While we've been doing fully hands-on workshops since 2009 (one of the first (and very few) to do so), its an ever-changing field- "the tiny house scene" that is. I mean this in a stylistic, and technical way- especially as the builds get bigger, and, well, less sacrificial in their wants and needs- less sparse. Things aren't as simple as they used to (aim to) be in many ways. Much of this is beneficial in a sense of progress, and customize tools and appliances are developed to cater to the movement, while other aspects are debatable.
Regardless, for years our core has been teaching 101-style for the brand-new "never built-ers", and then progressing upwards in the second and third days of class once we have everyone up to speed, but as times, interests, and needs change, it would be nice to get some "audience feedback" from those aspiring to build a tiny house. We cover A TON of stuff, and we're ever-changing- always- but we want to make sure we're not missing addressing some "feared aspects".
What seems the most daunting part of your future tiny house build? What scares you and is keeping you from starting?
Where do you draw the line in terms of what you feel you might want to tackle yourself, and what you're going to hire out? Electrical? Roofing?
What do you want to walk away with from any workshop (cause God knows there rare 458 bandwagon ones out there now! Yeeeesh. Some solid- most, er, total and complete crap).
Above: footage by Zane Spang at our Tiny House Summer Camp 5
Granted, there is only so much you can cover in a two or three day space WHILE allowing time for explaining, questions, networking, "tangental" approaches, a communal meal, and the ACTUAL BUILD itself (in the case of our hands-on classes), but here is what we usually will try to cover, and WILL cover in two upcoming workshops we have....
Boston, MA area (Stoughton, MA INSIDE an art gallery)- Feb 17th and 18th, 2018
Joshua Tree, CA- March 23rd-25th, 2018
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What we Cover- the initial essentials (we actually DO these things- not TALK about 'em)-Framing (building and over-building to travel)
-Trailer building QnA/talk
-Sheathing
-Tool selection and use (hand and power)
-Standard and non-traditional approaches to building (time saving tricks of the trade- building alone)
-Shingling (cause many find it to be a pain)
-Choosing systems (heat/AC) for a tiny house or backyard cabin
-Designing for space efficiency
-Budget building approaches- how to keep costs down while infusing originality in your home
-What to AVOID in tiny house design- the FREQUENT mistakes we see!
-Window and door framing
-Circular saw use (long rips, plunge cuts, angles)
-Constructing a roof- bird-mouth notches, rafter work....
-Where you might be able to build it, and HOW.... (on wheels, foundation, skids- the pros/cons)-
-Siding
-Insulation methods
-Using a Chop/Mitre Saw
-Hardware selection and implementation
SO, back on topic, within reason, what would YOU like to learn at any workshop you might attend?
If you'd like to sign-up for our BOSTON area workshop, CLICK HERE
-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen
