In this HomeEc blog installment, we discuss the differences between HomeEc structures and other options for luxury tiny homes. One obvious difference between HomeEc and one alternative is shown above.
While we don’t know for certain if someone named “Everett” really did arrive home drunk to accidentally knock down his Amazon tiny home, we do know that it could happen. We have seen how many Amazon tiny homes are “built” (click here to watch a demo that’s embedded into the Amazon page).
Here’s a description of what just happened in that link: A crew of roughly 14 people stands shoulder-to-shoulder to lift entire sides of a prefabricated home that are folded like bed sheets. When the panels reach 90-degree angles, the walls/floors/ceilings are literally screwed into place. With screws. So, it’s totally feasible that a few 20-cent screws could fail if someone named Everett drank too much Mezcal and took a header into an exterior wall, knocking down his entire $29,000 Amazon tiny home like a house of cards.
As hilarious as this might sound, what if someone were inside when Everett came home?
OK, enough preaching and extrapolating. Let’s look at other options for your luxury tiny-home dollar. (Keep in mind that while we’re using the phrase “tiny home” in describing housing options, HomeEc structures are technically accessory dwelling units. HomeEc structures meet or exceed the same building code standards regulating the construction of traditional brick-and-mortar homes.)
Container Homes
People are using retired shipping containers as luxury tiny homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). You’ve probably seen pictures like the one above, at least.
What you might not have seen is what it takes to convert a hermetically sealed steel box into a livable, modern space with electricity, water, lights, HVAC systems, windows, etc.
Many of these converted containers have exposed conduit and plumbing and few windows (cutting into the steel walls is expensive and can compromise structural integrity and energy efficiency). And after all the work is done, externally, shipping containers still look like shipping containers that have been converted into tiny homes. Other issues with shipping containers aren’t superficially visible to consumers:
- * many were painted with lead-based coatings, to prevent corrosion from sea water as they travel across the ocean;
- * the steel housing used for the containers is a tremendous conductor of heat, requiring a considerable amount of insulation, which subtracts living space; and,
- * even without insulation, an individual steel container only comprises 320 sq. ft. of floor space – often requiring builders to add containers or other living spaces together, to allow for enough space.
With lead paint somehow remediated and other concerns addressed, at the end of the day, people who choose to live in shipping containers are still living in steel boxes that were designed and built to transport bunches of bananas and other non-living things.
Conventional Tiny Homes
The modern tiny-home movement began 25 years ago, with traditional small homes that were often built from plans that were passed around, or downloaded from the internet. Many tiny home plans still are. As such, the quality of tiny homes varies based on the builder.
Many tiny-home builders use construction materials that include high VOCs, such as petroleum-based flooring, stains, paints, and spray-foam for insulation. Some builders use staples instead of nails or screws for fasteners. Often, tiny homes are designed and built without room for electrical conduit or plumbing, and are roughed into the homes during construction.
Nearly all conventional tiny-home designs aren’t ADA compliant. That means most tiny homes must be modified to accommodate individuals with disabilities after they’re built. Not only are these ADA-compliant retrofits expensive, but once the improvements are installed, they don’t work as well as features that are designed into the home for the original construction.
Since one of the primary uses of tiny homes is as a “granny flat,” failing to offer ADA-compliant options could be considered – at best – a huge oversight. At worse, it’s negligence.
Finally, conventional tiny homes don’t approach 1,500 sq. ft. in floor size.
Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) weren’t included in this list because they’re technically RVs and most wouldn’t pass a traditional home inspection.
Tiny Homes Sold on Amazon
About one minute into this video, you’ll see two fasteners being used to hold a wall up, like so:
And voila: a home that could be knocked down by a drunk.
HomeEc Luxury Tiny Homes
HomeEc produces tiny homes that are the first to be designed, fabricated, and built for sustainable, long-term living for all populations.
- * Every model of HomeEc tiny homes includes an ADA-compliant option.
- * Each HomeEc home is insulated to a standard of R45 to R55, in contrast to minimum, common zoning requirement of R13 to R18.
- * HomeEc tiny homes are built with sound-proof structural panels that are also resistant to mold, wind and heat.
- * The largest HomeEc tiny home can span 600 sq. ft. in floor size, almost three times larger than the average tiny home.
- * Electrical conduit, HVAC and plumbing are designed and built into the panels that comprise each unit, without exposed pipes, lines and wires.
- * HomeEc homes defy the cooped-up layouts that plague traditional tiny homes, with closed floor plans, cathedral ceilings, plentiful windows and full-size appliances.
Think of HomeEc structures as conventional tiny homes, except that they are designed and built with incredible attention to quality, durable materials, energy efficiency and ergonomics:
Most importantly, if you do come home a little wobbly, HomeEc homes are held together with more than a few screws. Leave “House of Cards” on Netflix.
Up Next: How a 100-year-old Scotus case precipitated today’s housing crisis.