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Media Request: EBS, South Korea, Seeks Small Housers on West Coast

by Greg Johnson, posted in announcements, media

20110929th-media-request-tv-episodeOrganization: EBS, South Korea

Type of media: Television, radio & web content

Contact: Moon Lee

Email: moon.lee311@gmail.com

Area: Seeking people in the west coast areas like Portland, San Francisco, California etc.

Deadline: Need to film no later than November 11th, 2014.
Hopefully earlier than that.

Request:

Hi, my name is Moon Lee and I am a member of Korean documentary team in public TV channel EBS, which is similar to PBS in the United States.

We are preparing for a documentary about “Tiny Houses”, and we are looking for a unique examples of people living in a tiny houses. It could be unique shape of the tiny houses or some people with unique characteristics, or stories.

We hope we can interview some people who have changed their mind to live in the tiny houses and also some people who helps others live in tiny houses.

With the interview, we were wondering if we can films some interior of the tiny houses as well.

Please reply us back if anyone interested.
We want to film some as soon as possible.
Thanks-

__________

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Tiny House Q&A – Trailers, Water, Toilets, Heating, Cooling, etc.

by Greg Johnson, posted in construction, design

Below are ere are some question sent to us by Denis B., along with some answers.

Q: Black water, grey water, composting toilets? What the heck are these and what happens to waste that gets flushed in a toilet in a tiny house?

Black water and grey water are terms used to describe waste water. Imagine clear water as drinking water. Gray water is slightly dirty, having been used for washing hands or dishes (for example). In some areas of the country, gray water can be drained in small quantities onto the dirt or into a make-shift tiny septic system (a hole in the ground) since it doesn’t contaminate the environment.

Black water is raw sewage from the toilet, and for sanitary reasons it must be disposed of properly.

Some campers, tiny houses, and remote off-the-grid cabins use composting toilets. These sometimes have chemicals to accelerate the biodegrading process, or they might use sawdust. The waste is dry and in small quantities can be buried. Some composting toilets use electricity or some other heat source to speed dry and/or incinerate the waste. These toilet solutions are designed for situations where running water and/or sewage systems aren’t available.

 

Q: Heating and cooling? Isn’t it cold in a tiny house? Is it possible to use radiant floor heating in a tiny house?

Smaller spaces are actually easier, cheaper, and faster to heat and cool. For heating they tend to use boat heaters since these are small and designed for air tight spaces. For cooling, very small window air conditioning units are more than adequate. Depending on the climate, shade, and each person’s preference, some people may just have a heater without an air conditioner.

Radiant floor heating might be possible. Some radiant systems rely on stone or other dense materials to retain the heat of oil or water piped through the floor. It’s possible that heavy floor tiles with pipes going through them will increase the weight of the house beyond what the trailer can handle. Also, radiant systems are more complicated than a boat heater and would require a place for the pumping and heating systems. This takes up space in a tiny house. So, generally the small and efficient boat heaters are a favorite choice.

Q: How do you decide what goes where when designing the inside?

That’s personal preference, but often some thought is given to how a single space might be used for multiple purposes. For example, tables that fold out are a good way to have the surface you need when  you need it, and then fold it away when you don’t need it. Some tiny homes have furniture and shelving built-in. Other tiny houses are clean and open inside, with modular furniture added and arranged over time to suite the use.

Q: Good trailer vs bad… How do I tell the difference?

A reputable trailer dealer should be able to match you with a trailer that will meet the weight and stability requirements needed for your home based on the weight, and also the height. For example, a tall house may require extra heavy duty springs to keep it from torquing and straining the suspension too much.

Q: How wide can a tiny house be on it’s trailer, and how tall maximums?

Tiny houses on wheels are governed by the same height, width, and weight guidelines as any other structure on wheels such as an RV or materials being transported. Ideally you’d want to stay at 8 feet wide or narrower. Otherwise you’ll need a wide load permit and it gets more difficult and dangerous to transport your home.

Having a travel height of 13.5 feet is about the maximum you would want. If you do a Google search for “height: 13 feet 6 inches” (without quotes) you’ll find millions of results from DOT websites describing this as a limit.

Regarding weight, the trailer vendor may be a better source of information for the particular trailer. Generally you’ll want the weight limit of your trailer to exceed the expected weight of your home to ensure it has plenty of strength to support it and move it down the road.

Wisconsin Public Radio – Small House Interview

by Greg Johnson, posted in media, news

On Monday, 6 October 2014, Wisconsin Public Radio dedicated an hour to discussing the small house movement. I was able to be a guest on the show and talk about tiny house living. You can listen to the interview below. Click here to read more on the WPR website. Thanks to the Joy Cardin Show for featuring tiny houses!

For Sale: Cozy Cabin with Lake Michigan Beach Access

by Greg Johnson, posted in For Sale

SOLD

23 December 2015

Thanks to everyone who inquired about this beautiful home and property. It’s now been sold.

Have a great day!

Regards,
Your Friends at the Small House Society

 
20140926fr-michigan-cabin-front-rightDescription: This cozy cabin is nestle on 2.87 Acres and 1,000 Feet of Private Association Lake Michigan Beach Access.

History. This is a single owner home that was built by the owners in 1996. It’s been well cared for since that time

Price: $130,000

Address: 35 Pepper’s Trail, Montague, Michigan 49437

Website: ThirtyFivePeppersTrail.altervista.org [map]

A Note from Peter Oppewall

Many years ago I read the “Tiny Book of Tiny Houses” by Lester R. Walker detailing some of the history of tiny houses in the US. He published this book in 1993, and in 1996 my soon to be wife and I decided to build a tiny house on some beautiful wooded land my parents then owned (since deeded over to me and my wife) just 500 steps from the shores of Lake Michigan.

The land is higher elevation than surrounding areas, and there are even the remnants of an old logging trail that we cleared to have easy access to the site. It sits on 2.87 acres, perched above a gentle slope to the west, and has a clearing just to the East, with another slope leading to some wonderful wetlands complete with all kinds of wildlife. In every direction there are many mature, and growing trees of many varieties as far as you can see.

We decided to build everything ourselves, with cedar wood as the interior and exterior skins. We drew up some plans and made sure we had room for a kitchen area, dining, storage, and a convertible futon couch that makes a fine double bed. It even has small appliance wheels to make the transition easy. We decided to locate the shower and bathroom in small outbuildings close by. The shower became known as the “shower tower” because on the second level we placed the propane fired hot water heater and glass lined cold water storage tank. Gravity assist the standard 12 volt RV pump for hot water supply. We dug our own stab well for uses other than drinking water nearby as well.

We laid out the floor frame by using an old surveyors method of getting things square by putting 2 points in the ground and then using 2 strings, one to scribe a line of desired length and place another stake. You then measure the halfway point of your line between the stakes. Attach a string at the halfway point and move it out at (approximate right) angles to your original lineal. Now attach a string to each endpoint of your line and extend them out in an arc until they intersect. The point at which the two lines intersect will give you a perfect right angle to the original line. You can repeat this several times from the different points to get it perfect if you want. The point is you don’t need any fancy instruments, and getting the foundation posts in the right place is the most critical thing in the whole process. Here is a link which explains this critical element in better detail.

We then framed up 2 by 12’s for the floor on 16 inch centers, and laid planks crosswise for a subfloor. (Later when the cabin was all done we installed bamboo flooring over this.)

Each wall was framed up, with 30 inches used as the base of each winnow since this is also table height and we wanted the sills to line up with the table height.

I made the kitchen table from two slabs of laminated hardwood glued together with the addition of a set of reclaimed iron legs. I also built a combination seat and storage compartment from thick birch plywood with piano hinges for the seats/lids. We use this as one half of the dinette, and store all the bedding inside.

A friend sewed custom cushions for us. The open kitchen shelving was also a gift from a friend, and only needed an additional shelf and some stain and varnish. i also wired LED lights under the kitchen cabinet to give reflected light when using the kitchen, the other four LED’s are spaced along the peak and give a nice ambient light to the whole place at very low voltage and wattage.

It took an entire sumer of weekends to frame in and enclose the main structures, and half a second summer of weekends to finish the interior Fortunately a friend had given me 10 sturdy storm windows, and I had retrieved 4 French doors from the discard pile of an historic home I had been working on. Two of the French doors became the entrance, and the other two were cut down to form clerestory windows for the dormers up above.

We decided also to have a high 16 ft ceiling to give the small space a feeling of being bigger, ad to help keep snow off the roof in winter. The entry doors still have the lovely brass handles from the 1920’s, and work just fine.

With ten windows, two french doors, and two clerestory 4 panel glass windows we get plenty of light!

We put up canvas blinds to use at night, but otherwise have a clear view from all directions.

For the kitchen i procured a nice small but deep stainless steel sink, 2 burner countertop stove, and a new Dometic Fridge which fits under the counter and runs on propane.

For power we use two 12 volt batteries which we alternate by charging with a vehicle or at a nearby source of grid power. The cabin is fully wired for grid power, just not connected to the grid. If need be we have a generator for short bursts of 110 power to toast a bagel or two. The cabin is also fully wired for 12 volt use, including a 12 volt outlet that you can plug a small inverter to for charging your phone or computer. Everything else is LED lighting which was a new technology back in 1997. I’ve never had to replace an LED bulb!

As much as we love this place, we have been going there less and less since relocating to Chicago in 2005, and have decided to try and find someone like minded to enjoy this private retreat. The cabin is for sale! This includes the buildings, the primary contents and furnishings (minus some camping gear) the 2.87 acres of land with deeded road access from two directions, North Gray Dunes association membership, and access and membership in the Common Beach Association which has two 500 ft Lake Michigan Beaches about 500 steps away.

Our insurance values the buildings and contents at over $80,000, and the land is valued at around $25,000 an acre, so since we are asking $130,000 for everything we think this is an excellent opportunity for the right per on or family. The acreage can be subdivided, and a second home could be built.

For more information please visit the website dedicated to the property at ThirtyFivePeppersTrail.altervista.org.

Peter Oppewall
peteroppewall@gmail.com

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ABC News Video: Inside the Tiny House Movement Sweeping the Nation

by Greg Johnson, posted in media, news, video

“GMA’s” Ginger Zee provides an inside look at the tiny living trend, and a sneak peek at “Tiny House Nation” on FYI Network.

ABC News – Tiny House
ABC News – Tiny House
ABC News – Tiny House
ABC News – Tiny House

Jay Austin’s Beautiful, Illegal Tiny House

by Greg Johnson, posted in news, video

Transcript

Demand for housing in Washington, DC is going through the roof. Over a thousand people move to the nation’s capital every month, driving up the cost of housing, and turning the city into a construction zone. Tower cranes rising high above the city streets have become so common, they’re just part of the background.

But as fast as the cranes can rise, demand for housing has shot up even faster, making DC among the most expensive cities in the United States. With average home prices at $453 per square foot, it’s every bit as expensive as New York City. And the struggles of one homebuilder shows just why the city’s shortage looks to continue for a long time.

“I got driven down the tiny house road because of affordability, simplicity, sustainability, and then mobility,” says Jay Austin, who designed a custom 140-square-foot house in Washington, DC. Despite the miniscule size, his “Matchbox” house is stylish, well-built, and it includes all the necessities (if not the luxuries) of life: a bathroom, a shower, a modest kitchen, office space, and a bedroom loft. There’s even a hot tub outside.

Clever design elements make the most of minimalism. The Matchbox’s high ceilings, skylight, and wide windows make the small space feel modern, uncluttered, and open.

At a cost that ranges from $10,000 to $50,000, tiny homes like the Matchbox could help to ease the shortage of affordable housing in the capital city. Heating and cooling costs are negligible. Rainwater catchment systems help to make the homes self-sustaining. They’re an attractive option to the very sort of residents who the city attracts in abundance: single, young professionals without a lot of stuff, who aren’t ready to take on a large mortgage.

But tiny houses come with one enormous catch: they’re illegal, in violation of several codes in Washington DC’s Zoning Ordinance. Among the many requirements in the 34 chapters and 600 pages of code are mandates defining minimum lot size, room sizes, alleyway widths, and “accessory dwelling units” that prevent tiny houses from being anything more than a part-time residence.

That’s why Austin and his tiny house-dwelling neighbors at Boneyard Studios don’t actually live in their own homes much of the time. To skirt some of the zoning regulations, they’ve added wheels to their homes, which reclassifies them as trailers – and subjects them to regulation by the Department of Motor Vehicles. But current law still requires them to either move their homes from time to time, or keep permanent residences elsewhere.

The DC Office of Zoning, the Zoning Commission, the Zoning Administrator, the Board of Zoning Adjustment, and the Office of Planning all declined to comment on the laws that prevent citizens from living in tiny houses. But their website offers a clue:

Outdated terms like telegraph office and tenement house still reside in our regulations. Concepts like parking standards and antenna regulations are based on 1950s technology, and new concepts like sustainable development had not even been envisioned.

Complex as it is, the Zoning Ordinance of the District of Columbia was approved in 1958. That’s over five decades of cultural change and building innovations, like tiny houses, that the code wasn’t designed to address.

Exemptions and alterations to the code are possible – many are granted every year – but they don’t come cheaply. Lisa Sturtevant of the National Housing Conference estimates that typical approvals add up to $50,000 to the cost of a new single-family unit. That’s why large, wealthy developers enjoy greater flexibility to build in the city, but tiny house dwellers… not so much.

Fortunately, a comprehensive rewrite of the zoning code has been in the works for much of the last decade. Efforts to allow more affordable housing are underway, although many of these solutions favor large developers. Future plans still forbid tiny houses. Austin estimates that, given the current glacial pace of change among the city’s many zoning committees, tiny houses are “many years, if not decades out” from being allowed in the city.

For now, Jay Austin is allowed to build the home of his dreams – he just can’t live there. The Matchbox has become a part-time residence and a full-time showpiece. The community of tiny houses at Boneyard Studios are periodically displayed to the public in the hopes of changing a zoning authority that hasn’t updated a zoning code in 56 years.

Runs about 10:30

Produced, shot, written, narrated, and edited by Todd Krainin.

Additional music by Lee Rosevere.

Learn More at Reason.com

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Small House Society News 201407

by Greg Johnson, posted in announcements, construction, design, designers and builders, news, workshops

Small House Society – News 201401 | 31 July 2014 |  Thursday

Dear Friend,

20110201tu-gregory-johnson-mobile-hermitage-small-house-photo-by-makur-jain-IMG_6311-450x630-70percent-214x300We’ve had a busy summer here at the Small House Society. Here’s the latest news.

Tiny House Nation. In case you’ve not heard yet, the small house movement is now a television show on A&E called Tiny House Nation. It’s free advertising for our movement, so we should do all we can to help promote it. The show airs live on A&E, and can be viewed online by those with an approved television service provider login.

Small House Workshop & Build in Iowa City on 9 August 2014

We’re really excited to have Dee Williams coming to Iowa City for a small house workshop and build. She’ll be joined by her brother, an Iowa City native, for what promises to be an amazing event. Here’s the announcement from Doug:

Join us in Iowa for a one day workshop, kicking off the construction of a 12-foot tiny house on wheels. During this day-long intensive you will frame the floor and walls, anchoring them to a utility trailer. PAD is partnering with a local volunteer group, TINY HOUSE IOWA CITY, and Dee will teach the workshop along side her brother, Doug, a long time builder and teacher. The workshop will be held at Coralville United Methodist Church, 806 13th Ave, Coralville, IA 52241, and will include a meet-up social on Saturday night in Iowa City. To register visit Dee’s website (here). To help spread the word, click here for the Facebook event page.

Free Road Trip! Check out this all expense paid road trip from Portland to Austin + free little house vacation stay. This is a great opportunity for the right person to enjoy a road trip and vacation all paid.

Small House Competition. The Sing Core group is having a small folding house competition. Check it out.

Annual Fundraiser. At the start of each new year, we focus on fundraising for only a few weeks. Donations help us have greater impact throughout the year ahead in promoting and supporting the small house movement. This year, we had only one brief mention of the fundraiser, and as a result, we’ve had only 12 donations come in. So, if you feel inclined, consider donating to our cause. You can give using PayPal, Fundly, or by sending a check to: Small House Society, PO Box 2717, Iowa City, IA 52244-2717. Thanks!

Media Requests. Click here to view the recent media requests and help as you’re able. Thanks!

Local Small House Society Chapters. Our Directory of Local Contacts is growing. We want to welcome those who joined us this past month. With support requests pouring in from all over the world, it’s important to establish local chapter offices for the Small House Society in various countries, regions, states, and cities. Please let me know if you’re interested in being a local representative and contact. We’ve now added a Google map showing small house representatives in various regions.

Thanks. I want to thank the global team of volunteers and contributors “behind the scenes” who help make all this possible. I’m very grateful to the many people who continue to uphold and advance the mission of the Small House Society. Thanks again for your support. Please let me know if there is any way that the Small House Society can serve you better.

Regards,
Gregory Johnson, Facilitator, President, Co-Founder
Small House Society

Internet: http://www.smallhousesociety.org
E-Mail: shs @ resourcesforlife.com (without spaces)
Postal: c/o Resources for Life, PO Box 2717, Iowa City, IA 52244-2717
Phone: (319) 621-4911
Subscribe. Enter your email address below and click the Join Now button to be notified when the latest Small House Society newsletter is available.

* * *

Global Reach. During a typical week, we have thousands of visitors from over 120 countries visiting our website. The map below is just a snapshot of just a few hours. So, the need for additional helpers is great. We have over 8000 people that we communicate each month through email, phone, or these updates. Click for a larger image.

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All expense paid road trip from #Portland to #Austin + free little house vacation stay #tinyhouse

by Greg Johnson, posted in announcements

(Here’s a message from Denise Eissler, a small house enthusiast with an innovative idea and unique offer.)

* * *

Hello everyone,

Okay, this idea is really thinking outside the box…but we’re all creative people here, right? I’ve been investigating purchasing an already made and fully equipped tiny house to park in my Austin, TX backyard as a short-term vacation rental.

However, the one I’m leaning toward buying is located in Portland, OR. So, I’m hoping to find someone in the pacific northwest who’s been interested in tiny house living and just wants to give it a try as a vacation and would be interested in using their truck to pick up my tiny house on wheels in Portland and transport it to Austin, and in return they could live in it for free for a week upon arrival plus schedule additional free vacations throughout the coming year or beyond.

Obviously, I would cover your gas and expenses for the trip, and then you’d get to live the “tiny house experience” for free in an amazing central Austin location. You could also gift a week to a friend who wants to try the experience…I’m entirely open to many possibilities.

If you’re already a tiny house dweller yourself, but would still like to have some free vacation time in the live music capital of the world, that would be great too! If you’re retired, self employed, or simply have a flexible schedule, and this idea sounds interesting to you, please let me know.

Details: the tiny house I plan to buy is really really tiny (pictured below), and it is SO adorable! Located in Portland, OR and available to transport at the beginning of Sept. It’s on wheels, RV certified, and only 12′ in length on a 16 ft trailer (just 3,800 lbs). It’s beautiful and has been used at the Portland Tiny House Hotel for the past few months (with toilet & shower included).

I have to think that someone out there would love to take a road trip from Portland towards the end of the summer, and tow back my tiny house with them (all expenses paid). My new tiny home will be situated in my beautifully landscaped backyard in one of the most sought after neighborhoods in Austin (only a couple miles from downtown!). Stay for the week and enjoy all that Austin has to offer, and then we’ll discuss when you’d like to return again, or offer some future vacation time to friends or family members as a unique gift.

If anyone is interested in this unique offer, please contact me as soon as possible!

Denise Eissler
512-689-4095
denise.eissler@att.net

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Small House Dimensions – Guide to Defining Small Houses and Right-Size Homes

by Greg Johnson, posted in construction, design

Small House Dimensions. People often ask how small a house needs to be in order for it to be considered small. There are various names floating around to describe smaller than usual homes. Below are some names with square meter / feet cutoff points to offer guidelines. You can use an online conversion utility to calculate different sizes. For more information about smaller living, visit the Small House Society.

  • micro home, 15 square meters / 161.46 square feet
  • compact home, 20 square meters / 215.28 square feet
  • miniature home, 25 square meters / 269.10 square feet
  • tiny home, 30 square meters / 322.92 square feet
  • little home, 35 square meters / 376.74 square feet
  • small home, 40 square meters / 430.56 square feet
  • efficiency home, 45 square meters / 484.36 square feet
  • reduced size home, 50 square meters / 538.12 square feet
  • downsized home, 100 square meters / 1076.39 square feet
  • average size home in the United States, 200 square meters / 2152.78 square feet

Right-Size Home. Please note that many factors determine what is a right-size home:

  • How many people will be living in the home?
  • Will there be frequent guests?
  • Do you have or are you planning to have children? If so, how many and when?
  • Will one or more people be planning to operate a home-business in the home?
  • Are there other special needs/wants such as wheelchair accessibility or room for an art studio or grand piano?

Benefits. There are many benefits of building, purchasing, and/or renting a right-size home including:

  • Construction material costs are kept at a minimum
  • Cleaning and maintenance is reduced to a minimum
  • Land required is reduced and/or available green space is increased
  • Initial and ongoing heating, air-conditioning, lighting, and related utility costs are reduced

#TinyHouseNation Seeks Those Planning to Build

by Greg Johnson, posted in announcements, media

FYI’S NEW HIT SHOW, TINY HOUSE NATION, SEEKS PEOPLE WHO ARE BUILDING OR PLANNING TO BUILD A TINY HOUSE 

“Tiny House Nation,” the hit new show currently airing on FYI (an A+E-owned network), is seeking tiny house-obsessed people who are building or planning to build a tiny house of their own between July – October 2014. Participants will be paired with an expert team of builders and designers who specialize in one-of-a-kind and fully functional design features that maximize small spaces. Each design will also suit the unique needs of each client while significantly increasing the value of the property.

Starting immediately, we are seeking people who are building or planning to build any type of tiny houses and will be transitioning into the tiny house lifestyle for the first time (house types include cabins, cottages, mobile homes, floating homes, container conversion homes, vacation homes, etc.). We are especially interested in anyone who has made progress in any of these departments: blueprints, foundations, zoning, building permits, completed well/septic systems and/or electrical wiring.  *** Please note, all applicants should have an allotted, available budget and should be planning their build/move-in within the next several months (July – October 2014).

Interested individuals, couples and families should be located in the US and have specific ideas and plans in place as it relates to their purchase and/or build of their home. For inquiries or to apply, email the following information to casting@loudtelevision.com: name, location, renovation budget, information on who lives with you, why you want to live in a tiny home, and what you would like your space to look like. Additionally, please include photos of who lives in your home as well as contact information.

Produced by Loud Television, “Tiny House Nation”  features renovation experts, John Weisbarth and Zack Giffin, as they travel across America to profile ingenious, small spaces and the inventive people who live in them, as well as help new families design and construct their own mini-dream home in a space no larger than 500 square feet. From an urban micro-apartment to a caboose car-turned-home to a micro-sized house on wheels for road tripping, this series celebrates the exploding movement of tiny homes. From the pricey to the budget-friendly, “Tiny House Nation” is not a typical design show, but one that proves size doesn’t always matter – it’s creativity that counts.

20140711fr-tinyhousenation-casting-call-loud-television