Who is SimBLISSity Tiny Homes?

SimBLISSity Tiny Homes LLC is owned by Dot and Byron Fears, some of the handful of early Tiny Home “pioneers” and has been building Tinys for over four years.  Dot and Byron have been business partners in many fascinating and exciting enterprises since 1979.  They pursue their quest to “Save the Planet one Tiny Home at a time” as SimBLISSity continues to build “High-end” Custom, Sustainable Tiny Homes for Four Seasons environments.

Were is SimBLISSity located?

SimBLISSity Tiny Homes is located in the charming little town of Lyons, Colorado at the base of the Foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains just north of Boulder.

Where do you get your tiny home trailers?

Your foundation is the most important part of any Tiny House. A Movable Foundation must be strong and designed properly. SimBLISSity helped design the first TrailerMade Tiny House trailer and they have become the leader in the industry.

When building a Tiny, only a trailer that has been built to be a Tiny House foundation should be used.  Our Tiny House trailers are specially designed for the dual purpose of our sub floor framing as well.  By using the trailer as the subfloor framing we gain up to 6’’ of extra interior height.

It has been proven over and over that not all Tiny House trailers are built well!  Check them out extremely carefully.  Make sure they are level, square, and the axles are placed in the proper locations.

Use trailers with at least 7 K pound rated axles.  All smaller Tiny trailers need two axles.  Any trailer that is over 24’ needs three axles. Tires must be designated trailer tires with a no less than a Load Range E rating.

Do not use repurposed RV trailers, they are not built to support the weight of a Tiny House.  If you attempt to convert a Car Hauler or other trailers it will likely end up costing you more money modifying the trailer and you will likely not end up with the foundation that will support your Tiny into future years.  Having a quality, square foundation will set you up for a more successful build and a better finished Tiny.  One of the most frequent regrets we hear from DIYers is that they wish they had built upon a proper trailer.

How does the Aspen do in a truly cold climate?

SimBLISSity is located in Colorado and builds to withstand the coldest of winter temperatures and snowy conditions.  Closed Cell Foam insulation provides the highest available Rvalues for the tiny hoe envelope.  One stays toasty on the coldest of winter days or cool in the hottest of environments.  If you use other insulations you may need a better heat source or may burn more fuel to keep the tiny warm.

In cold climates water lines should not be installed in the exterior walls, but rather inside the plane of exterior walls.  Lines can then be boxed into a small chase to conceal them.

What is the best exterior sheathing?

SimBLISSity recommends and sheaths with Zip System sheathing. Zip System sheathing is a breathable, waterproof vapor barrier and is structural.

What materials can be used for exterior siding?

SimBLISSity typically uses cedar or pine 1 x 6 tongue and groove to side Tinys.  Cedar is more expensive but longer lasting.  For “budget” builds a TruWood Cottage Lap siding may be considered.   Another mid-priced product is an exterior plywood with batons installed to cover seams and fasteners. We have installed a durable and attractive plywood called Breckenridge, which has an outer layer of the African wood “Okoume”.

Metal roofing material can also be used to create siding detail accents and a maintenance free covering.

What about repurposed windows?

Windows in movable Tinys should be tempered glass.  We highly recommend Energy Star rated, Low E windows to be more sustainable.  Using recycled windows is setting yourself up for disappointment.  The seal in the window is important for insulation quality and continued visibility.

At SimBLISSity we prefer awning windows because they provide great ventilation since the entire window opens and helps keep weather out when open.  Additionally they have less framing to obscure views.  High quality windows also have insulation inside the frame.

How should I insulate my tiny home?

There are many options for insulation.  We feel there is only one “best” option.  SimBLISSity uses Insulstar, an antimicrobial, High Altitude formula Closed Cell Foam that is professionally sprayed in.  This formula is guaranteed to not off-gas for 99 years.  This product is R8 per inch; in a 2 x 4 wall it provides R 24-28.  Additionally, when sprayed in the walls, the foam glues the whole Tiny together essentially making it one solid mass.  It also dramatically reduces noise, creating a peaceful environment inside. Why use anything else?

Caution: Not all sprayed closed cell foam is really closed cell.  We are told that at high altitude where we build many closed cell foams are as little as 65% closed cell.

Also, you do not want to use some of the “green” soy based products.  Rodents and insect love to eat this foam.  It is like opening a diner in your Tiny’s walls and floor!

Fiberglass, rigid foam board, and Roxul are all lower R-Value options.  It is difficult to achieve a tight effective seal, thus lowering the insulation factor even more.

What are good materials for interior walls?

There are many options for interior paneling and your choice will depend on the style you want to achieve.  Do you like the look of wood?  Will you be clear coating or painting?  Do you like modern or industrial finishes?  Pine, aspen, or cedar 1 x 6 T & G lends itself to many styles installed horizontally or vertically as wainscoting. Paintable plywood, maple MDF ply, beadboard, in ¼” thickness for light weight are other good choices.

What flooring options should I consider?

One can use most any flooring that you would use in a foundation built home.  Quality cork flooring is a great option that is warm and durable.  Others are high quality vinyl, hardwood, and engineered flooring, hardwood being the heaviest which should always be a consideration. We do not recommend ceramic tile flooring.

How do I access water?

Install a hose bib hookup to run an RV fresh water hose from a house, well or various types of water sources.  If you intend to keep your Tiny Home in one place for at least a month at a time, we feel on board fresh water storage is a waste of space.  Do you want to transport your home somewhere to fill up every few days or carry heavy jugs to refill?  You will need some sort of permanent water source so why not provide for that outside instead of in your precious interior space?

What about plumbing?

SimBLISSity keeps all plumbing on the inside face of the walls.  Box chases can be installed to hide the plumbing or it can be run creatively to be shown as well. Keeping plumbing inside the insulation envelope keeps the pipes from freezing or dripping condensation inside the walls in very cold climates.

Exterior drain pipes should be kept as close together as possible, especially in cold environments.

It is wise to install removable p-traps on any drainage that is under the trailer so they can be removed during transit to minimize damage from hitting ground obstacles.

An RV holding tank valve can be used for your sewer waste hookup.

Toilets: How do I deal with my s#*t?

SimBLISSity encourages everyone to live as sustainably as possible.  We recommend using a composting toilet which is a huge water saver.  Flush toilets can be installed if you are hooked up to a sewer or septic. A low-flow RV toilet can be a good option if you are using a black water tank.

What about hot water heaters?

We recommend propane “On-Demand” hot water heaters.  Caution!  In cold climates not all on-demand water heaters will be able to heat water adequately.  Buyer Beware!  Check the specs carefully of any product you are considering.  Look at the gallons per minute rating with degrees of temperature rise.  A hot shower is 115 to 120 degrees.  Rinnai makes on-demand water heaters that will heat Colorado cold water to the temps you will enjoy!

Additionally, check the water flow rate that is required to activate the water heater.  If you have low water pressure your water heater may not activate.  Electric on demand heaters require very high wattage which can be a limiting factor to where you can plug in.

Can I do electrical wiring?

Always follow local building codes for electrical and hire a professional if you are not confident in completing the work yourself.

Always have an obvious electrical disconnect switch outside that emergency workers can identify and turn off in case of an emergency!  This is required by law!  Your breaker box qualifies if it is not locked up.

How about living off-grid?

We have lived off grid for nearly a decade.  It is the right thing to do but it is not for wimps!  We’ve got it down and love it! It is expensive to set up a truly functional off grid electrical system. There is a lot of maintenance and upkeep.

If you can be grid tied, rejoice and enjoy it!  If you are considering putting solar panels on your Tiny roof, realize you may not be able to orient your home to achieve the best solar gain.  Consider portable or ground-mounted panels.

Where do I get my electricity from?

Please consult a licensed electrician before hooking up to any electric.

There are many ways to access your electrical service.  Install an RV shore power receptacle to plug into an electric source.  The Furrion F30INS-PS 30 AMP Inlet works great for 110V 30 Amp service.  You can also run a 50 Amp electrical service if you have high wattage needs.  You can run a heavy duty extension cord to the electrical power source if you are not hard wired into an electrical meter, or you can install a retractable, hard-wired line with an appropriate shore power plug on the end.

Solar PV or generator power with battery power storage are off-grid alternatives.

Is this design “solar ready”?

Any Tiny’s electrical system will have a breaker box.  To hook up solar it takes a disconnect switch which is easily hooked up to your power supply.  Then you need a charge controller, an inverter and solar panels. This can prove to be more complicated than watching a You-Tube video to learn how to install them.

Do NOT put solar panels on your Tiny unless you are a traveling Tiny Home!  You want to be able to place your Tiny to optimize your views, privacy or space.  If solar panels are on your roof you must orient in the direction to optimize solar gain. Or you may want to or have to park in the shade.

Ground mount Solar Panels are the way to go. If you move often, create a movable unit.

How do I heat my tiny home?

There are many heating systems to choose from. One must have a thermostatically controlled heating system if living in cold climates. If you are hooked up to the grid, a Mini-Split heat pump/air conditioner is a great choice.  Make sure the model you choose will function with the lowest temperatures where you intend to live.

A thermostatically controlled Propane fireplace is another option.  They not only heat your home, but also warm your soul.  Check technical information carefully, they must be rated for mobile use.  You may want to have a licensed installer hook your gas up to insure safety and remember to always pressure test your lines after moving.

If using any gas heating system, make sure they are properly rated for mobile use and vented to the outside.  We have seen many supposedly “professional” Tiny House builders use unvented gas heating systems, thus creating a potential death trap!

Electric heating systems can be used but typically are energy hogs.  If you are plugged to an electric source with an extension cord, these systems will often trip breakers.

SimBLISSity discourages wood burning fireplaces, they can be dangerous!  If a wood burner is in a Tiny, it cannot be RV or ANSI certified.  Insurance availability may be challenged. If you choose to do it anyway, make sure to observe all clearances and venting directions as recommended by the manufacturer.

What size truck do I need to tow my tiny?

You don’t need a truck at all.  There is no need to have a $35,000. – $85,000. truck just to tow your Tiny on occasion.  There are many licensed and insured professionals that can tow for you.  If you have other needs for a truck or intend to tow your Tiny Home often, you will need a one ton truck.  Always check with the manufacturers recommended towing capacity.

Can I get financing for a tiny house?

Maybe!  This is a difficult task to achieve.  Check with your local Credit Union or bank to see if you qualify for a personal loan.  Your chances of getting financing for an RV loan are much improved if your Tiny Home is RV Certified.

You may be able to get RV Certification as a DIY’er.  Please contact Alex at Pacific West Associates prior to starting your build

SimBLISSity has an account with the lending group, SURV Credit.  You can go online to see if you qualify for a loan here.  If SimBLISSity builds your Tiny for you, it can be RV Certified through Pacific West Associates.

What about insurance?

There are great, comprehensive Tiny Home insurance policies available.  Please check out this article by a leading insurance agent in the tiny house community to learn more about how to get insurance.

Can I print the plans?

Yes, you are welcome to print the plans for your personal use.

Can I share the plans?

No, the plans are intended for your use only. They are not to be sold or copied without permission.