Our Tiny House

[spiritwind]

I decided we are far enough along that we could share my husband's modified A-frame that we are building. He was just going to make an A-frame, but, for several reasons decided to change it after seeing how tall it would have to be. He gets an idea in his head and actually formulates an entire image of how it should look, how to make it work from an engineering standpoint, and how we need to put it together.

Alas, I am not a carpenter so my language will be lacking. I would try to talk my husband into joining, but he's a very outspoken guy who types so painfully slow I would have to leave the room or do it for him. But the pictures kind of speak for themselves and I could ask him questions if anyone was interested. Our friend has 10 acres that we're staying on until we sell our 47' sailboat so we can buy our own property. So this is kind of experimental to get ready for the next one we build later on.

He likes the idea of low property tax, so this is partially what motivated him. Also, we're back living in a 16' RV we gave to my friend 7 years ago. Pretty cold up here for the inland Pacific NW. He has to work another job, so it's been going slower than we had hoped. We only have 9 hours of daylight now and temperatures in the single digits at night. My longtime friend and my husband have done all the work, with me helping where I can. He's very protective, so won't let me do some things, and I guess, at 5'2", I'm probably not a good choice for muscling 4x8 sheets of OSB around.

Anyway, I hope you like the pictures.

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b546/laurie_thompson1/rsz_th1_zps25029408.jpg

The floor is 12' x 16'.

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b546/laurie_thompson1/rsz_th3_zpsc38be6c3.jpg

He made a jig so he could make them all the same.

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b546/laurie_thompson1/rsz_th2_zps4d3d1103.jpg

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b546/laurie_thompson1/rsz_th4_zpsad68c180.jpg

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b546/laurie_thompson1/rsz_th6_zps84565783.jpg

[spiritwind]

Here is some more pictures. He is going to put insulation in the floor. We have roofing paper and metal siding/roofing we hope to get put up before the snow flies, but looking kind of unlikely. You can only do what you can do.

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b546/laurie_thompson1/rsz_th5_zpsd1716349.jpg

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b546/laurie_thompson1/rsz_th8_zps78d62d4f.jpg

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b546/laurie_thompson1/rsz_1th7_zps904a9da9.jpg

They had to build a scaffolding to get the OSB on the roof and used ropes to put the opposite side on.

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b546/laurie_thompson1/rsz_th9_zps77074d72.jpg

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b546/laurie_thompson1/rsz_th10_zps5e92ff56.jpg

Oh yeah, he is going to lower the floor in the loft by about 6" so at least us short people can stand up in there. Eventually we'll sleep up there and use the other side for storage. We didn't want to cut off head room down below for our taller friends.

[thunder24]

thats awesome... great to see people doing projects like this. tell your husband good job...

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

That is remarkable :)

I want to build a cabin someday in KY so thanks for the tip, hehe :)
<-- has big interest in partially-buried structures @@

[Caren]

Wonderful! Thanks for sharing this Spiritwind and best wishes.

[chancy]

Hello Spiritwind and everyone:

Nice job! You will be very happy I'm sure when you get it completed. Keep up the good work. Just wanted to give you a couple suggestions that will save you alot. Insulate as much as you can in the roof, walls and floor. It will take way less heat to keep it cosy and in the summer it will be much cooler.
In our home we use R50 in the roof. That may sound like alot and it is but it keeps the home warm in the winter (heating bills are very low) and very cool without an air conditioner in the summer.
Most people now use 2x6 construction so they can insulate their walls more for more savings in the winter and summer.

If you are going to use wood for heat a barrel stove is ideal and very cheap to buy or build. All you need is a 45 gallon drum and a kit from home depot (they are the cheapest). To save it from burning the bottom just take and fill the bottom with 2-3 inches of sand. It has the potential to last you for 20 years.

Thanks for sharing your new home with us!

chancy

[Joe Sustaire]

I like the design. With the walls leaning in, it gives it a very spiritual feeling. Church in the woods kind of thing.

[NoNeedForAName]

Indeed, a very good work! Thanks for sharing it. I myself feel inspired when I see well thought projects being executed! :)

[sandy]

What an exciting adventure Spiritwind...from the sea to virtually the land.........looking good and will be very cozy I'm sure...............please keep posting as you progress as it is great to vicariously participate even from an armchair position. :couch2:

[spiritwind]

I like the design. With the walls leaning in, it gives it a very spiritual feeling. Church in the woods kind of thing.

My husband kind of problem solves as he goes. He keeps saying it reminds him of a Pagoda. We even joked about trying to put some kind of upturned ends on the rafters. And, of course, I want a balcony from the loft so I can get a better view of the night sky. I can dream, can't I? It is interesting that many things I used to imagine and dream about in great detail when I was younger have actually come to pass in my life. There is something to our ability to manifest from our imagination and even draw to us what we put energy into. I really like the design too.

[Pam]

I love the concept of living in a small place. When I look at the space that I really use in the house I live in, I realize that I could live happily in a much smaller space. I think the secret is keeping possessions down to a minimum and organizing the space and utilizing all possible areas for storage. Once again, when I look at the stuff that I own, there is very little that I really need, the rest is stuff that takes up space and collects dust.

Thank you for sharing this part of your life spiritwind. I hope you will continue to fill us in on your progress. I also live in the pacific NW and you must be cold building at this time!!!!! I see the frost in some of your pics!!!!!!

[meat suit]

looks great Spiritwind...

what is your wall build-up layer by layer? what membranes are you using for vapour control etc..?
I can advise if needed....