How To Build Your Dream Tiny House Step-by-step
Nomad Adjacent5 months ago
Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Own Tiny Home
More Americans are choosing tiny houses and living a minimalist lifestyle. Tiny homes are an attractive option for vacation homes or homeowners wishing to downsize. According to Rocket Mortgage, the average cost of a tiny house is between $35,000 and $60,000. However, depending on your chosen amenities, the price can run between $8,000 and $150,000. When you consider the average cost of building a traditional house to be $200,000, a custom, tiny house can save thousands in building costs. Tiny home-building plans help you choose the best option. Our step-by-step guide details what you need to build your tiny home.
Determine Your Construction Budget
The factors that determine the cost of building tiny houses include:
Building materials
Choice of amenities
Costs associated with building permits
Size of your tiny house
Utility access
The most cost-effective option if you have a tight budget is to build your tiny home. However, there will be upfront costs. Depending on the supply and your preferences, the price of the building materials can range between $20,000 and $60,000. The average national cost of building permits is $1,350. Choosing custom materials or increasing the floor plan size will raise your price. The average 100 to 400-square-foot tiny home costs approximately $150 per square foot. If you choose to set your house on a foundation, it will raise your cost. Here are some comparisons between a home on a foundation and one on wheels:
Home Advisor estimates that land for a tiny home costs between $3,000 and $15,000, the average building permit cost is $1,380, and a foundation costs between $4 and $7 per square foot. A tiny house on wheels could be the best option if you plan to travel. The trailer will cost between $4,500 and $9,000. However, there aren't any building permits or foundation costs.
Choose Your Tiny Home's Floor Plan
Tiny home-building plans are the next step. The options are hiring an architect to design a custom floor plan or buying a small home prefab kit with a floor plan. A stylized plan is similar to a blueprint that indicates where the appliances, furniture, and lighting will be installed. Construction blueprints contain plans for electrical outlets and plumbing. These blueprints are helpful if you need any repairs or maintenance work done. The blueprint can simplify things if you choose to make any changes. Construction plans are necessary to ensure you comply with building codes and have the required permits.
If you decide on a custom option, you can expect to spend at least $150,000 for an architect, additional time, and customized supplies. First-time builders may find investing in a tiny home kit that averages between $4,000 and $10,000 easier.
Financing Options For Your Home
When you choose custom tiny house-building plans, you'll need financing approval before you start building your home. Getting estimates from a contractor for a construction bid is a good idea so you'll know the amount you must finance. If you're building your tiny house on land you purchase, financing is treated like conventional home construction. A construction loan is an excellent option for a tiny house because the funding is similar to a traditional mortgage, and it can cover the costs of your custom home.
Purchasing Materials For Constructing Your Tiny House
After creating your tiny house building plans and getting financial approval, you must complete a list of all the equipment and materials required for your building project. A tiny home kit may have all the necessary components. If you have to shop for supplies, comparing prices for the best deals is a good idea. The materials you'll need for the exterior, interior, and finishing touches include:
Tools and equipment
Joists
Sheathing
Studs
Siding and roofing materials
Insulation
Doors and windows
Trailer
Appliances
Flooring materials
Insulation
Lighting fixtures
Hardware and countertops
AC and plumbing
Furniture and interior decor
When choosing your materials, it's a good idea to consider new types of construction and innovative materials.
Preparing Your Foundation and Trailer
If you're building your tiny home permanently, you must prepare the foundation. You must clear the land and pour your foundation. Once the foundation is level, the construction is like a standard home-building project.
Whether your new home is on wheels or in a permanent location, you must prepare the area. If your home is on wheels, you must have a trailer. Depending on your chosen trailer, it may have square fenders and undercarriage flashing. It's essential to ensure your trailer is level. Before adding the subfloor and insulating, you must ensure the trailer is level. The trailer must be on the ground that's level before you place the jack stands. The first jack you place should be the one that has more distance between the trailer and the ground. You can check the distance by using a level to ensure uniformity. The next step is to install subflooring, insulation, and barrier to control vapor to the joists.
Start Framing Your Home
Framing is the first step in constructing tiny houses. It's much easier to frame your home's walls if you complete them in sections. Make sure each of your walls is square before you secure them to the home's subfloor and frame.
Roof, Window, and Door Installation
Depending on your home's design, the next step is to install the loft and rafters for the roof. Sheathing should be added to the walls and roofing to ensure the structure's strength and create a strong base for the siding and roof. Openings in the sheathing should be cut for the framed doors and windows. To ensure accuracy, it's a good idea to make holes at each of the window and door corners and create straight lines with a chalk saw before you cut the openings.
Rough-In For Utility Service
Whether you plan to live on or off the grid, you must have a rough-in for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical amenities. You should install the ductwork for your HVAC system before starting work on electrical and plumbing systems. The HVAC takes up the most space and can be challenging to maneuver around if you install the other systems first.
If you live on the grid, your home's electrical wiring can be connected to an existing power source. If you plan to live off the grid, check into installing solar panels. You'll have to install a water storage tank or connect to existing water and gas lines.
If safety issues are a concern, consider hiring a professional contractor to rough-in the utilities' lines. You won't have to worry about safety issues, and hiring a contractor may save you money and give you peace of mind.
Insulation for Your Tiny Home
When cooler weather sets in, you'll want to ensure your home is warm and comfortable. The type of insulation you use for your tiny house depends on the climate where you live. The most common varieties of insulation include natural wool batt, fiberglass batt, or spray insulation. A higher quality insulation will initially cost more, but it will save on energy costs in the long run. You must install your insulation before adding a vapor barrier and your drywall. Although spray insulation is one of the more expensive options, many professionals recommend it for tiny homes because it has a highly rated-vapor barrier, is an excellent air sealer, and is effective in resisting heat transfer.
Tiny House Flooring
When you finish insulating your home, it's time to install the flooring. Many tiny homeowners are choosing eco-friendly flooring options. Since you live in a smaller space, selecting the best flooring can be challenging. One of the essential aspects of choosing flooring for your home is maintenance and durability.
Initially, hardwood flooring is a more expensive option. However, the benefits of installing a hardwood floor are that it is long-lasting, strong, and easy to maintain. Among the best options for hardwood flooring are birch, cherry, maple, and oak. You should be aware that hardwood floors should be sanded regularly to keep them looking new. Hiring an expert is a good idea if you don't have experience sanding your floors.
Another option is luxury vinyl planks. These planks are an excellent option for active families with kids since they are water-resistant and easy to keep clean. Vinyl planks don't show cracks or scratches like hardwood flooring, and daily wear and tear aren't as noticeable.
Bamboo is an environmentally friendly flooring option for your tiny home. Unlike hardwood, which takes years to grow, bamboo crops are ready to harvest every five or six years. Bamboo is also very easy to keep clean. One thing to be aware of is that bamboo may develop a greenish tinge after prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Another option for eco-friendly homeowners is cork flooring. The flooring is available from cork recycled or harvested from oak trees. Cork floors offer a cozy atmosphere and are an excellent option in cold or hot climates. Cork oak is simple to keep clean, lightweight, and easily bends. It's quiet to walk on. Cork is a great option for tiny house kitchens and living rooms.
Slate is an option for tile flooring. It's water resistant, so it works well in a bathroom or kitchen. Some homeowners have concerns about using tiles in every room. However, if you install the tile correctly, it will stand up well to daily wear. Some of the more unusual areas to use tile is near your kitchen sink or in the shower.
Another option for your tiny home is radiant floor heating. With a radiant heating system, you won't need an expensive HVAC system, and your home will stay snug and warm in cold temperatures.
Installation of Appliances and Amenities
Before you install your appliances, electrical outlets and switches should be in place and working correctly. Next, you should install kitchen and bathroom counters, cabinets, and hardware. The next step is to install sinks, toilets, showers, and light fixtures. Install your stairs or ladders if you have a loft or second floor. Get all your appliances connected and make sure everything is in good working order. You can save a lot of time if you install pre-made cabinets instead of building them.
Selecting appliances for a tiny house can be challenging. When shopping for appliances, the keyword is compact. It would help if you consider your home's layout and lifestyle. It's a good idea to shop for long-lasting appliances. You may initially pay more, but you'll save money when they don't have to be replaced frequently. Depending on the brand and function, owners of tiny homes typically pay between $400 and $4500 for appliances. Conserving space in a tiny home is essential. If your home has stairs, choose the space underneath for appliance storage when they aren't in use. Lightweight appliances are a good option for a mobile tiny home to save on fuel costs.
Another way to make the most of your available space is to choose tables, desks, and chairs that can fold up and be stored when they aren't in use. Choosing custom furniture to fit your tiny home makes the most of limited space. Sustainability is the reason more people choose to live in small houses. Living off the grid has less environmental impact, saves energy costs, and allows for a simpler lifestyle. A great way to recycle is to use wood from old dressers or other furniture for shelving.
When you think outside the box, choosing appliances for your tiny home is simple. Countertop convection ovens are a good option. A convection oven can double as a toaster and cook a variety of foods. A built-in wall oven is a perfect space saver. An all-in-one combination kitchen unit is an ideal addition to a tiny home. These compact kitchen units are available with a refrigerator and freezer section, a two-burner stove, cabinet space, and a sink.
If you buy appliances separately, consider your space before you buy a refrigerator. If you have limited space, you may choose an under-the-counter model. If you have a high ceiling, tall, thin models are available. For tiny homeowners living off the grid, refrigerators that use solar energy, propane, or grid electricity are available.
Helpful kitchen accessories include an electric kettle. The kettle retains heat for a long time, making it an excellent option for boiling food quickly. More homeowners rely on Instant Pots for slow cooking, warming foods, steaming, and sautéing. The pot has more functions than a traditional pressure cooker and is safer.
Functional Tiny House Furniture
When choosing a tiny home couch, consider whether you need extra sleeping space, storage for blankets and linens, or dining space. An ottoman with storage is a practical option for a tiny house. An ottoman can be used to convert a couch into a temporary twin or daybed. An ottoman can provide additional living room seating or double as a table. Ottomans make storage areas that are easily accessible.
Environmentally Friendly Bathrooms and Laundry Areas
Composting-style toilets for tiny houses save on plumbing costs. Sewage is kept on-site and composted instead of being flushed, so there isn't any odor with a composting toilet. Converting waste to compost is helpful for the environment. Shower inserts are a popular option with tiny house owners. The inserts are available in hardware stores, are waterproof, and available in an array of colors, sizes, and styles. A tiny home with poor ventilation is a breeding ground for mold. Bathroom fans and range hoods cannot effectively handle the problem. The best option is an air exchanger system.
A conventional washer and dryer isn't the solution when you have limited space. Many tiny house owners choose washer/dryer combinations. The technology makes them quieter than conventional washers and dryers. The most popular systems feature a 3.5 cubic foot capacity and a stainless steel drum. One of the best features of the combo system is a direct-drive motor located inside the pedestal. That's more energy-efficient than a conventional washer/dryer and has few moving parts, which may mean fewer repairs.
Essential Facts About Tiny House Appliances
If your tiny house is on a trailer, you should consider the axles, the trailer tongue, and the size of the appliances. If they're too heavy, you can run into problems. Before the installation, consider the position of your appliances for easy access. You should also think about the vertical and horizontal positions. Everything in your house doesn't have to be placed at counter height.
Making a Tiny House Your New Home
When you're choosing the color scheme for your tiny home, neutral colors give the illusion of a larger space. Light colors reflect the light and have an airy feeling. Add a touch of nature with plants, pillows, and rugs. Furniture that serves multiple purposes makes storage easier and keeps clutter under control. Building a tiny home reduces one's carbon footprint and is an excellent option for homeowners who enjoy an environmentally friendly lifestyle. A tiny house on a trailer allows you the freedom to travel. These homes are easy to maintain, and you don't have high insurance costs. Check out tiny home building plans to select the best option for your needs.