Documentary Small is Beautiful

Film About Building A Tiny Home

A film that documents four people who have decided to build a tiny house.

I love the fact that the tiny house movement is really gaining traction these days. There are a few TV shows and now a documentary that is making the rounds.

The film documents the journey of the four people from the planning stages to building.

What it’s about:

Ben is in his 20’s and is building his home from his own design. He has no prior experience with construction so this adventure proved to be a challenge.

Nikki and Mitchell are building a log home for themselves and their two dogs.

Karen is a middle-aged and has been living in her tiny home for two years. Her story covers a few of her struggles.

The film is scheduled for release on April 30, 2015. At this time there are video teasers. After watching them, it looks like it is very well done and very interesting for anyone interested in the small house movement.

From what I understand, it’s not so much about the building process. It’s more about what building and living in a tiny house can do for your life. The ups and downs.

Along the same lines as what I’ve been talking about for the past few years.

• Tiny house living gives you much more than to your life than the stereotypical big house.


• Cost of your house and cost of living is minimal in comparison to the lifelong expense of a large house.


• Strong community of like-minded people.

The documentary is making a tour within the USA and Australia.

They are giving everyone the opportunity to host the film, or to see it if it is already scheduled for your area.

You can pre-order the film or attend a screening.

I’ve pre-ordered mine and can’t wait to see the entire 68 minutes.



Contact and Screening Locations

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/documentary-small-is-beautiful/ Joanne

The Politics of Tiny Houses

Housing Communities Battle

Interest in tiny houses is high. There is a tiny house movement. You can even find a growing number of tiny house communities.

Knowing, or learning about how many benefits there are to building and living in a very small house is one of the many reasons why this lifestyle is so popular with people these days.

One of the problems is their size. Some cities and towns haven’t come on-board with them yet.

The issue is their small size.

With the environmental crisis that our world is creating, it’s past time that some of those rules and regulations should be revisited and updated.

Zoning ordinances from many areas limit the minimum lot size and square footage of a house.

Many ordinances have not been updated since they were established; some date back to the 1950s.

Case in point, Jay Austin of Washington, DC, built a tiny house within Boneyard Studios. The problem he encountered is the home is considered illegal as a residence.

Washington DC’s zoning ordinance is 600 pages long with 34 chapters. Within those pages are various definitions including minimum lot size, room sizes, alleyway widths, and accessory dwelling units. Anyone reading all 600 pages would find that tiny houses can only be used as part time residences.

Within these pages are terms that were common place in the 1950s and even earlier. Things like references to telegraph offices and tenement houses as well as antenna regulations. The ordinance was approved in 1958 and has had very little advancement since then. You won’t find anything relating to sustainable development or sustainable living.

There do offer the ability to apply for an exemption to the code, however according to the National Housing Conference, the cost of applying and receiving an exemption could be as much as $50,000.

Washington DC says it is working on updating these ordinances; this work has been going on for almost ten years with no resolution in site.

As a work-around, Austin and his neighbors added wheels to their tiny places. By doing this, the structures become classified as a trailer. At that point, they are regulated by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Even though they are now living within the law, the residents still cannot live in them permanently. They must keep a residence elsewhere and use the tiny structures on a part time basis.

Boneyard Studios is one of a number of like-communities. It began in 2012 with a mission – the founders want to promote the benefits of living tiny.

The lot they used was in a state of disrepair with overgrown grass, broken concrete, pooling water, and garbage. It was the site of criminal activity as well as used for illegal parking.

Today the lot is no longer an eye-sore, and has a community garden, a small fruit orchard, and green space.

At present there are two homes on the lot.

Tiny house enthusiasts in other communities face the same or similar issues. Until communities realize the benefits, the positive impact they can have on society, and eliminate the politics of tiny houses, communities will be fighting an uphill battle.

Soon after writing this article, we discovered that Boneyard had moved from the land they improved. They are looking for another permanent location for their community. We wish them well and to find a place very soon.

Source

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/the-politics-of-tiny-houses/ Joanne

Tiny Structures, Math Class, and Giving Back

Three Life Lessons

You may be asking what these three things have to do with each other. Read on…there is a connection.

Books were everywhere. Most with colorful covers to invite the curious to pick up and read. One child noticed something that was much more inviting and curiosity took hold.

That child crawled right in, grabbed a book, got comfortable and began reading.

The space was made for children and children have been enjoying the space since it was delivered.

This cozy structure was one of five built by students at Lincoln Junior High School in Bentonville, AR. The eight graders were having a hard time understanding math and working out various problems.

They needed help and their teacher realized something had to be done to help her students. She envisioned a project which would not only help her students but also benefit the community. Her students would use what they were learning in class to complete the project.

The project?

It was the construction of five structures in the shape of tiny houses. Each house was about four feet wide and three feet high.

Three Bentonville community organizations benefited from their project. Two of the structures were donated to the Bella Vista Animal Shelter to be used as dog houses. The other three are being used as reading houses at the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter and the Bentonville Public Library. Children feel safe in these small places, and reading takes them to magical lands.

The children’s librarian says the tiny structure is very popular with children. When the house arrived, children were curious and crawled right in and curled up with a book.

During library hours, the house is rarely empty.

The Lessons.

The construction crew of about sixty eight graders had to use what they were learning in class to build their tiny structures. They had to figure out equations to make all the pieces fit.

As a result, the students learned how math is used in the real world.

The project also gave the crew the motivation and drive to do well and show they understood what math could accomplish.

The students soon realized there was more to math than just a bunch of problems and equations. They learned how to work and communicate with other people, and to work hard to achieve a goal. Many if them said the project was the most fun they’d ever had in math.

Not only did they learn math in a fun and constructive way, they also had to use creativity.

The project left the students with three life lessons. It taught them that math is used in everyday life, they realized that houses don’t have to be big to be comfortable, and they learned that giving back to a community brings joy to the giver and the receiver.

Source

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/tiny-structures-math-class-and-giving-back/ Joanne

Heating A Tiny Home

The Warm Glow Of A Tiny Home

Spring is on it’s way in some locations of the country; others are still deep in an unusually long winter. There are few things that are nicer than walking into your house, with a fire burning in the wood stove. Or maybe you get a nice blast of warm air from your heater. Either way, the warmth is always a welcome thing no matter the size of your house.

The ambiance invites you to grab a book, a cup of coffee, and sit down in front of the warmth for a relaxing evening. One of my most favorite things about winter is a wood stove. I find it very relaxing to sit in front of a fire, I love the warmth it gives off, and I love that it is one of the most inexpensive and non-invasive types of heating.

While a wood burning stove may not be the best option for a very small home, heating with a propane stove may work.

It all depends on how small and how much room you have for a stove and for a supply of wood.

Granted propane may not be as romantic, but it is clean burning and generally easy to find a supplier.

If you enjoy off-grid living and all that goes with the lifestyle – collecting rainwater, having solar power, etc… you would most likely want to have a wood burning stove as your main source of heating.

There is no doubt it would work well. It wouldn’t take much to heat up a small place. The main concern would be the amount of space in the house versus convenience.

Most propane heaters are installed directly into the wall whereas a wood burning heater needs floor space. This is not only floor space for the heater itself but also a buffer zone around the heater for safety.

Propane heaters are lighter than wood burning heaters. But you must also factor in the weight of the propane tank or tanks

Whether you are living off or on grid, you’ll need to make decisions when choosing the best heat source for your home. If you are in a permanent location, choosing a heat source to suit your needs would be easier than if you move around.

Cost of fuel is another factor. In many places, wood is cheaper than propane.

Moisture is always a concern in small structures. If propane is your choice for heating and cooking, then you may also need a dehumidifier.

Wood heaters will not only heat but will keep the air dryer eliminating the need for a dehumidifier.

An additional benefit of some wood burning heaters/stoves; if you have one with a solid top plate you can use that surface as a cooktop.

In summary, there are two popular sources of heating for a tiny home. Wood burning stoves are efficient, relatively inexpensive to operate and have little environmental impact although they need a little extra room than most other sources of heat. Propane heaters are clean burning and efficient, and propane generally easy to locate.

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/heating-a-tiny-home/ Joanne

We Are Torn Between Travel or Small House

Finding A Small House

We need to make a decision. We have one more month in the small condo we rent for the winter. On May 1st we move back onto our RV (ie: tiny home).

The problem this year is that we can’t make up our minds if we want to find a very small house to rent here or travel around our second favorite location.

We are ready to settle in one location for a year or so. Something a little more permanent than our RV and an RV park. We love traveling and love being able to pick up and go anytime we want. The downfall is that we are both still working (from our home, wherever that happens to be); with that comes some unique challenges at some locations. We need a break from the “unknowns” for a bit…

Option One

We really like it in the small town where we spend the winter months. We’ve made some friends here, it is beautiful but also a very popular location for summer vacationers – meaning it gets Very Busy during June, July and August. We know we can handle that for a few months. The problem is that it is difficult to find rental property and we have the added problem of having three dogs in our family.

We have considered buying a house but there are some concerns: housing is expensive around here, and we aren’t sure that we want to spend countless years here.

The last house we bought ended up being a disaster – money pit. We had a very difficult time selling it and lost a ton of money on it.

Let’s say we are very wary about buying a house right now.

Option two

We are thinking it might be a good idea to travel around the area that is our second choice. Spend the summer checking out the towns and surrounding areas to see if it would be a good fit for us. The intent would be to find a place that we like and a place to rent for a few years.

We’ve been to parts of the area before and really like it.

Housing costs are slightly better than option one, and there is more opportunity to rent.

The slight drawback is that it is on an island (although the island is very large, has a city at one end and quite a number of towns throughout) but is is accessible only by a two plus hour ferry ride.

In the end, the decision may be made for us within the next month or so if we are unable to find a suitable house.

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/we-are-torn-between-travel-or-small-house/ Joanne

Tiny House Movement Meets Television

Tiny Houses On TV

It can be said that the tiny house movement has gone mainstream – it has hit the TV screens.

What started quietly, without much fanfare, has now grown and interest is spreading. Today you can find three programs relating to tiny living spaces on HGTV and FYI. And there are more that are planned.

Tiny House Nation

John Weisbarth and Zack Giffin are the hosts of Tiny House Nation on FYI. They travel the country looking for unique and interesting tiny houses to showcase.

These renovation specialists not only show off the homes they discover, they also help people with the design and construction of their very small places.

Although the true definition of size of a tiny house varies from place to place, this program considers a place tiny as long as it is no more than 500 square feet.

There may be a size restriction to be showcased on their show, but there is no dollar amount limitation. The program has shown homes from budgetary to pricey. The show’s hosts are looking for creativity.

For example, some episodes have introduced a micro apartment in New York City, a tiny home caboose in Montana, and a tiny mobile home for RVing.

HGTV has the latest two programs. One features people looking to purchase a tiny home; the other is related to building tiny houses.

Tiny House Hunters

Each episode of Tiny House Hunters follows buyers who are looking to downsize to a place that is no more than 600 square feet. Realtors show each buyer three different tiny structures. The buyer must decide which one will be purchased.

Tiny House Builders

The other new program is Tiny House Builders hosted by Derek Diedricksen.

He uses salvaged materials to make tiny masterpiece houses. He chooses locations that are not only stunning, but can also be treacherous.

Diedricksen surveys the area and crafts the structure to be a good fit for the people that will live in it as well as the location.

Tiny houses were on the radar and people were showing an interest in the movement long before these shows appeared although they were more of documentaries than actual TV shows. Now that they are becoming accepted as a better way of living, we are starting to see more about them.

The movement actually started gaining momentum shortly after Jay Shafer built his first tiny house on wheels under the Tumbleweed company name somewhere around 1999. It has since evolved to tiny houses on permanent foundations, treehouses, floating homes, RVs, and any other small house imaginable.

If you are intrigued by the tiny house movement, you should check out the television programs. They’ll give you a visual idea of what others are doing and what can be done with tiny structures.

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/tiny-house-movement-meets-television/ Joanne

Tiny Home Builders

Building Tiny Structures To Call Home

There was a time when it was very difficult to locate a builder who had heard of a tiny house, much less having built one.

These days there are experienced tiny home builders in most areas of the Americas and abroad. The tiny house movement has gained a stronghold and is rapidly going forward.

Jay Shafer and Tumbleweed is the father of these builders. When searching for a builder there are things that need to be taken into consideration.

Here are a few:

Reputation – Normally, you would search for builders who have been in business for years. This may not be possible with tiny homes because the industry is not very old. Many builders are fairly new and as it becomes more and more popular with people that want to simplify their lives, we are finding new builders all over the country. There are even some architectural firms taking advantage of the popularity and adding very small home designs to customers.

Regardless of whether you choose to go with a tried and true company, or a new one, it is important that you do the research to make sure that you get what you want at the best price.

Flexibility – Are the builders open to customization? Is it possible to add a loft? Can you add an area for added storage? Maybe you would like a front porch or a back deck. Will the company work with you so you get the design layout you want?

Trust – Some tiny houses are built in one location and delivered to another. If you choose this option, you may not be able to go and oversee the building of your home. This is where their reputation is very important.

You must feel comfortable and trust that you are getting what you ordered, and that it is the best quality that you’ve paid for. If possible, ask for picture and/or video updates so you will be able to monitor some of the construction process.

Responsiveness – How does the builder react to questions, customization, and change requests? Going with the comfort and trust level again, your builder should respond in a timely manner to any question or concern you have.

Warranty – Ask about warranties and what is available. The structural integrity of any structure is very important – ask what is covered and for how long.

Go Green – If environmental issues are important, there are builders that use salvaged material. In fact, many small houses have been built using recycled materials. It saves on time, cost, as well as being environmentally friendly.

Sound and Noise Control – You may want to discuss with your builder about insulation – what to use, safety, temperature changes, and sound and noise control.

Storage – Storage is an important consideration. You’ll need to be as creative as possible. Discuss options with your builder and see where you can squeeze storage areas in your home. Combining storage and furniture is another option to be considered.

Built In Furniture – Because of the small living space, built in furniture is a good solution to decorating. You’ll need to discuss with your builder if he would build in furniture or if it is something you would have to do after the structure is completed?

There are many things to keep in mind when you build any size of home. Each house and each person has their own ideas and needs in mind. These are things that should be decided upon before finalizing the building plans and designs.

That is usually the hardest part – coming up with a plan that you know you will be happy with long-term. It’s best to take your time with the plans.

Some places where you can start: http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/companies/ and http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/plans-and-designs/

Once all the research, studying, discussions with tiny home builders, and planning and designing is done, all that is left is the build your and enjoy your new, improved lifestyle.

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/tiny-home-builders/ Joanne