Greg Parham, Author at Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses

Wood Stove Options for Tiny Houses

January 25, 2016 By Greg Parham 35 Comments

Of all the ways to heat your tiny house, a woodstove is perhaps the most nostalgic and off grid way to do so. I’ve already discussed the pros and cons of using a woodstove as a heat source, the purpose of this page is to educate those interested in utilizing one of the various current options on the market that are suitable for use in tiny house based on size and heat output. In this fast paced developing trend, units are likely to enter the market that I might not know about. If you are aware of any woodstoves that I do not have listed below, please contact me to share. Please note I am not making any warranty as to the performance or safety of any of these units: this will completely depend on proper installation, use, and maintenance. Woodstoves can be dangerous in any type of structure if not used properly, so please do your due diligence and be safe! This is not a post about how to install woodstoves in your tiny house. There are simply too many options and too many different types of tiny houses, so please consult with the manufacturers and/or local professionals

Dickinson Marine Newport Solid Fuel

This unit represents the smallest of the small solid fuel heaters that are commercially available. As such, it will probably only heat the smallest of spaces, say 80 sq ft and less, depending on climate and how well insulate your tiny is. I do mention it because it might be the best option for some. If you live in an area that doesn’t have harsh winters and only need heat a few nights out of the year, this might be a good way to go. It is designed for 20-25′ long boats and requires 3″ chimney parts.

Colorado Cylinder Stoves: Mesa Package

After several hours of research looking for a woodstove that I could source quickly, affordably, and was small enough for my 16′ tiny house, I chose this model. I am by no means saying it is the best out there, but it gets the job done. If you order one from this Colorado company, make sure to tell them you want the custom tiny house version. They will use a 5″ flue size and heavier gauge steel that will last longer and hold heat longer. Cylinder stoves are traditionally used in cowboy tents. They are meant to pack away small and be light enough to be carried by horses, so lighter gauge metal is normally used with the understanding that use is not full time, only intermittent.

Four Dog Stoves

These stoves are very similar to the cylinder stoves, with the main exception being they are rectangular instead of cylindrical. For those on a weight budget, they offer titanium models that weigh in at only 11 lbs for the package! However, it would take some tinkering or customization to safely pass the pipe through a wall or ceiling since these are exclusively designed for tents/tipis. This company is based in Minnesota and have been making tent stoves for 25 years now, so they know a thing or two about heating small spaces in cold places!

Fatsco PET and Tiny Tot

This rather obscure company out of Michigan produces very small (as little as a 8 1/2″ diameter footprint) units that can burn wood or coal and fit in very tight spaces! Prices range from $230-$400 and weights range from a paltry 13 lbs to a still respectable 55 lbs.

Antique Pot Belly

You can find these little treasures floating around in antique shops and sometimes on ebay. They were typically used to heat train cars and other old timey structures. Due to their antique status, expect quite of bit restoration work to getting them in safe working order. Also, they are designed to burn coal, so if you plan on burning wood, expect to be processing small pieces and filling it often.

Cubic Mini “Cub”

This Canadian manufactured unit has a footprint of only 11″x12″ with a claimed weight of 27 lbs. It utilizes secondary burn, but is not yet certified. At $315 US, it would seem to be a really good purchase if it does what it claims. They manufacture a slightly larger unit called the Grizzly for those with larger houses.

Dwarf Stoves

Based in Hayden, Idaho, tinywoodstove.com offers the Dwarf Stove in three different sizes: 3kW, 4kW, and 5kW, and a stove sizing calculator to help choose the right one for your project. All Dwarf models have three separate air controls and an insulated firebox for efficient burning, top and rear exit options, and a large fire viewing window for ambiance. I personally have an older 3kw Dwarf in the San Juan build and can say that I absolutely love it and feel it is one of the better values for a tiny house sized woodstove.

Marine Stove Sardine, Little Cod, and Halibut

Perhaps the most charming of all models available fit for use in tiny house, theses stoves also have the longest lead time, sometimes up to a year from date of order. Keep this in mind if you plan to purchase one. The Sardine is the smallest unit with a footprint of 12″x12″. The Little Cod is slightly larger at 18″x14″ and features enough cooktop surface for two pots, white the Halibut is their largest unit at 21″x16″

Salamander Hobbit and Pipsqueak

These small and DEFRA approved woodstoves make excellent choices for tiny houses based on their dimensions and heat output. They are based in the UK with only one US distributor, so sourcing one might take a while.

Vogelzang Lit’l Sweetie

This cast iron model is the smallest and most affordable unit made by this company, but it’s slightly on the larger side for tiny house scale at 11″ wide by 25″ deep. Normally around $275, you are likely to find it stock in local stores like Ace, True Value, Tractor Supply, etc., but they can be easily purchased on as well.

Jotul 602

Deemed the most popular woodstove ever made with over 1,000,000 units sold and counting, this high quality cast iron unit from Norway is a good option for larger tiny houses. We installed one in a 30′ build with good results. It is very heavy and pricy, but is EPA certified and has a lifetime warranty.

Jotul F-370

This elegant woodstove carries the same quality as the 602, but with a modern flair and greater visual appeal. It requires a footprint of 18″x19″ and is 46″ tall so keep this in mind when space planning. It also weighs 340 lbs!

Morso 1410 and 1440

Sometimes called the “squirrel stove” because of the squirrel relief on the sides, this classic beauty will have no problem heating a tiny house. It has a 16″x18″ footprint and weighs in at 215 lbs. This unit is EPA approved, but like the Jotul is heavy and expensive. The 1440 model is similar in size but works off of convection rather than radiant heat, meaning clearance to combustibles is reduced, a feature that is beneficial to those with very tight space constraints.

Unforgettable Fire Kimberly
kimberly_stove I used to think this was a good option, but after installing one in my house with very poor results, I can no longer recommend it, especially for the $4k price tag. I only post it here for educational purposes. I think the only reason I would put it in a tiny house is for people living at lower elevations with milder winters and who want an ultra modern aesthetic.

Bayfield Tiny House

October 29, 2015 By Greg Parham 26 Comments

This spacious tiny house was commissioned by a local gentleman, now living in it just down the road in Bayfield, CO. He was looking for a no frills, tall, roomy, yet well crafted space to call his own. The house sits on an 8×28 triple axle trailer rated at 15,000 lbs. The dry weight is 11,000 lbs. Since it was not anticipated the house would ever move that much, we maxed out the peak height at 13′-6″ and carried the 3/12 gable roof pitch across the entire structure for lots of interior volume.

The exterior siding is entirely rusty corrugated metal. Over time, it will develop a warm rusty hue and begin to blend into the site where it is parked next to brown/red dirt, gambrel oaks, and other deciduous trees.

The interior is almost completely clear coated poplar t&g that we had milled locally. The exception being the floor, which uses a red tinted natural cook product. The stair treads are solid red oak too. The effect, while clean and minimal, is quite stunning.

The kitchen is a very basic Pullman style layout featuring a 10 cu ft stainless fridge, a mid size single bowl sink, a few drawers, and an electric 20″ stainless range. The owner doesn’t cook much or have many kitchen gadgets so this arrangement will be than adequate for his needs.

Opposite the kitchen wall is some closet storage underneath the stairs.

The main loft is accessed via these winding stairs and will fit a king size mattress no problem. with this roofline , it is the tallest sleeping loft we have yet to build.

The secondary loft is accessed via a ladder that stores vertically straight when not in use, but hooks on at an angle for safer climbing while in use. Another unique feature of this floor plan is that it has two entry doors directly opposite each other. The owner plans to build decks on either side of the house so he can have both a sunrise and a sunset deck to enjoy the lovely Colorado views.

While this tiny house is not particularly complex, it is larger than average and features very nice woodwork on the interior. Expect similar builds to be around $63k finished.

24′ Albuquerque Tiny House

October 5, 2015 By Greg Parham 58 Comments

We are pleased to share the latest completed tiny house to leave our shop, a custom 24′ build that was delivered to a newly wed couple in Albuquerque, NM. The shell is constructed of Structural Insulated Panels (SIP’s) which are then finished out with gray stained cedar lap siding, natural stained cedar shakes, and galvanized corrugated roof on the outside and white tongue and groove on the inside with walnut stained accents/flooring.

This unique design centers around a set of French Doors that sit on the wheel well. You enter on a platform that is about 12″ above the main floor. Below this platform are pull out drawers for storage. On the left side of the platform is a ladder that climbs up to the sleeping loft that fits a queen size bed. The portion of the roof also has dormers on both sides for increased head height and airiness.

On the right end of the lower platform is a higher platform that the kitchen is situated on. Beneath this platform is a full size bed that pulls out for guest sleeping. The small couch hides the end of the bed and rolls out of the way when needed. On the portion of the platform where there is dead space, we installed trap doors for even more hidden storage. A simple drop-leaf bartop with seating for two or three separates the kitchen space from the living area.

At the back of the trailer is a wet bath with some very nice tile work, a sliding barn door, and a customized exposed shower faucet that doubles as the sink spout. You cannot see from the photos, but there is a Nature’s Head composting toilet opposite the shower wall.

Next to the wet bath is a nook that will serve as storage for time being, until a baby comes along and then it will be used for a baby crib!

All in all it is a simple layout with lots of volume and nice finishes, designed with an expanding family in mind. The design came almost exclusively from ideas the customer gave us, we just took these ideas and tweaked them a little bit to properly scale the components and make construction a little easier. For anyone interested in a similar build, expect final costs to be in the $51k-57k range depending on desired features and finish out.

Fall Build Spots Open!

September 21, 2015 By Greg Parham 15 Comments

Wow, what a summer it has been! Unprecedented activity here at the shop in beautiful Durango, Colorado, USA. Things have slowed down now that fall is here. Our waitlist has all of sudden fallen to zero! For those looking to get into a tiny house of their own prior to Christmas, or even Thanksgiving, we can do it! Typical build times are 6 weeks from the day we receive a trailer, and about 3 weeks to get a trailer from the time you put down a deposit. So, do not waste another second, and give us a call right now! Turn your tiny house vision into a reality!

Custom hOMe Tiny House Build

August 25, 2015 By Greg Parham 19 Comments

We are pleased to announce the recent completion of a custom hOMe build. For those of you not familiar, this is a very well known design by Andrew and Gabriella Morrison. You can view the original hOMe and learn more about the design on their website: http://tinyhousebuild.com/

A newlywed couple in Colorado Springs contacted me back in the Spring to inquire about this project and whether or not we could customize it and still stay within their budget. Absolutely! I have actually been wanting to build a tiny house from someone else’s commercial set of plans, not only to see how they do things, but to spare me the process of having to generate plans from scratch. This was the perfect opportunity!

The most notable differences from the original are:

Built with Structural Insulated panels instead of stick framed! Very straight, strong, and better insulated.
Interior beetle kill pine instead of drywall
dark stained cedar lap siding instead of t&g
copper apron sink
curved glass shower enclosure
modified cabinet layout to accommodate customer’s needs
cabinets built in-house instead of Ikea to save weight and be custom fit
small 18″ dishwasher installed in the kitchen
fold down dining table
dry weight of 11,900 lbs instead of the estimated 17,000. easier towing!

We were able to complete this custom 28′ build for $74,000. For those who like the original design and would like to save a little money we could complete this build in stock form for closer to $68,000 using either SIP’s or stick frame with Spray foam insulation. Please note that you will still have to purchase the plans from the Morrison’s at tinyhousebuild.com prior to contacting us. The prices above do reflect the cost of these plans, however. Enjoy the photos below!

The Pequod Tiny House

July 15, 2015 By Greg Parham 120 Comments

Meet the Pequod, our most elegant and complex build to date. This is a larger tiny house that we built for a family of four currently residing in Indiana. At 26′ long, this house weighs 11,500# dry and maxes out at 8′-6″ wide and 13′-6″ tall. It uses a drop axle trailer chassis that makes towing a little trickier, but adds 4″ of headroom in the lofts. The wavy shape of the roof is a function of maximizing heights in the lofts, lowering ceiling heights elsewhere, and aiming for a “whimsical” design aesthetic. While pure and simple in theory, in reality it proved to be very challenging and time consuming to execute. In fact, this house was so challenging to build, that it sells for quite a bit higher than our normal priced houses. For those curious, if we were to build a replica of this house it would sell for $80,000. A build such as this is the best of the best, and design/quality of this caliber is not cheap. Key components of this elegant build include the following:

Structural Insulated wall panels
spray foamed stick framed roof
custom milled clear vertical grain Douglas Fir ceiling, kerfed, warped, and twisted to fit the complex three dimensional shape of the roof
handmade archtop French Doors and handmade operable arched windows in the lofts
solid brass antique porthole windows
full size high quality bottom freezer fridge unit
custom designed pantry with pull out shelves for canned food storage
LG combo washer/dryer
20″ range
custom crafted hickory and walnut countertops
welded steel catwalk with plexi glass flooring
large garden window in the bathroom
custom built movable couch and dining table/bench/ottoman sections
stairs with integrated storage
Burgundy colored metal roof
three layered cladding including painted board and batt, clear grain cedar lap siding, cedar shingles, and a custom “schwoopty” shape designed by the customer
woodstove package
aluminum clad wood windows
birch hardwood flooring
integrated storage in the loft plenums
LED lights throughout
an accordian window in the kitchen to access the
wrap around fold down deck
plentiful closet storage space for two adults and two children
outdoor utility closet on rear
Nature’s Head composting toilet
custom 36×32 shower
hidden storage for valuable belongings
custom made hardware and trim details

The photos do the rest of the talking.

Boulder Tiny House 2.0

May 27, 2015 By Greg Parham 17 Comments

A young woman living in Boulder commissioned us to build a custom “Boulder” model tiny house this spring. She really like the aesthetic of the original Boulder but wanted to change a few things. We went with an 18′ trailer and decided to construct the shell from SIP’s rather than stick frame it. We also installed an off grid water system with 50 gallons of water storage and a Shurflo pump. Eventually the house will be powered by solar panels.

Other notable differences on the interior include a hanging couch that was inspired by the 12′ East Austin build, dark hardwood floors, aspen partitions instead of barnwood, and a large built in work/dining table. The house was designed for an off grid compost toilet, but a regular flush toilet will be installed since the tiny will be parked at Wee Casa in Lyons, CO over the summer to be rented out at this location. The toilets will again be switched out when the owner moves the house to its more permanent location.

The original 16′ Boulder base model starts at $35,000 and can be customized to meet your needs. An 18′ model would start at $37k and a 20′ trailer will start at $39k. Plans for all three lengths in both stick frame and SIP construction will be available for purchase online sometime in spring 2017.

For Sale! Front Range Tiny House

May 6, 2015 By Greg Parham 16 Comments

The Front Range model is finally complete! Please click here to be redirected to the permanent page for this model. Price is $37k for those interested.

The Truth About Tiny House TV Shows

April 26, 2015 By Greg Parham 78 Comments

I was cleaning up my inbox this morning and came across an email from mid March of this year from a producer at Pie Town Productions:

Hi Greg!

I hope this email finds you well.

I am a show producer for HGTV’s Tiny House Hunters and would love to chat with you

about taking a homebuyer on a tour through one of your homes on either Apr. 7 or 8.

It would be a one day film shoot with a crew of just four people, two home buyers, and a real estate agent. We’d light it well, would be sure to treat it with respect, and would be done in 8 hours of shooting. The purpose of this tour is just to highlight the features and benefits of the house, and compare how it fits with our home buyer’s wishlist (she is looking for a tiny house with rustic elements).

Her budget is under $25K, so I was hoping you might know of a Durango model we could film (it looks, on your website, like this may be the lowest priced of your houses – yes?).

I would love to chat with you today if you have even just a moment.

She also followed up with a phone call during which time I learned that the homebuyer had already bought a house and they basically wanted to try and recreate the whole process just to get something good on film I respectfully replied back:

Hi,

Don’t think I’ll be able to help you. We are currently building a spec house but it won’t be complete by then. Furthermore, it would be more in the $35k range and I would not mislead viewers into thinking they could get something like that for $25k.

Thanks for reaching out,
Greg

Her reply:

Thanks for your reply. Your houses really are beautiful – I can imagine they wouldn’t fall into such a low budget range.

Would you happen to have a line on any houses which might fall somewhere close to this budget line?

They can be located in CO, AZ, CA, or OR.

Or do you happen to know of anyone who might own one of your houses, valued at around this price range, who might be open to letting us film a tour of it inside the home? Shoot date would be either Apr. 7 or 8, and we can compensate house owner for time and transport of house.

It was really an innocent enough request, but for some reason it pushed me the wrong way and I wrote her back:

Hello again,

My houses typically are at the lower end of pricing, at least for a new house. Do some research and you will see that 30-40k is very reasonable for a tiny house. The norm is closer to 50k. People have a very skewed reality regarding this. Material costs alone can run $25k. The only way you are going to find a house that cheap is used, and probably not very interesting. Try looking at tinyhouselistings.com. I would never ask any of my current customers to do what you are asking unless they were actually trying to sell their house. The “fakeness” of these reality shows is really not a good thing for the movement and I would encourage your network to move more in the direction of true reality rather than prioritizing entertainment.

Best regards,
Greg

I suppose what led to my little rant was the high number of TV producers contacting me asking if I had a house they could use in their show for a completely fabricated false scenario. Not only was the scenario false, they were trying to portray custom built tiny houses as units that only cost $25k to purchase. Sure, one can build a tiny house for that much or less, but a decent sized, quality built, custom tiny house constructed by a tiny house company is going to cost more. There’s no way around it. It is shows like this that have people calling me up asking for a top of the line 30′ house for $30,000 and asking if they can have it in a month. I try to be nice about it, but when folks just can’t accept the reality of the situation I have to hit the delete button and move on.

I’m undecided whether all these new tiny house TV shows have been a good or bad thing for the movement. Myself, having been on TV, I have a whole different perspective on these shows. While the storyline of our build was more or less accurate, there were a lot of little things thrown in for effect. Some of those scenes were not organic at all. Some took 4-6 shoots before the producer was happy. This is just the nature of the business. Overall my experience was positive, but I wouldn’t do it again. I tell people that it’s not what it’s cut out to be., and this is the honest truth.

As for the “Tiny House Nation” show, they paint extremely unrealistic pictures. Granted, there are some really cool ideas and solutions that they come up with, but the plot is just so predictable. The crew shows up to tiny house build in progress. The customer is in over their head. They need the house finished in two weeks. They need these super cool expensive features in order to meet their needs. Their budget is a completely unattainable $30,000. Trucks get stuck, storms roll in, vendors miss deliveries, old wood bridges threaten to fall into the river, the house tries to roll off a cliff…Somehow in the end it all comes together and the people are left with their dream tiny house. Folks, this just isn’t how it works. Perhaps if you somehow find your way on that show, but chances are you won’t. If you do agree to do the show, you might wish you hadn’t. Don’t take my word though, go ahead and see for yourself.

Great design, great craftsmanship, and great tiny houses take time. They also take money if you plan to hire a builder. Even if you decide to build it yourself, how much is your time worth? Even if you are planning to find and use as much reclaimed material as possible, how much time will it take to find it and make it suitable for use in a tiny house? Short of receiving materials as gifts, you are going to pay for them with money or time.

To wrap this rant up, I guess an important point I am trying to make is that my business is devoted to crafting amazing tiny houses and focusing on our customers, not trying to score TV gigs and please producers. If you are a TV producer reading this wanting me to host a show or use one of my houses for some new spinoff, please take note. Don’t call me. I’m too busy on the phone with my customer, drawing plans, or swinging a hammer. Also, like I told the producer above, please put more emphasis on the reality of tiny houses and less on entertainment.

Inspiration

April 2, 2015 By Greg Parham 2 Comments

This morning, I would like to share a note that a good friend sent me last week. I met this woman while backpacking the Sawtooth Wilderness a few summers back while in search of tiny house inspiration. It was right before the business started picking up steam. Her words not only left me warm and fuzzy, but I felt would be inspiring to others seeking out their tiny house dreams.

___________________________________________________

Greg,
I want to take a minute to tell you about my day and how you inspire me. It’s been a wild/life changing few months of twists and turns. It’s been my time to break out of the traditional public school setting and find my brave new life. I had an interview today with a group of pioneers who are starting their own co-op school that I want to be a part of it. The school is not only looking for their first teacher, but also someone who will fit into their community- add to their co-op. So it’s an untraditional setting to say the least. While I was trying to explain who I am, I began talking about the possibility of me buying a tiny house to live in the area. We talked at length about finding your calling and doing what’s right and finding fulfillment in that. I told them your story about how you had a dream and turned it into reality with your bare hands, your brain, and your heart. When I was done talking, the women were mesmerized not only by your story, but by my telling of it. They said, ” wow, harness that energy you just had there, when you were telling that story, your face lit up and your voice got softer, we really just saw the true you.”
So, thank you for inspiring me by letting my light shine through your story.
~(really pretty woman)
PS. I’ll be putting in an order for a Stanley.

___________________________________________________

It has not been easy building this business from the ground up. I have sacrificed much. Little tidbits of love like this make me realize it was all worth it. I wish my Idaho friend the best of luck in her brave new journey and hope her story can serve as inspiration for others in search of their calling.

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