Homemade Home

Once I had a rough design for my tiny house, I knew about what size trailer I need. The search consisted of Craigslist, newspaper classifieds and checking junk yards for travel trailers. I found a 20 footer and a local junk yard and paid $100. I hauled it home falling apart with some pretend tail lights spray painted on the back bumper. I stripped off the camper, keeping some items, down to the trailer. With the rust cleaned off I applied some rust converter and sprayed Rustoleum Rusty Metal primer on the frame. From there, I reinforced the trailer with angle iron in and around the frame. The frame is now drastically stronger and stiff. The final step was painting, I used Rustoleum Black.

In this episode, I continue work on the tiny house after getting the salvaged trailer ready to build on. Using traditional construction materials I frame up the tiny house into my design. Building a tiny house is not much different than a not so tiny house, same wood, same tools and similar techniques. Join me in this step towards a simpiliar debt free life.

In this video I show how I bolted my tiny house to my trailer. I also touch on my progress that I have made. This video simply answers the frequently asked question of "How did you attach the house to the trailer?" I hope you enjoy the video and get some ideas of how you will attach your house to your trailer.

In this episode, I'll be showing you my windows and talk a bit on how I made them. In general they are made from free recycled windows and inexpensive everyday materials that most anyone can access. While they where very time consuming and did offer up a challenge, I feel that many people could make there own in the way that I did. All in all, the windows where fun to make, while they where the single longest step so far during this build. The window sashes came from old houses, the stained glass windows I made from scrap pieces of colored and clear glass and the frames for all the windows where made from 2X4's. In the video I say I've got about $50 at most, but it could be around $75 ish or maybe a little more......but maybe not. I forgot to mention the glazing compound and paint, but still, all the windows in the house where less expensive that one new window purchased at a store.

Before you install a window, you can add some extra protection by adding some window and door flashing tape, then with the window installed you can run another layer around to seal up the gap between the window and the rough opening which will protect from moisture and air flow. There are many brands and they are all fine to use. Here's my video on doing the process to one of the windows in my tiny house.

In this video I'm trimming my awning windows using 1 inch pine. It is a very simple look with an inner and outer frame. Each window is individually framed one at a time. Slopes where added to flow water off the windows. There's still a couple more window trimming videos to come, the stained glass windows and the small porthole windows. I'll also put together some videos down the road for the interior trim. Thanks for watching and be sure to subscribe to my channel. I also have two other channels that will most likely be of interest to you, check them out, the links are below.

In this video I show my front door to my tiny house. It was made out of common building materials along with some cherry lumber. The front door makes a statement for the rest of the house, so I wanted to be sure to give it a level of detail and interest that would draw people in and put them in a mindset of intrigue. I did this with a simple design and subtle details, such as color shift, texture and multiple materials. I hope you enjoy this video and find inspiration in your own projects.

Flooring makes a big difference in the end result in any house. Wood flooring, especially old pine flooring really ads a warmth and richness to a space. This flooring was reclaimed from a house that was torn down. After cleaning up the tongues and grooves and cutting to length it is installed the same as any new flooring. There's some extra time involved of course, but the value and quality of what you get is great. I spent $0 on the flooring, I only had purchased the nails for the flooring nailer and my time.

I'm back on it and this time I'm not letting up. I want this thing done and usable. This video is kind of a slow start back in as far as videos go, but I'm getting my brain warmed back up as I dive back into this long overdue project.

Got a little less talking and more working in this video. My number one goal, other than finishing the house, is getting the roof done. Well, I got it done. This video shows finishing up the overhangs and getting the metal roofing down. Be sure the keep watching, I'm two videos ahead of you right now so there's more to come....including moving it to it's destination.