Tiny Houses

Half/Half tiny house leaves the inside up to you

Half/Half tiny house leaves the inside up to you
Half/Half will set you back US$22,000 for a finished exterior and bare shell interior
Half/Half will set you back US$22,000 for a finished exterior and bare shell interior
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The towable Half/Half tiny house sits on a trailer
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The towable Half/Half tiny house sits on a trailer
The dwelling measures 20 ft (6 m) long, 8.5 ft (2.5 m) wide, and 13.6 ft (4.14 m) high
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The dwelling measures 20 ft (6 m) long, 8.5 ft (2.5 m) wide, and 13.6 ft (4.14 m) high
Since the Half/Half is delivered as a bare shell, there's not a whole lot to talk about on the inside, but the firm's press images show a finished interior as an example
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Since the Half/Half is delivered as a bare shell, there's not a whole lot to talk about on the inside, but the firm's press images show a finished interior as an example
A ladder leads to a small loft sleeping area upstairs
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A ladder leads to a small loft sleeping area upstairs
Access to the home is gained via one front door
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Access to the home is gained via one front door
The snug loft sleeping area
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The snug loft sleeping area
View toward the kitchen and lounge/dining area
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View toward the kitchen and lounge/dining area
The example interior has plenty of storage space
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The example interior has plenty of storage space
Like a lot of tiny houses we cover, the roof and walls comprise SIPs (structural insulated panels)
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Like a lot of tiny houses we cover, the roof and walls comprise SIPs (structural insulated panels)
Siding comes in the form of Newtechwood, which is made from reclaimed wood fibers and recycled plastic bottles, and requires no maintenance
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Siding comes in the form of Newtechwood, which is made from reclaimed wood fibers and recycled plastic bottles, and requires no maintenance
The press photos show an example of how a finished unit could look inside
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The press photos show an example of how a finished unit could look inside
The floor of the home is rated at an R-value of R-30
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The floor of the home is rated at an R-value of R-30
The bathroom area
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The bathroom area
Half/Half will set you back US$22,000 for a finished exterior and bare shell interior
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Half/Half will set you back US$22,000 for a finished exterior and bare shell interior
If one wants to escape totally off-the-grid, the Half/Half can also be outfitted with a solar power package by the customer
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If one wants to escape totally off-the-grid, the Half/Half can also be outfitted with a solar power package by the customer
The Half/Half tiny house from afar
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The Half/Half tiny house from afar
The towable Half/Half sits on a trailer and measures 20 ft (6 m) long, 8.5 ft (2.5 m) wide, and 13.6 ft (4.14 m) high
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The towable Half/Half sits on a trailer and measures 20 ft (6 m) long, 8.5 ft (2.5 m) wide, and 13.6 ft (4.14 m) high
The windows boast Low-E glass to aid heat and sound insulation.
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The windows boast Low-E glass to aid heat and sound insulation.
View gallery - 18 images

Tiny houses can range from ridiculously cheap to relatively expensive, depending on how much work you do yourself, the materials used, and how well-furnished the interior is. Monarch Tiny Homes offers what looks like a good compromise between these two extremes, with its Half/Half tiny house. For US$22,000 the firm sells a well-insulated home that's finished on the outside, with the interior left a bare shell for the owner to complete.

Half/Half sits on a towable trailer and measures 20 ft (6 m) long, 8.5 ft (2.5 m) wide, and 13.6 ft (4.14 m) high. Like a lot of the tiny houses we've covered, the roof and walls are built using SIPs (structural insulated panels), and Monarch Tiny Homes reports that these have a rated R-value (a measure of thermal resistance) of R-14.

The SIPs are covered by siding from composite wood firm Newtechwood, which is made from reclaimed wood fibers and recycled plastic bottles, and requires no maintenance. The windows are Low-E (low-emissivity), to aid heat and sound insulation.

View toward the kitchen and lounge/dining area
View toward the kitchen and lounge/dining area

Since Half/Half is delivered as a bare shell, it's not going to come looking as swish inside as the firm's press images, which depict a finished interior. That said, it certainly has potential; you enter the single front door into a cozy lounge/dining area, which is followed by a kitchen area and snug bathroom with toilet, sink, and shower. A small loft bedroom is accessed via ladder. Since it's just a shell inside, this layout could no doubt be tweaked to taste and requirements.

In addition to the option of adding a standard hookup, Half/Half could also be outfitted with solar power by the customer, and Monarch Tiny Homes told us that any standard system – like a SolMan for example – should do the trick.

Source: Monarch Tiny Homes

View gallery - 18 images
3 comments
3 comments
PKeffer
For $22,000 I could buy a small class C motor home that has more room and can be driven around.
Don Duncan
The key to an energy efficient and therefore low cost home is super insulation. R-14 does not do it. R-30 would be my minimum. Also, the windows are a subjective design choice, better left to the buyer. I would have chosen no windows. Skylights are better, more practical. What is the R-value of the roof/floor?
The roof configuration/design might serve in snow country but what if I want to live in the south or southwest and take advantage of solar? A more flat roof is needed.
Is that notched door entry practical? If building for thermal integrity why not have an air lock entry?
Robert Walther
All it needs is the Phone Box from Dr. Who.