• Evening Iris
  November 8, 2019, 10:40 am

  I don’t get how many people really like the reclaimed raw wood “rustic” look. It’s not my cup of tea and, every time I see this in any THOW for sale, I immediately move on. When I see it for flooring, the first thing I’m thinking is that I’d run wall to wall linoleum to get rid of it. For me, it’s creepy; all of the rotting wood providing nooks and crannies for who knows what microbial roommates. Unless you have a mini-split, the humidity plus this raw habitation will be a real problem; especially for anyone with respiratory problems (licensed nurse here). I don’t like the looks of it for walls or any other interior surface. For an exterior coat it’s fine if you like that look, but for interior use, for me, it’s depressing. I just see this, not as recycling, but as builders cutting corners for-profit. This is a cash cow being sold as a trending, fashionable ecological effort. Now, if someone loves that look, fine. But for others, we would prefer a clean and fresh look you get from new materials. Just saying…

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  • Megan
    November 8, 2019, 11:06 am

    Yes, evening Iris, You are correct – you should move on. The truth of reclaimed barn wood or any of that type of application in a house of any size is a ton of work for the builder. I have people actually bring me rustic barn wood. I have to clean it, I have to pick through it to find viable and beautiful pieces, I have to blow off all the dirt and dust, then use a planer if necessary and then seal it with a good non toxic sealer before tongue and grooving it so it won’t shrink when put on walls an barn doors etc. Your plastic, vinyl, and other manufactured products fill your house with chemicals and on top of the chemical content in the product you have the chemicals to apply and adhere these products to the manufacturer specification. Toxic toxic toxic….. the amount of chemical toxins in your home due to these “cleaner” looking products is devastating. Your home will have the effects of those chemicals around for years. The barn wood or reclaimed wood is non- toxic and it can be beautiful but it is a LOT of work for the builder but in the end is cleaner and brings a healthier atmosphere to the home and the environment – especially because we are not buying a product that had to be manufactured and pollute the environment during the process.

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    • James D.
      November 9, 2019, 12:50 am

      Yup, toxins, off-gasing, chemicals and chemical reactions are one of the major issues of modern homes that gets very little coverage but is effecting the health of many people.

      Generically called Sick House Syndrome, it can be caused by many things from toxic mold to toxic chemicals. Symptoms can range from simple lack of energy to chemical sensitivity and long term health issues…

      Check out Arlene Blum (a famous mountain climber and biophysical chemist who is Executive Director of the Green Science Policy Institute and a Research Associate in Chemistry at UC Berkeley) website SixClasses(dot)org

      She has a long history on the subject matter going back to the 1970s, where Blum’s research contributed to the regulation of two cancer-causing chemicals used as flame retardants on children’s sleepwear. While pointing out the false security the industry offers by switching to chemicals that are simply not on the list of regulated chemicals known to be dangerous but are still similar chemicals that may have similar or the same issues… Her research can be quite the eye opener…

      Besides, Linoleum has largely been replaced as a floor covering by polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is often colloquially but incorrectly called linoleum or lino. PVC has similar flexibility and durability to linoleum, but also has greater brightness and translucency, and is relatively less flammable. The fire-retardant properties of PVC are due to chlorine-containing combustion products, some of which are highly toxic, such as dioxin.

      While actual Linoleum was made from materials such as solidified linseed oil (linoxyn), pine rosin, ground cork dust, wood flour, and mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate, most commonly on a burlap or canvas backing. Pigments are often added to the materials to create the desired color finish. But it can grow and harbor mold in the right conditions…

      Meanwhile, countries like Japan have old wooden buildings that are centuries old, some over 500 years old… Wood often gets a bad wrap because of how modern houses tend to not last and to develop issues. It’s actually modern conveniences like Air Conditioning that started causing problems and increasing amounts of synthetic materials in house construction that is more vulnerable to moisture than real wood… Along with a list of bad building designs over the years that have resulted in less durable homes.

      But properly used and constructed wood based structures can last a very long time and be a very healthy home to live in… Countries like Switzerland are way ahead in improving building standards, single pane windows are essentially illegal there for example and any new construction must use double or triple pane windows, and they make heavy use of wood construction…

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    • PB in SC
      November 9, 2019, 7:33 am

      I’m laughing so hard. The response to the awful reclaimed wood was classic. I myself have stone, rock AND reclaimed wood IN my home which by the way is considered large at 1000 sq/ft. Reclaimed wood may not be someones cup of tea but, you are correct about the toxins in man made materials. I’ll take the chance on a tiny bug than fumes and carcinogens in my home. We removed all vinyl flooring and siding from our home and found that the flooring and original siding was all asbestos that had vinyl (plastic really) siding put over it. Now we have cedar shake siding and pine floors. Not asbestos here!!!
      Kudos to the comment, people should stop, think and do research about any products they put in their home.

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  • Benita Rodrigues
    November 25, 2019, 10:25 am

    Agree with you totally!! Go for new fresh smoothness!

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• Alison
  November 10, 2019, 11:48 pm

  I’m not sure rough wood is even all that hospitable to microbes. If kept clean and dry, as you would try to keep most indoor surfaces, it might be better than synthetics. I’ve read that wooden cutting boards can be safer than plastic ones. But if a person prefers sleek surfaces, that’s fine too. I like tiny houses with a nice mix of painted surfaces and natural wood. This one actually looks pretty nice to me on the inside. But the roofline seems odd.

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• Wilber Peebody
  November 12, 2019, 2:01 pm

  It’s sad to me that people take advantage of other people who would love to have and live in a tiny house on wheels who offer a giveaway at a price, which isn’t a giveaway….it’s a scam.

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  • PBinSC
    November 12, 2019, 5:36 pm

    Its like buying a raffle ticket. Nothing in life is free, right?

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• Misty carpenter
  January 20, 2020, 12:22 am

  I’ve been trying win I’ve entered sent money etc since 2016 this is a scam fake. I’m biggest fan of tiny homes have seen about everyone every design could tell you all there is to know about them and yet all submissions and donations I sent I never won shit it is all fake lies false advertising

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