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Building Your Tiny House Dream: Design and Build a Camper-Style Tiny House with Your Own Hands (Creative Homeowner) Comprehensive Guide to Constructing a Small Home on Wheels, from Start to Finish Paperback – Illustrated, August 11, 2020

by Chris Schapdick (Author)

167 ratings

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Small Business

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The comprehensive how-to guide to building your own tiny home on wheels!

KNOW BEFORE YOU BUILD - Learn about all the tools you'll need and find information on essential skills, safety, costs, and resources
TAKE A PRACTICAL TOUR - Explore detailed photos of a lived-in version of the same tiny house you'll learn to build in the book
STEP-BY-STEP PHOTOS - Follow the entire tiny house building process from start to finish, along with cost and time estimates for each construction phase
FROM START TO FINISH - Each section on building your tiny home is carefully laid out in progression, from laying the foundation, framing, and roofing to plumbing, towing, and more
LEARN FROM AN EXPERT "Best Tiny House Award" winning author Chris Shapdick is the founder of Tiny Industrial, a tiny house building company

You've decided the tiny lifestyle is for you, and you're ready to finally make it happen. But how? Enter Building Your Tiny House Dream!

Building Your Tiny House Dream is the ultimate resource that will walk you through the entire construction process of building the tiny house of your dreams from start to finish! Packed with over 380 color phots and illustrations, and combining the "why" with the "how to," this book shows you each and every step to creating your own custom camper, so you can start enjoying the benefits of a tiny house.

Award-winning tiny home builder Chris Schapdick ("Best Tiny House Award," New Jersey Tiny House Festival, 2017) provides inspiring and detailed chapters that cover the fundamentals and everything you'll need to know before you begin building. Part one provides detailed guidance on essential information, from the skills needed and planning to tools, safety, and helpful resources. You'll also get to tour through the home of a couple who lives full-time in the same tiny house you'll learn to build so that you can see a real-life application of the space.

The second part of the book is where the fun really begins, with every single step for building your own personal tiny house laid out in careful progression. From creating the foundation, framing, and roofing to installing floors and doors, building furniture, and adding personality, you'll soon be able to truly call this tiny home on wheels your own and take it on the road wherever you want to go! You'll also find valuable information on kitchen and bathroom options for a small space. The total build costs less than $5,000 and takes just one month of full-time labor.

With this complete guide, you'll be able to turn your tiny house dream into a reality. Learn how to build your own tiny home with your own two hands, with Building Your Tiny House Dream!

"Get ready to have a tiny house that Chris will help you build with creative touches that you didn't think would be possible."
—Alex Eaves, Reuse Expert, Film Director of REUSE! Because You Can't Recycle the Planet

"Practical and down-to-earth ideas for anyone looking to build their own tiny house."
—Merissa Alink, LittleHouseLiving

"After reading this fun and in-depth look at the process of building a tiny home, it actually feels doable!"
—Lynette Hebble, Editor, San Diego PREMIER Properties & Lifestyles

From the brand

Who is Creative Homeowner?

Consumers recognize Creative Homeowner as their leading and trusted source for the best information, inspiration, and instruction related to the house and home.

Creative Homeowner is the preeminent publisher of books on all aspects of decorating and design, home repair and improvement, house plans, gardening and landscaping, and grilling!

What makes our books unique?

Creative Homeowner's books stand out from other publications with complete and easy-to-follow instructions, up-to-date information, and extensive use of color photography.
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From the Publisher

best tiny house award, building a house, building a tiny house, building plans

camper style tiny house, chris schapdick, house plans, how to build a tiny house

Home Sweet Home

microshelters, prefab houses, ryan mitchell, small home on wheels

Everything You Need to Know

Chris provides you with all the helpful information, tips, and advice you need to assist you in your build.

Frequently used lumber sizes
Build materials, cost, and tool breakdown
Trailer selection
Building checklist
Sample floor plans
Building the shell step-by-step
Building a camper from the shell step-by-step
Over 300 photos of the build

Design and Build Your Tiny Home

With Your Own Two Hands

Explore this comprehensive how-to guide to building your own tiny home from one of today’s leading designers and tiny house visionary—Chris Schapdick.

So you’ve decided the tiny lifestyle is for you, and you’re ready to finally make it happen... but how? Building Your Tiny House Dream is the ultimate resource that will walk you through the entire construction process from start to finish!

Turn your tiny house dream into a reality with Building Your Tiny House Dream!

Everything you need to know before the build: essential skills, tools, safety, and resources
Step-by-step photos follow the process of building a tiny house from start to finish
Inspirational gallery of real, completed tiny homes
Includes access to a how-to video of Chris building a tiny home project from beginning to end
Learn from an expert, Chris Shapdick, the founder of Tiny Industrial, a tiny house building company

Get Inspired and Get Started

Who and What Is This Book For

This book is for anyone who wants to learn step-by-step how to build a basic tiny house on wheels. Your new tiny house can be customized to be whatever you need!

Fundamentals

Chris goes over safety essentials as well as the tools and equipment you'll need to execute the build in the book.

What It's Like to Live in the Tiny House

Get an inside look at tiny house dwelling with Emily and Dan Moore, who live full time in the same tiny house you'll learn to build in this book.

Step-by-Step Photos

tiny homes on the move, tiny house, tiny house basics, tiny house floor plans

"Get ready to have a tiny house that Chris will help you build with creative touches that you didn't think would be possible."

—Alex Eaves, Reuse Expert, Film Director of REUSE! Because You Can't Recycle the Planet

"Practical and down-to-earth ideas for anyone looking to build their own tiny house."

—Merissa Alink, LittleHouseLiving (website)

Building Your New Tiny House from Start to Finish

Building the Shell

Follow step-by-step photos and directions to build the shell of your new tiny home, which includes four walls and a roof mounted to a trailer.

Do Your Own Thing

Once you build the shell of your tiny house you can do whatever you want—the sky's the limit! Turn your blank canvas into something that suits your needs: workout space, home office, pool house, music studio, or even your main home.

Build a Camper Tiny House

Learn how to turn your tiny house shell into an incredibly beautiful, custom camper. Your tiny house camper will have a level of comfort, coziness, and quality that you just can't find in a manufactured camper.

Adding a Kitchen and Bathroom

Explore options for adding a kitchen and a bathroom into your tiny home, essential if you plan to make it your full time residence.

WARNING: California’s Proposition 65

Editorial Reviews

Review

Get ready to have a tiny house that Chris will help you build with creative touches that you didn't think would be possible.

--Film Director of REUSE! Because You Can't Recycle the Planet "Alex Eaves"

Suitable for all skill levels though aimed at beginners, Building Your Tiny House Dream is a comprehensive guide, complete with an extensive resource list, that's guaranteed to turn a daunting project into an achievable dream.

-- "Foreword Reviews"

This appealing guide from tiny house builder Schapdick (The Joy of Tiny House Living) is for those who have already decided to construct their own small living space and are ready to start building.

-- "Publishers Weekly"

Book Description

Combining the “why” with the “how to,” Building Your Tiny House Dream will show you each step to constructing your own custom camper! Part one provides detailed guidance on essential information, from the skills needed and planning to tools, safety, and helpful resources. Start building your tiny home in part two that’s carefully laid out in order from start to finish, from laying the foundation and framing to plumbing, adding personality, and towing so you can take your tiny home on wheels on the road! Also included is access to an online how-to video series of the author building the featured tiny home project from beginning to end.

From the Back Cover

Build Your Own Tiny Home
with Your Own Two Hands

You've decided the tiny lifestyle is for you, and you're ready to finally make it happen. Building Your Tiny House Dream is the ultimate resource that will walk you through the entire construction process from start to finish! Award-winning tiny home builder Chris Schapdick provides inspiring and detailed chapters that cover the fundamentals and everything you'll need to know before you begin building. You'll also get to tour through the home of a couple who lives full-time in the same tiny house you'll learn to build so that you can see a real-life application of the space. The second part of the book is where the fun begins, with every single step for building a tiny house laid out in careful progression, from creating the foundation, framing, and roofing to installing floors and doors, building furniture, and adding personality so you can truly call this tiny home on wheels your own! The total build costs less than $5,000 and takes just one month of full-time labor. With this complete guide, you'll be able to turn your tiny house dream into a reality.

Introduces all the tools you'll need and information about costs, safety, and more
Takes you on a practical tour through a lived-in version of the same tiny house you'll learn to build in the book
Step-by-step photography walks you through the entire building process from start to finish, along with cost and time estimates for each construction phase
Includes valuable information on kitchen and bathroom options for a small space

"Get ready to have a tiny house that Chris will help you build with creative touches that you didn't think would be possible."
—Alex Eaves, Reuse Expert, Film Director of REUSE! Because You Can't Recycle the Planet

"Practical and down-to-earth ideas for anyone looking to build their own tiny house."
—Merissa Alink, LittleHouseLiving.com

"After reading this fun and in-depth look at the process of building a tiny home, it actually feels doable!"
—Lynette Hebble, Editor, San Diego PREMIER Properties & Lifestyles

About the Author

Chris Schapdick is the founder of Tiny Industrial, a tiny house building company. In 2016 Chris bid his corporate career farewell and decided to strike out on his own, launching several businesses designed around building tiny houses and coaching others to follow their dreams of a simpler lifestyle. Chris is now a sought after blogger and speaker on the tiny house circuit, and was awarded the "Best Tiny House Award" by the New Jersey Tiny House Festival in 2017.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Fox Chapel Publishing; First Edition (August 11, 2020)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 158011847X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1580118477
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8 x 0.4 x 10 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #280,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #115 in Small Homes & Cottages
- #426 in Home Design & Construction (Books)
- #604 in Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement (Books)

Customer Reviews:
167 ratings

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Chris Schapdick

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Chris is a tiny house builder (www.tinyindustrial.com) and helps others forge their own path via his coaching business. Putting his experiences together in book form is a way to reach more people to help them as well.

Chris does not come from a construction background, but instead used to lead a 9-5 life. Back in 2017 Chris wanted to change directions and dedicate himself to building more tiny houses and writing some books on this topic. Curiosity and a willingness to take risks have made this new path infinitely rewarding since he gets to help people who are struggling to find direction to forge their own path forward.

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167 global ratings

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Customers find the book provides a step-by-step guide to building a tiny house, with helpful information and pretty pictures. They appreciate its readability and consider it worth the price.

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9 customers mention "Ease of use"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's step-by-step approach, with one customer noting it provides clear instructions without excessive hand-holding.

"...Excellent instruction without excessive hand holding. I modified the plans a bit for my own taste, but the good bones are definitely there!..." Read more

"For anyone interested in how we might build our own, this is a step by step guide. Clear and helpful. Worth the $$." Read more

"...This book is written completely different, it's enjoyable and easy to follow, with very clear instructions and pictures...." Read more

"this book is the best ever for building your own and personal tiny house 🏠 I am really fell happy because finally I had and I would like say thank..." Read more

6 customers mention "Readability"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book excellent and enjoyable to read.

"...Excellent instruction without excessive hand holding. I modified the plans a bit for my own taste, but the good bones are definitely there!..." Read more

"...This book is written completely different, it's enjoyable and easy to follow, with very clear instructions and pictures...." Read more

"This book is exceptional and helpful. My number one go to handbook." Read more

"good little project book, lots of ideas" Read more

3 customers mention "Information quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and helpful.

"...Clear and helpful. Worth the $$." Read more

"This book is exceptional and helpful. My number one go to handbook." Read more

"Very Informative and Detail..." Read more

3 customers mention "Picture quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers like the pictures in the book.

"...it's enjoyable and easy to follow, with very clear instructions and pictures...." Read more

"...This book is easy to follow with a ton of great color photos! We cannot wait to finish our camper!" Read more

"...The pictures are pretty and if you just want to look at pretty pictures and dream about something you will never actually do, then maybe get it...." Read more

3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth every cent.

"...Clear and helpful. Worth the $$." Read more

"...Good sale!..." Read more

"Worth every cent...." Read more

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brooke whipple
I built this!
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2022
Verified Purchase

This was an excellent book for getting me on the path to building my own! Excellent instruction without excessive hand holding. I modified the plans a bit for my own taste, but the good bones are definitely there! If you have basic carpentry skills you can pull this off with the help of this book and some hard work and adaptability. Don't expect EVERY LITTLE detail to be spelled out for you, but there's enough to get you to the finish line. He also has some videos up on YouTube to help if you get stuck. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! You can check out my whole build on my youtube channel- Girl in the Woods. Thanks Chris!!!

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brooke whipple

I built this!

Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2022
This was an excellent book for getting me on the path to building my own! Excellent instruction without excessive hand holding. I modified the plans a bit for my own taste, but the good bones are definitely there! If you have basic carpentry skills you can pull this off with the help of this book and some hard work and adaptability. Don't expect EVERY LITTLE detail to be spelled out for you, but there's enough to get you to the finish line. He also has some videos up on YouTube to help if you get stuck. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! You can check out my whole build on my youtube channel- Girl in the Woods. Thanks Chris!!!

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Whitney
Practical and infomative.
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
For anyone interested in how we might build our own, this is a step by step guide. Clear and helpful. Worth the $$.

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Don'tPanic
A great instructional book.
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2022
Verified Purchase
Most similar books write the building instructions so technical, those without much experience can't follow easily. This book is written completely different, it's enjoyable and easy to follow, with very clear instructions and pictures.

Added bonus, the "why this way" questions are addressed so even the most inexperienced will not be tempted to make shortcut mistakes and understand why something is done the way it is.

100% great read!

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8 people found this helpful

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Spiritdanzer
Excellent Book to help anyone build a small RV/Gypsy Wagon It is very user friendly. Good sale!
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
I used this book to help build a new Venders Gypsy Wagon/Vargo/Caravan/RV for travelling shows, fairs, and festivals!

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2 people found this helpful

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Vinicio El Flacco.
whit this book the dream come true.
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2024
Verified Purchase
this book is the best ever for building your own and personal tiny house 🏠 I am really fell happy because finally I had and I would like say thank you to the owner for
creating this book.

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One person found this helpful

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Rita Hassing
Excellent book
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2023
Verified Purchase
This book is exceptional and helpful. My number one go to handbook.

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Tina B.
As described and received super quick!
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2020
Verified Purchase
As described and received super quick! Very happy with purchase! This book is easy to follow with a ton of great color photos! We cannot wait to finish our camper!

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2 people found this helpful

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Lakenvelder Muse
Good book.
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2023
Verified Purchase
I still have to find a trailer for the right price
I cannot wait until I built this.

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vazoom
Good book
Reviewed in Australia on October 29, 2024
Verified Purchase

No issues. Good book, good item.

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Dany Rivard
The best book / le meilleur livre !
Reviewed in Canada on August 17, 2020
Verified Purchase
The best book on the subject, well explained and very well illustrated. A plus for those who want to build a wonderful little cottage for hiking, hunting, fishing or travel.

Le meilleur livre sur le sujet, bien expliqué et très bien illustré. Un plus pour ceux qui veulent construire un magnifique petit chalet pour la randonnée, la chasse, la pêche ou les voyages.

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Dany Rivard

The best book / le meilleur livre !

Reviewed in Canada on August 17, 2020
The best book on the subject, well explained and very well illustrated. A plus for those who want to build a wonderful little cottage for hiking, hunting, fishing or travel.

Le meilleur livre sur le sujet, bien expliqué et très bien illustré. Un plus pour ceux qui veulent construire un magnifique petit chalet pour la randonnée, la chasse, la pêche ou les voyages.

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Martin smith
Great resource
Reviewed in Australia on May 14, 2021
Verified Purchase
Great reference book for anyone planning on building a tiny home.

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Terra
highly recommend it
Reviewed in Canada on May 2, 2022
Verified Purchase
very detailed and informative

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willjames99
Tiny House book
Reviewed in Canada on December 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
Not detailed as I was expecting. Nothing here that can't be found using some simple internet searching.

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Building Your Tiny House Dream: Design and Build a Camper-Style Tiny House with Your Own Hands (Creative Homeowner) Comprehensive Guide to Constructing a Small Home on Wheels, from Start to Finish Paperback – Illustrated, August 11, 2020

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From the brand

Who is Creative Homeowner?

What makes our books unique?

New & Upcoming

Yard & Garden

Landscaping

Home Improvement

Home Plans

Grilling

From the Publisher

Everything You Need to Know

Design and Build Your Tiny Home

With Your Own Two Hands

Get Inspired and Get Started

Who and What Is This Book For

Fundamentals

What It's Like to Live in the Tiny House

Step-by-Step Photos

Building Your New Tiny House from Start to Finish

Building the Shell

Do Your Own Thing

Build a Camper Tiny House

Adding a Kitchen and Bathroom

Editorial Reviews

Review

Book Description

From the Back Cover

About the Author

Product details

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About the author

Chris Schapdick

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I built this!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Good book

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book / le meilleur livre !

The best book / le meilleur livre !

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource

5.0 out of 5 stars highly recommend it

2.0 out of 5 stars Tiny House book

Good book

The best book / le meilleur livre !

Great resource

highly recommend it

Tiny House book