Table Of ContentNo one likes a know-it-all. Most of us realize there’s no such thing—how
could there be? The world is far too complicated for someone to under-
stand everything there is to know. So when you come across a know-it-all,
you smile to yourself as they ramble on because you know better.
You understand that the quest for knowledge is a never-ending one, and
you’re okay with that. You have no desire to know everything, just the
next thing. You know what you don’t know, you’re confident enough to
admit it, and you’re motivated to do something about it.
At Idiot’s Guides, we, too, know what we don’t know, and we make it our
business to find out. We find really smart people who are experts in
their fields and then we roll up our sleeves and get to work, asking lots of
questions and thinking long and hard about how best to pass along their
knowledge to you in the easiest, most-accessible way possible.
After all, that’s our promise—to make whatever you want to learn “As
Easy as It Gets.” That means giving you a well-organized design that
seamlessly and effortlessly guides you from page to page, topic to topic. It
means controlling the pace you’re asked to absorb new information—
not too much at once but just what you need to know right now. It means
giving you a clear progression from easy to more difficult.
It means giving you more instructional steps wherever necessary to really
explain the details. And it means giving you fewer words and more illus-
trations wherever it’s better to show rather than tell.
So here you are, at the start of something new. The next chapter in your
quest. It can be an intimidating place to be, but you’ve been here before
and so have we. Clear your mind and turn the page. By the end of this
book, you won’t be a know-it-all, but your world will be a little less
complicated than it was before. And we’ll be sure your journey is as easy
as it gets.
Mike Sanders
Publisher, Idiot’s Guides
Tiny House
Designing,
Building, & Living
by Gabriella and Andrew Morrison
A member of Penguin Random House LLC
Publisher: Mike Sanders
Associate Publisher: Billy Fields
Acquisitions Editor: Jan Lynn
Development Editor: Rick Kughen
Cover Designer: Ayanna Lacey
Book Designer: William Thomas
Compositor: Ayanna Lacey
Proofreader: Jamie Fields
Indexer: Tonya Heard
We lovingly and humbly dedicate this book to three exceptional human beings:
Our two children: Paiute and Terra. We don’t know too many teenagers that would have
been as enthusiastic about shifting into a tiny house lifestyle as you two were. Thank you
for your trust, support, and for always inspiring us to be the very best versions of ourselves.
Eileen Betty Morrison, who always taught us that in life, the important piece is to be true to
oneself. The rest? Well, those are just details …
First American Edition, 2017
Published in the United States by DK Publishing
6081 E. 82nd Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46250
Copyright © 2017 Dorling Kindersley Limited
A Penguin Random House Company
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Published in the United States by Dorling Kindersley Limited.
ISBN: 9781465462701
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2016956289
Note: This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author(s). It is intended to
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Contents
Part 1: Gearing Up for Tiny House Living .........................................1
1 A House with Benefits .................................................................3
Financial Freedom ..........................................................................................................................................4
Improve Your Relationship Dynamics ...............................................................................................5
Cleaning Made Simple ................................................................................................................................7
Environmental Benefits...............................................................................................................................8
Mobility.................................................................................................................................................................8
Free Up Your Time .......................................................................................................................................9
Living Simply ..................................................................................................................................................10
Natural Disasters ...........................................................................................................................................11
Rebuilding Communities .........................................................................................................................12
Tiny Houses for the Homeless .............................................................................................................13
2 What Is a Tiny House? ...............................................................15
How Big Is Tiny? ...........................................................................................................................................16
Tiny House Types ........................................................................................................................................17
The Story of the Tiny House Movement ......................................................................................18
Early Leaders Set the Stage ....................................................................................................................18
Housing Crash Builds a Tiny Community ........................................................................................19
Tiny Houses Gain Popularity ...............................................................................................................20
3 Preparing for the Paring Down ..............................................23
Finding the Perfect Fit for You ............................................................................................................24
Living with Just the Basics ......................................................................................................................25
Declutter Your Life ......................................................................................................................................27
365-Day Rule ...............................................................................................................................................27
Managing Your Emotional Attachment to Stuff .............................................................................29
Defining Your Own Life .........................................................................................................................31
Finding Fun and Freedom Through Decluttering ..........................................................................31
Thinning Out by Digitizing...................................................................................................................32
4 Financing a Tiny Home ............................................................35
Estimating 101 .................................................................................................................................................36
Contractor-Built vs. Owner-Built Homes .........................................................................................36
Count Every Nail........................................................................................................................................37
How Schedule Changes Can Make or Break a Project .................................................................37
The True Cost of the DIY Builder .......................................................................................................38
iv Tiny House Designing, Building, & Living
Simple Ways to Lower Costs .................................................................................................................39
Lowering Tool Costs ..................................................................................................................................39
Using Salvaged Materials .......................................................................................................................40
Corporate Sponsorship ...............................................................................................................................40
Saving for Your Project .............................................................................................................................41
Lowering Your Living Expenses .........................................................................................................41
Financing Your Home ................................................................................................................................43
Banks and Credit Unions ........................................................................................................................43
Lines of Credit and Equity Lines ..........................................................................................................44
Finding Private Money ............................................................................................................................44
Tiny House Lending ..................................................................................................................................45
Builder Financing .......................................................................................................................................45
The Importance of Contingency Funds ...............................................................................................46
5 Insuring Your Tiny House .........................................................47
Insurance 101 ...................................................................................................................................................48
Homeowner’s Insurance Policies ............................................................................................................48
RV Insurance Policies ................................................................................................................................49
Inland Marine Insurance Policies ........................................................................................................49
Automobile Insurance Policies ................................................................................................................49
Renter’s Insurance Policies ......................................................................................................................50
Insurance Options for Each Tiny House Type ..........................................................................50
RVIA-Certified Tiny Houses .................................................................................................................51
Professionally-Built Non-RVIA-Certified Tiny Houses .............................................................51
DIY-Built Tiny Houses ...........................................................................................................................53
Finding an Agent ...........................................................................................................................................54
6 The Legalities of Tiny Houses on Wheels ...........................57
Understanding Certification Options ..............................................................................................58
International Residential Code and THOWs ..................................................................................58
IRC for THOSs and THOFs .................................................................................................................62
RVIA-Certified Homes .............................................................................................................................63
DOT-Certified Trailers ...........................................................................................................................65
Zoning and Where to Park .....................................................................................................................65
How Zoning Works ....................................................................................................................................65
How to Approach Zoning .........................................................................................................................67
Avoiding Common Pitfalls .......................................................................................................................68
Your Primary Residence ..........................................................................................................................69
Parking in RV Parks .................................................................................................................................69
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) ........................................................................................................70
Contents v
Finding Creative Solutions .....................................................................................................................70
How Variances Work ................................................................................................................................71
Developing a Tiny House Community ................................................................................................71
7 Tiny Houses on the Move ........................................................73
Size Restrictions ............................................................................................................................................74
Special Travel Permits ...............................................................................................................................75
Hiring Out the Move ................................................................................................................................76
Mapping Your Route .................................................................................................................................77
Learning to Drive Your House .............................................................................................................78
Backing Up ....................................................................................................................................................78
Know the Road .............................................................................................................................................79
Driving Downhill .......................................................................................................................................79
Weighing In...................................................................................................................................................80
Part 2: Defining Your Style ...............................................................83
8 Kitchen Necessities ...................................................................85
How Important Is Your Kitchen? ........................................................................................................86
How Often Do You Cook? ........................................................................................................................86
How Many Live with You Full-Time? ...............................................................................................86
What Are Your Cooking Habits? ...........................................................................................................87
What Is the Power Source in Your Tiny House? ............................................................................87
What Is Your Budget? ...............................................................................................................................88
What Are Your Culinary Needs? ..........................................................................................................88
Getting Ready to Design Your Kitchen .........................................................................................88
Appliances and Equipment .....................................................................................................................89
Ranges, Cooktops, and Ovens ..................................................................................................................90
Refrigerators .................................................................................................................................................91
Sinks ................................................................................................................................................................93
Laundry .........................................................................................................................................................93
Countertops ...................................................................................................................................................95
Cabinetry .......................................................................................................................................................95
Tiny House Kitchen Layouts and Shapes .....................................................................................95
U-Shape Kitchens .......................................................................................................................................96
Galley Kitchens ............................................................................................................................................97
Smaller Tiny House Kitchens.................................................................................................................98
Fun Storage Ideas ..........................................................................................................................................98
vi Tiny House Designing, Building, & Living
9 Bedrooms and Living Areas ...................................................101
How Many Are Home? ...........................................................................................................................102
Single Person ..............................................................................................................................................102
Couples ..........................................................................................................................................................102
Families .........................................................................................................................................................103
Multi-Use Furniture ................................................................................................................................105
Sleeping Lofts ...............................................................................................................................................107
Accessing the Loft ......................................................................................................................................107
Ceiling Heights and Roof Layout ........................................................................................................108
Emergency Escape and Rescue ..............................................................................................................109
Defining the Living Areas ....................................................................................................................110
Living Rooms ..............................................................................................................................................110
Dining Areas ..............................................................................................................................................111
Home Office Spaces ..................................................................................................................................112
Entertainment Areas ................................................................................................................................113
Closets and Storage ....................................................................................................................................113
10 Bathrooms ...................................................................................117
Design Considerations .............................................................................................................................118
Bathroom Layouts.......................................................................................................................................119
Everyone’s Favorite Topic—Toilets ...............................................................................................122
Composting Toilets....................................................................................................................................122
RV Toilet Systems .....................................................................................................................................125
Flush Toilets ...............................................................................................................................................125
Incinerating Toilets ..................................................................................................................................126
Dry Toilets ..................................................................................................................................................126
Gray Water Management......................................................................................................................126
Ventilation ......................................................................................................................................................127
Part 3: Custom Designing Your Tiny House ..................................129
11 Choosing Your Foundation .....................................................131
Understanding Your Options ..............................................................................................................132
Pros of Building on a Trailer ...............................................................................................................132
Cons of Building on a Trailer ..............................................................................................................132
Pros of Building on a Foundation .......................................................................................................134
Cons of Building on a Foundation ......................................................................................................135
Pros of Building on Skids ......................................................................................................................135
Cons of Building on Skids ......................................................................................................................136
Contents vii
What Are My Trailer Options? .........................................................................................................136
Bumper Pull Trailers ..............................................................................................................................137
Goosenecks and Fifth-Wheel Trailers ...............................................................................................139
Permanent Foundations for Wheeled Structures ...........................................................................140
Ground-Bound Options .........................................................................................................................140
Slab-on-Grade Foundations .................................................................................................................140
Perimeter Stem Wall Foundations ......................................................................................................141
Pad-and-Pier Foundations ...................................................................................................................141
Skids—The Secret Weapon ..................................................................................................................141
Engineered Alternatives .........................................................................................................................142
12 Designing Your Tiny House ....................................................145
Altering Existing Plans...........................................................................................................................146
Choosing a Plan.........................................................................................................................................146
Every Change Counts ..............................................................................................................................146
Know What’s Important to You .........................................................................................................147
Start with Grand Ideas ..........................................................................................................................147
What You Really Need ............................................................................................................................148
Double Duty ................................................................................................................................................149
Introduction to Design ...........................................................................................................................150
Visualizing the Layout ...........................................................................................................................150
Designing Your Floor Plan by Hand .................................................................................................151
Windows and Doors ................................................................................................................................153
Design Programs ........................................................................................................................................154
SketchUp.......................................................................................................................................................155
AutoCAD......................................................................................................................................................156
Home Designer Suite ...............................................................................................................................156
SketchPlan ...................................................................................................................................................157
Converting Your Designs into Architectural Plans .............................................................158
The Importance of Engineering .......................................................................................................158
Wind Loads ................................................................................................................................................159
Seismic Loads .............................................................................................................................................160
Snow Loads .................................................................................................................................................160
Additional Stress Loads ..........................................................................................................................161
Weight Distribution .................................................................................................................................162
What Does This Thing Weigh Anyway? .........................................................................................162
viii Tiny House Designing, Building, & Living
13 Working with Design Professionals .....................................165
When to Hire a Pro ..................................................................................................................................166
Finding the Right People ......................................................................................................................166
Ask for Referrals ........................................................................................................................................166
Interview Multiple Design Professionals .........................................................................................167
The Importance of Communication ....................................................................................................168
What to Pay ...................................................................................................................................................169
Designers......................................................................................................................................................169
Architects ......................................................................................................................................................170
Reading the Fine Print ............................................................................................................................171
14 How to Read Construction Drawings ..................................173
What’s Included?..........................................................................................................................................174
Title Page ....................................................................................................................................................174
Foundation Plan ........................................................................................................................................176
Floor Plan ....................................................................................................................................................177
Electrical Plan ...........................................................................................................................................178
Plumbing Plan ...........................................................................................................................................179
Elevations ....................................................................................................................................................179
Framing Plan .............................................................................................................................................179
Sections .........................................................................................................................................................181
Details ...........................................................................................................................................................182
Three Sample Tiny House Plans ......................................................................................................183
24' Tiny House On Wheels (THOWs) ............................................................................................183
Tiny House On Wheels (THOWs) with Two Lofts ....................................................................185
Tiny House on a Foundation ................................................................................................................188
Part 4: Building Your Tiny House ....................................................191
15 Identifying Your Team .............................................................193
Working with Contractors....................................................................................................................194
Ask for Referrals ........................................................................................................................................194
Get Multiple Bids .....................................................................................................................................195
Solid Contracts Are a Must ..................................................................................................................195
The Importance of Communication ....................................................................................................199
Mind If I Help? ..........................................................................................................................................199
Working with Subcontractors.............................................................................................................199
General Contractors vs. Subcontractors ...........................................................................................200
Knowing Which Subcontractors to Hire and When ....................................................................200
Managing Your Subcontractors .........................................................................................................200
Scheduling and Managing a Build’s Timeline ..............................................................................201
