We built this tiny house shell in our shop in the spring of 2016 and towed it to its new home in Maple Ridge, BC. Our photo album for the build was titled the Alouette Tiny House. We finished the outside, and the owner took it from there and finished the inside.
About this tiny house shell
A shell is a tiny house with the outside done and the inside left open. On this one, we framed the floor, walls and roof on a trailer, closed it in, and finished the outside with natural wood lap siding, white trim and a metal gable roof.
The windows were installed too: big picture windows on the long sides, a tall narrow window and a small window up in each gable end. The door end has a roof overhang that shelters the entry. Inside, the photos show bare framing and open rafters, ready for the owner to finish.
Leaving the shop
A forklift moved the finished shell out of the shop and onto the street, where it was hitched to a pickup truck for the drive to Maple Ridge.
Delivery and set-up in Maple Ridge
The shell was towed onto a large, treed lot and set up on blocks. The door end, with its roof overhang, faces the yard.
Inside the shell
Inside, the walls and roof are framed and the window openings are trimmed out, but nothing else is done. This gives the owner a clean, dry space to plan the layout, run wiring and plumbing, insulate and finish the walls.
Watch the video tour
This video from Tiny Healthy Homes is titled “Tiny house shell tour – 1 year later”.
| Location | Maple Ridge, BC |
|---|---|
| Built | April 2016 |
| Type | Tiny house shell on a trailer |
| Roof | Gable roof with metal roofing |
| Siding | Natural wood lap siding with white trim |
| Windows | Large picture windows, a tall narrow window and a small window in each gable end |
| Entry | Door under a roof overhang at one gable end |
| Inside | Open framing and rafters, left for the owner to finish |
Shell or finished tiny house?
A finished tiny house is ready to live in on delivery day. A shell is the outside only. It gives you full control over the inside, but you take on the inside work, the trades and the schedule yourself.
A shell can suit you if:
- You are handy, or have trades you trust, and want to do the inside work yourself.
- You want a layout or finishes that no standard model offers.
- You want to do the inside work in stages, over time.
- You want a weather-tight building now and can finish it later.
What to plan before you finish a shell
- Layout first. Decide where the kitchen, bathroom, loft and stairs go before any wiring or plumbing is run.
- Weight. Keep an eye on the total weight of finishes and appliances so the house stays within the trailer’s rating.
- Insulation and moisture. Plan the insulation and vapour control for year-round living in a wet coastal climate.
- Power, water and heat. Choose how the house will connect to power and water, and what will heat it, early on.
- Rules and insurance. Check your local zoning and talk to an insurer before you start, since some only cover homes built to a CSA standard.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tiny house shell?
A tiny house shell is a tiny house on a trailer with the outside finished and the inside left open. The frame, roof, siding, windows and door are done, so the building is closed in from the weather. The owner then finishes the inside.
Why buy a tiny house shell?
A shell lets you skip the hardest outside work and still plan the inside yourself. You choose the layout, the kitchen, the bathroom and the finishes, and you can do the work at your own pace.
What is left to do inside a shell?
Most of the inside work: wiring, plumbing, insulation, wall and ceiling finishes, flooring, and the kitchen and bathroom. In this shell, the photos show the inside as open framing and rafters.
How was this shell delivered?
A forklift moved it out of the shop, then a pickup truck towed it on its trailer to the lot in Maple Ridge, where it was set up on blocks.
Can I live in a tiny house shell in BC?
Not until the inside is finished, and only where local rules allow it. Zoning for tiny houses on wheels varies from city to city, so check your local rules first. See our Shed Rules by City for a start.