The Rise of the Tiny House Movement

When you think of a tiny house, it’s likely you’d think of a one-bedroom, one bathroom, kitchen, and living room setup, each room at least 12’ x 12’. But a true Tiny House, the kind that are sweeping the nation, aren’t even that big. What are Tiny Houses and why are they becoming so popular?

What is a Tiny House?

The average US home size is 2,600 square feet. A Tiny House averages 100-400 square feet, making them aptly named. They vary widely between structures, but the idea is the same – simple, efficient, small living space. They tend to have a multi-function kitchen, living, and bedroom with a closed bathroom. There is a lot of ingenious use of space-saving construction, like murphy-style beds and fold-down dining tables.

What is the Tiny House movement?

The people that are building these tiny homes do so for a few reasons. First, lower cost of living. The average American spends 35-50% of their income on housing. A Tiny House has a smaller footprint, lower cost to build, and lower utilities. Second, many are looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Tiny Houses are built to be very eco-friendly. Finally, people build them for life simplification. They don’t need to spend weekends fixing up the house, or hours cleaning it. By freeing up time and money, they find economic freedom from the obligations a larger home can create.

What makes a Tiny House different from a regular house?

As mentioned, most people that choose the “tiny life”, as they fondly call it, do so for a combination of reasons, but almost all have environmental concerns. With that said, most Tiny Homes have specialized systems that allow them to be self-sustaining.  Some have rainwater collection fittings to supply water. Some have solar panels and solar conductive technologies to give them electricity and heating without power lines.

They are generally constructed in such a manner that they could be relocated easily using a trailer. Without a foundation, they can be built on rented land, which also frees them from the cost of land ownership.

Construction takes on a laser focus in a Tiny Home. Craftsmanship, an eye for detail, much care and attention are all put into the design. People are building these houses, or are having them built tailored to their wishes, not with the sales value in mind but with the aim of having the best living experience possible. Since there is less space to use, the function of every feature must be carefully planned and crafted with an eye towards quality.

If you’re considering adding Tiny House construction to your repertoire, be prepared to use the highest quality materials to do so. Tiny dwellers want quality over quantity. SCRAIL® is hands down the perfect option for Tiny Home construction. Not only are they made of top quality metals and a variety of finishes, but they install quickly like a nail and back out like a screw. With a space so small, there is less room for error, but with BECK America tools and fasteners, you won’t need it anyway.