Chris Schapdick - The Joy of Tiny House Living: Everything You Need to Know Before Taking the Plunge

Copyright 2019 Chris Schapdick and Creative Homeowner

This book may not be reproduced, either in part or in its entirety, in any form, by any means, without written permission from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts for purposes of radio, television, or published review. All rights, including the right of translation, are reserved. Note: Be sure to familiarize yourself with manufacturers instructions for tools, equipment, and materials before beginning a project. Although all possible measures have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the material presented, neither the author nor the publisher is liable in case of misinterpretation of directions, misapplication, or typographical error.

Creative Homeowner is a registered trademark of New Design Originals Corporation.

The Joy of Tiny House Living

Vice President-Content: Christopher Reggio

Editor: Colleen Dorsey

Copy Editor: Laura Taylor

Designer: David Fisk

Indexer: Jay Kreider

Print ISBN 978-1-58011-834-7

eISBN 978-1-60765-641-8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Schapdick, Chris, author.

Title: The Joy of Tiny House Living / Chris Schapdick.

Description: Mount Joy : Creative Homeowner, [2019] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018049952 | ISBN 9781580118347 (pbk. : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: House construction--Amateurs' manuals. | Small houses--Maintenance and repair--Amateurs' manuals.

Classification: LCC TH4815 .S375 2019 | DDC 643/.2--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018049952

We are always looking for talented authors. To submit an idea, please send a brief inquiry to .

Creative Homeowner, www.creativehomeowner.com, is an imprint of New Design Originals Corporation and distributed exclusively in North America by Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc., 800-457-9112, 903 Square Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552, and in the United Kingdom by Grantham Book Service, Trent Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 7XQ.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my parents and my daughter, Mia. My parents gave me the path and my daughter gave me the reason to pursue this fulfilling life of creating things with my hands. Thank you for all your support and love.

The man behind the man: my dad. Thanks for believing in me and for all your help.

All costs related to your tiny home project will vary by project, location, and many other variables; therefore, all costs given in this book should be understood to be estimates.

All interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

You are tiny house curious. Going tiny appeals to something deep inside of you. Maybe you like to watch shows about tiny home living on TV. You want an escape from some of the monotony of daily life. You like the idea of reducing clutter and excess and are perhaps interested in minimalism.

If any of these statements are true about you, then tiny houses, structures, buses, or other small dwellings may well be the answer for you. This book describes the many aspects of going down the path toward your own tiny house. Whether you want to build it yourself or have someone build it for you, there are things you should know and decisions you will need to make. Im here to arm you with the information you need to make those decisions.

This is not a step-by-step how-to book that teaches you to build a tiny house from scratchthough that will be my next book! Instead, when you are done reading this book, youll be well equipped to make your own tiny house decisions. From design to construction to where you ultimately put your tiny home, Ill explore your options and help you find clarity. This book is laid out in a logical progression that your tiny house journey is likely to follow. I suggest that you read it through in its entirety before making big decisions so that nothing outlined later on in the book will trip you up.

I wholeheartedly encourage you to embrace smaller living. Its pretty groovy, and no, its not just a fad.

Chapter 1
Fundamentals

Chapter 2
Design

Chapter 3
Construction

Chapter 4
Other Considerations

Chapter 5
Legalities and More

DEREK DEEK DIEDRICKSEN

This was the first time we met in person. We needed to get a selfie.

Chris Schapdick is a pretty curious fellow. To be frank, he has just a little bit of that mad scientist look about him, a zany Gene Wilder as Frankenstein vibe. I intend that comment to be a compliment, though.

Chris has a gleam about him of an individual who is very bright and who has many onion-like layers. Chris, like myself, was probably a total nerd in high school, but its those people that you want to align yourself with. The dorks of yesterday are the innovators, pioneers, and often the bosses (perhaps yours) of today. They are the ones who were never afraid to go against the grain, who have always done so, and who stick their necks out, take chances, and willingly sprint down the path less chosen. Heck, a lot of em, like Chris, grab proverbial machetes and blaze their very own paths. Quite honestly, you are cut from the same cloth if youve made the rather wise choice to pick up this tome.

Even adventurers need a bit of guidance sometimes, though, and thats what youll find within the pages of this book. The sum of Chriss experience in the tiny house world, building and experimenting and learning, is collected here in easily digestible, thought-provoking, often entertaining and always useful chapters that cover everything from the philosophical reasons to go tiny to the pros and cons of different trailers and building materialsand everything in between.

When years back, Chris decided, Im going to start a business based on tiny houses and micro gypsy wagons, all from scratch! it was not your normal nine-to-five by any means, and certainly a chancy, gutsy, moveyet Chris has done remarkably well, and there is no reason why you cant go down that path, too, by combining your own sense of adventure with the confidence that the facts and advice in this book will give you.