log cabin and a modular building concept, Welsh company ModuLog builds and sells glamping pods that can give you a few ideas.

ModuLog buildings can be used for various purposes including tiny homes, offices, summer homes, meditation and yoga spaces and in-law quarters. The company has several sizes, layouts and prices ranging from an 8×7 foot model for $8,200 to a 16×14 foot model for around $14,000.

The models are handcrafted in the United Kingdom with home grown timber and locally sourced materials and are fully insulated with sheep’s wool. The large windows bring in sunlight and air and the floors and doors are made of oak. The pods can be delivered to any property in the UK as a flatpack package and can be set up to be totally off-grid.

Options include a drop down tables, box seats with foam cushions, a tiny kitchen unit with sink and range, wood burning stove, electrical and 12v solar system. Multiple pods can be put together to form larger structures.

Photos by ModuLog

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

Tiny House Village at Mt Hood – Grand Opening

Tiny House enthusiasts eager to give the tiny experience a try have a great new opportunity to do just that less than an hour outside of Portland, OR. Nestled under beautiful Mt Hood, surrounded by a variety of majestic trees in a premium resort setting, Mt. Hood Tiny House Village is now accepting bookings for five different Tumbleweed Tiny House RVs.

Tiny House RV rentals start at $129 per night in a resort campground that features hiking on the Salmon River, an indoor pool, a fitness center and more. Each of the five tiny houses is unique, boasting different colors, personalities, and floor plans. Details for each can be found at https://www.mthoodtinyhouse.com/home#about.

A Must-See for Tiny Housers

The Tiny House Village provides a rare opportunity for anyone considering a Tiny House RV. Guests can check out Tumbleweed RVs in detail and get a sense of what it’s like to spend time in a Tiny House RV with the whole family. Spend a night, a weekend, a week or more at this fabulous location and enjoy all the area has to offer while taking in the tiny lifestyle. It’s a great Tiny House experience and the price is right.

Tiny House Village Grand Opening – Free Event

Come by and tour all five Tiny Houses on Friday May 20^th, 2016 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. This will be the ONLY chance to view all the Tiny Houses at the same time. In addition, the event will feature:

• Tumbleweed CEO and owner, Steve Weissmann, will give a presentation on The Future of Tiny Houses
• Tiny House Travelers Jenna Spesard and Guillaume Dutilh of Tiny House Giant Journey will share some of their experiences traveling the country with a Tiny House in tow.
• First 100 guests will receive a FREE copy of the book Tiny House Style written by Steve and Jenna. Both will be there to personally sign your copy and talk tiny with you.
• Food and live music!

I am planning to be there too so come and visit! The houses are below for those of you who can’t make it. Plan a vacation and come see the beautiful northwest!

Tiny House Village at Mt Hood – Grand Opening

Tiny House enthusiasts eager to give the tiny experience a try have a great new opportunity to do just that less than an hour outside of Portland, OR. Nestled under beautiful Mt Hood, surrounded by a variety of majestic trees in a premium resort setting, Mt. Hood Tiny House Village is now accepting bookings for five different Tumbleweed Tiny House RVs.

Tiny House RV rentals start at $129 per night in a resort campground that features hiking on the Salmon River, an indoor pool, a fitness center and more. Each of the five tiny houses is unique, boasting different colors, personalities, and floor plans. Details for each can be found at https://www.mthoodtinyhouse.com/home#about.

A Must-See for Tiny Housers

The Tiny House Village provides a rare opportunity for anyone considering a Tiny House RV. Guests can check out Tumbleweed RVs in detail and get a sense of what it’s like to spend time in a Tiny House RV with the whole family. Spend a night, a weekend, a week or more at this fabulous location and enjoy all the area has to offer while taking in the tiny lifestyle. It’s a great Tiny House experience and the price is right.

Tiny House Village Grand Opening – Free Event

Come by and tour all five Tiny Houses on Friday May 20^th, 2016 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. This will be the ONLY chance to view all the Tiny Houses at the same time. In addition, the event will feature:

• Tumbleweed CEO and owner, Steve Weissmann, will give a presentation on The Future of Tiny Houses
• Tiny House Travelers Jenna Spesard and Guillaume Dutilh of Tiny House Giant Journey will share some of their experiences traveling the country with a Tiny House in tow.
• First 100 guests will receive a FREE copy of the book Tiny House Style written by Steve and Jenna. Both will be there to personally sign your copy and talk tiny with you.
• Food and live music!

I am planning to be there too so come and visit! The houses are below for those of you who can’t make it. Plan a vacation and come see the beautiful northwest!