Have you ever considered converting a pre-fabricated shed into a functioning tiny house?
Alexis and Christian of Tiny House Expedition, explores the feasibility and affordability of doing just that.
Alexis and Christian show us six different case studies by examining several different sizes, priceing, and the legalities of shed-based tiny house living.
Video and Photos via Tiny House Expedition
Featured Shed Conversions:
Budget and Off Grid
Vernita and Travis build a tiny 160 square foot home. Their home is located off-grid on the Navajo Nation. They manage to keep their price under $10,000, by doing the construction themselves and by using minimal utilities.
Permitted ADU
Precious was able to transform a 297 square foot shed into a legal ADU (accessory dwelling unit) in Atlanta. It was extremely important to follow the legal requirements for the ADU to pass. Precious called upon proffesional help to make this happen.
A Mountain Cabin
Claire took on the challenge of building a cabin in the mountains. She purchased a shell with high quality framing which was needed to withstand the rigorous mountain weather. Claire constructed her 288 square foot tiny home on raw land in the Cascade Mountains.
Living in a Community
Located in a tiny home community, Jim shares his 400 square foot shed home. Larger than many tiny homes, Jim’s home will allow him the alternative of future expansion and a changing life style.
Texas Family Compound
Using up-cycled materials and designing their own homes, Grandma Judy and her daughter Gina have constructed two separate tiny homes on one property. At a cost of $25,000, Judy built her 280 square foot studio home. Gina built her “luxury cottage” for $30,000.
Shed Conversion Considerations
Quality of the Shell
Make sure you have residential level framing. This is 2x4s with 16 inch on center framing. You must also consider purchasing upgrades such as house wrap, and insulated windows for durability and heating and cooling.
Budget
Doing it all yourself will save money. Purchasing a completed shell will cost more but will shorten time to completion. Keep in mind the expense of a foundation and connecting to utilities such as water, sewer and electricity.
Making it Legal
Be sure and verify your local building codes and get legal advice if necessary. Permitting an ADU is important and you must follow the guidelines in your location. Use the standard
Appendix Q of the International Residential Code as your guide.
Tiny shed homes are an option to consider. Do your research as this may be your answer to making the switch to tiny living.
