The roof design was selected to balance the cost of materials yet provide for a very energy efficient assembly. Our roof specific roof designs change based on the size of the model, but the basic idea stays the same. Provide for a strong, energy efficient assembly without overdoing the framing.

We took a unique approach to our wall design. The main idea behind the system is to remove unnecessary wood sheathing from the assembly, ensure it has enough insulation and is extremely airtight. Air tightness is critical in a small home. With so much going on in such a small space (people breathing, taking showers, cooking, ya know…living). Any gaps in the air barrier will lead to damaging moisture problems. The forgiveness and tolerances experienced with a traditional sized home are not present in a small or tiny home.

We chose LP® SmartSide® panel cladding system which provides both the finished cladding, and structural shear wall bracing. This saves money and speeds up installation. It is durable, sourced from a sustainable material (wood) and has several finish textures to suit your style and can be painted with any exterior paint.

Within the 2x4 stud space there will be room for 3-½” batt insulation. Fiberglass or mineral wool are acceptable options, providing between R12-R14 of insulation value. Within the 3-½” space between the studs, an additional layer of batts are installed horizontally, which provide an additional R12-R14 of insulation value. The true key to this layer is that it is continuous and eliminates thermal bridging. This provides an effective insulation value of at least R24.54, far exceeding what you would typically find in a code built home, without spending a lot of money on expensive and harmful foam insulation. The primary air barrier consists of 6mil polyethylene sheathing, located on the back side of the 2x3 studs. This sheathing layer must be 100% continuous and properly sealed. Our construction details provide this critical information for your builder. A smart upgrade to standard polyethylene sheathing would be a “smart” vapour retarder that allows the wall assembly to dry to the interior and the exterior, depending on the conditions within the assembly. Although not required by code, this may be a worthy upgrade to ensure long term durability of your wall assembly.

It is extremely important that this wall assembly is able to sufficiently dry to the exterior. A “rain screen” is an air space behind your cladding (siding) which ensures any moisture driven out of your walls has a place to dry up. Without the rain screen, the cladding panels will be tight to the WRB, preventing this drying from happening. A traditional approach is installing wood furring strips to provide this air space. We chose Tyvek® Drainwrap™ for its ease of installation (installs like standard house wrap) with small dimples which provide the drainage layer. There are alternative products available which are similar and could be easily substituted.

The wall system we selected is a double stud wall system. The exterior load bearing wall is a 2x4 stud wall spaced at 16” o.c.Metal bracing is required to provide shear support. There is a 3-½” airspace between the stud layers. The inner stud layer consists of 2x3 studs spaced at 16” o.c.

Service Chase

The 2x3 studs provide for a service cavity to run electrical and plumbing without penetrating the vapour/air barrier. This also makes it quick and efficient to run your services after insulation, ensuring that your insulation is installed neatly and evenly, without any gaps around pipes or wires.

All our models use a cold climate certified air source heat pump for heating and cooling. This is an extremely efficient way to heat or cool your home. This space saving technology has two components; an indoor unit which is mounted on the wall, and an outdoor compressor mounted on the side of the building. Installation is straightforward. Ductwork or a gas connection are not required. Check out this article which explains why this is the perfect heating and cooling system for this application.

Ventilation is handled with a unique heat recovery ventilator system from Germany, called Lunos. This system comes in two parts, each of which are mounted within the exterior walls. You don’t need a separate room or space to mount a traditional heat recovery ventilation system, and ductwork is not necessary.

Water heating strategies vary by model. The larger units have compact standard electric water heaters. The smaller models have electric water heaters located below the kitchen sink. Although functional, lingering in the shower while running the dishwasher would not be recommended.

DescriptConventional wood joists supported on wood beams comprise the floor structure. ¾” plywood or OSB sheathing, nailed and glued provides a solid, squeak free floor system. For insulation, we recommend the strategic application of two-pound medium density spray foam insulation. Although we typically try and limit the use of spray foam, insulating floors to keep them warm and air tight is one of their best applications. Select a spray foam that has a low global warming potential (GWP) such as Boreal Nature by Genyk. We protect the underside of the floor joists with pressure treated plywood to prevent moisture, insects and pests from entering the assembly.

A clever alternative to a conventional floor assembly would be a structural insulated panel (SIP). Picture an ice cream sandwich made with EPS foam insulation sandwiched between OSB sheathing. These ready made panels are shipped to the site and ready to place on top of your beams. Seal the seams, and you’re ready to start building your walls. Floor structure and insulation, all in one step. This is a great alternative, and can be cost effective, depending on your site access, location and availability of equipment. Let us know if you’re interested in this option. We can customize the design to include this option and work with a SIPs manufacturer to set this up for you.

Description goes hereOur designs all utilize helical pier technology. These galvanized steel piles are literally screwed into the ground to achieve the required bearing capacity. They are code compliant with the included engineering. Site disturbance is minimal, and no concrete is required. Depending on your location, we will coordinate with the helical pier providers in your area to arrange for the necessary documentation you will need for your permit application and installation.

Although we are not specifying specific appliances, we did take into account which appliances would work best for tiny living. Substitutions from our recommendations may be appropriate depending on your budget or location. Since efficiency is critical, we specify all energy star appliances.

Fridge

The size of the fridge varies by model, but all our designs assume a counter-depth fridge to save space.

Stove top

A compact 24” four-burner induction cooktop is efficient and safe for compact kitchens.

Oven/microwave

Instead of taking up space for a separate oven and separate microwave, we specified a compact oven and microwave in combination. This takes up less space and a standard range/cooktop/microwave, providing for more crucial storage space within the kitchen.

Dishwasher

A compact 18” dishwasher is specified in order to save space

Laundry

A 24” heat pump combination washer and dryer is located within the kitchen below the counter. This space saving model doesn’t require its own exhaust duct and its half the size of a conventional stackable washer and dryer.

½” drywall or plywood is required to be installed on the interior walls in order to provide the required wind shear resistance