Our house in the middle of the shop

Creston Community High School construction students have spent their class time constructing a tiny house since mid-November inside the high school shop building.

The one-room house is 8 feet by 12 feet and 11 feet high from the floor to the roof. By time of completion it will have two windows and one entrance.

“This is my first year teaching construction at the high school after my colleague who taught it retired last year,” said high school construction and woodshop teacher Bill Mullin. “I had a conversation with our principal saying this would be a good idea to try. I did a bit of research and found a simple plan on the internet that was the right size to fit into our workplace.”

The house is the project for two construction classes which totals into one hour of work a day. Mullin says the project is an interesting way to teach different construction methods to students.

“We are trying to incorporate all the construction techniques and materials that you would see in residential construction,” said Mullin. “That way the students get experience in all the different facets.”

Currently the tiny house is a completed structure with walls, a roof and holes cut for the door and two windows.

“Right now we are getting ready to put siding on,” said Mullin. “Then we need to get the door in, the windows installed and finish the shingling.”

Upon completion the house will be sold but there currently are no details.

“We don’t know who it will be sold to yet,” said Mullin. “I imagine it will go up for some sort of auction. The usage of the building really depends on whoever buys it.”

Mullin says it may be some time before the completion of the project due to class scheduling. He is also unsure how much he intends to have students do before considering the house complete.

“The semester is over and I won’t have another construction class until next fall,” said Mullin. “I’m not sure if we are going to call it done when we get the exterior finished or if we will also do the inside as well.”

Mullin said he would do the project again and hopes to incorporate students from different classes in the process.

“We are talking about getting other classes involved in designing the interior,” said Mullin. “Maybe the woodworking class could build some fixtures or cabinets for the inside. It really depends on what it would end up being used for. I think it would be a good cabin for hunting or fishing or maybe a utility shed.”

With the possibility of doing the project again with a different construction class Mullin said there could be changes in design but primarily in aesthetics or the interior.

“If we were to do anything different I would consider maybe adding a loft or an additional window,” said Mullin. “We probably wouldn’t change the dimensions. The phenomenon of tiny homes is mostly that they get built on a trailer and designed to be moved. There are limitations on size when it comes to going down the highway and 8 feet wide is about it. We could potentially make it deeper.”

Mullin said the project so far has been well-received by students, faculty and members of the community.

“I’m excited to see how much interest there will be in it when time comes for it to go up for sale,” said Mullin. “That will kind of drive whether or not we do it again. I hope we do.”