Comments on: Tortoise Shell Homes Poll http://tinyhouseblog.com/poll/tortoise-shell-homes-poll/ Living Simply in Small Spaces Thu, 24 May 2012 02:43:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Zer0 http://tinyhouseblog.com/poll/tortoise-shell-homes-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-163515 Zer0 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:12:24 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=1546#comment-163515 I'd definitely be interested in this. I hope they make the model. I’d definitely be interested in this. I hope they make the model.

]]> By: Car Buyers http://tinyhouseblog.com/poll/tortoise-shell-homes-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-111856 Car Buyers Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:03:12 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=1546#comment-111856 Small house is for small family. they can stay happy.. Small house is for small family. they can stay happy..

]]> By: New Tortoise Shell Home http://tinyhouseblog.com/poll/tortoise-shell-homes-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-26745 New Tortoise Shell Home Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:45:13 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=1546#comment-26745 [...]  I conducted a poll for Bill Kastrinos of Tortoise Shell Homes to see if there would be interest in a larger 8 x 32 foot home. The response was quite good 168 yes and 53 no. You can view the poll here. [...] [...]  I conducted a poll for Bill Kastrinos of Tortoise Shell Homes to see if there would be interest in a larger 8 x 32 foot home. The response was quite good 168 yes and 53 no. You can view the poll here. [...]

]]> By: Bill Kastrinos http://tinyhouseblog.com/poll/tortoise-shell-homes-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-25509 Bill Kastrinos Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:14:44 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=1546#comment-25509 Hi everyone, Bill from Tortoise Shell here. Thanks so much for all your comments and kind words. Kent, you must not sleep at night to get all the work done that you do. Thanks for the latest articles on our trip south. One specific comment from myself. I have spent a great deal of time on the container question. Even have contemplated building our own light weight versions specifically for the house market. Here are some of my conclusions. First, a shell typically only makes up 20% of a homes total price. A 20 thousand dollar house would be about 4 thousand for the shell. Now used containers are available for about $1500 plus delivery. Problems. How do you insulate? Commercial units are usually only insulated to r8 and r11. Insulation needs a cavity. You can use foam right over the raised ribs on the inside followed by drywall, but I'm not sure how the foam will react in terms of outgassings when it is in contact with the exterior ribs, which can get very hot. And the fastners are an issue, protruding through the outside. If you frame the inside for standard R-13, you kill another 8inches of inside floor space, and you almost have the cost incurred of at least the frame in a conventional shell. Also, cutting doors and windows require additional framing and taking a torch or plasma cutter to a container, is not really work for an amateur builder, in my opinion. Lastly, the flat roof requires maintenance. They depend on caulking for part of their seal. Like many mobile home owners, the solution is adding a roof. I can't see the cost savings. One big advantage, though, they are very tough, and cheap. You could slide one down a hillside to a steep site. And at least here in Santa Rosa an 8x40 I believe with kitchen and bathroom is only $16,500. (They have the whole thing built in China. I could not come close to that using American labor and purchasing a new container as a base. But again, thanks everyone. We are digesting all the comments, and I followed the link to the Cavco unit which is probably closer to how we would want a shed unit to look. But many have said we should keep a traditional roof, and that is probably the way we will go. Cheers! Hi everyone, Bill from Tortoise Shell here.
Thanks so much for all your comments and kind words. Kent, you must not sleep at night to get all the work done that you do. Thanks for the latest articles on our trip south.
One specific comment from myself. I have spent a great deal of time on the container question. Even have contemplated building our own light weight versions specifically for the house market. Here are some of my conclusions. First, a shell typically only makes up 20% of a homes total price. A 20 thousand dollar house would be about 4 thousand for the shell. Now used containers are available for about $1500 plus delivery. Problems. How do you insulate? Commercial units are usually only insulated to r8 and r11. Insulation needs a cavity. You can use foam right over the raised ribs on the inside followed by drywall, but I’m not sure how the foam will react in terms of outgassings when it is in contact with the exterior ribs, which can get very hot. And the fastners are an issue, protruding through the outside. If you frame the inside for standard R-13, you kill another 8inches of inside floor space, and you almost have the cost incurred of at least the frame in a conventional shell. Also, cutting doors and windows require additional framing and taking a torch or plasma cutter to a container, is not really work for an amateur builder, in my opinion. Lastly, the flat roof requires maintenance. They depend on caulking for part of their seal. Like many mobile home owners, the solution is adding a roof. I can’t see the cost savings. One big advantage, though, they are very tough, and cheap. You could slide one down a hillside to a steep site. And at least here in Santa Rosa an 8×40 I believe with kitchen and bathroom is only $16,500. (They have the whole thing built in China. I could not come close to that using American labor and purchasing a new container as a base.
But again, thanks everyone. We are digesting all the comments, and I followed the link to the Cavco unit which is probably closer to how we would want a shed unit to look. But many have said we should keep a traditional roof, and that is probably the way we will go.
Cheers!

]]> By: Julie http://tinyhouseblog.com/poll/tortoise-shell-homes-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-25458 Julie Fri, 31 Oct 2008 01:48:21 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=1546#comment-25458 Part of the appeal, for me, of a smaller house is how cute they are. This isn't cute at all. Part of the appeal, for me, of a smaller house is how cute they are. This isn’t cute at all.

]]> By: Kent http://tinyhouseblog.com/poll/tortoise-shell-homes-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-25224 Kent Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:36:08 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=1546#comment-25224 Great concept Michael, I'll share it with Bill this morning when I see him. Great concept Michael, I’ll share it with Bill this morning when I see him.

]]> By: Wayneburg http://tinyhouseblog.com/poll/tortoise-shell-homes-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-25185 Wayneburg Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:36:57 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=1546#comment-25185 I like how you ran with my comment. :) The fold out porch is a nice touch. I like how you ran with my comment. :) The fold out porch is a nice touch.

]]> By: Michael Janzen http://tinyhouseblog.com/poll/tortoise-shell-homes-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-25184 Michael Janzen Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:02:50 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=1546#comment-25184 I just posted my take on what this could look like including a fold-out porch. Enjoy! http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/2008/10/28/32-x-8-mobile-tiny-house-concept/ I just posted my take on what this could look like including a fold-out porch. Enjoy!

http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/2008/10/28/32-x-8-mobile-tiny-house-concept/

]]> By: 32 x 8 Mobile Tiny House Concept - Tiny House Design http://tinyhouseblog.com/poll/tortoise-shell-homes-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-25182 32 x 8 Mobile Tiny House Concept - Tiny House Design Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:00:03 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=1546#comment-25182 [...] morning Kent Griswold posted a design concept on his Tiny House Blog. It’s a design that Bill Kastrinos of Tortoise Shell Homes is considering adding to the tiny [...] [...] morning Kent Griswold posted a design concept on his Tiny House Blog. It’s a design that Bill Kastrinos of Tortoise Shell Homes is considering adding to the tiny [...]

]]> By: Carol http://tinyhouseblog.com/poll/tortoise-shell-homes-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-25176 Carol Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:29:46 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=1546#comment-25176 I like the idea of the size makes it more feasible for 2 people. I think that asthetically it could be beter looking. The 2 doors on one side of it makes it look like a couple of bunkies, not necessarily pretty. I agree with the larger windows idea, looks institutional as is. Love the idea though. I like the idea of the size makes it more feasible for 2 people. I think that asthetically it could be beter looking. The 2 doors on one side of it makes it look like a couple of bunkies, not necessarily pretty. I agree with the larger windows idea, looks institutional as is. Love the idea though.

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