Installing Chimney -- Step 1

We considered installing the chimney in the roof as per normal instructions --- but found that the maximum allowable lengths of chimney (as per Dickinson Marine spec sheet) did not permit the heater to be located underneath the appointed window. Hence, thus, and ergo, a completely new heater site was inspected and selected (not to mention neglected and infected). With this new development, a chimney hole would be needed in the SIDE of the house. Work proceeded according to the new plan.
First, the nibbler tool was used to excavate a square-shaped area from the exterior siding (see above). Cedar blocks were installed here to provide a backing.


3" hole saw enabled accurate hole drilling.
A scout was sent in to examine whether or not the insulation was adequately distant from the perimeter....

And an elite team of excavators followed him, with all manner of tool and toy, to complete the work. Quarters were cramped but, after all, this is a tiny house.

We continue to not take ourselves too seriously. Stay tuned for more developments from Team Chimney!

The Long Wall -- Interior Siding -- almost done

Here is another day's work -- probably the equivalent of about 2 person-days. Maybe 2.5. We put in five more extension jamb pieces on the windows and proceeded with the knotty pine 5/16" T&G siding (same nail gun, brand new compressor -- old compressor seems to have kicked the bucket after a number of years of repeated use and repeated forgetting-to-bleed-the-tank). Some trouble-shooting of the compressor slowed us down a bit but no fuses were blown. Here are the before and after pictures of the present moment:




The fuse box is now enshrined as is the kitchen counter-top outlet/light switch box (oh the grand potential of two outlets -- a blender or a toaster or a kitchen lava lamp?). The interior siding is like a rising tide of completeness overtaking the house from the floor up!!!

The Master Bedroom is DONE!!!

Behold: the master bedroom is finished! Some trim pieces may be added to shore up the rough corners but, for the time being, all siding is installed. Tiny Home and Garden Magazine can call anytime for a photo-shoot and we'll oblige. The God of Nail Guns continues to look favorably down upon us. 21-degree temperature outside but toasty warm in the tiny house.

The House at Night

Last week we put the trim on the corners of the house at long last. A few odds and ends still remain before one can call it a "complete" exterior but if you tilt your head and squint... it looks very house-like!

More Interior Siding

Today we focused on interior siding! Huzzah! Almost all plastic sheeting is up and, bit by bit, interior siding proceeds.

Interior Siding

Huzzah! Interior siding has not only begun but is proceeding with speed thanks to a bona-fide nail gun. A couple quick pictures here as we head out for a full workday -- the 6-mil-thick vapor barrier covers the insulation.

It was a bit of a hassle to install nailers everywhere the siding would need to be secured around outlets -- but this is mostly done now. We started at the bottom of the wall -- instead of having the tongues rest completely in the grooves we're creating a small space (about the width of a matchstick -- approx 1/8") to allow for future expansion of the siding (say, during warmer/more humid summer weather). Off to the races!

Stepping Forward in Time: The Front Steps

The front steps to the tiny house are now complete! A tear in the fabric of the space time continuum led to an absence of recent blog posts but this post has just now spontaneously arrived -- for your reading enjoyment -- to remedy the situation. A set of four steps -- indeed built from one of the spare planks which was torn from the trailer bed during the first week of construction -- has now been assembled and painted. They were painted at dusk last night. It's interesting to paint in low light conditions because the question arises, what will this look like in the morning sun? Will these colors be real? Is this yellow as bright as the paint can lid leads me to believe? Will this red stand the test of time? Is anything real at all? One possible answer is here (and you can even click on it to zoom in):