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This $2k tiny home story is a guest post by Winston W. Johnson
Hi Alex (and Tiny House Newsletter readers), I started my tiny shelter in December of 2013, it’s built on a 1965 Yellowstone Cavalier travel trailer frame that I got free from a neighbor.
Probably 75% of the lumber was cut and milled within one mile of where my tiny shelter is located.
A neighbor has a Wood Miser sawmill, two years ago we cut down three 60 ft. tall poplar trees, sawed it into 1″x6″x8′ and 2″x4″x8′ boards and dried them in his solar kiln for 3 months.
Related: Man Building DIY Off Grid Tiny Home for Less Than $2k (Part 2)
How I’m Building an Off Grid Tiny House For Less Than $2k
Images © Winston W. Johnson
I then took the pieces to a local Amish sawmill and had them plane the pieces on both sides, I then cut the pieces to size (width and length).
My tiny shelter has a 7’x7′ upper sleeping loft on one end and a plant shelf on the other end. I moved into my tiny shelter on March 1, 2014, it wasn’t even insulated yet and only had a heavy duty tarp covering the roof.
Since that time I’ve insulated it, finished off the inside walls and ceiling with the poplar boards and built the cabinets.
I still have to lay ceramic tile on the floor and countertop to finish off the inside.
I hope to have the metal roof and vinyl siding on by the end of October and build a double Dutch barn door for my entrance.
Currently I only have about $1,000 cash invested in this project, by the time I’m finished maybe $2,000.
I may decide to add on a 8’x16′ screened in porch later this year.
My tiny house is not hooked up to the grid, I use two kerosene lamps and five solar LED lights for my lighting needs.
I heat and cook with a wood stove and plan on collecting rainwater off the metal roof once I get it installed.
Images © Winston W. Johnson
Related: Man Building DIY Off Grid Tiny Home for Less Than $2k (Part 2)
Big thanks to Winston W. Johnson for sharing his amazing and inspiring tiny house project with us!
If you enjoyed this $2k tiny house you’ll absolutely LOVE our free daily tiny house newsletter with even more! Thank you!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Alex
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