I made a model!

For the past few months, I've dabbled in trying to learn SketchUp, a popular 3D modeling software used by many tiny housers to design their homes. I usually got frustrated because I tried to go into too much detail too soon; after all, I knew what I wanted the details to be--why can't I just get the [expletive] [expletive] program to [expletive] just [expletive] do it?!

Well, today I decided to keep it simple and just make a box to try out some ideas for the siding and roofing. I didn't attempt the roof overhang, wheel wells, trailer tongue, trim, or other little details.

And... I still seriously screwed it up and had to [expletive] [expletive] redo the whole [expletive].....

Anyhow.

Design Thoughts and Updates: Siding, Roofing, and More

Good news, everyone! I heard back from the structural insulated panel manufacturer! It turns out the file format of the plans I sent to him were not openable or something. Drat. I reformatted and re-sent them, but before I re-sent them, I realized that I needed to change a thing or two. Which bring me to the topic of today's post!

I've made some minor changes to my design since I started the blog. I switched plans from a 24"x32" RV bathtub to a standard 32"x32" shower pan. I discovered the possibility of using a fold-away pot filler faucet in the shower stall to serve as a sinkless hand-washing station, rather than a fixed faucet that might get in the way when I'm showering or not reach far enough when I'm using it. I decided that it would be okay for my required 4'6" of bed alcove headroom to be measured between the loft joists, rather than under them--a decision that adds 5.5" to the headroom upstairs, in the loft. I figured out how to hang joists on a SIP wall without interrupting the SIP, by screwing or bolting a rim track made of 2x lumber flat against the interior side of the SIP and hanging the joists with joist hangers from it. And I learned a lot about plumbing and electrical work thanks to a visit to the local library's nonfiction section.

Some of my other design considerations are more of a quandary... or are at least more interesting to discuss.

For example, I wrote an entire post about my electrical system design! But since that might be of limited general interest, here are a few of the more aesthetically-minded design updates.

Designing the Electrical System

Designing a tiny house involves tackling tons and tons of semi-separate, interlocking design problems (in the sense of "math problem," rather than problem problems). One problem that I've been wrestling with lately is electricity. Oversimplified, the big question is just a binary:

Do I need 30 amp or 50 amp electrical service?

But it's tricky. I'm learning a lot about electricity and wiring these days, but I'm still working on this one. Today I sat down and calculated the total wattage and amperage of all the electrical appliances I plan to have to determine whether I need a 50 amp RV electrical hookup, or if I can make do with 30 amps.

In case that's as opaque a concept to you as it was to me a few weeks ago, here are some electricity basics: