Small Compact Prefab Home Design • Part 1

| More

PREFAB COMPACT HOME DESIGN • Part 1

These pages are dedicated to those neat little prefab portable and stationary cabins or very small homes some people might even classify as sheds on steroids. Presenting a mixture of all types of prefabricated homes and livable sheds. By prefabricated i mean small, medium or large buildings built inside a confined area like a large warehouse type building or large storage yard and then transported by a large truck either in parts or as a whole complete unit to it's site of use...

Please remember that most or all prefab building kits require site preparation, utilities installed and the foundation built before erection of the home can take place. You must remember to include this fact plus the cost of any required building permits to get an accurate total cost of construction.

Please Note: There is a certain amount of "crossover" publication between this category (Compact House) and the Home Office category.

Also, in an effort to help material load faster i have divided this section into "Parts". At the bottom of this page are links which take you to Parts 2 & 3.

TY UNNOS MODULAR Billed as the "the sustainable housing solution". This business is located in the UK.

Ty Unnos Modular is an innovative offsite constructed modular housing system, delivering sustainable performance at affordable cost. Building on the successes of Copod™, Solopod™, Strucpod™ and Roompod™, Elements Europe has continued it's ambitious product development programme and creating Ty Unnos Modular™ - literally translated into English as 'house overnight' — A factory manufactured, internally completed, sustainable modular housing system designed to exceed current housing sustainability standards while assisting the Governments delivery of affordable and social housing. Designed primarily for the low-rise residential market, Ty Unnos Modular™ is set to radically change established house construction methods, by maximising the use of indigenous UK timber components uniquely manufactured to form the building superstructure. The unique structure, and integrated supply-chain, epitomises 'lean' construction principles by addressing waste in a number of ways, primarily by components manufactured from a single standard timber component dimension. Off-cut materials are fed back into the manufacturing process for re-work and integration into the next structural component. The use of 'home-grown' timber in the structure of the Ty Unnos Modular™ system ensures that the carbon footprint of the product is kept to a minimum. Timber is procured from local forests with Forestry Stewardship Council approval to maintain a locally sourced product, graded, machine cut, kiln dried then treated and fabricated into structural components for assembly into a volumetric housing solution. The unique configuration of structural components provides an internal wall cavity with the potential to be filled with a range of insulation materials - recycled paper is the environmentally preferred insulation — providing a wall U-value of 0.17 and exceptional thermal performance levels. Allied to the thermal performance is an exceptional air-tightness standard all assisting to reduce building carbon emissions. This combination of thermal performance and air-tightness provide a residential solution that is exceptionally cost-effective to run, with modules utilising a Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery Systems, to maintain a comfortable room temperature.

Kevin Arthur - Elements Europe Ltd • 21 Mile Oak Industrial Estate • Maesbury Road • Oswestry Shropshire • SY10 8GA UK • Ph: 01691 656591 • Fax: 01691 656340 • info@elements-europe.com

GREEN HORIZON This appears to be a very lovely set-up and basically consists of a home using an aluminum framework with walls and ceilings made using (SIP) Structural Insulated Panels. These homes are not made using shipping containers. They are made to fit inside an 8x40 foot shipping container.

Highly-configurable Green Horizon structures are designed for a wide range of emergency and temporary housing applications - from single-family emergency relief homes, to mobile medical units and central community hubs. Manufactured from 100% recyclable or recycled materials, each Green Horizon structure is environmentally-responsible, and energy-efficient. In the absence of available utility connections, Green Horizon units are capable of supporting a family, employees or emergency response team for up to one week without an existing infrastructure. Each Green Horizon structure is equipped with an integrated fresh water supply and waste water treatment system, tri-fuel power supply, heating and cooling system, and all the essential supplies and equipment. Individual units also include standard utility connections, and may be networked as part of a central hub to share resources for long-term deployment. All of the components and panels used in the construction of Green Horizon structures are designed for refurbishment or replacement - if a bathroom or wall panel is damaged, for example, it can be completely removed for refurbishment or replacement. Configurable for a multitude of housing, commercial and utility applications, Green Horizon structures offer value, design and engineering innovation unmatched by any other emergency housing or temporary building solutions. With manufacturing facilities located at the Port of Stockton, California, Green Horizon structures can be transported with an integrated trailering system, or retracted to fit into a worldwide standard, 40ft high-cube, marine container for shipment by truck, rail or sea. A network of planned domestic and international distribution facilities will enable rapid deployment of Green Horizon structures to areas of need.

Green Horizon Manufacturing LLC • 540 Fillmore • San Francisco CA 94117 • Toll Free: (800) 466-8193

SHAWNEE STRUCTURES Their buildings look very nice on their website and they offer delivery for a fee. Serving Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia.

Order one of our buildings today, or choose one already in stock. Usually we can schedule delivery for stock buildings in less than a week (slightly longer in spring rush). Visit our sales lot even during non-office hours. Our stock buildings usually have a card inside the door with size, color, options, and stock number. See our Stock Page for a list of all buildings in stock. We usually update this page weekly. A 20% deposit is required on buildings. Deposit can be made by mailing a check or with MasterCard or Visa over the phone. Balance of building is to be paid by bank check or certified check when building is delivered. Delivery charge: $3.50 a mile for buildings up to 12ft wide. $5.00 a mile for 14ft wide buildings. $7.00 a mile for double wide garages. Horse barns and cabins over 28ft prices may vary. Call office for quote. Out-of-state permits are $50.00 each. Most states require on oversize load permit for anything over 8ft wide.

Shawnee Structures • 6231 Lincoln Hwy • Bedford PA 15522 • Ph: (814) 623-8212 • Fax: (814) 623-8218 • Toll Free: (866) 631-4799 or info@shawneestructures.com

TINY GREEN CABINS Oh! This is a cool deal. You're going to like this. Very good prices for your own portable home.

Tiny Green Cabins are earth friendly cabins ranging is size from 48 square feet (Mini-Sota model) to 252 square feet (Denali Model) The Wildflower cabin is 120 square feet and built with green certified materials, reclaimed products as well as recycled materials. The insulation used is Soft Touch Cotton insulation made from recycled blue jeans. Even the floors are insulated! Maybe it is time to start thinking about adding a Tiny Green Cabin to your back yard as a guest room, back yard retreat, artist studio, or back yard office and saving your daily commute and reduce your carbon footprint. Small is Green! Small buildings mean less materials, less energy to heat & cool and more green space. Install a home office studio in your back yard, work from home and eliminate your commute, then you could get rid of your car (or drive it less often). The money you could save in a year would pay for your studio! An added benefit is that Tiny Green Cabins are transportable, and you can take them wherever life takes you. Because Tiny Green Cabins are transportable they also are not subject to property tax (check your local codes). Tiny Green Cabins are built with the same craftsmanship and quality found in the finest homes; they will last for generations. Since they will last a lifetime, the savings in property taxes for a Tiny Green Cabin will pay for a large portion of the purchase price over time.

Tiny Green Cabins • 2370 4th Street • White Bear Lake, MN 55110 • Ph: (651) 788-6565

ALL TERRAIN WEATHER CABINS I hope they are still in business. These cabins are built with a shipping container used as the core i do believe.

Manufactured in the USA. Our cabins, camps and small homes have "steel core" interiors. Not to be confused with steel studs, but solid steel interior support! You can literally place these tiny homes anywhere - off the grid in the back country, near the lake, or deep in the woods for survivalist, or even in the back yard!

THE SMALL HOMES THAT CAN GO AND BE ANYWHERE
21st Century Homes' All Terrain Weather Cabins (ATWC) challenge everything we know about functionality and building techniques. They embrace innovation in design and construction, by using a blueprint that consistently produces high quality without sacrificing aesthetics and style. The ATWC is constructed in a customized factory. ATWC's can be shipped and transported anywhere because they are compliant with shipping standards with respect to dimension and structural charac-teristics. Once trucked to your site, this unit is positioned onto its foundation. This operation can be performed in less than eight hours (provided weather is favorable). All this ensures dramatic reductions in home building - a ATWC is a journey as much as a place. From its arrival on the back of a truck to its unfolding as a complete home hours later, the ATWC represents an amazing transformation in a remarkably short space of time. The ridged steel superstructure-frame not only ensures unsurpassed strength and exact dimensions but a structure that can withstand almost everything that man and nature can throw at it!

21st Century Homes & Structures • 1098 US Route 9 • Schroon Lake, New York • Ph: 518-532-7900
Email: info@adkhomes.com

THE SCRAP HOUSE This is an example of what a person can do by disciplined effort. What's the real cost of this project when you factor in the cost of running around using a vehicle to collect free building material? What about the time involved? Does it matter? No, it doesn't matter. Just have fun building this nice little dwelling.

When Cape Hatteras Secondary School of Coastal Studies seniors Ted Fort, Kyle Havard, Hyatt Busbey, and Charlie Lee set out to design "the smallest livable floor plan" in their Drafting II and III classes this past semester, they had no intentions of actually building the house. But that's exactly what they ended up doing. There is something of a "tiny house" movement gaining momentum across the country, and the students' design parallels that of many other houses that are popping up nationwide. According to Fort, they didn't build the house to make any kind of social, political, or environmental statement, they just thought they were up to the challenge. "We didn't think it would be that hard to build," Fort said. And what's more—they thought they could build it for free. A self-proclaimed Craigslist and dumpster-diving fanatic, Fort needed a place to channel his passion for scavenging, and he and the others believed they could use those resources to complete the house. And so, spurred on by a combination of boredom, curiosity, and a spirit of adventure, they got to work building their house. Under the supervision and guidance of their Drafting teacher, Bill Evans, the guys spent the last few months of their senior year bringing their plans to life. They used their drafting period and an independent study to work on the house, which amounted to about three hours a day, and they used only materials that were either found or donated. It's actually pretty amazing what they were able to find—wood, cedar shingles, carpet, a sink, a full-size shower, a toilet, and more. Even most of the nails that they used to construct the house were removed from the wood they found and reused. According to Fort, about 80 percent of the materials came from the dump, and the other 20 percent were donated to them. To date, their total expenses amount to $2.85—for a plumbing fitting they were unable to find.

Visit this link for the Cape Hatteras Island Free Press article: Tiny House

MAPLE HOMES This Canadian company offers some very beautiful designs. May i direct your attention to their Recreational Collection. Some really great designs in small homes.

The Recreational Collection offer unique getaways, cottages, cabins and second homes from 500 to 1800 sq ft. Many of these efficient plans feature vaulted ceilings and plenty of windows to bring the outside in. Add a beautiful cedar deck to expand your living area for relaxation and barbecuing. Make memories in your rustic retreat.

We offer a complete home package. This means that we supply the initial design, full construction blueprints and all the components required to build the structure of your home. This includes exterior and interior doors, windows, siding, floor system, roofing materials and precision crafted walls, all delivered to your site. Maple Homes offers the largest selection of complete cabins and cottage packages available in the marketplace today. We have over 35 years of design, delivery and experience in the construction of cedar, post and beam and conventional homes. In fact, there are thousands of our homes, cabins, and cottages built all over North America and overseas. Our 35 years of experience has been essential in allowing us to develop the right construction specifications backed up by the know how of being able to produce an exceptional home using a proven system at a highly competitive price. Our mission is to make it easy for our customers to choose, purchase and build a quality cabin at an affordable price. We carry this out by providing an unparalleled selection of design, a full range of quality building materials and a complete package delivered anywhere in the world. The majority of our operations are based in British Columbia, Canada with a widespread sales network throughout the US and Canada. This network is supported by a complete manufacturing facility including a specialty sawmill, siding profiling equipment and a full warehouse complex. We have shipped worldwide from Japan and Korea to the UK. North American deliveries are shipped by truck with offshore deliveries by container.

Maple Homes Canada Ltd • 8250 River Rd • Delta, BC V4G 1B5 • Canada • Ph: 604-940-7173
Toll Free: 1-800-663-5693 / 1-800-663-2558 / 1-888-546-0663

CEDARSHED INDUSTRIES I especially like their small cabin model called "Haida", a 8ft. x 12ft. mini-cabin. Picture on the right is of their "Haida" model.

FORGET YOUR SAW because the Cedarshed Haida cabin kit comes completely panelized in a do-it-yourself kit and requires no cutting. Simply attach the panels together with the screws provided and move in. The Haida will offer you a terrific and affordable way to experience outdoor living and will make a perfect starter cabin, small studio, private retreat, office, or poolside cabana. Since 1980, Cedarshed has grown to be one of the largest specialty cedar product manufacturers in the World. We offer top quality products — gazebo kits, sheds and, outdoor furniture, all made from high quality aromatic and environmentally friendly Western Red Cedar.

Cedarshed Industries Inc. • 9770 - 199A Street • Langley, BC • Canada V1M 2X7 • Ph: 604-881-2855
Fax: 604-881-0273 • Toll Free: 1-800-830-8033 • Email: sales@cedarshed.com

GREEN CABIN KITS Picture on the right is of their "Urban Green House". A sip or "structural insulated panel" prefab built cabin.

Copeland Casati founded Green Modern Kits in 2006, Green Cottage Kits in 2008, and now, Green Cabin Kits. Although a modern enthusiast, she grew up (and her parents still reside) in a home built in 1801. A Virginia native, she appreciates old farmhouses, cabins, Victorian brownstones, high modern design and... little cabins in the woods (saw a rabbit hoppin' by, knockin' at my door...). Because energy efficient great design IS timeless. Here, cabins can be modern! Or traditional! A passion for environmentally-friendly, affordable housing and concern over our earth propelled her to gather green building architects to help other people achieve home ownership with green building beautiful design; to invest in homes they can not just afford, but of which to be passionate, for all their life stages.

Green Cabin Kits • Ph: 804-515-7886 • Contact Form

GENERATION DESIGN STUDIO This is a design firm based in Portland Oregon (maybe). They do not have much to say on their website, no address or phone number. You know, this type of situation is probably a custom designed and built tiny house (Not a track home!). If you like the design you can probably pay them the proper geetas (money) and they will build one for you. Hopefully.

A new cooperative of designers with extensive experience in retail, office and residential design.

Email: contact@generationdesignstudio.com

HABITAFLEX I think you will really like this well designed and ingenious housing product. It's a folding, transportable, multi-purpose prefab small cabin or home. This product is shippable all over the world with offices in the US and Canada.

Habitaflex, a subsidiary of Maisons Laprise Inc manufacturer of energy efficient prefabricated homes since 1989, is proud to present a new home concept unique in the world: A folding and transportable home! New looks, dimensions, colors and options are available to satisfy a wide range of applications. An entirely factory-built and innovative solution to temporary and permanent accommodation, this home can be unfolded, transported and relocated. Its rapid and easy installation can get this home up and running in a few hours only! Thanks to its clever opening mechanism, Habitaflex deploys virtually effortlessly and, in no time, reveals a complete and comfortable home comprising: A kitchen, living room, bathroom as well as 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms. Its plumbing and heating systems are fully integrated in the wall cavities so you can be operational and stay in your new home the very same day of your installation! Habitaflex is factory-built with techniques and components meticulously chosen making this home more economical than homes built-on-site whilst minimizing the occurrence of overbudget expenses often associated with building accommodation in hard-to-access sites and in remote areas. And Habitaflex can be refolded and shifted to another site in case of unforeseen situations or simply due to relocation. Habitaflex has been designed with security and compactness in mind to meet the shipping containers' dimensions and facilitate its transportation. Whether you are dealing with a hard-to-access site or a far-away area, transportation can be achieved by land, air or sea to bring homes where the are most needed.

Latulippe Construction • 151 North Main Street • East Longmeadow, Maine 01028 USA
Ph: (413) 525-5035 • Email: yvon@latulippeconstruction.com

SHELTER-KIT I remember this company from a long time ago. I was particularly interested in their little cabin called "Unit One".

Shelter-Kit has been designing and producing kit buildings for assembly by owners with no prior building experience since 1970. Our product line includes our Green Home Kit , the Unit One cabins, the modular, expandable Lofthouse, the Barn/Garage kit and our 1 1/2 or 2-story Barn-House kit. We will work with you on designing your building, we will help you obtain a building permit, we will arrange shipping anywhere, and we will be available to answer your questions before, during, and after construction. We consider every order to be a special, custom order and we will work with you accordingly. Our cabin, home, barn and garage kits include all the materials to build a complete, weather tight shell, including the frame, siding, sheathing, hardware, roofing and sub floors. Our kits are precut and predrilled, making them easy to assemble, in 3 to 15 days for most models. All materials are selected for quality and ease of assembly and fit, with the weight of each piece limited to what two individuals can handle. All of the terms in the instructions are easily understandable by amateurs. Each building comes with a detailed Construction Manual. The manual includes drawings and step-by-step instructions, specifically created for each customer's kit. Each of our kits can be customized to meet your individual requirements. We offer many options for building size, windows and doors, stairs, dormers, ceiling heights, cathedral ceilings, etc. We will be glad to work with you to meet your specific requirements. We ship our kits to all 50 states, Canada and internationally. Canadian sales are duty free. We encourage you to contact us to discuss your project.

Shelter-Kit • 22 Mill Street • Tilton, NH 03276 • Ph: (603) 286-7611 • Fax: (603) 286-2839
Email: shelterkit@gmail.com

CUSATO COTTAGES Very nice website with examples of their small house with plans available from Lowe's. I thought these were finished homes they delivered to your site. But no - it is this: Purchase your Lowe's Katrina Cottage Materials Package, arrange your delivery schedule and start construction.

"Cusato Cottages, LLC was founded by Marianne Cusato to provide designs for dignified affordable housing, both on the Gulf Coast and throughout the United States. Design makes a difference. MARIANNE CUSATO is an expert in the field of architectural design. Her work focuses on the elements of good design in homes and communities, and how design impacts the quality of our lives and the sustainability of the earth's resources. Ranked the No. 4 most influential person in the home building industry in Builder Magazine's annual "Power on 50" list, Cusato and her design principles are changing the landscape of the housing industry. In 2006, the Smithsonian Institute's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum honored Cusato with the first annual "People's Design Award". Cusato leads a team of designers that have partnered with Lowe's in a licensing agreement to sell the plans and material packages for the Lowe's Katrina Cottage Series. She is the author of two books, "Get Your House Right, Architectural Elements to Use and Avoid", with Ben Pentreath, Richard Sammons and Leon Krier and "The Value of Design: And its Impact on our Lives and Communities" with James Hardie Building Products. Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Cusato is a degree in Architecture from the University of Notre Dame and is currently based in New York's Greenwich Village. All plans for the Lowe's Cottages cost $700 and are available online at Lowes.com. Lowe's Katrina Cottages are permanent, site built homes. You will need a contractor to build your Lowe's Katrina Cottage. For help locating a contractor in your area visit www.nahb.com or www.notsobighouse.com. Prices to build the cottages can roughly be estimated at +/-$110 a square foot. This price will vary depending on region and the materials you select. You will need to work with your local contractor to determine the exact price to build a cottage in your area."

THE 99K HOUSE This is my favorite design for a small cabin. This is also the website for the 99K House competition which was held in Houston, Texas.

Five finalists were selected from 182 entrants proposing a sustainable, affordable house that addresses the needs of a low-income family in the Gulf Coast region. The five finalists will each receive a $5,000 award and the competition will move forward to Stage II and the registration is closed.

To purchase the 99K House Book please contact:
AIA Houston • 315 Capitol, Suite 120 • Houston, TX 77002
Ph: 713-520-0155 • Fax: 713-520-5134 • www.aiahouston.org

Rice Design Alliance • Rice University, MS 51 • 6100 Main Street • Houston, TX 77005
T. 713-348-4876 F. 713-348-5924 • info@the99khouse.com • www.rda.rice.edu

PERFECT CABINS This UK business sells what appear to be very beautiful well made small miniture cabins and cottages. Actually, they have quite a large inventory of small dwellings or cabins. Many pictures of all their different models.

"Perfect Cabins is a small family business specializing in garden buildings and hard landscaping. Please browse the website for more information or use the contact form on the Contact Details page."

Perfect Cabins • Unit 4 Orchard Business Park • Newbury road Kingsclere NEWBURY Berks RG20 4SY • Phone: 0845 017 08 54 • Mobile: 07931 363227 • Showroom: 01635 299707 • sales@perfectcabins.co.uk

CLAYTON IHOUSE This is a beautiful new concept. Unique layout great for added privacy or isolation from noise.

"The i-house offers affordable luxury in a green, energy efficient package. The i-house is now available for those who are committed to modern living. If you wish to begin the process of acquiring the i-house and become a Charter 100 owner please register using this page. Your personal i-house building specialist, who will listen to your needs, communicate developments and assist you in delivering your efficient and environmentally responsible home, will contact you. Take the first step to living responsibly for the next generation - sign up today."

Our headquarters are in Maryville, Tennessee • Toll Free: 1-800-822-0633

MONTANA MOBILE CABINS These cabins are different in my opinion. A unique look, that's what they have. They deliver their finished product, first 50 miles included in the price.

"Our mobile cabin business began as we wanted to fill a niche for people who owned small acreage and wanted a rustic getaway on their property. It has grown into a dedicated team of professionals, creating superior quality cabins that fit a variety of needs and lifestyles. Our goal is to create a home away from home that will be enjoyed for generations. We create "one of a kind" cabins, made with hand peeled logs, full front porches, rustic wood ceilings and exposed finished wood floors. Our extensive background in design, handcrafting and finishing assures that every detail of every cabin we build is the highest quality. Montana Mobile Cabins provides you with a complete log cabin. Each cabin we build is uniquely designed for each customer, with the customer actually becoming part of the design process. Don't be taken in by the low price of some log cabin kits. Judge, compare, see for yourself by reading the chart below."

GYPSY WAGON These units are custom built for you in Lafayette, Colorado.

"This gypsy wagon, like the sheepherder wagons of the American west, has been crafted to take you back in time and give you the experience of a bygone era. The wagon can be used as a portable guest house, a special work space or a romantic retreat. You could even rent it out for extra income to the rapidly growing group of people who are looking for "Adventure Lodging". Professionally built, this gypsy wagon is a one-of-a-kind handcrafted piece. The gypsy wagon has been built on a new trailer chassis that has dual axles with electric brakes and is licensed for the road. The outside dimensions are: 16 feet long (plus a two foot overhang above the door) by 8 feet wide and it has a clearance of 13 feet. The empty weight is 5900 lbs. In keeping with the turn of the century feel of the exterior, the brake lights have been designed to be removable. The siding is tongue and groove pine and is accented by rich dark red trim. Victorian brackets at the corners of the roof lines highlight the two levels of the wagon. There are six windows plus a ten-pane entry door that flood the interior with natural light and provide great views. Please contact me, Bill Young, at 303-661-0331 or by55555@hotmail.com to arrange a showing. Update limited time sale price: was $23,600... NOW $18,750 . Or contact me to arrange construction of your own custom piece."

Gypsy Coach • Lafayette, Colorado (near Boulder) • Ph: (303) 661-0331 • by55555@hotmail.com

TOPSIDER HOMES This appears to be a quality business based in Clemmons, North Carolina. They have a rather unique design - a kind of octagon stucture, quite beautiful. They sell pedestal homes, stilt homes, guest houses, hurricane proof homes, and post & beam homes. Their prefab homes can also be installed on a conventional foundation. Also, you can buy a home as small as maybe 475 sq.ft. "High quality custom-designed prefabricated post & beam panelized homes, shipped worldwide since 1968. Protect your family and your investment with a Topsider Home."

"Topsider Homes have withstood many of the most devastating hurricanes, including direct hits from Andrew in the Bahamas and Florida, Hugo in the USVI, and Ivan, Katrina and Rita along the Gulf Coast. Each Topsider Home is custom designed and engineered to withstand high winds and to meet or exceed building codes in all coastal and hurricane-prone areas. And while no home is totally hurricane proof or storm proof, Topsider's record of storm safety and survival over the decades is extremely impressive. Each Topsider Home is built using large laminated and solid timbers that are bolted together and held in place with massive steel collars and couplings. This construction method or building system is essentially the same approach used in building the incomparably strong and enduring old New England post & beam barns. And, it is the same basic technology thought to be the very first wood construction method."

Topsider Homes • 7050 Idols Road • PO Box 1490 • Clemmons, North Carolina 27012 USA
Toll Free: 800-941-9801 • Ph: 336-766-9300 • Fax: 336-766-1110

THE POD Is this not one of the best designed little structures that you have ever seen? Based in the UK, built and designed by Newfoundland Lodges Ltd. Called the "Continental Camping Hut".

"It does look great, but what is it? Well it's a rather well built, insulated wooden hut that provides basic accommodation much in the way of a tent. They are of a modest size with good headroom, an interior floor area some eight feet wide by nine feet long and a forward projecting porch to provide some shelter if the doors are open. In most cases there will be a raised area of timber decking extending the 'living area' and providing somewhere to sun-bathe, prepare food or when the weather is bad, lose the wet gear before going inside. The POD is designed to be comfortable - the roofing material is designed to cut down the noise of heavy rain. The window and lockable French doors are double glazed to reduce condensation and provide sound insulation. The wood used in the construction is a naturally 'warm' material but to provide extra winter warmth we have installed sheep's wool insulation inside the walls while a special foil layer under the roof helps keep summer temperatures in check. There is a small, high level window in the back wall this not only provide light, but will help keep the living space well ventilated and aid 'through draft' on hot summer days."

MONTANA CABIN EXCHANGE Purveyors of small Cabins and Guest Houses, Portable Businesses, and Mobile Cabins & Sheds. Picture on the right is of their "Bunk House" model. They are unique in that they offer small buildings which can be used for business ventures like maybe an ice cream parlor, rental cottage or espresso/coffee shop. Very nice little units delivered to your site.

"Montana Cabin Exchange is a family owned and operated business located in Bozeman, Montana. None of our cabins are made from kits. All of our cabins are custom built on our site and transported to your site upon completion. Specializing in the custom small building for a specific need or application, Montana Cabin Exchange will help design and develop the ultimate dream cabin or backyard getaway for our customers."

YODER BUILDING COMPANY This is a very nice professional website. "The high quality building you can afford." Cheap housing/living for you! - They even have a "Rent-To-Own" program.

"If you're looking for old fashioned quality and uncompromising service, you've come to the right place! Yoder Building Company is committed to building portable, wooden storage buildings of the highest quality at a price everyone can afford. Yoders is founded on traditional values and old fashioned quality. Each one of our portable buildings is individually constructed by professional craftsman to meet the highest standards of quality in the industry. Our storage buildings range in size from 8'x8' to 14'x40', with many different styles, colors, and options available. They are ideal for storage, workshops, garages, offices, hunting cabins, playhouses, and more. From the quality of materials, to the workmanship, to the customer service that Yoders provides, you will find a Yoder building to be second to none. If you think that the best quality means a high price, check out our pricing. We think you will be pleasantly surprised."

Yoder Building Company • 13051 Deerfield Road • Senecaville, OH 43780 • Phone: 740-439-5811

MODULO There is not much of a description for this modular home. The website is quite something else though. Major flash site; so if you are on dial-up internet service - it might be hard to view this website. I think this design company is based in the Netherlands. Some of the language is european. Also, visit or click on the link called "Design" and after the little thumbnails load at the top of the screen - click on the last one named "Modulo". Just click on the bouncing vertical bars to stop the music located at the lower left bottom of the page.

CABIN KIT HOMES Picture on the right is of their "Sweet Flag" model.

"PHOENIX, AZ (AP)—Finding the right niche in the market can make all the difference in the world, especially in home building and real estate development. With US headquarters in Greer, Arizona, George Wardner and his company have busily carved out a specialty "niche" market... rugged, tastefully designed log and cedar homes and vacation cabins. A new line of cedar cabin designs... called "Cabin Kits"... are complete exterior shell packages sold and delivered nationwide from their own mill operations and suppliers in British Columbia and across Canada. Cabin Kits are perfect for year around living or as weekend, holiday or vacation hideaways. And because they are easy to build, Cabin Kits are time-efficient and cost-effective for the professional builder or contractor as well as the do-it-yourself marketplace."

RAINIER COTTAGES I placed this item in here because even though it has a canvas covering like a wall or cabin tent, it lacks the portability of a canvas tent. I think these are very beautiful.

"Our new Rainier Cottage is handcrafted with beautiful canvas walls on a durable Douglas Fir Frame that can be set up as a permanent or semi-permanent structure. They are sturdy enough to be left up year-round in most climates. It would be easy to set up a simple cottage, or cozy it up with the modern necessities like electricity, heat and the comforts of home. The beauty of a Rainier Cottage is that it enables you to spend quality time in a natural surrounding at a low price."

MINIMAL MANSION Here's a different twist on the portable cabin genre. Using the timber frame technique to build a lower cost portable cabin.
Welcome to minimalmansion.com
"This is a site to document the building of a small house loosely based on the designs of Jay Shafer's Tumbleweed Tiny Houses. A little over a year ago I learned about Jay's houses. I thought they were great. Small, efficient, and mobile. Everything a poor non-profit employee was looking for. I loved Jay's designs but didn't have the money to buy the lock and key version. The other issue was that I was getting married soon and didn't think that 117 square feet would be quite enough for two people. So my fiancé and I went about designing our own version. We bought Jay's books and got a 3D house modeling program. After many versions and sizes we decided on 8' x 30'. It will be much larger than Jay's houses on wheels but still small enough to be 'small, efficient, and mobile'. The next step was to find a trailer frame."

THE MONOLITHIC CABIN This company i have noticed has improved and expanded their website over the months or years. To me, that would be a sign that they are doing OK. Check out this latest cool addition to their product line.

"The Monolithic Cabin is a modified Monolithic Dome - like a tunnel with rounded ends. These domes all have a diameter (width) of 12 feet, but their total length and interior space depends on the model. Model 150 has a length of 14.3 feet and a living area of 150 square feet. Model 201 is 18.5 feet long and 201 square feet. Model 266 is 24 feet long and 266 square feet. All models are a nominal 10 feet high, from bottom of crossbeams to top of roof. David South, President of Monolithic, sees the Monolithic Cabin as "one of the most versatile, small domes we have ever designed. It's really an all-purpose unit!

"We manufacture these cabins here, at our headquarters in Italy, Texas and load one or two of them on a truck for transport to the client's site," David says. "They weigh about 9 to 14 tons, are definitely shippable and require only a small amount of land."

The Monolithic Cabin can be used as a rental unit, echo housing or granny flat, disaster shelter, workshop, office or studio, game room, vacation dome, exercise room, temporary housing for work crews or home builders, guest house or storage. They can be designed as single living units or combined with others. The list goes on and on!"

WALT BARRETT'S MICRO HOME This is about Walt Barrett's Micro Home which is 8ft x 8ft. They say they want to mass produce these completed units and also sell kits for a reduced price which can be assembled by the buyer. They have a video on their website or blog which shows the steps taken to build this neat looking little house. Watch the video, it will show you some small home building techniques for those of us untutored in the trade. They are located in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

"The home in the slideshow is $9,995.00 plus shipping cost: Complete and ready to move in, with solar electric lights, shower, compost toilet and galley."

QUALITY SHELTERS This business is located in Deming, Washington. They sort of have two websites link together one for timber frame homes and the other for small buildings; both are very nice with beautiful color photos of their products. Their line of small buildings include: Storage Space (sheds), Cottages & Cabins. They specialize in building small. They deliver your completed building on a flatbed truck for assemblage on your selected site.

"Shelter is an innovative company specializing in small buildings of endearing quality. Our company history spans 28 years of residential construction in the areas of design, land development, custom homes, concrete construction, production framing, timber framing, log work and fine finish work. Our company intent is to direct these years of residential construction experience into the creation of the finest panelized storage and living spaces available. So what is UnUsual about our products? It is UnUsual to find smaller cabins and outbuildings built to the same (or higher) structural and design standards as are found in the residential construction world. It is also UnUsual to find such structures built with many of today's custom design features such as lofts, window seats, dormers, curved walls, accent windows, timber and log details. Most character features found in today's custom homes, or in your imagination, can be found in Shelter buildings."

DWELLE This business is located in Manchester England i believe. This is a relatively new project they have started i guess. They have currently two beautiful models available so far - a large and a small livable shed. Their main website is located here: FKDA In addition to their livable shed section, they have designed some very beautiful other small dwellings worth your time to look at.

"Welcome to the new "Shed" website!"
"We've spent some time ensuring that not only are our sheds as space efficient as possible and have extremely high environmental criteria, but they are also designed to the highest standards."

MODESTHOUSE The picture on the right is of their "mini" model. This is a company that designs using lots of glass for the exterior. I like their mini model a lot. They also have a larger model, their standard model probably.

"Modesthouse brings architecture home with an elegant balance of tradition and technology. With its refined structural system and generous use of glass, Modesthouse simply defines space and creates an intimate connection with the surrounding landscape. Modesthouse utilizes a system of pre-manufactured parts such as structural insulated panels (SIPS) for the roof, walls and floor, and FSC certified timber for primary framing to offer an affordable and practical high-end alternative to custom homes. Pre-fabricated building components are assembled on site, saving time and materials. Designed by New York architect Jeffrey McKean to integrate sensitively with the environment, Modesthouse combines sustainable building practices, green energy systems, and the choice of materials and finishes, to create a thoughtful solution in this age of responsibility."

EMERGENCY RESPONSE STUDIO I like this unit a lot. It is well designed and interesting. Lots of pictures and good information about this unit on the website.

"Emergency Response Studio, by Paul Villinski, is a solar-powered, mobile artist's studio, repurposed from a salvaged FEMA-style trailer. This sustainably re-built, off-the-grid living and work space is designed to enable artists to "embed" in post-disaster settings, and respond and contribute creatively. Villinski conceived the project in response to the devastation of post-Katrina New Orleans as "a symbol of transformation and possibility for the communities of the Gulf Coast". ERS will be exhibited in Prospect .1 New Orleans, the largest exhibition of international contemporary art ever organized in the United States, which opens throughout the Cresent City November first, 2008. Though designed as an artist's studio, the Emergency Response Studio also serves as a prototype for self-sufficient, solar-powered mobile housing, and explores the application of sustainable materials in the construction of trailers and other forms of temporary housing."

CHEAP CABINS Nice Australian company with some very good looking small home designs. They are based in Australia somewhere.

"Cheap cabins providing high value returns on purchase prices are increasingly being used as caravan park cabins and other forms of rental accommodation, plus as granny flats, studios, teenage retreats, workshop admin buildings, and mining worker accommodation in Australia. These cabins also make excellent retirement homes, beach shacks, holiday cabins, farm worker accommodation, and permanent homes for couples or small families. The Government will even give you up to $21,000 first homeowners grant for a combined home and land package which makes buying an already affordable cabin even cheaper for first home buyers, and supports low cost housing in Australia!"

M-HOUSE This is a prefab hyper-designed mobilehome type structure. Company based in London, England. This is a famous house, it's been discussed and displayed in both the print and electronic media like television and of course the internet.

"m-house (pronounced 'mouse') is over 1000 sqft of beautifully designed and detailed contemporary house or office. It is entirely manufactured under controlled factory conditions, which guarantees both quality of build and delivery time. m-house arrives in two pieces, each 3m (10' approx) wide, which are then joined together on site, which takes about a day. It comes completely fitted-out and ready for you to move into immediately, and delivery is 12 weeks after order. It's already become an iconic object. It is one of Kevin McCloud's 'perfect houses' (click on the link above to see the article); the house which preceded it was Lutyens' Castle Drogo in Devon. Not bad for a caravan. Design commentator Stephen Bayley thinks it's 'so much cooler than an Airstream', and Jonathan Glancey in the Guardian said it's 'inspired' (in his article on buildings of the year). In fact it came about as a result of a long lunch with Cedric Price (the man who influenced Archigram), so in fact it isn't inspired; it's informed. It's gained world recognition as an innovative housing type; m-house can be specified to meet full UK building regulations. There's been a lot written about it. Google m-house and read what they say. Pricing information is on the INFO page."

PAPER LOGHOUSE A cheap and simple structure that can be built by anyone. The foundation is made of sand-filled beer cases, the walls of paper tubes and the ceiling and roof of tent material. The roof and the ceiling were kept separate in summer to allow air to circulate and closed in winter to retain warm air. They are easy to recycle after use, easy to transport, easy to store and the paper tubes can be made on site. Unfortunately this website does not give the reader very much detailed information on the process involved in building with paper. However, it might be possible for someone interested in this technique to email the man who invented this method and maybe he will respond with instructions. I hope.

KARMOD CABINS This business is located in Istanbul Turkey. They manufacture many different sizes and configurations of their basic product, which is a modular fiberglass shell consisting of polyester plastic. Interesting note about this company is that it was formed in response to the horrible earthquakes in the region. Their products are made to be very weather and earthquake resistant. According to their website they ship to at least 44 other countries around the world.

"You place your Karmod cabin you bought wherever you need it, at your place of work, a shopping center, somewhere around your house and you see that it bears a smart, elegant decoration object. Karmod modular cabins, they are products of an outstanding technology designed by our Turkish Engineers and Architects offering indoor spaces to those who need in order to meet specific needs of the people in the best way, in modern urban life. KARMOD produces fiberglass living cabins, compatible to environment with their aesthetic design containing basic facilities of usage, multi-function and adding beauty to the environment, safe, comfortable, with modular structure respectful to the nature, in different dimensions and alternative plans, suitable to the any purpose and insulated."

BAVARIAN COTTAGES They build these beautiful cabin kits from wood.

"Bavarian Leisure Cottages in British Columbia, Canada offers the finest in custom built cottages, cabins, saunas, gazebos and sheds... and much more. Whether you are looking for a simple kit for a kid's playhouse or a beautiful small cabin for that remote piece of property, we have it all. We put together durable, long-lasting and beautiful kits that are regularly shipped to locations throughout North America. Easy to put together, long lasting and guaranteed to look great! Why build your own yard building from scratch when you can easily construct the finest cottage, cabin, shed or gazebo from one of our complete kits? Let us do the hard work and provide you with a proven design guaranteed to provide you with lasting beauty and functionality."

TURBULENCE HOUSE This is a famous little house floating around the internet or has been on a number of blogs. This is a guest house and is small in size. The creator is an architect named Steven Holl. He has other smaller structures designed by him. So if you looking for an architect with unique ideas - he is your man. To view more information on his website; click on houses and then click on turbulence house.

"As its name implies, Turbulence House aims to shake things up. Instead of following the standard method of on-site wood- or steel-frame construction, this little guesthouse on a windy mesa in New Mexico tests the future, exploring new technologies that harness computer and manufacturing processes."

SMALL HOME OREGON "These houses are small and simple. They have everything you need and nothing you don't. If you're looking for a small home, guest house, vacation house, studio, or workshop, these houses are made for you. These small homes are infinitely adaptable. Join them together to add a couple of bedrooms, put the doors and windows wherever you want, off grid or on. Because of their size and simplicity, they are inherently easy on the environment, result in small or no utility bills, and cost a fraction of more conventional housing. These houses aren't built in a mobile home factory. They are built one at a time to your specifications, the same as any other stick-built house except under controlled conditions so the wood is dry. Each house is built with the highest quality and craftsmanship. House-moving professionals then transport your new house to your property where they finish your house to local code standards. Small Home Oregon ensures that you'll have a quality house in weeks instead of months at a fraction the cost."

TINY TEXAS HOUSES This is a very beautiful website with plenty of pictures featuring their products. These rustic looking small houses do not incorporate the use of wheels to make them tow able. They are simple homes designed to be placed on your property of choice on some kind of foundation.

"Designed in the classic style of past centuries, when our living space was treasured and quality was important. Rediscover energy efficiency with a smaller footprint where you can live with what you love and relinquish the rest. Our goal is to help you create a one-of-a-kind country home place using 95% recycled wood, vintage materials, doors, windows and antique hardware. We hope that by harvesting these salvaged treasures your home will recapture the spirit of nature. Let your experience with us inspire new ways of thinking. Whether you live in your Tiny Texas House full-time or make it your weekend hide-away, your home will be an architectural centerpiece for the preservation of our planet."

LV SERIES The LV series is a modern line of homes designed and manufactured by Rocio Romero. If you like squares and cubes then you will certainly like this prefab building system. They provide you with factory built kit components for the exterior shell which is then built on site by a general contractor. Beautiful finished product.

"The LV Home Series - modern kit homes by Rocio Romero that are affordable, easily built, and highly customizable. We provide you with a kit comprised of parts that makes up the exterior shell of the LV home and can be delivered anywhere in the United States. The LV employs traditional construction materials and techniques; therefore, any General Contractor can build your LV home."

JAMAICA COTTAGE SHOP Picture on the right is a 16x20 prefab cabin purchased from Jamaica Cottage in Vermont and it is completely livable. There are quite a few photos on the website of their products.

Company started in 1995 by Domenic Mangano. Located in Jamaica, Vermont — we are premier builders of fine post and beam garden buildings including tool sheds, cottages & wood sheds. Built by Vermont tradesman each structure is crafted with a personality of its own creating a distinctive and aesthetically pleasing sight that will enhance any landscape. We offer complete design to finish solutions for clients searching for a special sanctuary. In 2004 Jamaica Cottage Shop, Inc. purchased a manufacturing facility two miles north of the beginnings in Jamaica. Our current 70,000 square foot factory allows all work to be built indoors. We expanded the product line and developed the cottage sheds to include the current pre-cut post and beam kits. Today, Jamaica Cottage Shop produces the finest wood sheds and cottages anywhere, and we ship our creations all over the United States and Canada.

Jamaica Cottage Shop • 170 Winhall Station Rd. • South Londonderry, VT 05155 • Call/Order Toll-Free: 866.297.3760 • Ph: 802.297.3760 • Email: design@jamaicacottageshop.com

BUNGALOW IN A BOX These are very nice looking prefab units built in Maine. Probably deliver throughout the contiguous United States and Canada, but call first to make sure.

"Weathertight panel-frame structures. Our component kits make durable cottage-camps, garages, home offices and studios. Our unique framing technique joins low-maintenance, natural materials to create beautiful structures that last. Prefabricated interlocking, exterior-finish panels assemble quickly with minimal on-site waste. A "Bungalow In A Box" goes up on your foundation with a finished exterior appearance in one or two days."

Ph: (207) 443-5691 or Email: info@bungalowinabox.com

USA PORTABLE BUILDINGS They sell a number of small prefab cabins available with Treated Siding or Painted Siding.

"USA Portable Buildings is a family owned business located in Kentucky. We build the highest quality storage buildings, furniture, gazebos, swing sets and adventure size log cabins available anywhere. Almost all of our products are crafted by Amish and Mennonite craftsmen using the methods that have made the Amish well known for quality. While most of our products are delivered fully built, we can build on site in selected areas and can build larger size buildings."

VALLEY VIEW INDUSTRIES Located in British Columbia Canada. Valley View Industries manufactures cedar gazebo kits, cedar log gazebos, cedar tea houses, cedar cabins, cedar hot tub enclosures, cedar pergolas, cedar fencing, cedar sheds, cedar railings, cedar arbors, cedar garden furniture and other custom made cedar products. Picture is of their Camping Cabin.

Valley View Industries is now known locally and internationally for its premium western cedar products. Cedar is the preferred wood where aesthetic appeal, durability and weather resistance is important. We pride ourselves on our heavy duty construction, our originality, quality and craftsmanship of our products. The natural beauty of the cedar can be enhanced with a variety of different finishes or left in its natural state. We also take special orders (on any of our products) structurally engineered to support your specifications.

Valley View Industries Ltd • 598 Okanagan Way • Kamloops BC V2H 1G7 Canada • Ph: (250) 314-6755 • Fax: (250) 314-6730 • sales@valleyviewlumber.com

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE TRAILER Another neat little house on wheels. Based in Petaluma, California. They configure as: Home Art Spaces, Dwellings, Movable Offices, Caregiver Cottage, Kit Workshop.

Heirloom quality buildings made to order.
- Heirloom quality custom buildings on wheels.
- Residential and Commercial.
- From Sheds to 400 square foot Buildings.
- Built to order and rolled to your site.
- No on site construction.
- Flexibility of relocation or resale.

MODERN SHED Useful as dwellings, home offices, studios. These sheds are not something you would want to use for storing your gardening tools. Can be finished as a guest house or some other nice useful building to be lived in.

"Available in 5 styles. All parts are prefinished and paneled. A Modern Shed is the most affordable addition one can add to a home. Modern Shed is simply about storage, fun, space, architecture and your back yard. It gives you the chance to have an office away from home, a small art studio, or free up room in the garage. Stop paying off site storage and increase the value of your home and quality of life."

RPC PORTABLE CABINS This company is named Rich's Portable Cabins and they are located in North Powder, Oregon. Their portable cabins can be shipped all over the US.

"Hand crafted in the beautiful mountains of North Eastern Oregon. RPC's approach to cabin building is unlike the "high production cookie cutter companies" that offer quantity by sacrificing quality. We are the opposite - in that quality is more important than the number of park models put out in a year. These miniature cabins are not on an assembly line moving along at a predetermined rate as a "ready or not here I come" product! Forcefulness which causes people to rush through their job thereby forsaking quality, but instead the cabins are stationary until done - how ever long the process of building the park model cabin takes is what it takes. The only down side to this approach is the inability to accurately predict labor costs. This is the reason I use skilled labor and pay them a family wage with benefits."

PORTABLE LOG CABINS This business based in Mamou, Louisiana.

"Imagine a beautiful log cabin without all the problems of true logs. Our unique log looking vinyl siding is one of the best inventions in the world. You get the beauty of the look of a true log without all the maintenance cost year after year. Unlike cheap vinyl products on the market today, this vinyl has laminated foam behind it for strength, extra insulation, and helps keep the form of the curved log look. Our metal roof gives the cabin a great look with no maintenance."

OUTBACK CABIN COMPANY From British Columbia Canada preassembled & portable cabins, tents & shelters. I like the frame they have designed for use in the tent they sell. Appears to be quite sturdy in design.

"With the increasing trend towards traveling closer to home, and purchasing local vacation property, OutBack's cabins, tents & shelters have been thoroughly designed with the end use in mind - a retreat from the hectic side of life, or protection for your property from the elements. OutBack's cabins, tents, or shelters arrive at your site completely finished inside and out, ready to hook up to your services in a minimal amount of time so that you can pursue the activities you enjoy. The cabins and tents are so complete, they may even be used as a cozy starter home, which later may be resold, moved to the lake, or rented for additional income. Perfect for a place to live while you build your dream home. They may also be purchased at various construction phases for completion to your personal style and requirements."

TORTOISE SHELL HOME Check out this new business specializing in a tiny mobile cabin.

"Want to leave a smaller footprint, but still have the comfort and safety of a well-built home which travels with you? Tortoise Shell Homes are cozy (starting at 130 sqft), mobile (mounted on a tow trailer) and built tough, like a larger house. Whether you use it as a vacation cabin, guest cottage, artist retreat, field office, or starter "grow home", your eco-friendly tortoise shell home blends into the landscape without sacrificing comfort and security."

SUSTAIN MINIHOME This business is located in Toronto Canada. They sell mini home plans and kits.

"The miniHome is an ideal solution for many situations - we also have institutional and corporate clients who need relocatable worker housing and guest cabins for resort communities. While the miniHome would be perfect as a granny flat or secondary dwelling on urban lots - most Canadian municipal zoning would prevent such a use. The miniHome is designed primarily for private land owners in Rural areas, in Canada and especially in the US, which is more permissive of trailers as a form of primary and/or secondary dwellings. If you are in North America, we can arrange shipping for you. You may get a better quote from others, but we have had some very bad experiences with what we thought were reputable companies, so we'd rather ship with our friends and be confident of a happy outcome, than ship with strangers that keep us guessing, and surprise us with 'extras'."

CAVCO PARK HOMES & CABINS This company is located in Phoenix Arizona. By the looks of their website, they are a fairly large operation. They offer a lot of nice products which include small to medium size prefab cabins and a line they call "park models". I guess that means units that can be set in a mobile home park. They sell to KOA, if that means anything, which it probably does. They do not sell direct to the public. An individual consumer must purchase through one of their retailers. See their website for details.

"Cavco is one of the largest producers of Manufactured Housing, Park Model and Cabin Vacation Homes in the United States.

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Cavco has built a reputation for quality and value since it opened for business in 1965. Cavco Park Homes and Cabins is a primary supplier to campground and RV Park owners/developers for rental homes, resale models and fractional sale operations. Through many years in a leadership position, Cavco Park Homes and Cabins intimately understands the needs of our core customers. Our homes generally range in size from about 500 to 3,300 square feet and typically include two to five bedrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen and two or more full bathrooms. Most of our homes are comprised of two or more modules that are joined together at the home site, but we also produce single-section homes. Our park model homes and campground cabins are less than 400 square feet in size and are purchased primarily as second homes, vacation homes or for retirement living. Our Cavco Lofts come in Cabin and Park Model offerings and our Cavco Cabins come in standard cabin models including bare bones style, wheelchair friendly plans & multiple sleeping area models. With this broad selection in price, style and function our customers are assured of finding the best quality and value available in today's marketplace."

Click here to go to > Part 2 or Part 3

Martin Tiny House
A Martin House-To-Go model

Date Last Updated: February 18, 2010