The Plan


The plan so far:

For the most part hand made.
10' x 18' and 14' tall abode, constructed out of Sing Core Honeycomb Panels with a 2x2 frame around the outside.
A small (but elegant) bathroom and outdoor shower (eventually in a greenhouse).
A sleeping loft (with room enough for a work and sleeping space).
A beautiful kitchen (relatively speaking pretty big).
A small dining room.
A comfy chair for relaxing.
And many big windows.

The goal is eventually to be as self sufficient as possible. This includes solar and wind generated energy, rain water collection, and wood for heat.

And in the process I am learning as much as I can from the many many mistakes I am making!




33 comments:

  1. Celina this is a GREAT project. i want one too! I built a motorhome when i was in my 20's. chassis up.
    here's a link: http://ymoyl.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/memories-of-another-life/

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  2. Thanks Vicki! The pictures of the motorhome are great, you must have had fun!

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  3. Good luck on your project! I admire your dedication and enthusiasm! :D --Erin

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  4. Fascinating project. Look forward to following it through to completion. thanks for sharing it with us.

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  5. I also have an afinity for small transportable homes (my passion is sailboats). In the interests of homebuilt insulated panels, here's a website that does it with a lot less unnecessary adhesive. Something to think about. http://www.countryplans.com/bolt-house.html

    Bob

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  6. I have a phone call into a friend about a pedestal sink. I will get back to you :) I was supose to start my tiny house this month but I have not found a place to park it. I noticed that yours is 14ft tall isn't 13'6 as tall as you can go for towing? I'm an administrator in education and I really appreciate it when a young person sets an example for us old folks ;). Enjoy the journey!

    Sly

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    1. Sly, you are correct 13'6" is legal height LIMIT, additionally, 8'6" is legal width. This structure is a mandatory permit required oversized load! This is why tiny homes are built on a 7" x "XX" trailer to stay under the 8'6" width limit.

      Not sure who is helping this young lady, but they ARE NOT.

      Jay Mic

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    2. Hi Jay from what I learned when I was looking to build mine was you can get a permit to tow anything wider that 8'6 pretty easy it's the height restriction that will limit where she can take it. She may nto be able to make it under most bridges. She sounds like a bright kid so I hope she doesn't find herself in a bind later.

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    3. Sly and Jay,

      Thank you for your concern, but.

      Here is the Washington State Patrol Inspection and Trailer Requirements - http://www.wsp.wa.gov/traveler/docs/cvd/170_129.pdf.
      It clearly states that 14' is the limit for height. Yes making the choice to build it this tall may restrict me when traveling down the road. But again this is not a travel trailer - it is a house that can move. I am willing to to trade convenience when towing for ceiling height, that is my choice. But I am completely within the law.

      Celina

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  7. Thank you Celina for sharing the website I will check it out.

    Sly

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  8. What is legal height, width, and length?

    Height: 14 feet
    Width: 8 ft. 6 in.
    Length: Single Vehicle - 40 feet (Auto Stage, Motor home 46 feet)
    Semi Trailer - 53 feet (Can purchase permit to 56 feet)
    Double Trailers - 61 feet (Can purchase permit to 68 feet)
    Truck and Trailer - 75 feet
    Auto/Boat Transporter - 75 feet
    (plus 3-foot overhang and 4-foot rear overhang) (stinger steered)
    Found it!
    Since I'm not sure where I will end up I'm keeping mine about 13'6 but it will be a wide load. 9'5. Good luck to you it sounds like all those CTE classes will come in handy ;).

    Sly

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  9. WOW! You are an awesome woman with an awesome and dedicated plan.

    Jmos

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  10. Hi Celina!
    First, way to go, girl! So impressed that you're taking the initiative to undertake this at only 16. I was even home-schooled, but I was certainly *not* anywhere near building my own house at 16. Or 20, for that matter.
    My hubby and I are in the planning stages of our own tiny home. We're planning on building something like Tumbleweed's Fencl, but we LOVE your roof idea. So much more space up there in the loft! Haven't been able to find plans for a roof like that, though. Could you share some insight on how the roof is to be built?
    Thanks!!

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    1. Stephanie!

      You will have so much fun with the tiny house project! But to be completely honest I am completely making it up when it comes to the roof. When it is finished and I know it works I'll share how it was done. : D

      Celina

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  11. Hi Celina, yours is an inspiring project. The link I followed (from "tinyhouseblog") mentioned "The house will be 14 feet tall with a gambrel roof and will be built with Celina’s version of SIP panels (outer plywood wall, small studs, ridged insulation, inner plywood and paper maché)."

    I was very curious about the paper mache and how it will be used. I admit I kind of speed/read your blog on my lunch hour so please forgive me if I missed it.

    Thanks in advance
    Gill

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    1. Thanks for the note Gill!

      On the interior of the house I want to achieve the french kitchen plastered look. But given this is a moving vehicle, plaster would not hold up. So I am going to do a bit of experimentation, and hopefully come up with a paper mache technique that replicates plaster texture. Then paint it with a lime based paint/wash.

      This is all new to me so who knows if it will work. But its worth a try!

      Celina : )

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    2. Have you looked into doing the technique with torn paper bags? I have seen pics of people who have and it is lovely. Doesn't cost much but does take some time to do.

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  12. very cool, do you have a fb page for this project too?

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    1. Thats probably a good idea isn't it?

      I may create one very soon : )

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  13. Love this! I echo everyone's sentiments that I wish I were as precocious and focused as you are back in my day! LOL

    Hope to build my own tiny home one day! Very proud of you & wish you the best in your build!

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  14. Pretty cool what you and your dad are putting together. I am in the process of finishing off a small art studio conversion at our place in Langley to guest house and space planning has been a fun challenge. Your project is quite inspiring. If you all need some help w/ heating systems, that's what I do for a living and might be able to assist w/ design. Also way to go on the vintage trailer. That will be too cool. Tim Smith, tim@reedwrightheating.com

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  15. Your project is progressing amazingly! I just visited your last post, “under pressure”, and I might say that your tiny house is nearly finished. I do hope you could update us with more pictures on how it looks on the inside. Thank you!

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    1. Thank you! But the house isn't even close to being finished... The inside is still a blank canvas. Lots to do!

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  16. "A longing for love. Love of what we do, how we use our time, and who we spend it with is my motivation." Way to go, Celina! That's what life is all about. I am rooting for you!

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  17. Celina, I just caught up on all the old Tiny House Magazine issues (I sold my iPad a year ago) and the new update JUST NOW allowed all other devices! Anyway, I read your story at work and it was a good solid, kick in the tail! I am 36, have been following the Tiny House Movement for several years now, since I just got out of the Navy around 2008 or so…and really have been dreaming, and drawing (100's of ideas) since then. Everybody at work marveled and quipped about how crazy I was to want to build a tiny house on a Sport Trac Truck, then a cube in the backyard of a Westwood, CA Apartment. Now about to graduate UCLA, I am well on my way to realizing this dream, especially, even with the GI Bill, with another $30,000 of debt.

    I have a girlfriend who is opposed to it, and doesn't want to live the life, but openly admitted she was "open" for love in the future and just wanted to be a good Mom, having her family not have been there for her as much as she would have liked. Myself, I'd like to be a professional who makes good income and life, but comes home to a lifestyle that is beautiful, simple enough, small, and freeing, instead of trying to look good for everyone else. I'm done with social stigma, having lived in a SMART car, Sport Trac, and Dodge Van to finish my degree here in the Los Angeles area.

    My biggest challenge has been finding a plot of land to build on. But I'm getting more and more ruthless and seeking. The greatest helping hand you'll ever find is on the end of your own arm. This experience will change you, as the woods changed Thoreau. Don't listen to stigma, because stigma is convinced to have us in debt forever and never own everything we could have had. Having grown up in NE Indiana, I was exposed to simplicity (My Grandfather's 1940's hand built post-war lake cottage for all 7 of his kids!) and even though I see it daily here and it's intoxicating, almost making me want to leave, I'm thankful that I got the chance to smell it, taste it, and see it to remind me it's not what I want. Keep up the amazing work as you are already smart enough to bypass many of the lessons that are on both sides of my bumper daily...

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  18. Just curious, how much did the Singcore panels cost total to build your tiny home?

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    1. It has been a couple of years... and I honestly can't remember. But I believed we bartered for lots of the cost. You can google them and find more info. Good luck!

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  19. Hi Celina. Hello and congradulations on this project. Hurray for you! Is there a panel that pulls down somewhere? I think I missed something. Is this house in Port Townsend? Has Walter moved back there? I am your father's old (really old) friend, Jean Anderson. Roger Pick is the one who sent me your website.

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