foundation

Pre-fab ADUs from Wolf Industries Built with Wildfires in Mind

More people are not only considering living in a tiny home or small house but maybe using one as elder housing or an income-producing backyard cottage. This is where an ADU or accessory dwelling unit comes in handy. Wolf Industries builds and delivers prefab small ADUs. The ADU building process is not without its complications, but there is one company that is coming up with solutions. Wolf Industries designs, builds, delivers, and installs prefabricated tiny homes to the western states. In addition, the company works …

Frames, shells and custom micro homes from B&B Micro Manufacturing

by Christina Nellemann

A wide range of styles, finished buildings and styles can be found with this company located in the picturesque town of Adams, Massachusetts. Not only does B&B Micro Manufacturing build and sell tiny custom RVIA-certified homes, but you can also purchase frames on trailers or weather tight shells ready for finishing. The company also builds tiny homes on foundations. B&B Micro Manufacturing builds tiny houses, park models, small foundation homes and Wheel Pads. The styles of B&B’s home are also a perk. Their smallest model, …

Smiling Woods Yurt Kits for Round, Permanent Living

by Christina Nellemann

When most people think of yurts what comes to mind are the fabric or canvas options that might feel a little less secure than your average camping tent. While the traditional yurt is made to be broken down, a wooden yurt offers the same spiritual round shape but on a more permanent basis. Traditional yurts made of canvas are made to be moved regularly. Smiling Woods Yurts in Methow Valley, Wash. still celebrates the round shape, but with stronger and safer materials. Their handcrafted yurt …

Custom Crafted Bohemian Cottages in Oregon

by Christina Nellemann

While tiny houses on wheels make much of the news these days, there is something to be said for a well-built tiny house on a foundation—especially when it’s located in a cozy backyard. Bohemian Cottages & Tiny Homes builds 200 square foot ADUs in Oregon. Bohemian Cottages & Tiny Houses in Eugene, Oregon builds tiny cottages or Auxiliary Dwelling Units (ADUs) on concrete footings. Most of the homes are used as backyard cottages for artists, mother-in-law quarters, or rental units. The homes can have a …

Choosing A Foundation For Your Tiny House Or Small House

by Andrew M. Odom

“In order for that thing to sit here you’re gonna need to put it on some piers as well as strap it down!” I remember those words so well. The year was 2011 and the speaker in question was the building inspector who, despite the concrete pad our house already sat on, was not pleased with the trailer still being on its wheels and stabilizer jacks. I turned to my wife and asked, “Now what?” In her infinite wisdom she calmly said to me: “Do …

YahiniHomes: Tiny, mobile homes

by Christina Nellemann

Danny Yahini’s tiny house company, YahiniHomes, offers the best of both worlds in the small house industry. His various custom homes are not only small and portable, but they can also be set up on a trailer, or on your choice of foundation, and then added onto later to accommodate life’s little changes. Danny, who’s based in Athens, Ohio, has been designing and building small, energy efficient homes since the 1980s. He now concentrates on building smaller, moveable homes that are affordable for his clients. …

One Project Closer

by Kent Griswold

The guys over at One Project Closer have been putting together expert how-to guides by shadowing contractors on actual job sites, and they call these articles “Pro-Follows.” If you’ve ever wondered how a professional contractor would build a concrete patio or finish a basement, check out their website. They only have a handful of Pro-Follows thus far so be patient as they build up this resource. Here are some pictures from a recent Pro-Follow for how to build a shed. Visit that link for the full story, and if you like what you read, consider subscribing to their feed.

The Foundation

The foundation was built by digging out a space a few inches larger than the shed, and lining the perimeter with pressure treated 4×6’s. Next, they set 10 columns of concrete block on undisturbed ground and back-filled the area with crushed stone. This type of foundation allows them to set the subfloor directly on the concrete block and provides an exit path for water and moisture.