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

Favourite Feature #5: The Doggie Elevator!

Posted on November 15, 2015 by matthewwillox

This may be the only Tiny Home out there right now with a doggie elevator! That’s right — a doggie elevator!

This particular feature arose out of the need to transport the clients’ Corgie from the bottom floor to the top floor, because the stairs are too steep and too hard on his back. With need, comes innovation, and so Matt innovated the idea to have a doggie elevator that moves up and down via a winch system.

As with everything in Tiny, this was completely custom made. One of the main challenges was actually finding the space where this dog-evator could drop down in between the stairs, the cupboard, and counter — all the measurements had to be precise!

The end result is a one-of-a-kind Tiny Home feature, that has the Corgie and his owners happy at the outcome! And as you can see, it has the smallest Howling Dog Construction crew member excited to try it out!

Testing the winch for the elevator

All the pieces waiting to be put together.

The Elevator joints had to be strong so everything was Rabbited

All the pieces dry fit together to makes sure they all fit nicely.

Making good use of the elevator.

Getting the winch ready to mount

Elevator box hanging in place, it fits in the space perfectly.

The winch in place

Favourite Feature #3: The Stairs

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Ashlee Cunsolo

Next up on Matt’s Favourite Features of Tiny: the stairs!

The stairs are a central part of the overall design of Tiny and, like everything else, have to incorporate maximum storage, functionality, and aesthetics. These stairs took a lot of planning and consideration, and were one of the first things designed in the planning process because of their importance, their centrality in the home, and the space they take up.

The treads are made from maple, and the base is made from high-grade plywood. The handrails and trim pieces are reclaimed and repurposed wood, salvaged from various places and sources. The stairs have been finished with oil, followed by two coats of varathane for a smooth and durable finish.

Since the stairs go up to the sleeping loft, which, due to the height, requires you to be on your hands and knees to enter, the last tread before the loft is extra deep. This allows for a comfortable transition from the stairs to the sleeping area.