A while back we received an email from a reader pouring compliments on us, our budgeting, our execution, our building skills, etc. The author had us confused for another couple who – it seems – knows what they are doing and has not gone through seven versions of their 240 sq. ft. floorplan for their home. He also had us confused for a couple of builders who only have to measure once and can cut with the precision and superiority of a seasoned veteran. It was all I could do not to chuckle at the well meaning homage. But again, he had us confused for another couple.
You see, we are NOT seasoned veterans. We measure multiple times and cut just as many. We have unfortunately wasted materials, cut wrong sides, nailed into something other than studs or supported paneling. And just yesterday I confirmed our humanity by mis-measuring and miscutting not one, but 22 pieces of wood.
If you follow us on Twitter or Instagram you would have seen this photo around 12:30pm EST or so.
The caption even read:
“Ahhhhh. I had forgotten how tedious window trim. But so clean and attractive when finished. #tinyhouse”
See, yesterday started out with me ripping some of our 45-year old reclaimed white pine, sanding it, and prepping it for window jamb trim. I measured several times on all windows. I began placing the trim in one piece at the time. Things were lining up well and each piece seemingly fit like a glove. In fact, each piece did fit like a glove. So much so that at lunchtime I went inside and proclaimed victory to both Crystal and the tiniest r(E)volution. They were impressed.
By 3pm though (and when my dad came home and reminded me of such) I had a vision flash through my head.
Beautiful wall, right? We put up that paneling a few days ago. It is 1/4 x 4 x 8 Birch OSB Utility Panel. I posted that pic on Facebook on Nov. 14 and received a lot of great comments. So what is all the fuss you may be asking? Perhaps some of you already know.
You see when I was trimming out the window jamb I failed to keep in mind (again, pointed out by my dad) that the 1/4 inch paneling had to be accounted for. That’s right. All my trim had been cut and install flush with our wall studs, NOT our paneling! Oy vey. 22 pieces of wood wasted. Okay, so not wasted. I will reuse some of them and will repurpose others. But it was still disheartening for me as I was so proud of the work I had done and was looking forward to to doing the actual window trim today. Not gonna happen though.
I write all this not for sympathy but rather to share with everyone that we all make mistakes. It is part of the learning process. Some lessons are more expensive than others, granted. But they are all chances to refine ourselves and our techniques. American hotelier, billionaire, and philanthropist is credited with saying, “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.”
What mistakes have you made in building your tiny house or small home? Did you learn a valuable lesson from it? If so, what was that lesson?
And in closing, did you read yesterday how you can partner with Tiny r(E)volution? We are asking for help to stay online and on-air during 2013. Please find out how today!
Hey Andrew- herein lies my reticence to build my own tiny. I am a crafty hands on person with many years of sewing construction under my belt, which I have been told is not unlike building. But I carry it all in my head. I know it by “feel”. I know instinctively that you have to stitch the shoulder seams before you apply the sleeve and if you insert the sleeve before you seam the sides, you can make a beautiful one line all the way up to the cuff. I dont know these things in construction. It took me years to learn these about sewing, and I just dont see me doing it for building! OY VEY is right! All of my building experiences have been like this one, and I say MORE power to anyone who dares take this on. Perhaps a little realism would be a good thing for those of us in the community. And perhaps a little more community in the building of Tiny Houses! We could come together and each would know something to help the whole!
Hehehe! I have so many stories I could share! I have messed up SO much! but I learn, and if I tell myself that that is the ultimate point for me it makes me feel a little less ‘special’ :). Great post, have a very happy Thanksgiving Drew and Crystal!
Thank you for reading mizacy. You have a great Thanksgiving yourself!
I think the problem was not your cutting or your measuring but trying to trim out a window before you got the wall covering on. According to “the Plan” (http://tinyrevolution.us/plan-of-attack/ ) Step 14 is “Interior sheathing” and Step 15 is “Interior trim and built-ins”. I guess it does help to follow the steps in order…
Oh man Michael. Touché. You got me…with my own words even. HAHAHAH. But seriously. I decided to do the trim because as you probably know we are building “cash on the barrel” and we haven’t the money to buy all the paneling right now whereas we do have the wood for our trim (it is reclaimed barnwood) so I was trying to stay active and do what I could. Guess I learned my lessons, huh?
I don’t have an “oops” moment to share, but do have a question. My husband and I have begun the process of building our own tiny home, and was wondering, where do you find “reclaimed (barn)wood”? I’ve heard of a lot of people going this route to save money and for the environment, but no one seems to say how they got it?! I would love to find out! 🙂
Hi there Andria. I sent you a message on FB. Feel free to email me at andodom@gmail.com
I have discovered two schools of thought while building stuff. #1 Always work by yourself, so there are no witnesses to the…“oops” #2 Always work with some else, so you can blame them for “your” oops… The common denominator is “stuff” always happens, even/especially to an experienced builder due to the law of averages. You’re still up on that pedestal in all of our eyes, especially when you share your wins and losses with us. Have a great Thanksgiving Drew, Crystal & the little one, Tilly! Hoping that your dad actually built the pedestal though, hehehe
I was working by myself. Check! I did blame it on my dad after the fact. Check! (although he refused to take blame. HAHAHAH). You are right. Stuff does happen and this is really only the second blooper (falling just behind me ripping an entire piece of exterior panel to 93″ as opposed to the 96″ it should have been. I swear the measurement said 3 and not 6. Oh well.
You have a great Thanksgiving as well Kevin. Thank you for everything.
Oh, and yes, he was the mastermind behind the framing. I couldn’t imagine it any other way. I do want the house to move WITH the trailer. HAHAHAH
That’s why I hooked up with a professional home builder who’s going to be my consultant! I KNOW I’d mess up & would rather pay him $35 an hour to keep the mistakes to a minimum & save even more.
It’s OK Andrew, pobody’s nerfect, lol!
Consultant. What a great thought! A good contractor/consultant can save a ton of time and money. And you are so right Jen. “Pobody’s Nerfect,” indeed! HAHAHAHAH
A friend of mine says, “Measure twice, cut once; repeat until you get it right.” Usually looks right at me when he says it too.
LOVE that. I must put that on a tshirt for my dad as he can sometimes measure twice and still make a wrong cut. HAHAHA. I let him slip though because he’s aging. HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!
Welp, 22 must be the magic number for mistakes! I have to go back and re-cut 22 studs down by just a few inches because of a design/measurement flaw I just noticed, it took me over a week just to get those cut! Another lesson learned 🙂
Another lesson learned indeed Kacie. I hope it doesn’t slow you down too much or cost ANY money.