A tiny house can be thought small living space like the name of as. in the first place but I assure you it is way more than that. This tiny house movement, which is very popular these days, has ceased to be a kind of economic necessity and has become an minimalist solution and energy efficient, environmentally friendly lifestyle itself. In this article, we will go a little further into the depths and unknowns of this very popular topic.
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How does the tiny house movement start in the beginning?
In the dark days that many of us have heard from afar, during the 2008 financial crisis while thousands of people lost their homes due to unemployment or foreclosure the idea attracted more attention than ever before. But before that The tiny house movement is considered by some to have started in the 1970s, with artists such as Allan Wexler investigating the concept of choosing to live in a compact space. Early pioneers include Lloyd Kahn, author of Shelter (1973), and Lester Walker, author of Tiny Houses (1987). And of course, Sarah Susanka follows them by starting the "counter-movement" for smaller houses which she details in her book The Not So Big House (1997). According to some, a Tiny house was an affordable alternative to a traditional house, and according to others, it was a manifesto against concepts such as global warming and capitalism.
How did tiny houses gain popularity?
In a world where consumption habits are increasing day by day, where people were captive by sales, marketing, and the internet, small houses have taken their place as a brand work that represents those who enjoy life, not those who have financial difficulties. the name itself started to carry brand value for a new lifestyle.
Reasons Why Tiny Houses are Gaining Popularity
Small, one appeal of tiny homes is that they are small enough to travel which means freedom of movement.
Affordable in any case to compare to the traditional houses even though we can keep it luxury.
Easy to maintain There are fewer appliances and less space to clean.
Requiring few items since you don't have much space you need to use it wisely.
Budget-friendly
Easy to live in
Close to nature
Environmentally friendly
Energy efficient
Human and nature friendly...
What tiny house represent today?
Yes, it is affordable,
Yes, it is budget-friendly,
and yes that is small !!
But today It is a lifestyle and living in a tiny house represents;
Being close to nature.
Being sensitive to the environment.
Minimalism
Freedom
And even having a healthy life...
What is the tiny house?
A tiny house is not just a passing trend. It's a way for millions of people to enjoy financial and physical freedom. A tiny house doesn't mean you have to give up luxury and beauty!
It is small but useful, economical, and environmentally friendly.
They are easily transportable vehicles that offer a simple and sustainable lifestyle. But it's not a dream come true.
The tiny house offers you a living space between 25-50 m2 according to your budget and your lifestyle needs. This 25-50 m2 can be used very efficiently, so the reality that you don't need that much space and that much stuff in life will hit you. Moreover, you do not have to compromise on the pleasure of hosting guests. A tiny house can accommodate 4-6 or even more people at the same time. Of course, that may push some personal space limits.
As we said before, your wishes are decisive here.
You can be sure that it will be more spacious and bright than you think. It is not difficult to illuminate the already small space using large windows or even skylights. Another nice thing about having all these windows is that you can feel like you are outdoors, or at least close to it. After all, there is nothing like being in nature among the trees or under the rain. It should not be forgotten that this can make you feel like your private space is being invaded. That's why the correct location is very important.
What is the tiny house not?
The correct location is also very important as it determines how much sun you will benefit from. After all, while tiny houses are expected to be environmentally efficient, benefiting from solar energy cannot be ignored. But are they really sustainable and environmentally friendly?
They don't have to be! While the right infrastructure systems and the right material selection can make tiny houses environmentally friendly but if it is the opposite...
If the wood you use on the exterior is not resistant to water, if the thermal insulation layer on the walls is not chosen correctly, If the plastics you use may harm the indoor air quality, If your solar panels can't even meet your energy needs... your small house cannot be an environmentally friendly or sustainable living space.
That's doesn't have to be bad news for those who looking to shrink their carbon footprint.
Start by knowing your expectations first, and be realistic, it is possible to own a small house where you will enjoy living with practical solutions that suit your needs thanks to various storage areas and multi-use design solutions. Better still, you'll now have to spend much less time and energy taking care of the many unused items that fill your home, and even the house itself. Speaking of energy, we should emphasize that we are talking about natural resources in real terms, such as energy, water, raw materials, etc.
How to build a tiny house?
Whether you make your tiny house yourself or get help from a professional. The material to be used or designed for interior space and the construction process is completely shaped by your comfort and needs.
Before you start, it is necessary to determine your needs and the tools you will use especially heavy ones. According to the weight calculation, the load to be carried by the axles is calculated and the trailer part is completed. After all, the tiny house, which is a movable structure, should be at least as portable and safe as a normal vehicle while traveling in traffic. Thus, we lay the foundation of our house. A light steel frame is then built on the trailer.
At this stage, it should be noted that if we have heavy items such as a TV, cabinet, or air conditioner that we intend to hang on the wall, or if we are considering adding a tiny house loft floor, these should be calculated and pre-constructed.
Now we can complete the next stage in a way that hides all the infrastructure systems between these load-bearing light steel systems. These can be clean, hot and cold water pipes, electrical cables for all-electric vehicles, and Thermostat for heating or air conditioning infrastructure.
Here you have to make a very important decision about being environmentally friendly. Some of your options are;
Using solar panels for your electric need; You can benefit from the solar panels you will place on the roof for many of your needs such as using solar panels for your electricity needs, heating, cooling, and hot water.
Water tank for your water needs. Of course, the size of the tank should be calculated by considering the population of your house and the need for water for shower, laundry, dishwashing, drinking water, etc.
If you want to be completely independent of the city water network, rainwater storage and filtering systems make your job much easier.
If you want to stay in nature without being connected to the city water supply, you'd better not skip the water pump.
Gray and black water discharge is another water-related issue. You must have tanks for collecting these two types of water preferably separate storage tanks so you may think to use again grey water for a different purpose
Another issue you can pay attention to when using water is toilets, in this case, you can choose a water-less compost toilet to reduce your water consumption.
Now it's insulation time. you need to insulate your house from two things; rain and cold/hot air coming from outside. You will need three layers for this.
Extruded Polystyrene (Styrofoam) and (XPS) Boards are used to insulate the sub-floor and possibly the wall and roof cavities.
House wrap creates both a moisture and air barrier around a house.
Rain and Ice Shield to isolate your tiny house from rainwater.
In the next step, you can use Plywood or wood to cover your walls and floors (The wood to be used on the exterior must be waterproof).
You can paint the walls in different colors and even use wallpaper. But also…
You can use reclaimed wood, it is an easy way to make your home improvement project eco-friendly.
Bamboo is a solid alternative to traditional lumber and also a great choice for a unique living fence or partition for your outdoor areas.
Prefabricated panels have a lot of interest in innovating construction materials to be more eco-friendly, including using the modular design to prevent future waste.
Conclusion
The tiny house is not a game-changing invention or an elusive dream. A tiny house these days is an economical but mostly cool lifestyle indicator for some, but sometimes it is a minimalist and green solution.
There is always a step forward for what you can do to be sensitive to the environment. Considering your needs and living conditions, every time you push your limits, you are doing something good for the environment. Using a waterless compost toilet may be impossible at first, but there are many possibilities, such as the energy efficiency of the vehicles you choose, and the recyclability of the materials you use.
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