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New Tiny House Builder Blog: Mr. Luker’s Tiny House


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Mr. Luker’s Tiny House project is a relatively new blog recording the building experience for new tiny house builder named Joe.

He really doesn’t share much about himself on his blog or on his attached Google+ profile, but just from reading through his blog you can tell that he is passionate and dedicated to the project.

Joe visiting April Anson's tiny house. Photo by Joe Luker.

Joe visiting April Anson’s tiny house. Photo by Joe Luker.

He started the project in April 2013 by explaining his reasoning for building a tiny home. Like many of us he was attracted to the idea of reducing his finances and the positive environmental impact of a small home.

He explained in detail about his trailer choice and even asked for advice on the overall construction in some the earliest posts this year. You can also see his Sketch-Up designs for the building on the website.

I encourage you to scroll or click below for more of Joe’s story and photos of his tiny house project.

It is exciting for me to see a new tiny house construction blog. So many of the people that I got to know when we began our own projects years ago have already finished their home and are now enjoying the tiny life.

But I have learned that these types of construction journals are invaluable for people looking to start their own tiny houses. Joe provides a lot of photos so far and details about the steps he’s taking.

He mentions the specific types of tools he is working with or that he still needs to start the next phase of the build. I even love the personal touches as he describes a rosemary plant that he found and what music he was listening to while building.

photo by Joe Luker.

photo by Joe Luker.

Joe even shares his mistakes with his readers:

“Aside from framing, I learned a great lesson, and I should note that there are some people who told me to watch out for this in advance(Joe Sr.), but hey I’ve always been the one to touch the stove to learn it’s hot…

In the process of moving the project up to Independence, despite my best effort getting everything tarped, the trailer got completely soaked with rain and my decking was saturated.

Cut to the scene of a very cold, very wet me under the trailer in independence stabbing my new PVC barrier to let all the water drain out. 🙁 I thought I could get away with letting everything dry out for a few weeks, but alas everything warped like crazy and rotted through… So I ripped off the old decking and gave it to my neighbor. I’m really glad I learned this BEFORE I put my walls up! It could have cost me a lot more money and time than just the plywood. Lesson learned.”

I learned a long time ago that it isn’t truly an adventure if you don’t have a moment where you ask yourself, “What the heck did I get myself into?”

photo by Joe Luker.

photo by Joe Luker.

The latest entry, posted on August 2nd, features dozens of photos of the walls and loft going up. I absolutely love the loft-over-porch design and can’t wait to see how it looks finished.

Keep watching Joe’s blog for more updates on his tiny house build and to get a good sense of what it takes to construct a tiny house in the first place.

Sketch-Up concept of design from Joe Luker's blog.

Sketch-Up concept of design from Joe Luker’s blog.

If you want to explore more of Joe’s tiny house project visit his blog here.

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Laura LaVoie

Contributor and Tiny House Owner at 120SquareFeet.com
Laura M. LaVoie is a professional writer living in the mountains of North Carolina in a 120 Square Foot house with her partner and their hairless cat, Piglet. Laura graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in Anthropology. She has been published in magazines and anthologies on the subjects of mythology and culture. She spent nearly 15 years in the temporary staffing industry before deciding to become a full time writer. Laura works closely with the Zulu Orphan Alliance volunteering her time and the skills she's learned building her own small house to build a shelter for orphans and other vulnerable children living near Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Laura also enjoys simple living, brewing and drinking craft beer, and popular culture.
{ 7 comments… add one }
  • Cahow
    August 20, 2013, 10:39 am

    “…but hey I’ve always been the one to touch the stove to learn it’s hot…”

    Huh. Well, I guess if you have endless time, money and resources, then you can ‘touch that hot stove’ all you want! ~snort~ As for me, once someone points out that the stove is hot, I say, “Duly noted” and avoid it at all costs. Different personalities, I guess. Hope he listens to his dad’s advice in the future to avoid more costly mistakes. Even if you’re using your own labor, bad decisions can escalate the cost of a project exponentially. Good Luck, Joe Jr.!

    • jerryd
      August 20, 2013, 5:52 pm

      Cahow, I’m the one who has to see if it’s true that it’s hot ;^p

      On the TH it’s quite nice. The built in furniture is the best way to get the most for the room plus good storage.

      Great roof which is excellent for a patio to get up into the breeze and away from the mosquito’s, etc and for the view. Being MOL flat it gives the lofts much more headroom, space instead of the V roof loft caves.

      Is the opposite of the kitchen the bath? If so too big. I’d put a washer/dryer combo in it too behind the shower or next to the toilet or as a closet.

      Nice job Joe!!

      • Cahow
        August 20, 2013, 7:37 pm

        jerryd wrote: “I’m the one who has to see if it’s true that it’s hot ;^p”

        Bwahahahahaaaa! You’re too funny, jerry! Maybe it’s a “guy” thing, ya think? You know, you gotta find things out for yourself despite what you’re told? (hope I’m not bashed for that comment) ~blush~

        I like your idea of a roof top deck!

        • jerryd
          August 20, 2013, 9:38 pm

          It’s that I learn not to believe much of anything as I learned much of what I had been taught just was not true.

          I usually just get close enough to feel the heat as I’m not going to burn myself. I’ll check the heat output, see if it can go up and down, etc is the way I roll.

          Not sure if it’s a guy thing, certainly not most of guys are anything like me. And some are just dumb enough to touch the stove!! I check first.

          Some people go down the path less traveled, I make my own as far more interesting, profitable.

          I could never see letting a good flat roof go to waste without a nice patio on top as it adds so much for sunsets/rises, a breeze where there is none at ground level and just enjoying life so many forget to do..

          I was on some Indian mounds of oysters they always said where places of worship and Chief’s house but I’d bet they were made to get above the mangroves and mosquitos and into the breeze on coastal Fla.

          There were thousands of them before they were turned into road fill. Probably only 10% left if that, mostly ones that were hard to get to. Great places to camp, picnic.

  • November 20, 2013, 9:58 pm

    What happened to the build? I went to his blog and it stops in Aug.

  • Justin
    February 5, 2014, 7:13 pm

    Looks Solid! Nice tiny house!

  • July 26, 2014, 8:59 pm

    I like this kind of house.
    What gonna happen if I exten it more larger than this?

    I want it more space to keep my things all over the house.

    Thanks

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