Investing in high quality insulation for your New York tiny home is one of the best investments you can make. The better insulated your home, the easier it will be to maintain a comfortable temperature year-round with maximum energy efficiency. At Wind River, all our homes are constructed with wooden framing and closed cell spray foam insulation, which has by far the highest R-value available for the tiny home application. We use spray foam not only in the walls, but the roof and underbelly as well. The combination of wood framing and spray foam insulation ensures superior structural rigidity—especially important for tiny homes on wheels. Closed cell spray foam is impermeable, meaning water and air cannot pass through it. The wooden construction also allows less air infiltration than steel framing.

Investing in solar power for your New York tiny home is also a great idea. We recommend a ground mounted array for a semi-permanent tiny home setup. Housing the heavy batteries in a separate outbuilding will allow you to make the most of your New York tiny homes precious square footage while living a more off-grid lifestyle if you choose.

Another key design element for your New York tiny home is a deck. We recommend a combination of sunning space as well as a covered area for hotter New York days. The covered portion of your deck can also be screened if you’d like. Your builder should be able to assist with your overall site plan and may even be able to create a set of deck construction documents to be used for building your deck on-site.

Lastly, we recommend giving thought to the placement of your tiny home on your site. Set yourself up for energy efficiency by facing the long walls of your trailer to the north and south. This will mean less surface area penetration from the hot rising and setting summer sun. It also helps maximize your heat from the sun in the winter, which stays low in the southern sky. Consider landscaping that will increase the comfort of your home as well as its curb appeal. For example, planting trees and shrubbery to the east and west of the home will give you free added heat protection and shade in the summer months.