Callahan home debuts on A&E

A Callahan family plans to live big in a tiny house.

FYI channel’s “Tiny House Nation” crew was at 54058 Lawhon Road Oct. 30, constructing an 800-square-foot home for Jack and Raquel “Rocky” Mounce. 

Although requested by the Record, neither the couple nor the show’s co-host Zack Giffin is allowed to provide specifics about the project. 

Giffin was onsite to contribute toward construction. A mobile home previously sat on the site but was removed to make way for the new home. 

With the land cleared and workers busy coordinating the build, a children’s outdoor playhouse, a climbing wall and possibly a swimming pool in progress. 

An episode revealing the completed project will air in spring on the A&E Network, as the program moves from the FYI channel for its fifth season, according to Giffin. 

He spoke with the Record Friday via telephone about tiny houses and their growing popularity across the U.S. Also a professional skier, Giffin owns a 112-square-foot home, which he has transported to various ski locations. 

By Friday, he was already in Texas, preparing for the program’s next building project. 

Most tiny homes may be defined as any home less than 400 square feet, but they can be larger. 

“I like to say a tiny home is a home that is a fully functioning that utilizes every space and doesn’t waste space,” he said. “The word tiny is a word that is ambiguous, because what’s tiny to one person is not tiny to another.” 

To be featured on the home improvement show, would-be homeowners must write letters to the network’s casting department or visit the show’s Facebook page. 

“We’re looking for stories that can affect viewers,” Giffin said. “We’re looking for compelling stories. We’re not just designing homes, but we’re changing lives.” 

Giffin has hosted the show for five seasons. John Weisbarth is co-host.

“It’s very important to demonstrate to the audience that you don’t have to go into a place that’s so small that it isn’t appropriate or usable, but gives people what they need so they don’t have to pay for an expansive space,” Giffin said. “What it’s really about is trying to get people into homes that are appropriate for their needs.” 

In the case of the Callahan home, crew members arrived to check on the project and perform any tweaks necessary or look at red flags in the design to see what may need added. 

The home was built on pier blocks to comply with the flood zone and provides a cement foundation. The Callahan home will cost about $100,000 when finished, according to Giffin. The lot cost about $50,000. Using the
profit from a previous home, the Mounce family, which includes two children, will be
mortgage-free, Giffin said. 

Tiny home construction costs can range from the most basic at $35,000 for materials where labor is completed by the homeowner, or higher depending on the home’s size and features. 

When planning, include a bed, a couch, a table, refrigeration, bathrooms and a water heater. Giffin recommends utilizing all dead space as storage. Items that are used daily should be easily accessible while seasonal items should be stored away for future use. Rotating clothing and storing items in vertical spaces is also useful. Creating multi-functioning beds that work as a dresser or a couch that converts to a table is another way to utilize space. 

“It’s all visible, so each area needs to stay tidy,” Giffin said. “We all end up filling our home, no matter how large it is.” 

Keeping a clean home may be easier in a smaller space. “You can tackle it in a much shorter timeframe and it’s not a daunting task,” Giffin said. “I think a lot of people moving into a tiny home are looking for a simpler and cleaner environment.” 

Tiny homes have grown in popularity is because they can have lower overhead from traditional homes.  

“People tend to seek ways to be financially free and spend time with family,” Giffin said. 

Accessory dwelling units can serve meaningful purposes by providing low-income housing that may be integrated into higher-income neighborhoods, breaking down residential segregation, Giffin added. 

“Making the homes movable means the ownership and the expense can be divided. The expense doesn’t fall on the property owner. It can be shared with someone who has a lower income.”

Seniors might opt to have tiny homes built on their properties, which provides housing that can serve younger family members or the seniors themselves. In either case, seniors can live close to family longer instead of relocating to assisted living facilities or nursing homes.

Giffin has also held workshops to teach homeless military veterans to build their own tiny homes through non-profit Operation Tiny Home. 

“The whole point of what we do is further awareness of the movement,” he said. “It’s a cost-effective way to provide shelter. The homes are fully furnished and help build positivity.” 

Transportable tiny homes are built on steel frames with wheels added for mobility function under the same rules for owning a recreational vehicle. 

With the movable homes, Giffin advises homeowners to consider road size by limiting the construction to 13.5 feet high and 8.5 feet wide. 

Movable homes are equal to the quality of a regular-sized home, he said.

Because rain events and hurricanes are predictable, they allow owners to evacuate and take the home to a safer environment, which Giffin sees as an advantage over traditional homes. 

If security is a concern, it is possible to chain the structure to concrete. Wheels may be removed for additional security, making it nearly impossible for someone to take, Giffin said. 

When choosing to live in a tiny home, it’s recommended to check local zoning laws. Some areas have minimum requirements for a home’s square footage.