Tiny houses should not have two stories or more

PlanetJosh

Golden Member
May 6, 2013
1,814
143
106
With all the concerns and fears about national security you may think this is a trivial topic to even bring up. But anyway I've been watching some tv shows about tiny houses. And I noticed the two story ones seem kind of big for a tiny house. So wondering if anyone thinks they should be limited to one floor (story) to be classified as a tiny house.

This would also mean banning lofts. And possibly even banning attics as space for heating, cooling and ventilation. Because those attics can make the tiny house look so huge. Put those utilities lower.

Now I realize that even a one story tiny house can look big because of design features to make it look bigger on the inside and maybe even from the outside too. And you get a maximum of 250 square feet or so to work with as a tiny house. Btw those shows tend to have cute women in shorts helping to construct or remodel tiny houses. Which is fine with me and sorry no pics of those women just a general reference article -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiny_house_movement

Oh, edit: You could make the argument that the 250 or so square feet all put on one floor could make the single story tiny house look too big. Well that would be around 15.8 by 15.8 feet. That too big for a single story tiny house? Well I may need to look at some pics of those myself to judge. I'll get on it. And some conventions allow for up to 300 sq ft for a tiny house?
 
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purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,348
6,176
126
my younger brother is in the middle of converting a school bus into a tiny home. i think he's insane lol.
 

OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
14,278
89
91
Well when you put a house on a trailer to avoid regulations you're gonna have a bad time.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,238
13,504
146
With all the concerns and fears about national security you may think this is a trivial topic to even bring up. But anyway I've been watching some tv shows about tiny houses. And I noticed the two story ones seem kind of big for a tiny house. So wondering if anyone thinks they should be limited to one floor (story) to be classified as a tiny house.

This would also mean banning lofts. And possibly even banning attics as space for heating, cooling and ventilation. Because those attics can make the tiny house look so huge. Put those utilities lower.

Now I realize that even a one story tiny house can look big because of design features to make it look bigger on the inside and maybe even from the outside too. And you get a maximum of 250 square feet or so to work with as a tiny house. Btw those shows tend to have cute women in shorts helping to construct or remodel tiny houses. Which is fine with me and sorry no pics of those women just a general reference article -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiny_house_movement

Oh, edit: You could make the argument that the 250 or so square feet all put on one floor could make the single story tiny house look too big. Well that would be around 15.8 by 15.8 feet. That too big for a single story tiny house? Well I may need to look at some pics of those myself to judge. I'll get on it. And some conventions allow for up to 300 sq ft for a tiny house?

The majority (but obviously not all) of those "tiny houses" are built on trailers so they can be moved on the highway...that limits them to about 8 feet wide...I guess you could have a tiny house double-wide...:p
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
60,167
15,087
136
So you're looking to ensure there's an arbitrary definition regarding what constitutes a "tiny house"?
 

cbrunny

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 2007
6,791
406
126
Is there a legal reason why you'd want a house designated "tiny" or is this just some arbitrary HGTV hipster thing?
 

Artdeco

Platinum Member
Mar 14, 2015
2,682
1
0
One of the reasons for tiny houses is affordability, a second story is the cheapest way to add square feet to any house, McMansion or tiny.
 

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
24,497
5,904
136
Is there a legal reason why you'd want a house designated "tiny" or is this just some arbitrary HGTV hipster thing?

i think OP wants to limit the number of cute women in shorts helping to construct or remodel tiny houses

shame on you, OP. shame.
 

PlanetJosh

Golden Member
May 6, 2013
1,814
143
106
Ok I'm edging toward a 200 sq ft or less limit for a tiny house. Like a city or county 200 sq ft limit for one as far as gaining zoning advantages, financial help or any other kind of government help concerning your tiny house. And also esthetically I think over 200 sq ft looks too big to me. Almost like a regular house. Which I already said in so many words.

One reason to lower it is for example if you had an 8 foot by 8 foot base to work with then you could have a 4 story tiny house if you were allowed only 256 sq ft. If that's the right way to approach the calculations. But a 4 story tiny house would not have the look and feel of a tiny house imo even at an 8'x8' base.

Another Edit: I want tiny houses to look small from the outside. That's the short version.
 
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Subyman

Moderator <br> VC&G Forum
Mar 18, 2005
7,876
32
86
No thanks, what a waste of money. Hardly any equity after dumping $20k+ into one of those especially once the fad runs its course. Perhaps this is more of an indicator that young people can't afford housing these days. Building a 150-200sqft chicken coop on a trailer to live in isn't chic, its kind of sad. :(

Not a dig at the OP or his reasons, just a general sense.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
60,167
15,087
136
Another Edit: I want tiny houses to look small from the outside. That's the short version.
Here's the thing... no one gives a damn.
You want tiny houses to look small from the outside? By all means, make your tiny house look small from the outside.
Other people's tiny houses are their own business. You are, of course, entitled to your opinion.
 

SketchMaster

Diamond Member
Feb 23, 2005
3,100
149
116
As someone who lives with their GF and a 55lb dog in a 691sqft apartment, anything less than 600sqft would drive us insane. Even with a fenced in yard, our place can feel cramped at times.

In fact, can anyone point out an article where a couple lives in one of those tiny houses? They almost always seem to be occupied by a single person...
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,234
1,722
126
I would classify anything under 700 sq feet as "tiny house"
then, 700 to like 1200 sq feet as "small house"
then 1200 to like 2500 sq feet as "medium house"
and then 2500 to like 5000 sq feet as "large house"
then anything over 5000 sq feet as HUGE house.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
58,531
8,806
126
I wouldn't mind one. Easier to pick up, and put down where it suits me.
 

MongGrel

Lifer
Dec 3, 2013
38,466
3,067
121
Hell, my bedroom is larger than that, before counting the closet and bathroom.

Yeah, about every room is at least that big here.

Just mentioned that because it's where I'm sitting I guess.

I didn't even notice the 20K for that earlier, I'd think you'd be better off getting a custom built shed at Home Depot or something like that, and fixing it up.
 
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