A Guide to Options When Ordering Your Custom Shouse

Now that I have officially settle on a Shouse, I have begun research on the Shouse of my dreams. I really did not know there were so many options when it came to having a custom shed built, but I think I now have a good grasp on what will be needed to build a structure that will serve as a house for many years to come. Here are things I took into consideration:

• Construction: Many sheds are built using cheaper materials. Since sheds don't have to meet code requirements in most cities if they are under 200 sq. ft., builders can get away with this. Let's face it, most folks don't look at a shed and think, "Wow, that would make a great house!" So I set about looking and comparing construction techniques to try to find a shed builder that would build one as close to normal framing for a house since I know that will stand for many, many years. I found that 2 x 4 construction with 16" on center studs in the floor and 24" in the walls were the way to go. This allows for insulation, just as in normal house construction. Plus it allows for easy drywall, paneling, or wall board installation.

• Roofing Material: I have decided to go with a shingle roof. Where I will be living has the potential for hale storms. I think that asphalt shingles absorb the impact a little better. Plus, roofing material comes in a variety of colors as well. I am going with red. Combined with the stained building it will look great and keep out the rain for many, many years.

• Interior Options:  I opted to increase one of the lofts from 4' to 10'. This allows a ton of room for a bed and storage. The shed I am going with has quite a bit of space in the loft, so it is actually usable. Use caution if you decide to go this route as not all buildings are created equal. Be sure the loft space is actually functional if you plan to use it. In  my Shouse, one loft will be a bedroom and the other loft will be storage. 

• Door: I chose to get a quote for what is known as a "Tall Barn" shed. This means the walls are 7' tall and I can install a standard size front door. The buildings often come standard with 6' double-doors that open to allow for riding lawn mowers and other suck larger items to easily enter and exit, but I definitely don't want them. I will consider adding a sliding door in the future when I get around to building the back deck, but for now the standard front door is all I need. 

• Size: I was pleasantly surprised to find that you can order some quite large prefab shed buildings. I have decided that I will go with the largest I can get in the area I am looking at because I am not interested in having to up-size later. I have chosen the 12' x 36' size. That is 432 sq. ft. of very livable Shouse plus the 120 sq. ft. in the loft and another 48 sq. ft in the storage loft. This allows me to have a large pantry/office area, in addition to room for the washer and dryer, all under the loft, with the rest being open to the high ceiling. This will help create the illusion of space. I will eventually add a staircase to the lofts, but for now will use a ladder that can be moved. I will be posting the floor plan I have designed in the future, so, if you are curious, stay tuned.

• Windows: The company I am looking to order my Shouse from will install windows at my request, They have several sizes available and each window opens and closes along with having screen to keep flying insects out. I toyed with buying and installing my own, but in the long run this seems to be the best option since they will guarantee installation, install matching trim, and paint the trim to match. I will give the builder placement information once I confirm the layout I am going with. 

• Finishing: You can choose three options with regards to finishing your Shouse externally: Paint, stain, or unpainted. I am going with staining. If you enjoy painting and have access to the painting supplies, you may wish to just order it unpainted and finish out the outside however your wish. I am ordering my building stained because I like the cabin-like appearance of the building. I don't want to mess with having to finish the exterior so I find the extra $300 or so dollars it cost to order it stained a worthwhile investment.

• Other Options: Many shed companies offer insulation, electrical, and limited plumbing. If you have the budget, they can do the work. I don't know what that runs since I will be doing all my own electrical and plumbing, but you can bet it isn't cheap. 

Ok, so dear reader, wondering what this beauty is gonna cost me?  $7,485 for the prefab 12 x 36' Building,  9 Lite Steel Door: $275,  Windows (5 @$65 each and 4@$75 each) $625, plus the cost to increase the lofts of $375. Estimated total:  $8760 plus tax. Insulation, wall board, electric, and plumbing will be an additional cost. Even so, tell me where I can buld a house for under $14,000? A sweet deal if you ask me.

So now that you know a little more about the construction of one of these sheds, do you think a Shouse is a good idea or bad?

It Is Official - I Am Going With The Shouse

You may recall my post on November 14th about converting a prefab shed into a house. If not, you can read it here. Go, I will wait. Ok, you get the gist of it, right? I did not post yesterday as I was deep in thought about the building of the Tiny House. The piece of land I am looking at had a mobile home on it at one time, so I am happy to report it already has septic, a well, and electric going to it. That is HUGE in the world of land improvements. While I still plan to ultimately be off the grid, those improvements mean I can do more down the line if I choose to. The beauty of where this land is located is that code is not an issue. That means that building a tiny house on wheels may no longer be the best option for me. Let me explain why I am thinking a Shouse would be a better option.

First off, let me explain that a shouse is a shed or outbuilding that has been converted into a house or living space. From here on out I shall distinguish between a tiny house as a house on wheels and a shouse as a shed converted into a house. Here is why I think in my homesteading situation a shouse would be a wiser choice. Let us compare the two:

• My shouse will be 12' x 30' or 360 sq. ft 12' x 36' or 432 sq. ft. plus the loft space of 120 sq. ft. A tiny house is 130 to 204 sq. ft.
• A shouse allows for a full size bathroom and a washer/dryer. A tiny house does not.
• A shouse will allow me to can (preserve food) and put by. A tiny house has more limitation with regards to stocking up and cooking.
• A shouse will allow me to keep my freezer. I could not fit a freezer in my tiny house. 
• The shouse will have a loft that is 12' x 10' with enough headroom to put a long dresser on one side. A tiny house loft has only enough space for the mattress.
• The shouse can have a small staircase. The tiny house has a ladder or a staircase, but the staircase takes up valuable space. 
• I can install a more user-friendly closet in the shouse.
• I can use regular, full-size furniture in the shouse. 
• I can continue to sew using both my machines at the same time in a shouse. There is not enough room for my sewing machines in the tiny house. 
• The dog and cat will have more space in the shouse than in the tiny house. I can install a doggy door as well.
• The cost for the shell of the shouse (not including electric wiring, plumbing, insulation, and wall board) is the cost of just the trailer for the tiny house. 
• Windows can be installed where ever I want them in the shouse.'
• I can insulate the shouse just as effectively as the tiny house and still use my electric fireplace to heat the place.
• I can install an a/c unit in the shouse. 
• Like the tiny house, I can build the shouse on skids so that the building can be moved later if I so desire. If I don't like where I set it up at first, I will just have it moved to where I desire it.

So, I do believe that I have made a decision to go with the shouse. You will see that the information I provide in this blog is still related to tiny house living, as a shouse is not a mansion and the two are not mutually exclusive, but you will also note that this blog is really focused not only on living in a small footprint, but about living a more sustainable life.

What do you think of 360 square feet? Does this seem too small still or is this more reasonable in size for you?

Converting a Shed into A Tiny House

Now why didn't I think of that? Well, until now that is. Last night around 2 am I had an epiphany: Utilizing a prefab building for a tiny home instead of building on a trailer. I have known for some time that folks are using them, and until this time, dismissed it because I liked the idea of a house being portable, however there is some merit to using these. The primary reason that one of these buildings would be easiest to use is that in most rural municipalities, building a storage building doesn't require a permit. However in some places only a permit and check of the structure is required providing there is no plumbing or electric run to the building. This is key. Here is how I think I can create a "work around" and make this a reasonable solution to my building conundrum. Let me explain.

A brief look at prefab storage buildings for sale at big box stores and on Amazon reveal that you can buy a 12' x 24' storage building kit for around $4,000. This does not include a foundation or roofing materials, but the "bones and skin" and a building. But there is something more that, in my opinion, is even more valuable: It includes a product description of Storage Shed. This by definition will often preclude the required permits, thus saving you prying eyes and bureaucracy. However, even if an inspection is required, have it done once the foundation and skin is built. After that, no one will pay you any mind (well if you live in the sticks that is) and you can go about making improvements. This type of building is known as an "Accessory" building in code. The best way to go "unnoticed" is to build this where there is already a house and tie into the existing electric, water, and cable.

For an additional $2,000 you can build the slab or pillars, finish out the roof, finish the interior quite nicely with electric, water, and propane. With windows and adequate ventilation, I feel this is a viable option, especially if, like me, you intend to build a more permanent structure in the future. Add in a compost toilet and you have all the comforts of home.

Now, I feel it is necessary to make sure that I point out that safety should not be overlooked. There must be adequate exits, windows that open, a smoke/carbon monoxide detector, and fire extinguishers available in case of emergency. I suggest adding additional framing if you find your shed is built using 24" on center construction. Go with 16" on center, if you can get it or modify the walls to reflect this. That way you can insulate and drywall easily.

The more I think about it, the more viable this options seems to me. You can build the kitchen cabinets ahead of time to be installed once the building is up because the doorways are large enough to moved them in and out. You be able to acquire all the materials to finish the inside as you wish (light fixtures, wiring, plumbing, etc) and take them to the build site. The structure itself is shipped free, dropped off at the building site (you will need some able-bodies to help unload and move the materials). Taking the initiative to set footers in place and the sub floor built ahead of delivery, you can begin building almost immediately. Two able-bodied adults should be able to assemble and roof the structure in under a week. Finishing out the interior may take a little longer, but because you are protected from the elements you can work at your own pace.

These are my thoughts. Some of my best ideas come to me in the middle of the night, and this may be a solution to the conundrum of how to make a tiny house dream come true that sooner on a small budget. If you have someone with a large tract of rural land with a house already sitting on it then that is even better.

Let me recap how this may alter your plans:

• You can plan for a 12' x 24' building. You can lay out a floor plan based on these dimensions. 
• You can plan for electric and plumbing service in advance, calculating how much wire, number of outlets, etc. Buying these in advance on sale or off Craigslist will help keep costs to a minimum. 
• You can prefab your kitchen cabinets, including counter tops, cutting out the sink hole and the stove inset, etc. They will be simple to install, cutting time. 
• Planning for flooring will be simple and based on the basic square footage of the house. Purchasing trim and moldings is easy to calculate as well. 
• You can prefab a staircase to a loft that is also drawers if the model you select has a loft with enough headroom. This will provide storage and be much more practical that climbing up and down a ladder to the loft. Built correctly, the staircase can also form one of the walls to the bathroom, providing additional storage for towels and toiletries.
• You can select size and placement of windows as "add on" options for many styles of sheds.
• Knowing in advance the window sizes allows you to make window coverings to keep out prying eyes. 
• Building using plans instead of a prefab kit may save you even more money. If you are handy this may just be the option for you.

What do you think? Could you live in a modified shed if the price was right?