DIY Tiny Home

Project Start date October 10th 2024 to (still building)

I am constructing a Tiny Home its a 8 foot wide by 16 foot high and approx. 150sq foot living space.. it has been upgraded to 360 feet since my original design. ( I am tired of living out of my truck, hotels and couch surfing.) I am going to definitely put a 2nd story sleeping loft above on half of the structure as I want a indoor shower... and a closet... wow how you miss the simple modern convivences of a house. I installed a 3rd door in so in the future I can put a second home... hey I need to expand and have a studio so I can make all my YouTube videos at and have a office to sit and do my side hustle business.

This is what I am going to build (similar) 

I got my inspiration from a guy that lived in Texas by the name of John Wells he created a site call "The Field Lab" He was a kind of quirky old guy that I admired and followed. God rest his soul. His tiny cabin was the inspiration for mine. He built his house in a month! Wish I had the time and the money! I had this seed 10 years ago to go off grid. Wow what a journey. I work a full time job and maybe one or two hours at best in the evenings but the weekend is clear for the most part.

Mind you county codes are clear no structure can be built on a foundation and exceed 500sq ft. I have no foundation attached and you can call this a "playhouse" or shed at best. 

To create something that you have done and can admire is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding feelings in the world. I have no background in construction and build pretty awesome tree forts in my day but damn this is absolutely amazing. I would like to thank everyone for your ideas, inspirations and support. A huge THANK YOU to Brandy who I could not have gotten this done without her!

October 10th

Took 3 days but I cleared it out ... (before) 

October 13th 

(much after...)

I started with the selection of the site... basically I picked the spot that is most level. The hardest part was prepping the site.

 I had virgin land so it has not been built on. That being said it was tedious to cut and clear out the land. I had stumps that needed to be pulled and bushes that needed to be trimmed... and had multiple scrapes and cuts in the process.

This is what I call Satan's bush, (look at those thorns!) this is the most nasty vegetation I have ever dealt with alive or dead. I have a couple of these on the property and if I can avoid that at all costs I will. 

getting ready to take on the thorny bush from hell

Scott 1 bush 0

October 14th

Pulling out the stumps was fun just throw the truck in 4 wheel drive and away they went...

Just a beautiful sunset... this is the view I am going to have from my back porch. 

October 20th 

I had to coat each of the boards that were ground facing the ground as I wanted to protect the wood from moisture and rot. I also coated the underside of the plywood sheets. I used this stuff called Fence post paint its a asphalt oil based paint coating... slick as snot. One thing WEAR GLOVES! 

October 26th

Building the frame was straightforward. I attached 2x6x8 foot boards to the beams which are 4x4x8 posts 

Once the 2 section frame was put together in the middle with a plate and screws I put wood block underneath it to make it level. I put stones in between the dead space and then some sand on top to get rid of the dead space between the beams. I do not want any tiny friends burrowing up and making their home under my tiny home. 

All the boards were painted on one side to prevent moisture from wicking up from the bottom. 

November 2nd

They say in a book he who builds his home on sand is a fool. Well call me a damn fool then I don't care. I need a place to stay and I don't want to break all the rules so there ya have it. 

I put a sand / dirt over the rock. The rock is completely filled all over the bottom. 

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Screwing the sub- floor down on one side and have the 8' x 16' base frame 

November 9th

The rock on the other side is secure and I have filled in the entire base with rocks I put some under the beams which gave it great support.

I even filled all the rocks on top with sand and covered it I did not want any critters getting under the house at all! (Should have used more rocks they found a way in) I had to seal the holes between the rocks with concrete pretty sure I entombed a family of mice.

November 10, 2024 

Getting the frame built. All beams are 16" on center and blocking to put in insulation. Subfloor is complete. 

November 13th 

Caulking up all the seams with latex.

November 16th

My first causality of the build. I killed my Ryobi 4 1/2 inch cordless circular saw.... smelled burning plastic and then it never started again. Everything is engineered to fail, remember that! 

Studs are arranged 16" apart on center

November 17th

Done with the blocking and frame ready to put down the insulation in between the floor joists. This frame is solid as a rock. I put 2 1/2" and 3" screws all over the place! 

November 18th

Behold my glorious backyard. I am putting 10' foot post 2 feet in the ground in concrete I space them 40" apart. I am building a pallet fence that will be 6' to 8' feet high. I am doing this to secure the backyard and have a snake free zone. The red arrows are my corners. 

Cleaning and grading the private backyard. It is a ongoing process I have done a pretty damn good job if I do say so myself this had a lot of shrubs and growth and small stumps. 

November 26,2024

Over the last couple of days I have put several posts in the ground. Got one side finished sandy soil makes for easy digging weather has been overcast for the last few days. 

December 27th

It's not pretty but it's straight and functional. (yes that is my toilet be nice to be somewhat screened in so I don't visually disturb the wildlife. I will be and intend on cladding the outside with cedar fence boards It will look great once its done. (pictures coming) 

2025

January 19th

Insulation... DONE... It sucks, WEAR GLOVES! I had a black film covering my hands for about a week after that s**t got on my hands! Could use about a couple more cans to fill in the parts that are not covered very well... o well it good enough for government work 🤣... any insulation at this point is better then no insulation... 

January 26th

One measly post in the weekend progress is progress measured in inches a board here a post there.

February 2nd

The floor is on!!! SOLID AF! Was able to secure some scrap 3/4 inch plywood enough to jigsaw puzzle it together in a way it on every joist. It is screwed down with 3" in deck screws... solid. My work had 3/4 " inch plywood used in concrete formwork so these boards have been all over Las Vegas at one time or another. 

February 3rd ⭐

A huge day indeed I got up the first wall (where the bathroom and shower goes! I was amazed how tall the structure is going to be... I will make the second story (sleeping quarters 6' ft instead of the full 8' foot tall structure that it is going to be at! The walls are comprised of (6) 8' foot sections that will be made just like this one then I will go through and add 2X4 to the places where I want doors and windows. each 8' foot section costs about $50 dollars in structural wood. 

February 10th

More progress... completed 3 additional walls cost about $110 dollars in lumber only 2 walls left to raze then start putting in the cutouts for the windows and doors... I had originally wanted a second story but to avoid the eye of inspectors and others and to keep the project strictly a floating structure have opted to do a L shape house for the bedroom. 

February 16th ⭐

Huge Accomplishment I finished the last wall and attached all the panels together. 

Looking good! 

You can see I painted the bottom a black strip this is basically like a oily tar paint used in waterproofing fence posts and the like.

Damn proud of the accomplishment so far! 

Finished framing the house! That was a little hard. Little over 4 months to get to this point from just bare dirt. I totally did this as a "as build" putting a door here a window there the floor plan has changed so much I just couldn't commit to having a plan before I made the structure.

Put In the first framed window! You are looking where the bathroom is going to be.

Had to level the spot for the shed 

Put down 9 paver pads leveled them for the backyard shed. 

February 22nd

Working hard up and down the ladder all weekend! 

I got the front door framed!

The first skin is up so excited as this makes it look more like a home... you are looking at the bathroom the shower is on the right and toilet to the left with the sink being under the window. 

I got both doors framed looking at my back door at the moment going to have a 8 foot deck coming off of it a nice pass through from the back yard to the front.  

February 28th

Had a set back. Had to deal with court 💩... I got off better then some and am rebuilding my life through this too... I am not able to build the tiny home or do any work on the ranch for the next 2 1/2 weeks. It's ok I will rise above this and come out ok in the end.

March 15th

Got no time to waste, I got home to a great message painted on the side of the tiny home by a good friend while I was gone they were checking on the place while I was gone. 

Got dual doorways the one on the right will be the front door the one to the left is the interior door (eventually) to the living room an addition later on in the project after I get the tiny home finished first!

Skinning the tiny home took all damn day but it is done. but it was worth it my back felt the pain the next day. Got to make up for loss time. This structure constantly is evolving while I build it I never had a plan except a concept... Build as you go and figure out the best way along the way. Got some cracks along the wall at the base going to either caulk or use expanding foam to seal it up. I covered the other door as I am going to create a hidden courtyard between now two structures I am building. 

The most peaceful place I am at 

April 7th

Had to take out a couple of joists to put in the king and jack stud for the back window. I managed to drop the cutout of the window and have it land on the top of my foot. Dam thought I broke the darn thing probable will go to the Urgent Care to get it looked at. So excited I am getting the final window cutout for the kitchen. It is a garden window that I can put herbs and grow wonderful things inside. It faces South so plenty of sun for all the seedlings to grow. 

Progress!! Got the window cut out for the back window.

Just enjoying the view out my new back window can imagine me sipping my coffee in the morning looking at the valley below. 

What a view it is! Even with the backyard fence at 6' feet high I still have a unobstructed view of the sun going over the mountain at night.

As of now the plans keep changing. A second tiny home will be built next to the original separated by a very secluded courtyard. I want a office and tv room basically and to get that I need just a little more space. The second home will be built just like the first. 

April 14th

I got a real jump on the house went to Bakersfield California over the weekend to get some glass for the tiny home. I was able to install two windows! 

I am so happy I have a garden South facing window. Things are finally starting to come together! 

April 19th

Yea, You see me on the ladder there? I am putting screws around the doorframe to make a bottle wall. You basically take two beer bottles cut them in half and then tape the ends together. After that you put them in cement or mortar. But they need to grab onto something so I am screwing in a lot of screws in the sides of the studs to give it something to grab onto. 

This was a great day got the final screw going into the skin on the outside now the tiny home is completely covered.

Looking good, completely skinned! you can see where the bottles bottle bricks will go across and down either side of the doorway this is turning into a labor of love! Definitely have this thing done in time for winter! 

My closest neighbor is about 1/2 a mile from me. He normally comes out on weekends to build his homestead too. We share similar values and help each other out. The other day he climbed up the side of our closest mountains and snapped a picture probably about a 1/2 to 1 mile away. Everything to the South and North of me is BLM or US Wilderness land. 

April 26th

Well things are progressing! I have gotten the beams halfway across the ceiling with the 2x4's now its time for the supports for the 2nd story! 2x6's will be the supporting beams for that. Had to ratchet strap the sides of the tiny home and pull them in. 

I managed to get a 550 gallon water tank. I say "water" loosely! PLEASE make sure whatever take you get ESPECIALLY if it is used. This thing had chemicals that I would not trust to shower in once I clean the tank then it will be used for strictly plants and fruit trees. It was a sweet deal its actually 2 tanks in one! A 550 gallon tank surrounded by a second holding tank (in case the original tank leaks). One is for irrigation the other is going to be turned in to a hot tub! 

May 2nd 

Big Weekend! Total game changer get yourself a Gorilla Cart! Its better then a wheelbarrow. A must have for any off grid property! I got the kind with solid rubber tires so no flat tires out here! 

Sealed about 10 posts with used motor oil and put them in concrete along the fence line. Going to put up 6 foot high cattle fencing keep out the critters two foot and 4 foot! 

Put up a movie screen on the side of the tiny home hooked up the projector to the boom box and had a great time watching one of my all time favorite movies! 

Big Accomplishment! I GOT A FRONT DOOR THAT WORKS! 

Found like 3 French door on Marketplace a while back. I made the openings so it would fit and put in some hardware and the damn thing works! Watched several You tube videos and went for it. Never installed a door in my life!  DONE!  

Now it's time to do the back door. 

May 6th

Got the second story framing / braces done with room for a ladder of staircase (off to the right). Wanted to make the second story lower, still got a 6 foot plus clearance overhead. The wood was free and the braces I got from the local swap meet. 

 

Standing up on my second story is a hell of an accomplishment for myself. 

May 7th

I decided the tiny home is too tiny I am doing something I saw on another YouTube channel a greenhouse bathroom and greenhouse kitchen! I turned the bathroom window into a door... The bathroom will be a 8' foot by 8 foot adding anther 64 sq feet to the tiny home.  Going to put a sliding barn door over the front. 

May 9th

This was a little harder than the first the door is a little effed up and took some convincing to get in properly had to shim the heck out of it. All and all got a working back door that will go to the greenhouse kitchen. 

Finished with the back door to the outdoor kitchen. The door looks a little rough from the outside but rest assured it is sealed up nice and tight! 

May 12th

This entry could go under the project progress or the tiny home either way I scored two Mexican Palo Verde trees free! I had them forklifted into my truck and put some boards and slid them down into place. Digging the hole 2' feet deep was so much fun... had to destroy the bottom of the container before putting it in the ground. These suckers can grow to 15' to 20' feet! 

You can see I have my water tank on the left and my hot / soaking tub on the right.

Oops the hole needs to be bigger. 

Every time I look at this place I can see it finished 

May 16th

I am working on the loft for the second story... This is a great learning experience. not having any experience before and learning from YouTube University. 

Tiny home gets a loft! 

 The view from my 2nd story. It is something else! 

May 16th

I got three walls up framed. I got to put in some windows that I can see 360 around me.

This is like a tree fort when I was a kid growing up.

June 4th

Got the floor for the second story done! I was so happy to be able to say that its complete.

Now I gotta put in the damn stairs! 

June 9th

Got the bridging done across the studs enough to put in my first panel of my roof... I will create a window you can crawl out onto the deck and sunbathe or stargaze or BBQ with a small grill up there. 

 

June 14th

Its getting hotter every day! Went ahead and got a shade cloth to shelter our garden. 

Getting ready to build the garden / greenhouse 

Got the 2 posts in concrete so I can now put on the beams that will be attached to the main house. It's a 8 foot by 8 foot bathroom / shower. It will have a composting toilet from natures head used common on ships.  It will have a totally unique way of draining away the water from the shower that be awesome. I cant wait to document this.

June 17th 

Had a deal I couldn't pass up! to I got the greenhouse kitchen / bathroom windows needed on Facebook Marketplace to complete the project. I got some single pane and double pane screen doors that I will use as windows (all free) except I went 300 miles to get them.😁 I got 20 in total! The best part I can get more for my second greenhouse probably a 10' feet by 20' foot for year round food in my below ground greenhouse! 

June 30th

Hate These Little Buggers! 😠

They call them Assassin Bugs. Think of them like giant bed bugs but in the desert they can live for one or two years! Just like bed bugs they are hard to kill! They can carry Chagas disease potentially fatal for humans... They are attracted to piles of wood which I have all over the property! They are attracted to the CO2 exhaled from your mouth... My friend was up on the property and she had almost hives... they like blood so this is one bug I wont hastate to squish. They also can fly... lucky me.  

July 15th

A lot has happened in a month. My friend that was staying on the property left (not on good terms) 😢. Its been so hot out during the day I stay at work later so I can 

and I have been having to try to get my footing again. Kind of got the wind taken out of me. I started
painting the tiny home exposed frame with Kills a oil based primer sealer. This stuff works great and soaks into the wood. Got 2 sides done now just have to do the end and get the flashing tape for the windows. Yea its continuing..

These special worlds has special meaning for me! I said if I ever paint this tiny home I would never get rid if it... and I didn't! (I would later hate this message!)

August 15th

I am working on getting the groundwork under the greenhouse bathroom. Got to get a pond liner and then cover with rocks. The water will drain from the open floor once the plants are watered and the clawfoot tub down the wash to a collection pond. I worked so hard I killed the rake... buy cheap stuff what do you expect. 

 

I am extremely proud of what I have done and what I am doing. I have gone through hell and overcome it seems crazy people and objections to what I am doing is trying to derail me. I might slow down or stop but its only temporary. 

October 11th

Brandy installs the header... 

Got the window up on the the second story... 

Collecting a inventory of flat stones for the veneer of the tiny home sourced directly from the property! Got to get more. 

October 30th

I have got in the other window in the side in and the loft is starting to come together. 

November 7

Was able to create the frame for the greenhouse bathroom. Its coated in wood sealer (Black Betty) heavy oil and dries like asphalt. now i got to find a pond liner to go underneath... ( you will see later why)

It has a natural slope so the water can hit the ground and head toward the pond.  

Covering the side of the loft... got to get a tall extension ladder now.

November 7

Got the joists almost ready to install the roof 

November 27

Painted the front... its a thick asphalt paint over a primer sealer I dont want any moisture getting inside so all cracks in the wood all joints are forever sealed. Overkill maybe... 🤷

December 2nd  

Got two more posts then the backyard posts are complete took long enough lol... 🤣 now the pallet fence commences....

December 15th

It's colder dropping in the low 50's at night... My history with women are not the greatest... so when she left her or or friends cleaned me out... All power tools everything of value down to the cast iron skillets! I am going to start a go fund me page... I had been building hand and power tools over the past year and now that is all gone... It's depressing to say the least...you think you know someone until you don't.. I will rebuild I will get through this... I am getting ready to move into my makeshift home, out of necessity if I have to. Not something that I want to do.