This blog started as I did the research to build my own non-toxic tiny house.
For a quick overview and tour of my house here is a Q&A and sneak peak.
Here are a few pictures of the house and some posts where you can find out more about it:
The exterior siding is cedar, sealed with a non-toxic finish. The insulation is XPS.
I used low-odor poplar wood throughout the interior of the house. The floors are stained with natural pigments and finished with hemp oil. I wouldn’t do that again though! I would use either a non-toxic water-based stain or a more durable natural oil stain.
The windows are custom-sized thermally broken aluminum frames. I would do that again.
The countertops are quartz. A good VOC-free choice, though if I did this again I would do a natural stone with a non-toxic sealer (either a natural oil or 0-VOC sealer, depending on the stone type) just because I like the look more.
The walls made of magnesium oxide board are finished with a natural clay plaster. In the kitchen, the plaster is sealed with a non-toxic finish by AFM. I wouldn’t use magnesium oxide board again in a tiny house that is on wheels because it cracked too much. I would use tongue and groove wood with an air barrier behind it (crucial for mold prevention).
I used a 100% wool mattress with chemical-free wool blankets.
The bathroom has a custom-made aluminum shower and the floors are real concrete tiles sealed with a non-toxic sealer. Now I would use ceramic tiles, since they now come in concrete-look designs and don’t require a sealer. I use a composting toilet that I talk about in that link to be semi-off the grid. As someone chemically sensitive I did have some challenges with some of the additives to the toilet at first.
More about my electrical, heating and water systems can be found here.
I made a short video tour of my tiny house and will follow with some Q&As below!
What are the dimensions?
The whole trailer is 20 x 8, the washroom is 30 inches x 8 feet and the kitchen is 7 feet long. Therefore, the living room is around 10 x 8 feet.
What kind of wood is that and what are the walls made of?
Poplar is the wood used throughout. The walls are MgO board with clay plaster.
What aspects are you happy about?
I’m really happy with the design and layout – it definitely serves my needs. I am exceedingly happy with the window alongside the bed. Since I am disabled I spend a lot of time lying in bed but now I can watch the birds and look at the trees and mountains.
The size of the bathroom was also a perfect size for me just to have enough room for a shower and small sink and toilet.
What do you do for laundry?
That’s something I would have done differently – put in a combo mini washer/dryer under the stairs instead of storage (I do it all by hand now).
Where is the rest of your stuff
I have a few things in plastic bins under my house and in my car. There is room for more storage in the house: there is space for shelving above the toilet, a deep closet at the back of the landing as well as hooks behind the front door. In the corner where I have my laundry hanging, there could be a bookshelf instead. There could also be shelving on the back wall of the kitchen. I chose not to put in these additional storage spaces because I do not need them.
Here is a more in-depth tour of the tiny house/interview:
Explore Materials for the Chemically Sensitive:
Non-Toxic Insulation
Non-Toxic Flooring
Non-Toxic Paint
Non-Toxic Finishes
Non-Toxic Sheathing
Non-Toxic Roofing Products
Non-Toxic Bathrooms
Non-Toxic Pipes