Related posts:
1. Regular-sized non-toxic prefab homes
2. Mobile homes on wheels for those with sensitivities
3. Emergency shelters for those with sensitivities
Simple, Small Modular and Custom Homes for those Sensitive to Mold and Chemicals
These are small and tiny houses (not on wheels) that are suitable for those with extreme sensitivities to mold and or chemicals.
Not all materials will work for all folks, that is why this article features everything from all wood, to all plastic and all metal homes.
These small houses are ideal to create a healing space away from conventional housing that is so prone to problems.
This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Top Picks for Small & Tiny Homes
- Unity Homes
- Dowl-laminated timber homes
- Log cabins including log cabin kits
- Metal SIPS homes
My full review of these homes that I think are the best can be found here in my Substack.
You can also build a small home out of any material that works in your climate that you would use on a larger home: wood framed, concrete, pumice-crete, abode, hemp, etc.
Options that will work in only some climates
- Intershelter fiberglass domes, another simple option, it works only in certain climates in my opinion, outlined here.
- Wooden Treehouse from Out N’ About for a simple option, no insulation here either.
- Container homes, can work in climates where you don’t heat the home or you can consider exterior rigid foam insulation in heating climates.
- Aircrete Dome, can be used in some climates with proper detailing, outlined here.
Options that I would not go with
- Plaster module homes like Coodo and Haus.me since they are wood-wrapped in plastic.
- Boxabl (fully reviewed here)
- Arched cabins, could be considered in very specific climates, outlined here.
A Note on Exterior Metal and Fiberglass Shells and Mold Prevention
A prefab house that has a metal or fiberglass shell that does not have a rainscreen system is extremely difficult to insulate in most climates where houses are heated. This includes container homes.
“In a cold climate during the heating season, moisture vapor inside a building is driven outward into exterior walls. When it reaches a surface that’s below the dew point, the vapor condenses into a liquid.” (source).
In this case that “surface” where moisture in the air condensates is that metal or fiberglass shell.
To try and work with this problem you need airtight insulation.
This could be 2 part closed-cell polyurethane spray foam insulation. This offgasses too much for most people with chemical sensitivities.
It also causes the challenges of exterior leaks going undetected.
Another challenge here is when spray foam pulls away from the metal or fiberglass.
The second strategy is to use rigid foam insulation and make it airtight. This is also tricky. Foam can be taped or sealed with caulking or 1 part canned polyurethane spray foam, but it’s difficult to keep it airtight. And any gap of air behind the foam can have air with enough moisture to condensate in some climates.
That is a risky way to do things.
Mold Preventative Design
Options:
- In heating climates, it’s easier to have a well-designed wall system that has the proper air barriers (likely no vapor barrier), and a rainscreen – in short, built like a regular house with all the complexities of the wall system but with great attention to design and execution of detail.
- A monolithic wall – I tend towards simple buildings that have fewer areas where mistakes can be made. Monolithic walls (a single wall, made of one solid material) is easier in this sense. Log cabins, solid concrete walls, and solid earthen walls are examples. Metal SIPs also fall into this category as long as they stay laminated. This doesn’t mean they will work in any climate and are foolproof. You still need a building science expert (like an architect) to design the system as a whole and make sure that the wall type is properly designed and executed and well-maintained.
Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.
Join the top Substack on healing from MCS and mold!
Jennifer
Just found your website. Are you aware of any resources that will help me find a safe place to move to? I currently rent and the Landlord will not fix the issue. I was told that even if he agrees to fix the home, I cannot stay in it while it is being fixed. Thanks!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
https://corinnesegura.substack.com/p/how-to-find-housing-for-the-chemically
Kathy Sexton
Hi
Have you looked at the newly released Tesla tiny homes? They say they are mold proof. Do you agree?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I don’t think there is a Tesla tiny house, there was a prototype a few years ago that didnt come to pass and a number of clickbaity youtube videos.
Carol Avigliano Knapik
Thank you for this info! Would love to see a review of Geo ship bio ceramic homes. Website is Geoship.is
Or perhaps there is someone else with some knowledge and/or experience related to this company.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
Geoship is reviewed in detail in today’s substack https://corinnesegura.substack.com/
Kim
I’m pretty desperate right now. I believe I just had a seizure in my sleep. I felt something violently shaking and looked around at the kids near me. they were all asleep. my head was hurting and I became dizzy when I entered. I came here to leave mold. the other home makes my kids sick. no one is taking me seriously. if I didn’t have so many kids, I would go in a tent. I’m so desperate for a solution. would you happen to have a post/blog on building temporary housing on a STRICT budget?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
The substack series on tiny homes and structures covers the most affordable options I know outside of tents.
James Wolf Mendoza
if my budget is 15k total in so cal what would you suggest? im preferring a outdoor kitchen and outdoor bathroom/shower/bath and a large room/studio… a deck as well perhaps on roof if it doesnt create a mold issue
Victoria
ALSo I am in Los Angeles
Victoria Mihich
Are the companies that advertise on your site meeting your requirements? I would like to build a small home multiple chemical sensitivity folks. Style contemporary-simple one room home-maybe 30x 20-open space, only a bathroom/toilet enclosed.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
The commpanies I talk about in my blog posts for tiny homes, shelters, and prefabs don’t advertise with me. I think two of them have affiliate links but most don’t. If you mean the responsive display ads that pop up, those are almost entirely based on what you have looked at on the web recently. I don’t have control over which ones show up other than selecting or banning very controversial topics.
Victoria M
Do you have companies for pre-fab in Los Angeles California that you recommend in order to build on a easy flat piece of land OR
a list of products to frame a small single room ADU?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
Prefab companies will generally deliver to anywhere in the continental US.
The website covers all the products you would need to build your own one-room ADU from scratch. There will also be a book and course coming soon on healthy building materials for those who want things all in one place, on paper, or in an interactive format.
Janet Jephcott
my biggest concern is plastics that off gas! Mold is very important too! But any paints or plastics or chemicals are my biggest factors for making me sick. my family are thinking of doing a prefab home or maybe one from scratch. They know about Eco housing. But I have to really be firm with them in getting them to understand just how serious chemicals are in making me sick: An example is when I lived in a badly made moldy poos air system government building and was daily exposed to laundry perfumes, molds and cigarettes. I ended up in the hospital over and over again with what looked like ministrokes! My whole left side would go numb and tingly and my leg would collapse under me! I also felt like I was on drugs or that I was having a terrible hangover every single day all day! And I blew up 30 pounds of water retention! When I finally left years later and moved in with my daughter the bloat melted off me and the mini strokes stopped. Very rarely did I get any twinge even! But I still got those hangover things just not as badly because they were still using perfumes at my daughter’s house, even though I pleaded with them not to. At least there was no smoke nor mold!
Beth
This post and the review of the 17 companies are so incredibly helpful, thank you for creating them! I keep coming back to both. My main needs are for mold and EMFs. Have you worked with many EMF-sensitive clients or heard feedback on how they do with SIPS structures? I know a lot depends on the design details and a building biologist would need to be involved. But, I’m having a hard time figuring out if this would even be something worth pursuing to begin with. For mold resistance they look so very appealing, but I haven’t found anything yet from an EMF perspective. Thank you!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
it’s possible to react when inside if you bring electronic appliances or devices inside. however for some people EMF sensitivity rapidly abates when they are free of mold. so you would have to test out being in a metal structure first to know how it will go for you. just be careful not to prioritise EMF avoidance over mold avoidance because mold is what’s underlying, EMF sensitivity is a symptom. EMF sensitivity is also helped with programs like the gupta program.
Sarah
Your coverage of this subject matter is exceptional! There’s so much out there, especially videos on YouTube about various kinds of tiny homes but it’s so often like a Better Homes and Gardens spread, heavy on the aesthetics and “cute” factor and light on substance. There little-to-no discussion about moisture issues and condensation, including how much can build up just from breathing in a very small space. I see homes that don’t appear to have any exhaust in the bathroom, metal under the structure, etc, etc, etc. You, and the growing group of those you collaborate with, are providing an amazing public service!!!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
thank you
Justin Carlson
Hey Corinne, I ran across your website today because someone in my CIRS group posted it. Really amazed at all the great info you have! I run https://cirsmap.com and one thing we’ve been talking a lot about is creating a CIRS healing village, except not one of the luxury health resorts that most of the current ones are—but rather something that’s as affordable as possible for the most amount of people. Curious what your insights are for this. Also you’re welcome to join our free discord group if you like, it is the #1 free CIRS online community and we are working to open source info and create tools that can help more people heal.
Thanks so much,
Justin
sue norcia
I’d like to join. How do I do so?
Lisa Vaneick
Can you recommend a building biologist in Florida?
Natalie
I think I’m more about starting something that’s new, but doesn’t off gas, due to the mall toxicity I’ve had. What are the ranges for costs of homes, I’m trying to set aside some money when my disability claim is completed. And I just don’t have the cognition to read through all of it. Thank you so much for the blog, it gives me a lot oI think I’m more about starting something that’s new but doesn’t offgassing, due to the mall toxicity I’ve had. What are the ranges for costs of homes, I’m trying to set aside some money when my disability claim is completed. And I just don’t have the cognition to read through all of it. Thank you so much for the blog, it gives me a lot of hope.
Ellie
Thank you for your site. It was literally a life-saver for me when I discovered I had MCS. What do you know about straw bale construction for non-toxic housing?
Corinne
There is a post on alternative wall systems
heidi mclaughlin
The Intershelter domes are now all fiberglass composite. They no longer make the ABS version.
Mandy
Corinne,
Thank you for your extensive research and dedication to help others! I do not have money for a consult but hoping I can get a response here. I need to move and may have about $60,000 to work with. While mold avoidance is optimal for me, the most important thing for me is stability for my teen son. This move would be temporary for us both, maybe a year. With the amount I have and not good credit might a mobile home be okay? I have heard the old are best for VCS but worse for mold and vice versa for new. I have seen models that are about 15 years old in about price range, could this be a safe alternative to buying an older one? I would like to unmask before searching as I have a good sense from just being in a place and realize a good-priced home may not allow time for testing, of mold that is.
Many sincere thanks,
Mandy
Corinne
Mobile homes are the worst built type of home generally.
Mindy
I would not suggest any home that has registers in the floor. We live in an older remodeled mobile home and my parents live in a newer one. Everything is so much harder to fix because nothing is the same as houses. Anything we have to fix we have to customize. Also, everything in a mobile home may look nice at first but it’s cheap mdf so if it gets wet it is ruined, There is so much more VOC’s and opportunity for mold in a mobile home.That said, having a place to live is important and if that’s your only option you have to do what you have to do.
Sam
I’m looking for a ship-able home with dimensions similar to those long manufactured homes that you see the big rig trucks shipping on the highway “Oversize Load ” BUT non -toxic or least toxic.
Jamie T
Check out wellbuilttinyhomes.com
maru
Hello and thank you for your blog!
Unfortunately I have little luck getting a response from most of these companies 🙁 especially since production and shipping have been severely impacted by the pandemic.
What do you think about getting a showroom model from the company listed as Aluhause (which btw has a different name and is not USA-based)? Haus.me seems to have already folded…
Also, any experience with AbleNook?
Thank you!
Corinne
Why do you think Haus.me has folded, they are still actively answering questions and talking about models for 2022.
maru
Oh, I talked to the CEO in May and he promised to get back to me with details about pricing etc. (and a show model in CA supposedly opening by June) but didn’t and I can’t reach him anymore… It didn’t seem like a good sign 🙁
We bought a coastal plot in Mexico with no ameneties except electricity and are in the process of figuring out prefabs for 4 very health-compromised adults – would you do a consult in this semi-emergency situation?
Thanks so much, Corinne!
Corinne
ah, well, that’s hard to know what is going on with them. These companies are often overloaded, especially during the pandemic or when they catch a lot of press and they cannot get back to everyone. On the other hand many do go out of business in the early years. You can book a email consult at any time here https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=19257501&appointmentType=16364655
Maru
Thank you! Will it be helpful to book consultation for Baja, Mexico (just south of US border)? I’m currently looking at building a home with a local young architect recommended by a friend or with https://siphomesinternational.com/. Would you be able to help choose and go over building plans to make sure they’re water-tight, mold-proof, etc.? I don’t have experience in building but I’ve suffered loss of health (among other things) from a flooded home due to a faulty roof so I’m extremely wary. Thanks so much, Corinne!
Corinne
I do help choose building materials in Mexico but I don’t help with building science advice which is what you are looking for.
Maru
Thanks. Does this look worth considering https://siphomesinternational.com/?
Is there anyone you’d recommend for building science?
Catherine
I advised my sister who has an extreme sensitivity to chemicals to look for
a home built pre-1950 to renovate. She found a 1930’s 2B/1B brick home
in an historic neighborhood. While we renovated the home she lived outside
in the back yard. Most of the house was original. Kitchen and bathroom with original
tiles….original wood floors. All we had to do was remove the drywall and insulation
to reveal the bare boards behind.
She has now been safely living in this house for 15 years.
This might be an option for others to consider.
Beth
Hi Corinne,
What do you think of Node homes? I hear they were designed with MCS in mind as the founders know people with MCS. Thanks! Beth
Corinne
The roof doesn’t look properly designed and the website doesn’t focus on building science so I don’t expect it to be good. If you have more details about the construction we could go over it in an email consult.
Buttercup
I have read your website at length and done enormous amounts of personal research into mold safe housing. Thank you for your work.
Two questions related to this post.
I looked into container homes some time back. But besides the condensation issues, i have also read that because of pesticides used in the plywood flooring, and sprayed into containers when they are shipped ( apparently there is no such thing as a new container. What they call new is actually single use.) they are rarely if ever tolerable for those with sensitivities. Do you have further info about this issue or know that it is incorrect?
I was also wondering if you had ever looked into a product called Conards Blocks? And if you had any thoughts on using them with the insulation on the outside?
Corinne
I like the exterior foam insulation for containers.
I have not looked into container homes deeply enough to find out if they are always sprayed and how single use containers might be sprayed based on where they came from.
Buttercup
Ok. I might have to look into containers a little bit closer.
Conards Blocks are a concrete and eps foam product. Essentially very large concrete blocks that are precast with the foam attached to one side and a finish on the other. There are studs imbedded in the foam. There are different options as to the thickness of foam and concrete.
The blocks are dry stacked, rebar added and then channels formed into the blocks are filled with a high strength grout.
The website is conardblocks.com. I was interested in the idea of using them with the foam on the exterior and using the finished concrete as the interior wall surface. Obviously adding a rain screen and siding outside.
Interested in knowing your thought on this wall system. Thanks!
Lisa
Fantastic imfo – thank you!!!
Anna
Very interesting data-I’m in need of mold-free-chemical-free housing-Where is the locale where these possibilities are being built? Please keep me in the loop-I’m in Atlanta, Ga. area. Thanks-Anna
Corinne
No one is building simple structures for chemically sensitive folks, unfortunately. You would have to make one yourself. There are some more conventional houses like ten texas cottages and other bnbs that are made for MCS and may or may not be mold safe. The prices tend to be high to very high.
Unknown
These are wonderful ideas. They may not be 100 percent problem-free for everyone, but it looks like tolerable substitutions can be mad on a number of then fairly simply. Thank you.
Unknown
That was meant to read "made" lol
Sarah Parton
My folks are very traditional so my siblings and I were so surprised to learn they are selling our old home and getting a log cabin mobile homes. They were pretty excited about it and I guess their retirement money was put to good use. The sale of our house was put into savings (some part of it) and they were able to live comfortably well. The log cabin mobile home looked like the real traditional ones – it's so uncanny! For more information and tips, check out this site: http://modularhomeblog.com/prefab-mobile/log-cabin-mobile-homes.html
Alisa Stevenson
Thanks
Corinne
Hi Kerrie, if you are looking for a tiny house I have a lot of them listed here. Check out the post on building a mold free house. Join the Facebook groups for safe housing those will help a lot too. I'm in BC as well. If you would like to book a private consult shoot me an email at corinnesegura@gmail.com
Romilda Gareth
nice blog
Catherine Todd
Many interesting ideas here… thanks for posting!
Unknown
I imagine 18 inches should be 18 feet.
Corinne
Thank you