Houzz Tour: Going Off the Grid in 140 Square Feet
Once you get past the size of Vina Lustado’s $40,000 house, which is 140 square feet, two things may still surprise you. One, she designed and built the house to be her home for life. “It’s not temporary. I’m never leaving,” Lustado says. Two, it’s a great place to throw parties with a lot of people. “I’ve never entertained as much as I have since I built my tiny house,” she says.
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What a beautiful home! I can see why she never wants to leave. I love that she has a "guest room" too.
I respect your choices and sounds like you went about this project with eyes open and an awareness of your needs and wants. I could definitely live similarly with just a few minor changes.
You've created a beautiful, functional and very personalized space. Congrats and I hope you enjoy your home for the rest of your life!
To Rich Higgins: In my little mind, I read the word "build" and took it as - she built her home in her mind, envisioned, an abstract meaning of the word (emotionally speaking) - and when you collaborate on something as grand as this, by all means take credit and say you've built it too.
As for the "Nothing was bought except the screws..." - they were solely on the discussion of the deck, no?
$40,000 for 140 SF is about $285 per SF, which is astronomical.
At $285 per SF, that would make our 1300 SF house about $370,000. A new brick home that size can be built for about $130-150,000 where I live.
I understand having the house on wheels for mobility and to bypass some codes or tax issues. It is literally a mobile home. And while I am not familiar with the weather where it is located, in many areas prone to tornadoes and hurricanes I would suspect it would be as vulnerable to wind as a traditional mobile home.
However, it wouldn't work for me, personally, here in New England. In California the great outdoors is your home all year round, so a small house is not a jail sentence. Let's cut to New England in January now. It's dark for most of the day. It's 15 degrees outside. Trust me, a 100 yard walk to an outdoor composting toilet will not be part of a fun lifestyle. In the winter, I appreciate enough indoor room, 2500 square feet, that allows me to take aerobic walks from one end of the house to the other. I personally believe moving into ever more microscopic cocoons as population increases from today's 7 billion worldwide to 9 in 20 years - is a depressing, unhealthy prospect for all. I'm a huge fan of Paul Ehrlich, the ignored "voice in the wilderness", an environmental scientist who claims that a 1.5 billion population would be a far healthier world, for biodiversity, quality of life, cost of living (supply and demand - notice your food and energy costs compared to 1998?).
All adults should read the web page at http://triviumquadrivium.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/what-is-the-ideal-population-of-the-earth/, which discusses how incredibly better our quality of life would be if we raised our expectations and joined in a gradual dial-back, via 1.8 children per adult couple for 200 years.
If you a have the same number of amenities and storage in a house that is twice the size, the cost will only be marginally greater, not double, because you are only adding concrete, stud lumber, and drywall. The bulk of the cost of a home is in the cabinetry, appliances, fixtures, and custom finishes.
It would almost be like valuing cars based on size. A Ferrari would cost half that of a Chevy astro.
What will you do without closets? Those big bulky coats and dozens of shoes won't fit under the sofa or the rocker. You can't hang them on the fireplace and snow will surely ruin them on the screened porch. Put them in bins? And where do you stack the bins? At the foot of the bed so you can trip over them every night? On the kitchen counter so you can move them 3 times a day in order to cook?
What do you do when company comes? Let them all pile on the bed, sit on the coffee table, stand at the doorway and play games on the floor?
Where do you possibly have room for luxuries like stew pots, griddles, blenders, pressure cookers and food processors? Where do you put spices, utensils, Tupperware and extra plates? How do you even begin to cook a big meal with a four foot counter space and no kitchen table?
Where do you put all your cool stuff? Like the retro bar cart, martini glasses, giant art pieces, photographs, guitars, collections, seasonal decor and keepsakes?
Where do you store your bills and financial papers? Your favorite books? Your dogs toys? Those extra blankets, pillows, comforters and rugs?
Believe me, I know small house living. It gets old really quickly.
If one develops a bladder infection, that could be a problem...
Another solution would be to sleep on the couch...
As for the loft bed -- here in NYC they are almost a necessity unless you are a member of the wealth class. We have one and I honestly like it a lot, it's like a cozy retreat up away from the world. A bit of diffused lighting, a reading light, and a flat screen TV on the wall and you are livin' large. The one mod I'd like to implement is the fireman's pole. Seriously, getting up into a loft is MUCH easier than getting down.
Again, my compliments on a beautiful execution
But, I would need more room, just to have the illusion of "breathing space." How about a "Medium-sized Home?" One where you don't have to pay to store your stuff. And, a wrap-a-around porch as an added bonusl!
One more thing-Where's a garden (veggie, shrubs, or flowers)?
What surprised me though is that huge heating stove for such a small area. We have a Godin in our 1600sf house and the thing pumps out so much heat that we were opening windows and changing into summer clothing. This is a blog where another American in France has discovered Godin and she has some photos on her blog you might find interesting. You can find it here:
http://thefranco-americanflophouse.blogspot.fr/2014/01/the-flophouse-godin.html
Our Godin is about 3 times as big as her's but our home is also again as large. My inlaws have a modern Godin smaller than ours, modern in design, that heats up their 2,500 sqf home in the alps without any problem.
Light and airy decorating. Good job. Even though i like a lot of space i wouldn't feel claustrophobic in here.
It feels to me like people who live in tiny spaces and are proud of it and act like possessions are a bad thing to have. You can still focus on the important things of life and own "stuff". It doesn't have to be either or.
I wonder if she cooks very much at home, or if she has many hobbies. I sew, paint, draw, garden, ski and that takes up lots of space to store the equipment. I feel these activities enrich my life.
I understand everyone is different and that is a glove that fits her.
If I was single and by myself I would love to live off the grid and have my own little home like this. I admire her and think she has a great life just the way she built it!
I've never heard of the small home movement before; and with two little ones, it wouldn't work for me, but I'd love to leave the kiddies with dad and spend a week or two up there to relax !
I've had a few small homes (and some much larger ones), ranging from a VW van to a 450 sq. ft. 1879 log cabin. I currently live in a palatial 27' Airstream trailer. Oh, I design 4-8,000 sq. ft. second mansions for a living, and they generally cost $3-400 / sq. ft. It's inspiring to see such a wonderful, livable space that cost about 2% of that. Trade-offs, well sure, but I like seeing someone embracing the concept of not necessarily having every single thing that they may want.
One of my favorite little houses was actually a backyard getaway. Dear Wife & I owned a 3,000 sq. ft. 19th century Victorian house (we ran a hospice in it) way up in the Rockies (the Yellow House in Maysville, Colorad for those interested). A small river split our property, with an old log bridge to the other side. Over there I built a timber framed 12'x16' workshop, complete with a 100 year old 2-hole outhouse.
I decided that I wanted a getaway office/living space, and so I added a 12/12 four dormer roof on 18" knee walls to create a loft with working & sleeping space. The desk for my CAD workstation was an old 3'x8' solid mahogany door, and the bed was a folding cot, which was luxurious for this old guy who has spent half of his life sleeping on the ground. I could pick apples from the "bedroom" window. I like to have some tall spaces in tight quarters, and so I left a 5'x7' opening in the loft floor, for an 18' high ceiling there, with large windows overlooking the river. I re-purposed some of the original windows & doors taken out of the old big house -- wavy glass and all that. On the other side was a door to a 3'x4' upper level deck with a stair to the ground that was private enough that I could negotiate it naked for a run to the outhouse.
The downstairs (downladder?) space was still largely a workshop holding my carpenter's toys, but was uncluttered enough to be easily transformed into social space in short order as long as guests didn't mind décor by Porter Cable and Dewalt A 12" planer with a slab of plywood on top makes a passable card table. Outdoor landings & decks were wood pallets propped on rocks. There was a small woodstove that, if I could get some good hardwood (not easy or cheap in Colorado where pine, cottonwood & aspen are the staples), could heat the whole place over a Rocky Mountain winter night. There was no other heat source, and so my 40-below down sleeping bag was the main piece of bedding. There was no plumbing, but the old outhouse and older river were right there. Granted, sometimes snow shoveling & ice breaking were factors, but I kept a bedpan under the cot and a kettle of water on the woodstove for those times when nature resisted going outside. And there was always the big house across the river that I visited often because, well, my wife lived there and I sort of nominally did too.
I loved that little house, and greatly miss it. I hope that someone still enjoys it.
}}}}
I appreciate what Lustado has designed for herself. However, let's be very clear: this is far more easily accomplished in parts of the world where climate is warmer. Not so do-able where cold & snow factor in to the equation.
We raised a family of 4 in an 1100 square-foot house for 12 years before we finished the basement with a tv room, office, bedroom, 2nd full bath, laundry rm, & furnace room/storage. It would've been impossible otherwise. Smart choices of furnishings & editing of possessions is critical.
We've seen others enjoy the luxury of living in larger houses with unused square footage. But location is everything & we have stayed in our small house in our great neighborhood for over 28 years.
And have no plans to go elsewhere.
I don't have any issues with small space living. Actually I have been researching possibilities for retirement. When I met my wife I had lived years in a 240 sf trailer. I think she is amenable to less of keeping up with the Jones, and more living within our means as long as it's not a dump.
• The biggest kitchen sink possible -- I like her large sink! It can always be covered for extra counter space, but it's there when you need it, to wash large batches of vegetables, do hand laundry.
• Pocket doors! Make walls function as much as possible.
• Sky-light: Brings breathing room to tight spaces. I'm also a big fan of shed dormers.
• Stairs! I do not want to climb up and down a ladder. How about attic stairs that pull down for use, or stairs that pull out from the wall similar to bleachers in a school gymnasium, or permanent stairs that are drawers and storage?
• I really like her work space: it's where she spends a lot of time, give it the space she needs to function easily.
I like the idea of living mortgage free, not subject to the whim of landlords, and a "pared down life."
The built-ins are also so thoughtful.
Sweet sweet home!
Her big kudos for conserving .not sure if she has a organic green house or not ? I totally would have that on that land it's easy to grow stuff there, speaking of long hot showers ,A lot of California's water comes From Lake Mead , which is very low right now .. I think some how adding a shower that saves the water that then she can use for laundry would be cool . We really need systems like that in all our homes ,that would really top off this home .
Gosh, I guess I did not take it that way at all. Maybe she will come back and explain further.
As I read Pipeman1's comment, I was thinking about when I was living in a tiny place in the woods and the many times/ways I grew weary or frustrated with having to cook dinner with so little counter space, or not having enough space in the refrigerator, or having no space to iron, or no way to have visitors if the weather was bad, or having to disconnect the hose and drain it downhill (in the rain or snow!) when the overnight forecast was for below freezing, or not having a dryer (fun in the winter!), or having a washing machine outside that I filled with a hose (fun in all seasons, especially the winter), or having no space for more than a few clothes, etc, etc.
That said, I enjoyed it overall and would not trade that 5 years for anything, but it is not without its difficulties. People should realize that.
1. Are there no insects in Southern California? I don't see any screens on the windows. 2. No need for airconditioning? 3. It looks like there could be storage on both sides of the desktop to the bed deck above as well as to the left below? However,I don't see any hinges for doors. Curious as to what those spaces are used for.
There is room for a great deal of storage under the sofa, also wondering what she stores under there? Am I being too nosy? I like to call it "interested."
For those interested in lead-free, bpa-free garden hoses: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003P9XAAA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003P9XAAA&linkCode=as2&tag=oudape-20
I have just settled in a new city, having had to buy the necessities since my own things are in storage waiting for a permanent home to be ready, on the other side of the country. It got exhausting buying new things - not fun and very expensive. The is very little plastic, nothing that I would not expect to live with for the life of the product and with few exceptions nothing I already had...only the washing machine has moving parts. Still, crazy to think how much we need even when we are used to living simply. Bed and heavy winter clothes aside, I don't think there would be much difficulty fitting into the space here, which makes my much larger space feel light.
The thing is, I rented a tiny apartment when I first arrived. It was enough space, with some juggling, and in summer was fine since I could get out. In winter, though, I got properly depressed. Not enough light and the feeling of oppression when I woke or walked in. Now I share a much larger space with a friend and am physically better off. We have a little view and lots of light, but also the space needed to do some yoga or dance. And the walls to hang some momentos of other lives and places.
Both this rented flat and the house I am rebuilding are over 150 years old. The materials used to refinish them both are natural and local to their regions and were they to fall to the ground they would dissolve without any distress to the environment or later people.
Both places are designed for people to come together. They have outdoor space, yes, but given that they are in cold places, there is room also for indoor space to welcome friends for short and long visits. Both are very well insulated and the house (although much bigger) could be heated with the stove seen here for most of the winter. The apartment is heated through city heating systems.
If we avoid too many purchases that cause plastic and other off gassing, if we avoid waste and products so cheap that slave labour is the only option for their production, if we buy what we need and replace only when things are really worn out and if we build responsibly then I don't see the problem with more space to house more people and few things.
Everything in moderation of course but I am a much nicer person now that I have the space to have people around me year-round...
1) I noticed that there is no rain gutter over the door. How does she open the door (especially with it opening outward) if rain is pouring off the edge of the roof. I realize that there is a drought going on right now... maybe that has not been an issue yet.
2) What is her hose connected to? Public water or a well? Or is there a house on the property that she taps into?
3) Does she have any back-up for electricity (for lights/refrigerator, at least) if there is not enough solar?
4) Is she concerned about not having insurance? (This was a big concern for me...)
5) Does her boyfriend's cabin have plumbing and electricity or does he live in the same type of situation?
Most of the tiny houses I see are in beautiful wide open spaces. Tiny apartments where you feel like an ant do suck…unless you're in some glorious city like Manhattan or Paris.
I don't think I'm hurting the environment by wanting to keep special finds I have saved during my 39 years of marriage. I love art, music, flea market finds and industrial salvage. I love having a king size bed, three guitars, a big drafting table for my art work and .....maybe I'm all me, me, me! But I miss having a bath tub! ( we do have a shower!)
We grow and can our own food, have a well for water and burn firewood from dead timber.
But, like someone said, I have had my frustrations with small house living, especially in the winter. And, call me materialistic, but I miss " my stuff".
Yet, I treasure this year of lessons. It has taught me tons about what to keep and what to give away, how to be humble and proud at the same time...I love living on 40 acres in the woods, the birds, and trees, and scents of nature...
But I need to stretch out...just a bit. I don't want a giant house - just a place where our 4 children and 9 grandchildren can gather round the dining room table at Christmas and enjoy wonderful memories.
Again, " to each his own"...
1. "I really want to know how come my dog (and all the wild animals...) can safely pee and poop outdoors, but I can't....how come given enough land between houses, I can't safely take care of humanure, either?" Answer: because very, very few people know how to "safely take care" of human waste, especially in a populated area. Fecal coliform, present in human waste and hazardous to human health, is concentrated in areas where humans congregate, and tends to run off into groundwater, thereby contaminating the water supply for everyone downstream of your DIY "humanure" project.
2. "How come I can't vent my gray water to a garden after using biodegradable detergents and soaps?" Answer: see above: when done incorrectly by people who have no knowledge of waste management systems & are just going by what they read in some magazine article, your gray-water project runs off onto your downhill neighbors' property and pollutes all your downstream neighbors' water supply. Your rights to do what you want on your own land, stop where their rights begin.
3. "How dare you tell me I can't live in less than 200 SF safely?" YMMV in your particular city/county/state, but generally, square-footage restrictions relate to developments governed by homeowners' associations. In urban areas, square footage restrictions typically relate to health & safety issues, in that small structures are either antiquated, and/or often built by non-professional individuals who have little to no experience with how to safely build a foundation and competently wire and plumb a dwelling.
4. "Seems like in flag-waving land, where we keep being told we're 'free', we really are not. Pay for a permit, get permission, pay a fine if you ignore the permitting process, etc and so forth. Code Nazis." Answer: With freedom comes a citizen's responsibility to the society in which she chooses to live.
5. "A friend wanted to put a house in a remote location. He could afford the land and the house, but not the long driveway able to take a heavyweight firetruck...By the time a firetruck arrived to such a remote location, any fire would have been out by itself. That's what insurance is for, you take your chances." Answer: your friend would not BE insurable, because without an appropriate driveway for fire truck access, the risk of a total loss by fire would be too great for the underwriters to justify. It's less about protecting your friend's house from a fire; it's about protecting your friend's fire from spreading to other houses & property. West of the Rockies, about 90% of all the land is in a several-year-long exceptional drought. Fires do NOT "go out by themselves." One house catches fire from a homeowner's lousy DIY wiring job, and hundreds of thousands of acres can burn before the fire can be put out. If your friend can't pay for a decent driveway, he sure won't be able to pay for the damages a fire on his property will cause to everyone around him.
6. "Time to stop trying to protect people from either their bad, or their good, ideas." Answer: it's not about YOU, Dawn O. If it were only you who were impacted by your bad house-construction and waste-management ideas, we'd all be happy to let you sit in your own excrement. It's that your bad ideas affect everyone else's rights and their enjoyment of their own living spaces. There are people who, from either incompetence or irresponsibility, endanger the health and property of those around them. That is why there are building codes, electrical codes, plumbing codes, etc.: to protect the rest of us from OTHER people's bad ideas.
This article is about Ms. Lovato's (beautifully designed) tiny home, in her particular location, suited to her wishes and needs. We can extrapolate that a home built in Southern California will not be as useful in Wisconsin, that those of us with knee maladies would find a ladder to the bedroom more than a challenge, and that anyone wise enough to plan this home would research the proper water hose.
Maybe we could read prior comments and Like them rather than leaping to the keyboard to pile on multiple rants. The tiny house concept is not for you? Don't build one!
My prime directive is to protect the public regarding health, safety and WELFARE. Code officials focus on the health and safety and do not take into account that welfare (a fairly subjective and personal thing - look up definition) greatly affects health and safety in a big picture kind of way. A whole book could be written on this.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbarch.org%2Fhswdef.pdf&ei=tTDqU8LOOdGYyAS3q4GADw&usg=AFQjCNFVhpjHOVzTg5yqRJV_UAjLsinQNg - this is a very short definition that has wide ranging implications. Welfare - "aspects of design that engender positive emotional responses". I have never heard of a code official bring this up when developers are building slums waiting to happen.
I agree about commercial RV/trailer design--much of it is very clever.
I do question some of the costs here--did no one bat an eye about a "$3,000" wood stove? Was that a typo? Even with CA regulations! Also since it is remote controlled, what is it burning? You can find other smaller options (made for boats or trailers) and still get the feeling of flames-- I do think it is too large for the space.
Also, here's a start to specifically researching ADA guidelines for small homes. This site has pages featuring house plans as well: http://www.cozyhomeplans.com/ada-guidelines-for-tiny-homes.html/
Enjoy your research!
Eight people I know that have taken this unusual route, after a few years of living "off the grid", "isolated from amenities" and "getting in touch with nature", returned to reality and the comforts of modern living in small but well appointed houses.
I just downsized to North Port, Florida to a 1,180ft2 water front house that I call my "last rodeo in fixer-upping." My wife and I find the house cozy and extremely comfortable although it is not finished to our liking as of this date. However, it more than meets all our requirements for "downsizing" with the comforts of all the modern conveniences, and yes, our beloved gadgets.
The point - this lifestyle, independent of your age and economic circumstances, is not a long term arrangement nor can our American desire, or penchant, to live comfortably be met in small spaces.
I do wonder why she bothers to put guests up above the desk, instead of just letting them sleep on the couch.
Would this house work in a colder environment?
Thanks
Thank you for the heads-up about the solar panels on Amazon! :)
"All the electricity comes from four batteries fed by three solar panels. A 7-gallon propane tank provides a fuel source for a fireplace, stove and hot-water heater. The only utility she pays for is water, fed to the house by a garden hose."
Curious about the handling of waste water & toilet; didn't see it mentioned .. maybe I missed it?
I think it might be a little short-sighted to think this could be anyone's "forever house"; who'd want to be climbing up to a sleeping loft with low headroom, and down to the bathroom in the middle of the night .. when they're in their 70s & beyond?! And how do you manage with any injuries or conditions, that prevent you from making that climb?
This way of living is certainly not for everyone, but I have found more freedom and meaning in the way that I live my personal and professional life. I encourage anyone curious about this movement to research as much as you can, and to take baby steps along the way. The process is transformative and incredibly rewarding. You can read more on my thoughts here: https://madmimi.com/s/f38c25
Many have asked burning questions about how I manage to live in my sardine size dwelling... in the next comments section I will address many of them.
LADDER: Thank you for your concern about climbing a ladder as I age in my later years. I am now 49 years old and have no problems climbing it. I believe with continued exercise to challenge my body, I will remain more healthy as I age. When I get sick and don't feel like climbing the ladder (as it's already happened), I sleep on my custom sofa/bed for several nights in a row. It is comfortable enough to fit even my boyfriend and I (very snuggly). Maybe in the future, I may build a second tiny house or tiny office that will have a bed on the lower floor. That's the beauty of this concept, it allows flexibility for change.
LAUNDRY: I currently go to the laundromat to wash my clothes. It's not convenient, but this was what I did when I've rented guesthouses too. Living tiny allows me to be more engaged with my community, and I see this as a positive aspect. My tiny house also allows me to rent a small office space in downtown Ojai because my expenses are reduced. The money I save on a mortgage and utilities provide the freedom to make meaningful choices.
UTILITIES: My solar panels provide electrical power for my small refrigerator, LED lights, laptop, and other small fixtures (ceiling fan, blender, juicer, etc). I have 3 panels with 750watt and 4 batteries. My solar consultant expert will have to give you more technical details ;). For cold days with minimal solar access, I plug into an electrical outlet from my boyfriend's cabin. My greywater is a simple system with RV rated garden hose, lead free with a filter for safe potable water. Propane tanks power for my gas fireplace, tankless hot water heater, 2 burner stove.
I DID BUILD MY HOME: I worked on all aspects of the construction alongside my boyfriend and other friends/ carpenters. Doing much of the construction allowed me to cut costs, and for my profession, I really wanted to learn construction by doing. There is photobook available on my website that documents the construction from beginning to end.
INSURANCE: Yes, my tiny home IS insured! It's provided by Darrell Grenz Insurance in Portland.
FAVORITE COMMENT: "If she has a falling out with her boyfriend, she can take her house & leave." .... My boyfriend's response: "What they don't know is that I own the truck that tows her house." I'm still laughing :)
Thank you so much for interest in my teeny tiny abode. I'm thrilled that there is so much interest in tiny/ small dwellings, even better when it's good for the environment. I'm hopeful it's a sign of more to come.
Otherwise, I'm in the "why not just do 1,000 sq feet" camp.
maba2 - I mean why not use tree bark for plates right? "Everyone thinks of their fleas as gazelles." It sets an example that is headed in the right direction. Do you live in one of those apartments? I'm striving towards veganism - I have a lot of history and habits to deal with but I feel i'm headed in the right direction as well.
Love it and I want one of my own here in Georgia.
This is one of the best designed tiny houses I've seen, especially for this super tiny square footage. It doesn't look cramped at all. It actually looks spacious. I can see why this would be great for entertaining as well as every day living and even working from home!
This is perfect if you have a bigger lot in the urban areas for undesirable guest.
At 65 with a very bad knee I too am a tiny house person. I built a 8 x 20 caboose. The cupalo up top stores my bed during the day and is lowered by a small manual winch to the main floor for sleeping. Being a bachelor, this way I never really have to make my bed (grin) The underside of the bed is utilized as a 3 compartment horizontal closet for hanging clothes. They swing down to access and are shoved back horizontal to the "closed" position.
A bed that is lowered to the floor for sleeping is an idea I could wrap my head around. I can actually see myself in a tiny house with that concept.
Bob, please upload a photo of your caboose house. We'd love to see it!
HOW ABOUT THE ENTIRE BUILD DIARY ? http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=47804
While I think that they're fascinating, tiny houses aren't for everyone. I have my hobbies, prefer my own laundry, and like large pets and to stretch out, tiny houses aren't for me. In my world, anything under 1000 sq. ft. is a tiny house.
to jest super pomysl
WUENDASCHÖN
can you tell me the manufacturer/model of the stainless kitchen sink? its perfect!!
How can she say she is living in a tiny house when she has TWO offsite storage units?
Hello Ava- Thank you for your interest. You can purchase my plans on my website: http://www.vinastinyhouse.com/plans/design-plans/
sehrschön
Oh wow...I'm from the Philippines too..I just love your tiny house I been looking at the photos many times!
Ross - if you want a system that will stand up to the Philippines maybe consider the system and plans I have developed. Highly resistant to all manner of building maladies (mold/mildew/rot/insects etc) and it is DIY friendly and affordable while being maintenance free and high-performance. dreemgreenhomes.com under "manufactured". Not too rain on the parade of the home shown but wood and hot/humid do not go well together. This system uses culvert grade, galvanized, corrugated steel and structure often used for boat repair. Works as well at the south pole, dessert or jungle.
Vina! Every year I watch this video to get inspired and remind myself of the freedom that awaits! Your home is practical, affordable, mobile and fits all my needs. Thank You for the inspiration!