Latest Posts

Tiny House Zoning Ordinances, Building Permits, Code Compliance, and Certificates of Occupancy

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Tue, 04/14/2015 - 21:12
Towing the line of tiny houses could seems a long and winding road. Seeking a cooperative partnership with local municipalities isn't just neighborly, it's a matter responsible citizenship.

One could say where lines seem sharply drawn, upon closer inspection a large grey area exists for tiny houses.

To date, tiny houses are built by DIY'ers, weekend workshop attendees, and professionals offering prefabricated kits, professionally assembled shells, or turnkey models. As such, tiny houses as domiciles sit squarely between construction by RVIA certified builders, industrialized building manufacturers, and permitted dwellings on permanent foundations.

A major point of contention could come between:

Tiny House Declaration of Independence

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Mon, 03/30/2015 - 18:47
"We affirm the need for safe, efficient, and affordable housing and uphold our inherent right to build and dwell in homes of the size and standard of our choosing."

The following declaration was drafted by Thom Stanton of Timber Trails LLC. An independent and individual point of view, it is believed that the sentiments stated within are shared by others within the Tiny House Movement. 

Download a full-size original of Thom's Tiny House Declaration of Independence here (3737 x 5000 px @ 7.5 MB).

Thom Stanton Appointed as State Chapter Leader of the American Tiny House Association

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Wed, 03/25/2015 - 15:41
A tiny house proudly raises its flag and represents our founders' roots in small structures on the new American frontier. This tiny house was part of a Small Worlds exhibition at the Toledo Museum of Art. Image source: blog.oregonlive.com

Timber Trails' CEO, Thom Stanton, is now State Chapter Leader (Virginia) for the American Tiny House Association.

Join us at the Central New York Home Builder's Show in Syracuse!

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 14:46
Midge Stanton as our resident show girl for the Timber Trails booth at the Central New York Home and Garden Show 2015 in Syracuse, New York

Join us for the 2015 Home Builders and Garden Show of Central New York in Syracuse, New York.

We're giving away 17 Amazon Gift Cards with a top prize of $100 through our March Madness Giveaway.

Hope to see you there! - Thom [>:-)

Workshops & Seminars: Assess Your Personal Expectations and Outcomes

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Wed, 03/18/2015 - 13:08

My wife and I attended a workshop in a big hotel one year ago, and now run a tiny house company. I am a designer, builder, and educator, and we were already on the path to creating our company, so our perspective was a bit unique.

For the seminar, we sought to:

K.I.S.S. - How to Keep it Simple and Sustainable

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Wed, 03/11/2015 - 22:52

Things to consider early when it comes to your tiny house build:

Self-Financing Your Tiny House

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Wed, 03/04/2015 - 16:29

In an age where new financing options abound, I still advocate of completing the build of your cabin, cottage, and tiny house "as time and budget allow." Here are some tips for building a quality home without going broke!

15 Reasons Build a Tiny House with SIPs

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Tue, 03/03/2015 - 15:50
Use of an air barrier and continuous insulation are the most effective ways to eliminate thermal bridging and air leakage issues associated with traditional stud framing and cavity insulation. Warm colors are heat leaking from the house. Cool colors are cold on exterior.

I was turned on to structural insulated panels -- lovingly called SIPs -- while exploring sustainable living options (cob, straw bale, cord wood, and rammed earth are also faves, but not THOW friendly [>:-).

Then, I was exposed to SIPs first hand while working for a timber frame company. Seeing the speed at which their huge frames were wrapped with SIPs turned on a big bright light, and made me go, "hmm..." for tiny house design.

Downsizing to Tiny Tips

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Tue, 02/24/2015 - 04:46
Check out these tips for making the move to clutter free living!

Looking to "go tiny" or want to test the waters?

  1. Try downsizing in your existing home.
  2. Empty cabinets, disposed of dressers, and vacant bedrooms create a sense of progress, and help minimize the shock of a transition to tiny.
  3. Compress your living space into simple space budget like 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1 closet, one side of the laundry room, and corner of a kitchen.

Here's hoping we can help you make your tiny house adventure easy, economical, and enjoyable. Our best to you all.

Live Large -- Go Tiny! - Thom [>:-)

Value Your Time and Get 'er Done!

Submitted by Thom Stanton on Wed, 02/04/2015 - 21:03
Getting your tiny house delivered "finish ready" makes your tiny house "move in ready" weeks earlier with an assurance that key elements were built right the first time!

Folks often lament the need for affordable tiny housing, comparing today's retail costs from "turnkey" tiny house builders against DIY projects of yesteryear. Rest assured, there are still affordable options out there, especially for the DIY builder/finisher.

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