Comments on: 8×20 Solar Tiny House Plans – Version 1.0

By: joni

joni — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:52:48 +0000

i will be building an 18 by 20. do you think this would be enough space for 2 bedrooms and if so what would be the best way to accomplish it? it will be for me and my 1 year old daughter. any suggestions would be appreciated. thanks!

By: jpatti

jpatti — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:33:03 +0000

I want to do something similar, but with the entire length of the roof as a shed roof. That way, the upper windows can be along the entire wall.

I doubt there will really be much solar benefit to this as my house won’t have much thermal mass. But it seems to me that a wall of windows will open the space up and make it feel so much less crowded.

By: Curt Box

Curt Box — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:11:10 +0000

Like your design. Your drop down Murphy bed could serve double duty if you included some built-ins in its face. IE: on the kitchen end you could have a drop down butcher-block work surface and on the opposite end a drop down dining table. And since the Shakers hung their chairs on the wall, maybe a couple of wooden folding chairs could be stored flat between the two drop down tables….

By: Michael Janzen

Michael Janzen — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 22:41:26 +0000

That is not an approach I’ve seen done, but have heard several people as the same question. I’m not an engineer but I suspect the steel frame of the trailer would be sufficient as a floor since they are usually strong enough for the whole house. The disadvantages that spring to mind are:

1. Fewer options for securing the walls to the floor since the foundation is steel. Although it would really depend on the trailer’s construction.
2. Less space for plumbing/drainage.
3. Less space for insulation.

I don’t think I would try it myself without carefully considering the specific trailer and how safe it was to skip the wood floor.

By: Jerald

Jerald — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:44:08 +0000

Question: I’m looking at building a tiny house on a PJTrailer frame that has 3″ channel crossmembers 24″ OC under the 2″ pine decking. Is it structurally necessary to add 2×6 floor joists on top of this? Or is it OK to simply build on the existing frame and decking and simply add subfloor sheeting directly on to the decking?

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:07:45 +0000

Go for multiples of 4′ For example 8′ X 24′

By: Michael Janzen

Michael Janzen — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:05:00 +0000

Hi JT,

I left that out, but I think a utility closet accessible from the outside could be placed behind the toilet or shower.

-Michael

By: JT

JT — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 10:22:29 +0000

Much of this looks very good. A question: Have you allowed space for some sort of water heater, propane storage, etc., or were you planning on using an on-demand system?

Malama pono,

By: Michael Janzen

Michael Janzen — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:17:57 +0000

Hi Mark… No I’ve not updated the plans. Sorry.

By: markfallin

markfallin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:41:10 +0000

very sweet work. i have a little solar experience. would love to see where you’ve evolved this design. is there a version 2 yet? may be able to offer some assistance.