FAQs
FAQ
Getting Started- Some Not So “Basic” Questions To Ask Yourself
The idea behind building a tiny house is to optimize a modern lifestyle while reducing ecological footprint. A tiny home features all the necessary amenities, making it the perfect housing option for people of all ages.
You need to know the answers to the following questions:
- What is your budget?
- Do you have a design in mind?
- What type of tiny home do you want to live in?
- What are your wishes and needs?
- Are you willing to make compromises on anything?
Design & Permit
These are the steps- initial consultation to determine your requirements, design, permit, finance (we have resources to help obtain financing), construction, delivery.
Yes, in most jurisdictions in Canada you need a permit. Depending on your land zoning, some jurisdictions may not allow (as of yet) tiny homes.
Yes, it’s possible but currently we do not offer off-the-grid model.
No, if less than 160 sqft (Ontario). We will be happy to assist if you are in another jurisdiction
Not in Ontario as of yet.
Costing & Financing
A tiny home can cost somewhere between $21,000 and $99,500, depending on the model that you have selected. The starting price of all the models are given below:
- FlatPack Backyard Shed – $21,000
- Minimalist Backyard Shed or Accessory Dwelling – $99,500
- Vine – Tiny House for Airbnb – $99,500
- Orchard – Tiny House for Airbnb – $94,500
- Accessory Dwelling – $94,500
TinyLivin requires a $1000 deposit to initiate the design and build process. Once the client approves the design, we will ask you to pay 40% of the total cost as a down payment at the initial stage, 40% at the shell stage, and 20% at the final stage.
Our in-house financing expert can assist you get financing from different institutional and private lenders. Simply put, if you have equity in your house, you will be able to finance tiny home or office shed.
Because the categorization of tiny homes comes in a grey area, a standard home insurance policy doesn’t cover a tiny house. However, depending on your state/province and insurer, you might be able to get insurance for your tiny house under the manufactured/mobile home insurance policy.
Construction
We usually require 13 to 16 weeks to build a tiny home from scratch. However, the timeline can vary depending on your needs. You can call us to learn about the construction schedule.
We usually require 1-4 weeks from order to delivery.
Niagara region in Ontario, Canada.
We also build customized tiny homes and office sheds. You can customize your tiny house to a certain extent.
Fiberglass batts are most commonly used by tiny house builders. With sufficient thickness, Fiberglass batts provide excellent insulation. On the other hand, spray foam insulation provides better R-value. However, it is a bit pricey compared to Fiberglass batts insulation.
Some models include appliance package,
Concrete slab foundations are the most popular and durable option for tiny homes. Concrete slab foundations are sturdy, have a quicker drying time, provide protection from insects, have less threat of damage from gas leaks and floods, and are affordable.
Plumbing & Electrical
Plug in your tiny house to the existing home via a cord specifically rated to handle a large amount of electricity. In almost all cases, you will need at the bare minimum 30A electrical cord while a 50A electrical cord will be more than sufficient to power a tiny house.
If you have municipal services, connect to existing sewer line. Some owners install septic tanks but just as many tiny house owners are installing composting toilets or incinerator toilets which eliminates the black water waste issue. There are many creative and efficient composting toilets on the market today.
Heating and Cooling We install Mini-Split HVAC units to provide heating and cooling facilities in tiny homes. We have three different tiers of mini-split system units you can choose from.
Plumbing and septic: Like a normal house, tiny modular homes and park models are outfitted with plumbing hookups. We provide stub-outs for connections to sanitary drains and water inlets. We can also customize hookups for park models according to your needs.
Here are some tips to winterize pipes in the frigidly cold temperature:
- Drain the water heater and toilets.
- Blow excess air out of the pipes.
- Shut off the main water valve.
- Disconnect the exterior hoses.
- Insulate the pipes using an outdoor faucet sock.
Transport & Installation
Any vehicle with a towing capacity of more than 3,500 pounds can be used to tow a tiny home, such as the Ford F-740, Ram 3,500, Ford F-450 HD, Chevrolet 3,500 HD, Toyota Tundra, Nissan Titan PRO-4X, Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The required towing capacity to move a tiny home largely depends on weight and size. You will also need additional towing equipment to safely move the tiny home from one place to another.
The weight of a tiny home depends on its dimensions. The below-mentioned weights of a tiny house can vary roughly by 1000 to 2000 pounds depending on the materials, finishes, and fixtures:
Length of Tiny House | Average Weight |
12 – 14 ft | 5700 – 7650 pounds |
18 – 20 ft | 8550 – 12500 pounds |
24 – 28 ft | 10400 – 16300 pounds |
32 – 36 ft | 15200 – 19100 pounds |
Every tiny home trailer comes with 4 to 6 jacks used to level it. However, if you are planning to set the trailer for a longer period, we recommend blocking the home frame at multiple points with no weight on the tires. We do not recommend using scissor jacks or tires to support a tiny home parked permanently.
Property Optimization
We offer a complete turn-key management solution based on your market to generate the maximum revenue from Airbnb or other short-term rental platforms. We have in-house expertise to assist clients in these areas- setup short-term accommodation, revenue projection and property management.
