Tiny House Movement

[osii]

that's OK, I like that so much, I'm gonna start using it

[osii]

I would imagine in Florida the trailer would hold up well since you have to run the AC all year round most of the time.

[Xeraux]

Originally Posted by Hannda

Nothing. And I get the idea that the OP was heading in that direction ~ that he could build a wonderfully comfortable small house for what these guys want to charge for an 8x8 rough cedar sided trailer.

I guess that's the part I wasn't putting together. These "tiny houses", unless you build them yourself, are every bit as expensive as some normal small houses, and... You probably can't get a loan for a "tiny house". There's usually a minimum square footage for it to qualify as a "house".

I've always maintained there's a market for 1,200 to 1,500 sq ft houses that have the amenities and niceties of a 3,000 sq ft house.

[Hannda]

Originally Posted by osii

I would imagine in Florida the trailer would hold up well since you have to run the AC all year round most of the time.

My in-laws were in Rockport, TX ~ right on the gulf. I fear part of their problem may have been a leaky slide-out . . . . so maybe. But I've seen the condensation here in Colorado from the extreme cold outside and the furnace going full blast inside.

Pirate John could tell you more about living on the coast in one of these. He's currently in the Rio Grand Valley in TX, spent time on South Padre Island and Corpus Christie, TX and time in Florida as well. I only chimed in based on the warning I'd read in a unit similar to the park models that photos have been posted for.

[PaleRider]

Originally Posted by Xeraux

... I've always maintained there's a market for 1,200 to 1,500 sq ft houses that have the amenities and niceties of a 3,000 sq ft house.

...

... back to the future, as it were.

Here in Denver, there are several older neighborhoods which have the smaller house size. Sadly, in some neighborhoods, they scrape off the old and pop in the huge (on little lots).

[Hannda]

Originally Posted by PaleRider

... ... back to the future as it were. Here in Denver there are several older neighborhoods which have that kind of house size. Sadly, in some neighborhoods they scrape off the old and pop in the huge (on little lots).

Agreed. But sometimes even when you're putting up a house that has no more square footage than the old ones it can be cheaper to go back with all new. Trying to get the plumbing, electrical, insulation, closet space and open floor plans people want in newer, smaller, homes can simply be too much of a pain to do in some older construction. Just because we're ready to go back to between 900 and 1,250sf of living space doesn't mean people are willing to go back to 2'x2' closets, no master bath and R.00029 walls. The cost to move load bearing walls, or add beams that can drop rooms down to 7' ceiling heights, move windows and then brick up moved exterior wall openings, etc. can exceed the cost of just going back with new. Not always, but often.

[PaleRider]

... yep, but when you not only expand up (pop the top), but out, it changes the feel of the old neighborhood. If they are actually modernizing, and maintaining the integrity of the neighborhod, that's another thing.

But who am I to say

[squish]

Originally Posted by osii

I've gone from 4500 to 1200 ft. I thought I was downsized.

I might agree that these new tiny houses may be better built, but I have seen no real proof of that. And even well built homes need work eventually. When you are talking about 8x20, you have a ton of options.

I guess the price is what really floored me. If they could deliver this for $9995, then we may be talking about something really revolutionary. But when I see the prices they want, it's just a rich guys toy. It's not really something practical that is ever going to take off. No one will buy that little 160 ft place when in this housing market, they can easily get something around 800 or 900 ft. for the same price. And especially when they can buy a nicer equipped RV for way less.

snip
I'm getting a 18x22 shed/garage built on a concrete slab for under $6k.

Well BMW kind of follows the same idea
there are bikes out there that are much faster and cheaper.
But BMW has managed to make a market for their bikes.
So has tumblewoodweed homes.

It's all about marketing, convince people you have a superior product that's worth more.
Some people will believe it and some wont.

But to say the whole "movement" is based around making mobile homes "gentrified" is a little far fetched. Even if there are elements that are doing just that.

[Mr. J]

Originally Posted by osii

....these people act like they are saving the world.....

ever been around someone who just quit drinking? because they can't or choose not to do it, they don't want anyone else to do it, either.

so let's say they have some enthusiasm for their newfound discovery. like the first time you got your noodle wet. i know i couldn't stop talking about it for a while. hell, i still think about it from time to time.


anyway, on to the little house stuff in several posts because this is something i have been interested in for some time.

[Mr. J]

Originally Posted by ImaPoser

what the hell are you talking about? Did you mean to include a link?

http://contests.apartmenttherapy.com/2010/small-cool

http://tinyassapartment.blogspot.com/

http://thistinyhouse.com/

http://tinyhouseblog.com/

http://www.tinyhouseliving.com/

http://relaxshax.wordpress.com/



http://smalllivingjournal.com/catego...-space-tricks/

http://www.tinyhousetalk.com/

the Brits have been on to something for quite some time:

http://www.shedblog.co.uk/

http://www.shedworking.co.uk/

and i certainly wouldn't toss Sarah out for eating crackers in bed

[Mr. J]

[quote=PirateJohn]There are stupid people everywhere. ...






do.

[Mr. J]

Originally Posted by Anorak

....You're more like a turtle.

HA HA !!!




review here:

http://www.mrsharkey.com/busbarn/roger/shells.htm

Beck's website here:

http://www.housetrucks.com/maindex.html

[Mr. J]

Originally Posted by Anorak

Aw fuck it. Look up Jim Rockford's trailer yourself.

http://www.tvacres.com/homes_rockford.htm

i dunno if that would be too economical - living in Malibu

[Mr. J]

Originally Posted by DriveShaft

Personally, I think his lack of experience shows. Absolutely no thought given to the livability of the structure. No thought given to ventilation, airflow, insulation, etc; if it looks house-like, that's good enough. It's not rocket science. He should do some research for tumblweed 2.0.

agreed - BUT - the guy got it into mainstream AND is getting more pussy than a gynocologist in that tiny, poorly ventilated, loft bedroom.



seriously, look at some of the hippy housing ideas of the late sixties and early seventies which eventually made it into main stream construction at big buck prices. post & beam, cathedral ceilings, architectural salvage, all quite avante garde coming from the ozzie & harriet, june & ward cleaver, levittown fifties & sixties.

poke 'round heres:

http://ccmht.org/architects.html

http://www.andrewgeller.net/

http://docomomo-us.org/chapters/new_england

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuoGW9ts8ts

http://www.wholeearth.com/index.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart_Brand - also, his book http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Buildings_Learn - shows his shipping container office

http://www.shelterpub.com/_builders/BPC-book.html

http://www.thetreehouseguide.com/

http://www.treehouses.com/

[Mike.Gail]

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

Like this kind of shipping container house?

omgwant.