FAQs

It's been a long time in the works, but we finally have pulled together and list of frequently asked questions. Take a peak- we may have answered one of your questions!
[THIS PAGE IS STILL IN PROGRESS]

What are the dimensions of your tiny house?
The Pod is just under 16 feet long by 8.5 feet wide. Our ceiling height is 10 feet 2 inches.

How many square feet?
To be accurate, we will include the loft in our measures. We have 128 square feet on the main floor and another 56 square feet in the loft, giving us a grand total of 184 square feet.

What kind of trailer did you use?
We used a 16 foot flat bed heavy duty utility dual axle trailer. It can hold 10,000 lbs.

How much did it cost?
As of July 2014 we are at $11,400 and the only things remaining are the siding. We do not count the cost of our solar power system in this number. Structure costs only.

How long did it take to build?
We made the decision to do this in October of 2012. Within a week we bought the trailer. We spent the rest of the fall and winter designing, collecting materials second hand on Craigslist, and experimenting with certain aspects like no running water. We started building on April 19th, 2013. We built almost exclusively on Saturday and Sundays until about mid August. Then we started putting in time after work during the week because we wanted to move in by October. Our apartment lease ended then. We were able to move in on September 30th, 2013. It wasn't completely done, but livable. We completed the interior around the beginning of February 2014. The siding continues (and is quite time consuming since it's recycled pallets), but as of July 2014 we have about 65% of the siding done.

What do you use for power?
Currently, we are plugged in to the main house on the farm. We plan to complete the setup of our solar power system within the next couple weeks.

What do you use for heat?
We have two different sources of heat. We have an eco-heater which uses just 400 watts and works great for temperatures as low as 25 degrees. This past winter when it got much colder, we supplemented with a Little Buddy Mr Heater propane heater. We use precautions including a combo smoke/monoxide/o2 sensor, the heater itself has an o2 shut off, and we crack windows to allow air flow. The heater provides enough heat to off set the cracked window. We do not recommend this however, due to the safety risks, and also the amount of condensation that is created without direct venting. For next fall we hope to install a wall mounted direct vent heater or a small wood stove.

What do you have for plumbing?
We don't have any traditional plumbing. That means no running water. We did a test while still in the apartment to see if we could manage it. Turned out to be pretty easy. We store our water in water bricks. We fill them either at work, the gym, or a family members place. When we need hot water for dishes and such, we heat it on the stove first. We have a camp shower setup that we can pull out and use for showers, but neither of us have done it yet. We make use of the showers at our local gym and at work, or sometimes a family members place.

No running water?! What about your bathroom?
We have a very simple naturally composting toilet. In short, it's a five gallon bucket hidden under a bench with a real toilet seat on it. After each deposit, we add wood shavings. Thanks to thermophillic bacteria that naturally exist, the composting process is carried out. We have to take the bucket out to a larger composting bin about once a week. The compost will sit for a year, after which point it has turned into some of the richest soil additive on the planet. For an in depth understanding of this process, we highly recommend reading The Humanure Handbook.

Doesn't your house stink with the compost toilet inside?
No more than a normal toilet! Just like a regular bathroom, there is an intial smell that immediately follows doing your business, but that fades within a few minutes. It's all science really. If you balance the carbon to nitrogen ratio- you have no smell. Our deposits are primarily nitrogen, and carbon can come in many forms- wood shavings, straw, dried leaves or grass clippings, etc. Carbon effectively neutralizes the smell.

We had a pair of neighbors who were very curious and a bit skeptical that our house didn't smell. I happen to have a full bucket that needed dumping, but I decided to leave it and invite them in. They poked their heads in with apprehension as they entered, but then couldn't believe that there was no smell. Just the fresh earthy smell of our beautiful wood interior!

What if you two get into a fight?
Believe it or not, Dan and I don't fight very often. Even when we do, it is usually a minor tiff that is resolved or simply disregarded after a few minutes. If you're going to live with someone in that cozy of a space, you better get a long well! There was one particularly heated disagreement, at which point Dan left and went for a drive. We could just as easily go for walks, or if we wanted a sense of our own space, one of us typically goes up in the loft while the other stays downstairs.




16 comments:

  1. Hi Jess and Dan,
    I'm organizing a sustainability event and hope you will come to talk.
    Would you contact me?
    jenboudrie@gmail.com

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  2. Hi Jess and Dan!

    I'm a student at Olin College of Engineering in Needham, MA. I'm doing a team project about tiny houses, and I'd love to talk with you. When you get a chance, could you email me at olin.tinyhouse@gmail.com? Many thanks!

    Meg

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  3. Hello Jess and Dan,

    I am researching living tiny for a project and would love to interview you guys. If you wouldn't mind e-mailing me, my e-mail is lwoodside9@gmail.com. I'd really appreciate it.

    Laura

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  4. Hi! One of the most inspiring houses on wheels so far, thank you. I'm currently making something similar in Sweden. I wonder how high your loft-ceiling is and if you are satisfyed with that hight now. How did you end up with that hight? Just looking for inputs �� great job with the house,
    Best
    Loa

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Loa!
      The height of our interior is 10 ft 2 inches and we put the loft floor at 6ft 2 inches so we have four feet of height to work with in the loft. Considering the only thing we do up there is lounge or sleep, we have been very happy with the design choice. Not only do the high ceilings give the feel of a larger space, our loft also feels much more roomy than most TH lofts. I think having a flat roof is also a very important part of our design feeling so open. Good luck to you! :)

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    2. ***Also- our reason for deciding on this height is based on DMV restrictions in the states. Since we built on a trailer, our house is treated as a trailer and must comply with the laws put out by the DMV. No trailer can be over 13 ft 6 in without additional licensing and permits. We sit at about 12 ft 6 inches. We wanted to make sure there was some wiggle room because there are many places where telephone and electricity wires have sagged over time and go below the 13 ft 6 in - which they are not supposed to.

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    3. Great and inspiring answer, Jess, thank you :) Will take your advise into consideration now that I'm building my loft. The flat-roof design was the plan from the start. A great way to make the same floor-size feel a lot breezier. Keep up the good work and the blog. Thank you for the answer. I'll be with you from sweden,
      Loa

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    4. You are very welcome! Best to you! Would love to see your completed project!

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  5. Question about building off trailer. I'm a bit confused about the laws on building without a trailer. Would you know anything about the proper size. I read on an unofficial aritcle that 20x20 structures do not need building permits in ri. Is this so?

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  6. How do you feel about people getting a tour from you guys? My family and I are looking to build an army of tiny houses, all varying in detail. Really just looking for some in-person learning experience.

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  7. Hello Jess and Dan,

    I am looking into having a tiny house on wheels built. I would like to know how you went about making sure you could put your tiny house in your town to make sure it can be done?

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  8. Hi Jess and Dan!
    I'm a high school student from the Southcoast of Mass. My name's Serena, and I've been highly interested in Tiny Homes for about a year now. I'm exploring the logistics, legalities, and environmental benefits of transitioning into tiny living for an English honors research paper. I was wondering, after reading a lot about your story, if you could answer some questions for me? A primary source would really help my paper, as it's a persuasive essay, and the point is to convince others why living small is so beneficial to one's life; It would really help to allow the audience feel like they could also accomplish this goal.

    I'm also extremely personally-driven to learn more about this topic. I hope to pursue learning how I could help make tiny living a bigger reality in terms of local zoning restrictions and collaborating with local government to find compromise for housing regulations, one day!!

    Even if you can't answer, I do appreciate your time so much!!

    If you're interested, shoot me an e-mail at serenaturner2017@dartmouthschools.org.

    Serena

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  9. Just wanted to give you a heads up that livinginatinyhouse.blogspot.com has been featured in the GOLDEN KNOB AWARDS: https://www.knobs.co/top-tiny-house-blogs

    Congratulations and keep up the awesome work!


    Cheers,

    Wallace


    PS: We have an awards badge for you. If you'd like the embed code let me know. wallace@knobs.co

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  10. My friend has a lot in RI with hookups for sewer,water,and electricity already in place.(The house originally on the property was knocked down.)
    Do you know anyone who could build a tiny house for him ?
    cmcnaplesfl@aol.com

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  11. Hey Jess and Dan! I have enjoyed reading about your journey :)
    I recently purchased a tiny house and would love to chat with you a bit more in depth. Feel free to email me at destinydweller.contact@gmail.com or on facebook @thedestinydweller.

    Thank you!!! Looking forward to it :)
    Ashlee

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  12. Hi Jess and Dan,
    I'm interested in the stories that people tell about their tiny houses and their lives in their homes. I discovered your blog a few years ago, and it's a great example of some of the features that I notice in a lot of these stories. I'm planning to give a TEDx talk at Ohio State University in February, and I'd like to use your blog as an example. Would you please contact me at byram.4@osu.edu if you have any questions or concerns?
    I've enjoyed reading!
    Katra

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