Comments on: recycling a tiny house

By: maya

maya — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:45:06 +0000

Hi Craig, nice to meet you. Yes, I’m sure he was thinking solar, as his dad, my uncle, used to build solar houses as a business. He would have made awnings if he had gotten to keep the place, although where it is now sited, in the trees, it stays cool enough in the summer. Adding to the length would be great–keeping it under 12 x 12 keeps the inspectors away. There are no plans, but it’s simple enough, I don’t think they’re needed. Good luck!

By: Craig Moorhouse

Craig Moorhouse — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:13:53 +0000

This design would make a perfect passive solar design ( cousin Noah sounds like a pretty sharp guy and he must of thought of this as well). Large window space for southern exposure and low north facing wall to shed cold winter northerly winds. I would add a 3ft deep canvas awning over the first floor windows to keep the low angled summer sun from heating this space up. You could also add 4ft. to the north to south length to increase the solar gain which would give you more floor plan options for a full time residence ( but that might sacrifice a bit of the homes “cuteness”).
I’ve had a half conceived idea for a home like this – the top floor walls could be disassembled and the roof would sit flat over the first floor to get by the height restrictions so you could tow it down the road.
If cousin Noah had any working plans for this home I would certainly be happy to purchase them. This cozy cottage would be great for me and my daughter when she comes to visit me.
Thank you for this.
Craig

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:05:52 +0000

THANKS so Much.. That gives me some great ideas.. I have been sharing your blog with my wife. We really enjoy all the information we have found. Thanks again for sharing your journey!
Cheers!

By: maya

maya — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:44:20 +0000

Hi Jeff, thanks so much for stopping by. I’m assuming you mean the Noah House, since your comment is on that post? (We have a lot of buildings around here.) The house is 12×12 with a shed roof that is 16ft at it’s height (because Noah wanted to be able to stand in the loft) and about 8 or 9 feet on the low end. The loft is three feet wide I think, and is in an L shape, along the front (the tall, window side) and the left (if you are standing, facing the front). The little side portion is 6×6 and is on the right, flush with the back wall. Does that help?

By: Jeff Barry

Jeff Barry — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:39:40 +0000

will you PLEASE post spec’s on the home… I’m interested in the demensions and lay-out…

Thanks

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:19:28 +0000

the county where I live in CA doesn’t allow yurts as a full time residence, but they do allow strawbale buildings, as long as all the plans are done up by an architect. I am buying ten acres, very remote and heavily treed and have decided to put up a yurt dispite the lack of available permits. As long as my decking platform is less than three feet off the ground and I’m able to “take down” my yurt in a day to show that it is not permanant, I think I’ll be okay. Besides, there are people in the surrounding area that are lving full time in un-permitted cabins and camp trailers who are much more visible and closer to the main road. I figure if my county (which has very limited resources) starts checking on building code violations, they will have enough distractions to keep them far away from my remote little heaven for years! I personally believe that if someone wants to live green and in a way that is more respectful of the earth, and is doing it on their own land- the county government should mind their own business!

By: Deena Larsen

Deena Larsen — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:43:19 +0000

Thanks for the heads up. We will have to get zoning in place before we put one nail in our access-a-hut!

By: maya

maya — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:00:50 +0000

I’ll put up some more interiors as soon as Paul gets the shelves and trim done. I’ll link to it here if I can remember…

By: maya

maya — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:00:04 +0000

I replied to this, but I think the reply got lost in my hacker-related reverting to old backups of my blog. Sorry! In case you’re still interested, there were restrictive covenants on the piece of land, and a dispute about how those were to be interpreted. Also, our yurt is in a different county, so different rules, and different rule enforcers.

By: Greg

Greg — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:39:09 +0000

Why, specifically, wasn’t your cousin able to live in his house? No plumbing? No electricity? Built without a permit? Your write-up doesn’t explain. I can’t fathom how zoning would be a problem out in the sticks of North Carolina for a traditional (stick built house (even if small. How was a big tent(yurt) not a problem under the same zoning? Hmmm.