And then there was siding

Posted on June 23, 2016 by matthewwillox

Getting ready to shingle

Outside is all done, now I just need the new door

A look at the shingles. With the local Bald Eagle watching over

Spray foam before cleanup

Spray foam after clean up

Wow! What a great colour. The siding is almost complete and it looks great.

The combination of the grey roof, white trim and blue siding gives it a real ‘Nova Scotia Sea side’ look.

While I was working on the outside there were things going on inside too. Once the electrical was all roughed-in the Guys From Eco home insulation got in there and sprayed the walls and ceiling with 2lb, closed cell, foam insulation. This gives me an R value of around 21, plenty to keep the Tiny House cozy and warm in the middle of winter.

On the first Tiny house I did all the plumbing myself, but this time I have enlisted the help of Marc from EZ Flow plumbing in order to keep things moving along. They got the drains and vents in today and will be back tomorrow to finish the rough-in for the water lines.

It is always a bit nerve wracking for me to see people like the electricians and plumbers drilling all sorts of holes in the Tiny House I have just built, so I tend to keep a very close eye on them! I have been pleased so far with the level of care and thought that they are putting into their work, that means I can relax a bit and carry on with my jobs.

There are a few extra features in this model that were not in the last one, like a washer/dryer for example. The clients were keen to have this option and with the extra 1 1/2 feet in the bathroom there is room to put a nice 24″ condensating washer/dryer. No venting is required which makes the install quite easy.

Next up was the cedar shingles on the dormer walls. Once they were completed the outside was pretty much done…now begins all the woodwork inside.

Tiny 2 Well on the way.

Posted on April 13, 2016 by matthewwillox

My latest Tiny house project is off to a great start. The experience I gained from building the first one has proven to be invaluable, with everything coming together a bit quicker, a lot smoother and with way less time spent staring off in deep thought!

The design for this house is very similar to the last one with a few minor changes. For a start it is three feet longer, so 28′ in total. This means a slightly bigger living room and bathroom.

The layout of the door and windows has moved around a bit in order to take full advantage of the anticipated view that it will have at its new home. So the door switched sides and in its place is a very large viewing window.

Of course moving anything in a tiny house means moving everything! So there will still have to be some new crafty construction details that will make this version unique.

Next week is a busy one, with the windows, siding and roof all arriving within three days. Stay tuned to see the new colour scheme.

The trailer had to come through a blizzard but it made it

4″ of solid insulation to keep the feet warm

An extra layer of 1/2″ for a thermal break

Floor all done

First wall up

Tiny (loft) walls for a tiny house

Great day to raise the ridge beam

First roof joists are in place

Looking good

Great view of the roof framing

It’s Taking shape now

Nice looking roof line

Watertight at last with the roof membrane on

All ready for windows

More Media for Tiny

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Ashlee Cunsolo

It seems like everyone is interested in Tiny, and where she ended up and what it’s like to live small. Recently, Tiny has been featured in a CTV National News story, and a BuzzFeed Canada story!

The CTV story weaves together clips from two separate interviews conducted by CTV Atlantic about Tiny.

The BuzzFeed Canada article covers living in Tiny, with a particular focus on the doggie elevator for the lovely Corgie, Shanti.

Matt has been fielding phone calls and emails from all across the country about building and living in Tiny Homes, and it is so exciting to see such interest. The Tiny Home movement is here to stay!

Favourite Feature #2: The Ladder

Posted on October 14, 2015 by matthewwillox

Our next featured design from Tiny is the Ash ladder leading up to the second loft above the bathroom.

The final ladder design emerged after testing out several different prototypes. In the original plan, the ladder was incorporated into the shelving unit itself. But, as the building progressed, and different designs were tested, it was decided that this was too complicated, and the desire to have a simplified design led to the current version.

As you can see from the pictures, the ladder is designed to slide behind the shelving unit, in a space between the bathroom wall and the shelf. The ladder has wheels on the bottom that are only engaged when it is in the upright position to facilitate sliding back and forth. At the top is a simple hook and eye system, allowing the ladder to be slid out; when pulled into position, the hooks automatically engage, holding the ladder securely in place.

The ladder itself is made out of Ash, from Windhorse Farms‘ sustainable woodlot on the mainland of Nova Scotia. We love how it turned out!

Ladder to second loft, made of Ash

Ladder and bathroom door can be used independantly

Door and Ladder stowed away behind the shelves

Can still access the bathroom when ladder is out

Wheels are off the floor until the ladder upright and is ready to roll behind the shelf

Simple but Secure hook system.

Handle on the side allows it to be pulled out when stowed flush to shelf

Favourite Feature #1: Integrated Couch, Desk & Table

Posted on October 13, 2015 by matthewwillox

As promised, here is the first installment of Matthew’s favourite features of Tiny. First up, the integrated couch, desk, and table set that was designed specifically for the needs of the owners and for the space.

This unit is a big part of the central house design, and is not only a main decorative feature, but is also a critical piece of the living space. This unit incorporates multiple storage spaces, a shelving unit, a permanent desk and foldaway table, and a comfy couch.

The whole design was a challenge, given the space requirements and the multiple uses and functions the unit had to perform. A lot of thought and prototypes went into this design, and we are so pleased with the results.

The shelf unit functions not only as a needed storage unit, but also as a way to hide the sliding ladder leading up to one of the lofts, and cover the sliding door to the bathroom.

It was important to maximize the storage capacity of the couch unit, by building in storage units under the sitting space. These units also add a great accent of colour and can also function as extra seats when guests are over.

One of the hardest parts was the design of the desk and table unit. The challenge: the desk needed to be a permanent fixture, but the table needed to be able to be stowed when not in use, freeing up the couch space. This design enables the table to be pulled out, while the desk is in use. Matt went through multiple designs and prototypes of the leaf system, finally settling on the one you see in the pictures, both for strength, durability, and ease of motion and use.

The custom-made upholstery adds the final finishing touch to this unit, and creates a very comfy couch and extra bed. It also adds a bright pop of colour to the unit, creating a warm and welcoming space. Overall, this has become one of the most eye-catching and innovative parts of Tiny!

Maple bracket to hold up fold away diner table

Mounting bracket to couch frame

Working on the table bracket

Couch base and attached shelf

Desk, couch, table, storage and shelf, all one integrated unit

With extra leaf unfolded there is room for four.

Clips on the underside hold the leaf in place when not in use

Plenty of storage under the couch, they also double as extra seats

A latch cover mounted in the floor provides a an anchor spot for the stand.

Pieces of wood on the underside help guide the stand into place

Door and Ladder stowed away behind the shelves

These boxes under the couch double as seats for when company comes over.

Tiny Home Featured on CTV Live at Five

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Ashlee Cunsolo

We are always happy when others are interested in learning about the process behind building — and choosing to live in — a tiny home. Today, we were happy to share with Ryan MacDonald from CTV’s Live at Five.

Ryan came to film on location, and featured Matt as the contractor, and Nicky Duenkel and Judy Pratt, the Tiny Home owners. This segment was broadcast throughout Nova Scotia, PEI, and New Brunswick to over 220,000 viewers.

It was great fun working with Ryan and sharing the story of Tiny with the Live at Five audience.

To view the clip, click here.

Here are some pictures of the filming.

CTV is on location.

Starting the tour with Nicky Duenkel, Tiny Home owner.

Interviewing Judy Pratt, Tiny Home owner.

Getting ready for some ‘aerial’ shots from the loft.

Checking sound & settings.

Getting mic’d up.

Matt talking Tiny House design & construction.

Thumbs up for Tiny!

Filming the final segment.

Adding the Siding

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Ashlee Cunsolo

Well folks, this is the last in a series of five posts to get everyone caught up with where the Tiny Home process is at. Today we are featuring the beautiful Cape Cod siding, sourced and purchased from a Nova Scotia company, Cape Cod Finished Wood Siding.

The clients chose this company because of the local connection, the beautiful high-quality products, and because of the opportunity to order the siding finished in any colour that you choose. The siding is made from lodge pole pine.

This has been a great product to use. It goes on easily, and it comes with custom nails painted to match the colour of your siding, as well as extra paint to touch up ends or any nicks. And, as you can see, the colour is rich and vibrant and really pops next to the white trim, lending to the sense of happiness and celebration that surrounds Tiny.

You can also see in some of the pictures the cedar shakes that will be framing all the dormers. Once the siding is complete, Matt will begin finishing the cedar shakes, and then it’s on to the inside finishings!

While our next updates won’t be on a daily basis, we promise to keep them more up-to-date as the process continues. Stay tuned, stay posted, and check back soon!

Putting up the cedar shakes that will line the dormers.

The first of the siding begins.

Everyone needs a helper, and Nuna the howling dog namesake is always there to lend a hand.

The finished end. Look at that beautiful colour!

Moving to the side.

Matt surveying the work so far. Very satisfying to see this colour go up.

Cutting the siding.

Touching the ends up.

Hammering it on with the special painted nails.

The ever-present coffee mug. Can’t build Tiny without fuel!

Going Live (Almost) & Keeping Warm

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Ashlee Cunsolo

We are learning that when you build a Tiny Home, things take longer than expected. Working in a small space means that you have to slow down and take great care with every action and decision.

The electrical work was no different and, as with everything else, took longer than we all expected. One of the main reasons for the extra time was the sheer amount of planning that went into the electrical layout. Matt was lucky enough to work with Brandon Nielsen from Flux Electrical in Cape Breton, who understood the importance of getting it right the first time, and minimizing the number of holes drilled in the structure in order to run the wire.

Overall, the wiring process went very well. It seems like a lot of wire for a Tiny House, but every circuit has its purpose. We also had to run some 12 volt circuits to support the winch for the dog elevator (everyone’s favourite feature), and for the on-demand water heater control.

Next steps with electrical: once the house is finished, the final lights, receptacles, and switches will go in, and then Tiny will be ready to be hooked to a power source!

Once the wiring was done, it was time to insulate the inside. Once again, we used spray foam for its high R Value and air sealing abilities, as well as to provide further structural stability. Before EcoHome Insulation could spray though, all the Douglas Fir had to be covered up to avoid getting foam on it. It was challenging for the installers at times, because there were a lot of small spaces to fill, which are difficult to fill evenly. But the results are great, and all this work should help to keep Tiny nice and cozy.

It all starts with a panel.

Conduits to the main feed.

Light box, hand-made by Matt out of Douglas Fir.

Custom conduit for light boxes.

Lots and lots of wires.

Brandon from Flux Electrical surveying his great work.

Nicely labelled circuits.

Okay, so this isn’t electrical. But it’s the start of plumbing. More on that soon.

If it doesn’t want foam on it it has to be covered up.

All wrapped up.

EcoHome Insulation installing the spray foam.

All done.

Douglas Fir-ing it Up!

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Ashlee Cunsolo

Once Tiny was water tight, it was time to start getting to work on the inside details. First up, was the loft framing, which was not only an integral part of the structure, but would ultimately be exposed wood. This meant we needed to find a material that was both strong and would finish beautifully.

Douglas Fir became the obvious choice, because of its strength. Matt was extremely happy with how this turned out, as the Douglas Fir has a subtle red tone that adds richness and depth, and will be a great accent to the overall aesthetics of the finished home.

The post you see in the middle of the house in the pictures below is designed to bring the load down from the roof onto the black steel angle. Being able to transfer the load at a midpoint meant the ridge beam could be reduced in size, allowing more space in the loft. In a Tiny House, every inch counts!

Tension tie to hold walls together.

Interior view of the tension tie.

Tie attached to the Douglas Fir loft framing.

The sleeping loft, featuring the dog elevator!

Main loft again.

The second loft.

The black strip is a steel angle to help support the ridge beam and take the load down from the roof.

The Tiny Cathedral.

Catching Up…

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Ashlee Cunsolo

Well, it’s been a long time since we last posted an update on the Tiny House building process, but we have a good excuse: the weather got better in Cape Breton! And this has meant opportunities for longer days working on Tiny outside, and less computer time inside.

But, we have been receiving requests from far and wide (special shout-out to folks in Nunatsiavut, Labrador) to post more updates and photos, so we decided it’s time to sit down at the computer, go through the photo files, and start updating.

Since it’s been so long since the last update, we have decided that for the next 5 days, we will be releasing a new post, with new pictures. This should catch us up… and we promise we’ll be better at this blog posting thing as we go forward.

First up: Windows!

Every house needs windows, and even though this is a tiny home, there are still 17 windows. Most of the windows are smaller-than-average windows, but all are strategically placed to give it as open and spacious a feeling as possible, and to maximize views while not feeling like you’re living in a fish bowl.

Windows are a critical part of the exterior shell, so a lot of care and time went into properly installing them, and making sure that they were water tight. To ensure the windows are 100% water tight, Matt used a special flexible membrane for the window sills. This membrane is a fairly new product that wraps around the window opening as a full stretchy piece, eliminating the need for cuts or joints.

Once the windows were in, Tiny was transformed! The placement of the windows really gave a sense of the interior space, and what the light levels and view points will be.