Comments on: The Pros and Cons of Tiny Homes http://www.livingoffgrid.org/the-pros-and-cons-of-tiny-homes/ Info for Off Grid Homes Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:08:26 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: john sundwall http://www.livingoffgrid.org/the-pros-and-cons-of-tiny-homes/comment-page-1/#comment-6255 john sundwall Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:30:43 +0000 http://www.livingoffgrid.org/?p=390#comment-6255 shipping containers are another excelent base to create your own micro house,or use them like legos and build your dream 3000 ft house. I am making plans to build a small 2 story home myself using 2 40' containers as the bottom floor and 2 20' containers as the second floor and the roof space left on the 40' containers will be an elevated deck! All steel construction and water tight. it will last for generations! shipping containers are another excelent base to create your own micro house,or use them like legos and build your dream 3000 ft house. I am making plans to build a small 2 story home myself using 2 40′ containers as the bottom floor and 2 20′ containers as the second floor and the roof space left on the 40′ containers will be an elevated deck! All steel construction and water tight. it will last for generations!

]]> By: Kim http://www.livingoffgrid.org/the-pros-and-cons-of-tiny-homes/comment-page-1/#comment-5686 Kim Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:14:59 +0000 http://www.livingoffgrid.org/?p=390#comment-5686 We found a great deal in central Texas several years back. Seven acres and an unfinished 1500 sq ft house for $25K. We have been building as we have time and sealed in about 800 sq ft with the other 700 used as laundry/pottery studio/work area. We built a loft for our bedroom and a storage loft next to the bedroom. We actually do live in the 800 sq ft portion comfortably; and, in fact, have areas that aren't used. The fireplace is the central feature with everything else wrapping around it. It is very open and spacious, and our mortgage, minus taxes/insurance, is only $300 a month! We found a great deal in central Texas several years back. Seven acres and an unfinished 1500 sq ft house for $25K. We have been building as we have time and sealed in about 800 sq ft with the other 700 used as laundry/pottery studio/work area. We built a loft for our bedroom and a storage loft next to the bedroom. We actually do live in the 800 sq ft portion comfortably; and, in fact, have areas that aren’t used. The fireplace is the central feature with everything else wrapping around it. It is very open and spacious, and our mortgage, minus taxes/insurance, is only $300 a month!

]]> By: shawn http://www.livingoffgrid.org/the-pros-and-cons-of-tiny-homes/comment-page-1/#comment-5538 shawn Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:53:25 +0000 http://www.livingoffgrid.org/?p=390#comment-5538 Thanks for posting, I enjoyed the video a great deal. Peter is a smart guy with a nice presence. As a first time builder who just finished a passive-solar house @ 1664 SF I can relate that it is wholly possible for a novice to build an energy-efficient house without much problem (our house even made Fine Homebuilding magazine). As Peter says, Once you have the basics, well it's pretty straightforward. I can also relate that 1664 SF is much larger than my family's needs and that we could do fine in half the size. For resale, however, even a 1664 SF house is considered way too small for most people WITHOUT children (I know this since we are selling). A 100 SF house is workable - for some people. It is one way (and one I find enjoyable to read about) but it is certainly not the only way. An idea that would more widely suit a family would be reverting back to the house sizes of the catalog homes of the early 20th century where many houses ranged from 600-1000 SF. To my mind these are reasonably sized buildings that could easily be made energy-efficient with today's innovations along WITH the added bonus of a long life because of their functionality (something I do not think the majority of these tiny houses will have in the long run). Downsizing is a very good thing to promote. And a 2000 SF is not a small house. In fact, I think small might be considered 1000 SF or less with the tiny realm being the world of innovative people like Peter. Thanks for sharing! Thanks for posting, I enjoyed the video a great deal. Peter is a smart guy with a nice presence.

As a first time builder who just finished a passive-solar house @ 1664 SF I can relate that it is wholly possible for a novice to build an energy-efficient house without much problem (our house even made Fine Homebuilding magazine). As Peter says, Once you have the basics, well it’s pretty straightforward.

I can also relate that 1664 SF is much larger than my family’s needs and that we could do fine in half the size. For resale, however, even a 1664 SF house is considered way too small for most people WITHOUT children (I know this since we are selling).

A 100 SF house is workable – for some people. It is one way (and one I find enjoyable to read about) but it is certainly not the only way.

An idea that would more widely suit a family would be reverting back to the house sizes of the catalog homes of the early 20th century where many houses ranged from 600-1000 SF. To my mind these are reasonably sized buildings that could easily be made energy-efficient with today’s innovations along WITH the added bonus of a long life because of their functionality (something I do not think the majority of these tiny houses will have in the long run).

Downsizing is a very good thing to promote. And a 2000 SF is not a small house. In fact, I think small might be considered 1000 SF or less with the tiny realm being the world of innovative people like Peter.

Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Bill Rockhill http://www.livingoffgrid.org/the-pros-and-cons-of-tiny-homes/comment-page-1/#comment-4591 Bill Rockhill Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:17:22 +0000 http://www.livingoffgrid.org/?p=390#comment-4591 Pete Glad I came across your site. I like yourself believe less is more and it shouldnt cost you an arm and a leg and an ear. Are you a builder originally? I like yourself am a journeyman carpenter transplanted from the bronx to the adirondacks whew big change. !!! Cant even think about going back. Well just wanted to offer our services out this way to central new yorkers and adirondackers if they were looking for a carpenter or lets collaborate if you have someone who needs help out my way please do not hesitate to call or write. Our prices are much more reasonable or shall i say realistic. Very nice site its a mirror of our northern life. Thanks Bill Rockhill owner Bear Creek Carpentry Pete
Glad I came across your site. I like yourself believe less is more and it shouldnt cost you an arm and a leg and an ear.
Are you a builder originally? I like yourself am a journeyman carpenter transplanted from the bronx to the adirondacks whew big change. !!! Cant even think about going back.
Well just wanted to offer our services out this way to central new yorkers and adirondackers if they were looking for a carpenter or lets collaborate if you have someone who needs help out my way please do not hesitate to call or write. Our prices are much more reasonable or shall i say realistic.
Very nice site its a mirror of our northern life.
Thanks Bill Rockhill owner Bear Creek Carpentry

]]> By: sandy F http://www.livingoffgrid.org/the-pros-and-cons-of-tiny-homes/comment-page-1/#comment-4539 sandy F Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:30:49 +0000 http://www.livingoffgrid.org/?p=390#comment-4539 I am currently living in a 480 sq ft house. Beleive me it is SMALL! I love it mosly althought here are times when I miss the extra space. It definitely makes you more selective about your belongings! I only have to run a electric heater about 5-6 days a year. The rest of the time my house can be heated by the body warmth of myself and my dogs. If it gets really chilly, I fire up my crockpot and cook something.. the heat it puts out is amazing and I get dinner out of it! I actually have more trouble with a need for cooling in the summer than I do with heating in the winter. Also, a reminder, tiny houses arent always owned by crazy buts in the back of beyond. Mine is in Denver proper. It was difficult to finance and I had to jump through some pain in the neck hoops when I bought it but I dont think I would trade it! I am currently living in a 480 sq ft house. Beleive me it is SMALL! I love it mosly althought here are times when I miss the extra space. It definitely makes you more selective about your belongings! I only have to run a electric heater about 5-6 days a year. The rest of the time my house can be heated by the body warmth of myself and my dogs. If it gets really chilly, I fire up my crockpot and cook something.. the heat it puts out is amazing and I get dinner out of it! I actually have more trouble with a need for cooling in the summer than I do with heating in the winter. Also, a reminder, tiny houses arent always owned by crazy buts in the back of beyond. Mine is in Denver proper. It was difficult to finance and I had to jump through some pain in the neck hoops when I bought it but I dont think I would trade it!

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