4 Types of Tiny Houses that are Unique and Budget-Friendly

Are you searching for the different types of tiny houses suitable for you? Then this article will help you reach your decision. We cater to everyone’s needs and make affordable but stylish tiny home types available for you.

Thiessen Cooper architects, based in the Caribbean, Suriname, and the Netherlands, bring 4 types of tiny house types that are most suitable for tropical areas.

1. Tiny House on Foundation

If you’re skeptical about building a small home for the first time, then you should look into a concrete tiny house. It’s a budget-friendly version of a normal-sized house and brings many benefits with it.

a. Function

A concrete foundation ensures sturdiness and durability. The value of your tiny home will increase as the structure remains intact for years. The precast concrete prevents damages, like peeling paint, termite damage, peeling wood, etc.

The use of earthly materials like sand, gravel, recycled cement, and energy-efficient production methods makes the home eco-friendly.

Noise Reduction is a significant benefit of a concrete boundary. The noise from outside won’t penetrate your house the way it will do in wooden or other tiny home types. If you like living by water bodies, then this may be a deciding factor for you.

b. Form

One of the reasons this style is our top pick is because of the freedom of design it offers. If you want a modern and luxurious-looking tiny home but on a budget, a concrete structure might be perfect for you.

There are several options of unique exteriors with a concrete build. You will find a lot of variety in shape, structure, and layout in these types of homes. You can do your research or connect with skilled architects to help in your design selection.

2. Cabin-style

Material

Climate is an important factor when making cabin houses. Tropical areas, that have severely hot temperatures, require that you build your house in a way that keeps it cool. Wood is a natural insulator so it will serve that purpose.

However, in Tropical summers, it tends to get extremely hot on the upper floors of the cabin. To avoid that, we recommend using different materials for your floors, windows, roof, and doors.

For the flooring, thermal mass will be best as it absorbs heat during the daytime. Cement is also a great option due to several benefits; your cabin stays cool and at the same time, remains free from rotting and water damage.

Reflective roofing reflects the sunlight and prevents the heat from affecting the house. Metal will not be a good idea as it’s a heat reflector but doesn’t keep it out. Plenty of effective roofing options are available; you can contact Thiessen Cooper architects for further discussion.

Indoor lighting can affect the temperatures inside your cabin. Make sure your lamp or lighting fixtures are compatible with the sockets. Selecting the bulbs that will emit the least heat will drastically change the temperature of your cabin.

Other than that, modern and effective cooling techniques are available in the market and you can always attach size-friendly and budget-friendly air conditioning.

3. Shipping containers

Shipping containers are another popular choice for tiny and affordable homes. This eco-friendly option utilizes the thousands of shipping containers sitting on docks. The main material, steel, makes it a sturdy and durable option.

It may be hard to believe how a box of steel can transform into a cozy home, but we will show you some different architectural styles you can invest in for a beautiful small home.

You can style the shipping containers as you like. Stack multiples if you want a bigger space or just work with a single one. Replacing glass with a few parts of the containers adds to the texture and gives a contemporary touch, like in the picture.

Other than that, everything depends on your taste. Architects can advise you on different features, like bedroom, bathroom, living room, patio, etc. A good interior designer will also play a significant role here.

The best part is that all of this will be cheap to include, compared to if you were getting a normal-sized house.

However, you need to be cautious of a few things when choosing this type of home. Shipping containers are mostly small in size – an 8ft wide shipping container and a 7ft wide interior room. So it can be uncomfortable even for the people who’ve lived in cramped-up homes before.

To avoid that, you will have to use multiple containers with the walls removed as per need. Another technical piece of advice here will be to make sure not to compromise the strength and sturdiness of the containers by removing too many panels of steel.

Some projects need extensive steel reinforcement, so the cost can go too high in those, defeating the purpose of an affordable home.

Steel might not be a smart selection for a tropical climate. The lack of insulation of steel can make these containers too hot on typical sunny days.

4. House on wheels

Many choose this type of tiny house due to the freedom of the road. As the name suggests, this home is a trailer or a bus conversion. Before investing in a tiny house on wheels (THOW), you should know the law regarding it in your country.

Removing the seats from the bus or trailer leaves plenty of area for the home. You can invest in proficient architects to design your trailer in a way that maximizes space. The steel structure and flooring are already built to be durable, so you save the money for that too.

A worthwhile investment for travelers where they’ll find the comfort of their home in every surrounding. Especially, in areas like the Caribbean or Netherlands, where there are plenty of natural sites to explore.

Final Words

If you’ve reached this part, then one of these different types of tiny houses grabbed your attention. For any further information on them, feel free to contact our architects.

With the growing acceptance of tiny home living, we encourage families to consider these houses. All the small house types above are budget-friendly yet have unique architectural designs.

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