Are Tiny Homes Safe?
Tiny homes have taken the real estate industry by storm. It has been widely recognized in the United States as an alternative means of living to the traditional home, especially for people who want to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Â
Others even turn their tiny homes into luxurious spaces. One question remains when we talk about the Tiny House Movement, though: are tiny homes safe? Is living in a tiny house safe? Let’s look into this concern.
Keep Furniture And Appliances Intact
Despite its size and/or small space, tiny homes are actually safe living spaces. So long as you equip your abode with safety must-haves, you’re good to go. Â
Your home’s safety is just as important for tiny home living as it would be for a traditional home. It’s important to make sure that your doors and windows have locks that are sturdy and functional.Â
If home security is a concern, then installing a security system will offer you an additional layer of safety and security.
According to Tiny house builder, Rich Daniels, if you chose to live in a tiny home, one of the most important things for safety is incorporating sturdy railings to your stairs or ladders leading upstairs or to your loft area.Â
This addition keeps them in place when a rough storm is coming. It would function as a barrier against environmental hazards and keep your bed in place, as well as meet building codes.
You should also consider installing a large window as another emergency exit, so you can easily escape when the situation calls for it. You may also improve the air inside your tiny home by installing a wall-mounted propane tank or gas stoves. Â
Generally, most tiny homes are built around combustible materials. Therefore, to prevent accidents, improving your ventilation system prevents fire hazards from destroying your tiny home.Â
And just like a traditional house, fire safety should be taken seriously. Your tiny home should have the standard types of detectors – like smoke detectors and/or carbon monoxide detectors, as well as a fire extinguisher for emergencies.
Proper Ventilation
Tiny homes can also be heated electrically but this method may require some added bucks. However, you can easily control your ventilation and allow sufficient air to enter and leave thereby maintaining indoor air quality.Â
You can achieve this purpose by opening a window when you’re cooking inside your tiny home.
You may also install a heat recovery ventilator or an energy recovery ventilator. These heat fresh incoming air and exhaust old air from each room. Â
The energy recovery ventilator also retains humidity in your living area and accordingly reverses it depending on the weather condition. Therefore, these installations balance your tiny home ventilation and provide a low rate of continuous air exchange.Â
It is quite important to supply the indoor space with fresh air and replace exhausted air so the air pressure to every room does not cause health hazards to its occupants. Â
It can be mounted in the ceiling or above the shower – whichever floats your boat. You can also install exhaust fans to keep harmful gases out of your tiny home.Â
This also lets fresh air in and safeguards against back-drafting of toxic by-products. Exhaust fans also keep unwanted smells from the composite toilet out of your living space. You may also install gas ranges that are vented on the exterior of your tiny home. Like exhaust fans, it also keeps harmful gases away from the interiors of your abode and regulates the entry and exit of air.Â
Maximizing The Use Of Space Without Overlapping
It is a given that tiny homes only consume a limited amount of space for every room. This is also a safety concern especially when the bedroom is located beside the kitchen or the bathroom.Â
You wouldn’t want your sheets burning while you’re cooking dinner now, would you?
The best way to prevent the clashing of everything you put into your tiny home is by installing convertible furniture. You can buy a reversible couch that turns into a bed easily. Â
This way, while you’re cooking in your living space, you can keep the bedsheets away from the fire and minimize the dangers of cooking near furniture. Â
The kids’ bedroom can also be installed with trundle or bunk beds and place a can rack or two in the kitchen. This provides ample space in-between the items of every room without destroying each other.Â
You can even set-up a dining room or patio outside so you can ensure that cooking does not harm any part of your tiny home. Another option to keep things from being clustered too close with one another is increasing your storage space.  You may install a couch that has several compartments or purchase bench seats that are foldable.
You can incorporate a trap door to your ceiling that can hold many tiny items in one place. You can even use the exteriors of your tiny home as a storage space. This is common among trailers that have separate outside compartments located within the tiny home foundation. This is where you may stock up items that are merely seasonal and not meant for everyday use.Â
Storm-Proofing Your Tiny Home
No matter where you live, tiny home insulation and weatherproofing for sunny or stormy weather is a must! Contrary to popular belief, tiny houses are safe in storms and natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes. Â
Most of them are even disaster-proof and have been proven sturdy enough against Hurricane Irma. Most tiny homeowners would mount the foundations of their living spaces with ropes and two anchors strapped to the base. Â
This keeps the tiny home from moving around when storms are tough. You may also install aluminum awnings which are just as sturdy.Â
If you live in an area that is known for natural disasters, you can take preventive measures to keep your tiny home safe from these calamities by knowing the foundation’s capacity.Â
This helps you estimate how many anchors you would need in anchoring your house and keep it from swaying. Tie-downs are effective security options. They are heavy-duty straps that keep the small units intact depending on the type of ground it’s built over.Â
You can also install Dee rings to wrap the ropes around. Most tiny homes have this feature. Make sure that you double-check them before a storm is about to hit your area. This ensures that you can avoid damages and estimate the possible hazards that you would be faced with. In fact, there are hurricane-proof tiny houses like those built by Cubicco Cabana. Â
This tiny house can withstand Category Five winds and is specifically made to survive extreme weather conditions. In fact, the State of Florida recognizes this model as well-capacitated against hurricanes.Â
Its Mobility Is A Life Saver
If you can’t afford to purchase a hurricane-proof tiny home, fret not. One of the perks of owning a tiny house built on wheels is its mobility. Â
Whenever a storm is about to hit your area, you can easily evacuate and bring your home along with you. Not all tiny homes are mobile, though.Â
Some shipping container models are quite immobile and moving your tiny house is not an option. Therefore, if you live in a storm-vulnerable area, it would be best to consider what type of tiny home is appropriate for your needs. Â
A tiny house on wheels or a tiny home with a solid and strong foundation?  Reviewing all options will help you avoid any natural hazards before they come.Â
Yes, Tiny Homes Are Safe
Most people’s concerns about tiny home safety issues are mostly a myth. Yes, they are tiny. Yes, they are susceptible to environmental hazards but, what house isn’t?  The safety concerns are just the same as those living in concrete walls. What keeps a home safe depends upon your preparedness and the tools that you install to keep it that way.Â
Tiny homes are built with safety features as well. Some even withstand extreme weather conditions better than the standard types of homes. With this guide, you already know what to install and how to utilize every room space. To answer the question – yes, tiny homes are definitely safe!
