Tiny home for me - Large, excellent home for rodents

I recently insulated my sub floor with wool insulation from Oregon Shepherd, added some rice hulls to absorb moisture, and realized I’d made a rodent’s dream nest.  I mean, really, what more would they ask for in a nest?   Warm, dry, cozy… 

I’m not 100% sure that the wool insulation will work as well as some of the more engineered products, but have my fingers crossed.  I loved putting in insulation that I could handle without a mask and gloves, and I really enjoyed not having to worry at all about toxicity.  The larger environmental question comparing grazing, feed and water to synthetics and toxics would require some lengthy, complex assessments, but I suspect that comparisons of life cycle impacts and benefits of the various kinds of insulation would provide some good arguments for using wool. 

My dad helping to spread the wool out into the floor bays.

Could it look any more homey for the average rodent?

With cloth over it to keep the insulation from blowing away while I cut the plywood for the floor.

I’ve since put a layer of plywood over it, which should keep those rodents out, but it’s been raining like crazy here. This has limited my time working on the project and next steps.  Hoping for clear weather soon.   In the meantime, I’ll be shopping for windows and doors.

Visiting other tiny homes in various stages of construction.

Colin’s place:  A friend of a friend recently completed his tiny home and moved it out to beautiful Inverness Park, a tiny town near Point Reyes CA. He let me stop by, pick his brains for a couple of hours on details, and take photos.  Colin chose a fairly simple structural design, and decided to spend his time on beautiful woodwork details. He spent a lot of time on salvage, and ended up with great wood for his siding, interiors, and floors as well as some very nice windows and doors.  He also built his cabinets, furniture and ladder-shelf himself, using recycled redwood, cedar, and Douglas fir, among others.  His two solar panels can run his appliances for up to 5 days without sun, and his cool little Hobbit stove keeps the place toasty.  Awesome little home.  I hope I build something as nice to be in.    

Boneyard Studios in DC

I stopped by a couple of weeks ago to check up on friends at the Boneyard Studios.  They’ve been plugging away at their three tiny houses since this summer, and were recently written up in the Washington Post.  What’s great about their site is that they are trying three very different designs, and sharing what they learn while they go.  They're also experimenting with different siding, sealants, attachment to frame, and much, much more.  Everyone has progressed rapidly since this photo was taken, so check out their blog for more recent photos.

Jay built a standard wood frame (house on right), but has gone with a very boxy design to fit his modern sensibilities.  For more details, and some fun construction time lapse videos, check out his blog on the Matchbox. 

Brian decided he’s okay with a wide load (middle house), and extended his prefab SIPs panel home (which he designed with engineers and architects) out to 11 feet.  This gives him a bit more breathing room, and less of a long narrow feel.  For more details, including his cost estimates for the curious, check out Minim House.

Lee’s gone with the dormer look, after extensively modifying a tiny house started by someone else (on left).  Who knew you could buy a tiny house shell on craigslist?  She and her building experts have taken that shell and modified it almost beyond recognition.