Tiny House Blog

We would like to inform you that we have launched the Puresalvageliving.com website.

This will incorporate the big picture of what Tiny Texas Houses has been able to accomplish over the last 6 years.

While still under development, Puresalvageliving.com already has loads of content and some great opportunities including a free membership that will soon allow access to plans, videos, a blog and forum and much more.

We are in the works of creating our first salvage mining expedition (a.k.a building deconstruction seminar) and need some participation in a brief survey. You can Click here or visit either website to participate.

Our goal in the up coming year is to transition into the Pure Salvage Living Movement through our membership sight and by teaching the hands on skills that will empower anyone who cares to make a difference.

In the months to come we hope to start a monthly newsletter that is full of anything and everything that is Pure Salvage and/or sustainable. From our projects and seminars that are open to members and the public, to links with bits and tips of info from insiders that are willing to share the latest new idea or think-tank with this ever growing movement.

This week’s Tiny House in a Landscape was taken by Eric Jacobson who lives in Austin Texas. Eric says:

This past weekend I rode in the LiveSTRONG Challenge here in Austin. Actually, the ride takes place in Dripping Springs just west of Austin. I usually ride the same route, but this year I decided to ride a different one and I was pleasantly surprised by the scenery, especially this little gem. It sits just off the road with a small stone fence in front, large pasture surrounds it on the sides and back and a river running in front on the other side of the small country road. It was a great Fall day for a great ride with fantastic scenery.

Photo Credits Eric Jacobson

Guest Post by Tracen Gardner

I came up with the idea for Reclaimed Space when I needed a living space on my ranch outside Shiner, Texas. There was no electricity or running water on the site, which is located 15 minutes from the nearest hardware store. I did not want to use all that energy driving back and forth and was concerned with not only with time constraints but also the confusion involved in meeting sub contractors in a remote area. I was afraid of not completing the project in time and that it would take too long to “dry-in” if I worked only on weekends.

I decided to build my Reclaimed Space to fit a “shipping envelope.” Not so tall that it would hit bridges, but wide enough to be usable. I also incorporated sustainable practices I learned at UT like cross wind ventilation, single pitch roof optimized for rain water catchment, solar compatibility (orienting the space long way east/west preventing too much sun), over insulation, and the use of piers. The piers eliminate the need for a lot of concrete and are able to relocate easily if needed.

Since I painted my way through college, I knew where most damage would occur from the sun and rain. To compensate for this, I placed galvanized tin on the bottom 1/3 of the north and south walls, and almost all of the east and west walls. The structure was built with eaves for the same reasons.

Next came style, for years I had collected 100 yrs old material with great appreciation for it’s structural strength, historic value, rich colors and textures. I was happy to do my part to save landfill space. Continue Reading »

*Brad sent me some interior photos, be sure and check them out.

Brad Kittel, of Tiny Texas Houses, is having a Essay Contest. The grand prize is a prototype of his newest sustainable home design, valued at $38,000. Brad wishes to show that there are healthy ways to build a sustainable house, to prove that building a sustainable home can be done with local resources and labor, to illustrate a sustainable home with a nearly zero carbon footprint, and to demonstrate the beauty of a sustainable home built using the highest quality woods, hardware, doors, and glass.

What you need to do is write a 300-word essay addressing “How having a Tiny House could change your life” and submit it with a $50 entry fee. The entry fee will first and foremost help pay for the house itself, but also allows us to pay our the judges, the web support, editing, advertising, and the administration costs associated with running the contest. Continue Reading »

by Sue Moak

Our little cabin is in the Hill Country area of Texas. We have 50 acres, so we live large outside but cozy inside! It has one main room that is 20 x 20, an 8 x 8 bathroom, a front porch and an 8 x 12 screened porch on the back. One half of the main room is the kitchen. The island is from IKEA but we widened the top and tiled it to make an eating area. We made the kitchen shelves from lumber left over from the cabin construction.

The opposite side of the main room is used for both seating and sleeping. We have a queen size bed on one end and a trundle daybed on the other end. When we have guests, we slide the chairs back and fill the floor with air mattresses! The fireplace is made from limestone, which is plentiful in our area. The mantel is a solid piece of mesquite wood. This is a native Texas wood and has a beautiful red color to it. It is held up by two cedar posts that came from our property. Continue Reading »

Thinking big and building small is the philosophy behind the company BuildZing, located in Dripping Springs Texas. BuildZing builds small homes that are eco-friendly, affordable and can have customized exteriors and interiors based on the owner’s budget.

The company builds what they call “flex rooms” that can be used for offices, studios, workshop, retreats, rental properties, and cottages and tiny homes for a simplified lifestyle. Their designs can also be adapted to be ADA compliant to house disabled persons. The designs are energy efficient and specific to Texas climates.

Their 12 foot by 16 foot model costs $13,750 including sales tax. BuildZing can build directly on-site and will consult with you on foundations and utility and sewer attachments, or the building can be delivered ready to move in.

Photos courtesy of BuildZing

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

Erin CoxI took this photo while on a winter vacation in West Texas in 2008.

This “tiny house” is a two room cabin located cliff-side at Palo Duro Canyon in Texas. Palo Duro is the second largest canyon in the U.S, and is just south of Amarillo. The state park has a number of lodging facilities, including several small cabins built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in the early 1930s.

The landscape of the canyon is stunning, and I was impressed at how seamlessly the cabins fit into the surrounding landscape. More information on the canyon and available lodgings can be found at: http://www.palodurocanyon.com/