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Keeping Our Homes Green – Roofing Options

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:04:53 +0000

By Herbert Norton Looking for a way to reduce your energy costs? If you consult your local energy company, you will likely receive a brochure explaining how to wrap your pipes, put a blanket around your hot water heater, plugging cracks and holes through which drafts can flow, and adding reflective coatings to your windows. No harm in any of that, and it’s a good start. But for homeowners, there is a better place to start – start at the top, with your roof. Why start with the roof? For the same reason that your mother tells you to wear a hat outside in snowy weather – just as most of your body heat is lost through your head, most of your home’s heat is lost through the roof. Heat rises. Likewise, your roof is the part of your home that is most exposed to the sun, so the question of whether your home will absorb the sun’s heat or reflect it back into the atmosphere is decided right there – on the roof. Homeowners don’t like to mess with their roofs, and for good reason – roof work can be expensive. But there are a range of options, and if you are considering an ecofriendly option such as installing solar panels, you may qualify for state or federal tax subsidies that will help to defray the cost. (To find out what subsidies exist in your area, check the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, DSIRE , or try this calculator ). If you are considering making your roof a part of your home’s energy efficiency plan, you will need to begin by answering the following questions: What material do you want to use for your roof? What color should your roof be? Do you want to add solar panels or solar shingles to your roof in order to capture solar energy for electricity or to provide heat for water? Materials These days, homeowners have many roofing materials to choose from. Most Americans (about 75 percent) go for cheap asphalt shingles – but cheap is the best that can be said of asphalt as a roofing material. It doesn’t insulate well, it is generally not recyclable at the end of its life, and its life is not long. On the other end of the economic spectrum, affluent homeowners will often choose wood shingles, such as cedar shakes, or slate. These options are all natural, insulate well, and are expensive. But cedar often comes from old-growth forests and slate is a non-renewable resource. Moreover, wood shingles will swell and shrink over time, producing cracks and resulting in moisture damage. Clay tiles are more durable and are made from a renewable, sustainable material, but they are so expensive that most homeowners can only manage to use them as accent materials along the edges of roofs. Somewhere in the middle, you have metal roofs. Metal roofs insulate well, they have high solar reflectance (meaning they stay cooler in the summer), they last a long time, and they are frequently made from recycled metals (and can be recycled themselves at the end of their lives). But they can be somewhat expensive. Nowadays, there is another option: recycled roofing materials. Believe it or not, you can now make your roof from recycled plastic, carpet, or tires. You can also opt for reclaimed or sustainably grown wood. Make Your Electric Meter Spin Backward If you want to generate electric power on your roof, or at least collect enough heat to warm up water, you may want to start with a basic metal roof. A standing-seam metal roof can work well as a base for thin-film photovoltaic panels. You’ll be following in reputable footsteps – President Barack Obama is adding solar panels to the White House roof this year, as is Texas Governor Rick Perry. Solar panels can be expensive – most solar panel systems cost at least $2,000 to $3,000 to install, and many cost more, depending on the system and the particular circumstances at your home. Solar panel systems pay for themselves within a few years, but that doesn’t help when you are trying to scrape together the money for the installation. There is also another solar roofing option – solar shingles. Solar shingles may be an ideal solution if by chance you have a roof that is already shingled, but is losing shingles in (preferably) a south-facing location where you can free up 300 to 400 feet of roof space. If you need to replace shingles anyway, you may as well replace the old shingles with matching solar shingles (they are designed to blend in with the asphalt shingles that most American homes use). Like solar panels, solar shingles can be connected to your local energy grid, so that if you produce excess electricity, it can go back into the system and your electric company can reimburse you for it. By absorbing heat from the sun, solar shingles can also reduce the amount of heat that your home absorbs, so you may find that you do not need to run an air conditioner as much in the summer. Don’t expect to go entirely off-grid with solar shingles – shingles do not store solar energy (unless you have also added batteries to hold stored energy, but adding batteries can add as much as $10,000 to your shingle installation costs), so you will need your regular electric grid at night. Homeowners who choose this option find that the solar shingles pay for themselves in about 8 to 10 years, while they last for 20-40 years (depending on climate and maintenance). Solar panels and shingles not only pay for themselves over time by allowing you to sell power back to your electric company, but they add to the value of your home. According to a recent study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 72,000 California homeowners who added solar panels to their roofs saw their home values rise by an average of $17,000 when they put their homes on the market. Consequently, you may be able to roll the cost of installation over into your mortgage. Caution Unless you are a roofing contractor yourself or have equivalent experience, don’t try to install your own roof. Find a contractor who is experienced in the kind of roof that you plan to put in place. If you are adding solar panels or solar shingles, you will also need an electrician. Be aware, as well, that if you are replacing a roof that was originally installed between 1940 and 1975, you may need to hire someone to do asbestos remediation. Finally, don’t forget to check your local building codes (or better yet, work with a contractor who is intimately familiar with them). Be sure, as well, to check with your homeowner’s insurance company to find out if the change in roofing materials will affect your insurance premiums. Do your homework and use common sense. If you can find a contractor and a roofing system that you are happy with, chances are that you will be very pleased with the results. About the Author Herbert Norton is a roofing contractor that started a website on roofing in the winter months to help educate his clients. Roofery.com has extensive information on many different types of roofing shingles, such as slate, tile, solar and metal shingles , to help consumers make an educated decision. Recently Herbert has been researching the “greening” of asphalt shingles , which are not normally eco-friendly.

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Keeping Our Homes Green – Roofing Options

Interactive Home Price Reduction Map in the US

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:43:47 +0000

Looking to buy a home in the United States? Or perhaps you are a real estate agent interested in knowing the average number of days a listing is on the market before sellers start thinking of price reductions. Either way, this map found on Trulia will give you a clue about where, when and how much the prices are being reduced in a particular neighborhood. According to the official program description, “ providing home buyers with access to price reduction data empowers them to make more informed decisions regarding which home to purchase and helps consumers get the most home for their dollar. Price reduction data also helps home sellers price their homes competitively as more homes come onto the market “. About 16,000 zip codes across America are available for visualizing. Tell us… do you find this instrument helpful? Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Meldown, A Chair Worth £8,750 Transparent Ball Chair or Bubble Chair by Eero Aarnio LED Faucet Hansacanyon Today’s Dream Home – El Encanto En Punta Mita Modern Fireplace Based on Technology Retro Inspired Chairs Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

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Interactive Home Price Reduction Map in the US

Could This Be the Future of Camera Designs? [Video]

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:38:42 +0000

The WVIL Concept Camera comes from Artefact and is a “vision” of a camera of the future. According to psfk, WVIL stands for Wireless Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens and the patented system combines the features of a smartphone with the ones of a photo camera. Here is some technical information from the official site: “When attached, focus and zoom are driven directly by the lens rings – with direct visual feedback – letting you keep your eye on the subject. These same indicators come to life and let you take control of the lens remotely by touch. At the end of the day it’s all about sharing and remembering with others. Share your experiences right from your camera – not the next day when you get home. No waiting, no wires. With the same connectiity and app platform as your smartphone, you can share through your favorite service from anywhere you have cell service. Why carry two devices when one will do it all?” Photographers out there, we would love to know your professional opinion about this concept! Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! This is the Future of Magazines : What do you think ? Hidden Tap Faucet, a Possible Future for the Old Faucets Lamp Inspired by a Security Camera Video Cameras “Disguised” as Pigeons Raising Awareness of the Need for Privacy Striking Animated Light Sculpture Beautiful Decorative Wall Vinyls Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

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Could This Be the Future of Camera Designs? [Video]

Casting Call – HGTV’s Professional Grade

admin — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 12:22:30 +0000

Ever take a look at the price tag for an item and think to yourself, “I could find that for way cheaper!”? Or get a quote from a professional and think, “I could just do that myself and save the money.”? Willing to put your money (and possibly your dignity and reputation) where your mouth Related posts: Holmes Magazine: The Magazine To Make It Right Mike Holmes, the star of HGTV’s Holmes and Homes and… ChannelLock Pliers 412 V-Jaw Review, Don’t Call It Tiny I’ve used a variety of ChannelLock pliers over the years….

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Casting Call – HGTV’s Professional Grade

Get kitchen remodeling ideas from Remodelers Showcase

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:41:34 +0000

Looking at pictures of a kitchen is fun (i.e. addicting), but if you’re looking for a kitchen remodeler, there’s no substitute for the real thing. Lake Country Builders – R29 If you’re looking for a kitchen designer or kitchen design ideas, swing by some of the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase homes in your neighborhood. (Chances are, a handful of projects aren’t too far away). College City Remodelers – R12 The tour starts today, and Saturday’s supposed to be gorgeous. I can’t think of much more I’d like than to creep on stranger’s beautiful new kitchens and home remodeling and bathroom remodeling projects. Fey Construction – R32 If you can’t make the tour, but you’re interested in kitchen remodel ideas, we feature more gorgeous photos from a collection of our trusted home design, building and remodeling partners . Streeter & Associates – R30 Our products will be shown in the following Remodelers Showcase homes (because we know you’ve been just waiting to plan your tour around our list): R4, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R12 R13, R14, R18, R19, R22, R24, R27, R28, R29, R30, R32, R37, R38, R39, R45, R46, R48, R49, R51, R52, R53, R54, R55, R56, R57, R58, R66, R68. Michael Lee, Inc. If you’re interested in seeing new, sustainable-minded homes, look for exclusive Warners’ Stellian coupons good for appliance discounts .

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Get kitchen remodeling ideas from Remodelers Showcase

Help me redesign this fire place

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 04:21:28 +0000

www.wcontracting.net Here are a couple of pictures of a fire place a customers asked me to redesign for them so I’m asking for your input. Let me know if you have any ideas for this area. I want to let everyone know about a great resource for home remodel design ideas call houzz. This is a website, which works along with an iPad app, to deliver awesome ideas for home remodeling at your finger tips. Go to houzz.com to see more.

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Help me redesign this fire place

Marriage Advice for Remodelers

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:02:45 +0000

Filed under: Kitchen & Bath , Big Projects , Essential Skills , Know-How You know overhauling your home can take a toll on your wallet and your patience. But it also can affect your marriage, if you let it. Our writer explains how to avoid the traps. The writer and his wife, hard at work. Photo: Charles & Hudson . Home improvements — even small repairs — can provide us with a sense of achievement, pride, and the beauty or peace of a job well done. That’s the upside. Yes, there’s seperate marriage advice for those going through a remodel. Here’s how your marriage can survive the overhaul. But they can also become high-pressure stress machines, especially for spouses working together. And the higher the stakes (think full kitchen renovation versus a wallpaper border) the higher the fallout when things go wrong. Note: Things always go wrong. Budgets get blown, timelines tank and communication is chaotic. Sometimes problems escalate into “I’m sleeping on couch” disagreements. That’s why Mike Holmes of Holmes on Homes and Holmes Inspection calls the marital fallout from projects “Divorce Dust.” For example: When Ken and Melly from Tyngsboro, MA decided to re-do their bathroom, both were excited. The idea was to start by taking apart the linen closet. Ken, who’s handy, got to work on his day off while Melly headed to the office, both unaware of the problem they’d just created. Melly figured that Ken should remove the shelves and trim. Ken (knowing the bathroom was a full gut) thought they had agreed on deleting every shred of the closet en route to the demolition eventually required. Once he got into it, he realized two things: Once you take the skin off the walls, all the bones are connected. Also, that there was no clean stopping point. And that’s how the entire linen closet wound up in trash bags in the driveway. Imagine Melly’s surprise when she got home. Though trying, projects can also be an opportunity to learn more about each other and explore new ways to get along. My wife Theresa and I have found ways within our own marriage — and the complete remodel of hundred year old house — to short circuit these challenges. Call it the guide to avoiding divorce dust, call it marriage advice for remodelers — either way, I hope it helps. The Clement family, suited up for work. Photo: MyFixitUpLife 1. Slow Down, Look, Listen Both of you will approach your projects from different perspectives. Call it Mars-Venus, different life experiences, whatever. The point is slow down –both of you– and listen to one another. And make lots of eye contact when talking. Even when you don’t want to. 2. Manage Expectations Things go wrong in projects. It’s not always someone’s fault either. A house is a complicated system and having respect for that going in will serve you as you roadblocks arise. 3. Plan First Many people suffering from home improvement headaches are in trouble because they got ahead of themselves. They tear down the deck without a detailed plan for the new one. Write an outline of the steps involved. How long you think they’ll take and when you’ll do them. Make materials lists. (Builders call this a “critical path.”) Also plan to be wrong and to improvise. And for jobs that require them, pull permits. This is so worth it, for a zillion reasons. 4. Budget Money is a hot-button issue and lots of couples find themselves starting angry sentences with “But you said it would cost….” What happened is that a realistic budget wasn’t written (you didn’t include the $800 in tools you’d need along with the materials) or there was an unknown (rotten roof decking under the garage shingles, for example). Or both. Or, you over-estimated your abilities thinking you could frame a wall/run wire to code. Once you realized it was harder in real life than on TV, the walls started closing in (figuratively, I hope) and you needed to hire a professional. All this boils down to this: Make a realistic budget. Include everything you can think of, then add 10%. Then, make sure you have some cash reserves beyond that because you’ll probably use that 10%. Finally, try really hard to stay on budget. 5. Establish Leadership “Islands” Theresa and I learned that working in parallel is only effective to a point. She’s better at some things, I’m better at others. We call those things our “islands” and we’re captains of them. For example, if she designs something, I work out if it can be built within the constraints we have (time, budget, etc.) It’s not that we don’t visit each other’s islands sometimes, but due deference is paid when we’re visiting. 6. Get Ready for Dust, Dirt and Inconvenience The bigger the project, the worse it’ll be. Different people have different tolerances for this. Everything from doing dishes in the bathtub to piles of tools in the corner on Christmas Day to dust in a room not being worked on. It gets to you eventually. Our favorite solution to this is to put hiring a maid into the budget. Which brings us to… 7. Schedule Changes I can’t tell you how many DIYers we’ve seen — both on TV and in real life — who don’t alter their daily activities to meet the demands of their project. Seriously, their houses are blown apart, they’re hemorrhaging money, both parties are furious, and still they take the dog out for a leisurely stroll, start working at 10:30 in the morning, chat with neighbors, or otherwise seem completely unaware that they’re burning time. And they wonder why they can’t finish? If there’s one bit of advice to take above all others, it’s this: You need long swaths of uninterrupted time working to get hands-on projects done. You can’t hang crown molding and talk on the phone. Follow this rule and others will fall more easily into place. Ed Sanders of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition can attest. This woodworker is building the interior doors for his home where he lives with wife and four children. He’s milling hardwood using a machine called a shaper, cutting the rails, styles and raised panels. And only after all that can he hang them in the opening. When we talked with him last year, he had the first doors done and was excited to finish. Then he got busy. A year later when we asked how the project turned out he, well, answered: “Oh…yeah…those doors…” He graciously and hysterically told the whole story about what it’s like living without interior doors (“It’s amazing what you can do with sheets!”). And his tale is emblematic of what home improvement is and what it really means. See, once you start, you’ve begun a journey. One way or the other, whether you come to the end of it or not, you’re on it. And the best way to enjoy it — and improve your home and feel that pride and peace — is to get along with each other. Let carpentry problems stay carpentry problems; money problems stay money problems (at least try your best to). Journeying the home improvement path together might change some things, but it doesn’t change who you are. So trust each other — a lot. Give each other reasons to deserve the trust. And work together. It’s what marriage — and home improvement — is all about. Still have remodeling issues on the brain? All DIY Infoabout another marriage-meets-DIY situation in New Wife, New Kitchen . All DIY Info | All DIY Info | Linking Blogs | All DIY Info

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Marriage Advice for Remodelers

10 Amenities to Look for when Buying a Home

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:04:02 +0000

Now that spring is here, buying and selling homes is an objective for many of you, who have waited patiently all winter to start your home search. Whether this is your first home or you are a veteran, there are amenities that you should keep an eye out for when looking to buy a home. While many people can stage and make a house look good, remember once their belongings are taken with them, the house will remain. Therefore, look at these 10 amenities when considering buying a home, to help assure you of getting a worthwhile investment. 1. Look at the kitchen appliances: One of the most expensive parts of homes are the appliances. The age, care, and condition of the kitchen appliances in the home will have a direct impact as to whether you will need to buy new ones, or if they will need to be serviced anytime soon. Go ahead… open the refrigerator! 2 . Finishes and materials: Once you know your price range, know what finishes are expected in your price point. Less expensive home will use vinyl flooring, lower end carpet and possible plastic laminate counters in kitchen and baths. While higher end homes may use more resilient flooring such as tile and wood, and solid surfacing in kitchens, such as granite or slate. Knowing what is expected in your price category will help you determine if the home you’re looking at is a deal or not. 3. Pay attention to the ceiling: The ceiling is a telltale place for water spots to show from possible leaks and cracks from structural damage. Pay attention to cracks in drywall, wall surfaces, and where the ceiling meets the wall for warning signs. 4. Outdoor areas of the home: Don’t forget to look at the roof, gutters, downspouts, and inspect the outdoor condition of the home. Especially older homes, try to find out from your Realtor or the previous homeowner when maintenance or replacements have been conducted in the past. 5 . Look at the neighborhood: Yes, your house is important, but the safety, location, and proximity to several amenities should be considered as well. Research nearby schools if you have children, as well as travel time to work, stores, and how your neighborhood is laid out. Feel just as comfortable with your neighborhood as your house. 6 . Upgrades versus standard amenities: If you are purchasing a brand new home from a builder, know what are upgrades versus standard amenities when looking at homes. Most model homes will have quite a few upgrades to show the homes in their “highest quality” state. While upgrades don’t mean the home is built any better or worse than homes with less upgrades. Once again, this information will help you be an informed homebuyer. Don’t allow yourself to buy a more expensive home than you budgeted for because of upgrades. Knowing your price point will keep you disciplined. 7 . Bathroom amenities: Similarly to the kitchen, look at the bathroom plumbing fixtures, shower/tub to see what condition these amenities are in. For older homes, if you know you will need to do a remodel or renovation in the future, you should be prepared to know this reality when looking at the home, not after you move in. 8 . Major systems: Take a look at the heating/air conditioner unit, hot water heater, and other major systems in the house when looking at homes. These systems can be costly if they are left in disrepair for too long. While you may not need to look at these until you are settling on one specific house, its good to keep on your checklist. 9. Homeowner added amenities: For resale homes, many homeowners have already upgraded the home on their own. From adding a swimming pool and deck in the backyard to crown molding and built in cabinets in the living room. Most homeowners will state what upgrades they have put into the house, and what the approximate cost it was to upgrade. Use this information when comparing like properties in a similar neighborhood, city, etc… 10. Look for a paper trail: Especially when buying a resale home, seek a paper trail, or a list of receipts and/or documents of repairs, upgrades, and services added to the home over the years. Similarly to buying a used car, the more informed you are, the more ideal buying a home from that individual will feel. Amenities in a home can be attractive, but if the homeowner can’t tell you who upgraded it and when, you may want to move on to the next house. Looking for a new home can be exciting, and at times nerve racking! Even though it can be both of these, looking for a home is an essential part of life, and believe it or not, it is the best investment you can ever make. Decide what amenities you have to have, and which ones you’d prefer, but don’t have to have. Use this 10 amenities list to help you know what to look for when looking for the perfect home. Freshome readers have you started looking for your next home yet? What amenities do you look for first? Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! The Pros and Cons of Buying a New vs. Pre-owned Home What was the last product you’ve bought online for your home ? How to Plan a Personalized Gym for your Home Top Home Improvement Retailer Home Depot hit by Recession How to Plan a Recreational Bar for your Home The Pros and Cons of Hardwood vs. Laminate Wood Flooring Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

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10 Amenities to Look for when Buying a Home

Prudential survey: Americans confident real estate can and will recover

admin — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:55:07 +0000

New national survey shows belief in real estate as a good investment is unshaken NEWARK, N.J., March 10, 2011 – The majority of America’s potential homebuyers and sellers — 68 percent — believe that the real estate market and property values will recover in the next year or two, according to a survey released today by Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc., a Prudential Financial, Inc. [NYSE:PRU] company. This exceeds the 47 percent of Americans who expected house prices would rise in a similar survey conducted in April 2010, underscoring a more bullish outlook for the real estate market today. In addition, 86 percent of Americans believe real estate is a good investment despite the market volatility of the past few years. The Prudential Real Estate Outlook Survey of 1,253 Americans between the ages of 25-64 in the market for buying a home was conducted Jan. 20-27, 2011. The survey reveals that six in 10 respondents are more interested in buying real estate (58%) and are optimistic about buying given the momentum of the economic recovery (59%). It also shows that although the price of many Americans’ homes declined during the recession, 89 percent recognize they can also buy a new house at a lower price. “This survey clearly demonstrates that Americans continue to be optimistic about the real estate market and believe that home prices will rise,” said James Mallozzi, chief executive officer of Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc. “A key take away from the survey is although consumers recognize that it is a good time to buy, they are concerned about their ability to sell their homes. This is one of the reasons the market is still struggling to recover.” For those on the fence about buying, uncertainty about selling an existing home (77 percent), concern about getting a fair price for the home (67 percent) and emotions (58 percent) are holding them back. For those who have sold homes in the past year, despite the down market 78 percent report that they were satisfied with the sale. Of these, 32 percent were very satisfied with the final price of their home and 46 percent were grateful they were able to sell given market conditions. A relatively small number, 22 percent, indicated that they were disappointed or resentful about the price they received for their home. The survey highlighted Americans’ interest in trading up their homes. Of the 45 percent looking to trade up, 64 percent wanted more space or property, 49 percent a nicer house and 41 percent a better neighborhood. Only 21 percent surveyed said they were looking to scale down, and 34 percent said that they wanted a similar home. The survey highlighted the importance of getting the right price in today’s market —74 percent of buyers believe that many homes could meet their needs and that price is a significant differentiator, while 26 percent stated that they were willing to pay top of market for a home that specifically suits their needs. In setting the right price, however, sellers were split—with 53 percent wanting to price right at or slightly below market to attract more bids and 47 percent wanting to price slightly higher than market and hoping to find a buyer willing to pay more. The majority of respondents highlighted the importance of real estate agents in the process of buying or selling their home. Seventy-five percent of those surveyed said that an agent is very important or essential to this process, with only 24 percent saying agents are helpful but not imperative. “Americans continue to see real estate agents as having a very important role in helping them price, buy and sell their homes,” added Mallozzi. “Although the data underscores the value real estate agents provide, it also shows that the industry needs to continue to work hard to meet clients’ unique needs.” The Prudential Real Estate Outlook Survey was conducted online. The margin of error is +/- 3 percent. A more detailed breakdown of the data is available at www.news.prudential.com . Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc. is Prudential’s integrated real estate brokerage franchise and relocation services business. Prudential Real Estate franchises are independently owned and operated. Companies are selected based upon outstanding performance records, high levels of customer service and shared business values with those of Prudential. Prudential Real Estate is one of the largest real estate brokerage franchise networks in North America, with more than 1,600 franchise offices and 54,100 sales professionals in the franchise Network as of Dec. 31, 2010. Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader with approximately $784 billion of assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2010, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Leveraging its heritage of life insurance and asset management expertise, Prudential is focused on helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth. In the U.S., the company’s Rock symbol is an icon of strength, stability, expertise and innovation that has stood the test of time. Prudential’s businesses offer a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds, investment management, and real estate services. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com .

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Prudential survey: Americans confident real estate can and will recover

Microhouses for Tiny Budgets

admin — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:00:10 +0000

With a bit of imagination and a lot of design ingenuity, Derek Diedricksen achieves the impossible: micro-shelters for less than $200. Talk about being resourceful. One particular structure, aptly named the Gypsy Junker, makes up for its scant square footage (24 square feet to be exact) with a surprisingly workable design. But this is actually the larger of Diedricksen’s models. The Hickshaw is a sleeper structure measuring only 2.5 feet wide by 6.5 feet deep. Another structure, named the Boxy Lady, stands only 4 feet tall. Despite the differences, however, all of Diedricksen’s unique designs have one thing in common: use of materials that, to others, look like trash . The Gypsy Junker is made out of shipping pallets , storm windows, and castoff kitchen cabinets . The Boxy Lady also uses a series of pallets, plus a striking stained glass window by artist Stephanie Atlee. Other design touches include a porthole window constructed from a front-loading washing machine, and a metal door-turned-countertop from the same washer. Most of the structures also have a transparent roof to give views of the treetops and eliminate the need for artificial lighting. The Gypsy Junker, shown above, also has a heater that runs on vegetable oil. For Diedricksen, building microhouses has been more than just a hobby—it’s a fascination and a lifestyle to complement his carpentry background. He self-published his own instruction book titled, Humble Homes, Simple Shacks, Cozy Cottages, Ramshackle Retreats, Funky Forts , and has been working on a YouTube series called, “Tiny Yellow House.” But when asked why he only builds tiny structures, Diedricksen sets the record straight: “I have only so much yard space and my wife is only so tolerant.” Enough said. Via Curbly ; Photos by Erik Jacobs for the New York Times

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Microhouses for Tiny Budgets