Budget Breakdown: A Canadian Couple Test Their DIY Mettle With a $112K Off-Grid Cabin

The 310-square-foot tiny house keeps their family of three cozy as they build their main home in the Ontario wilderness.

Nov 6, 2024 - 19:51
Budget Breakdown: A Canadian Couple Test Their DIY Mettle With a $112K Off-Grid Cabin

The 310-square-foot tiny house keeps their family of three cozy as they build their main home in the Ontario wilderness.

To pick a site for the buildings, Matt used his drone to scan the site and then Daybreak created a 3D model to test out options for placement.

You could say that Liz Graham and Matt Uniac are the ultimate hosts: They’ve been living in their tiny guest cabin (a "bunkie," if you’re an East Coaster) for four years now to really test it out and make sure it feels like home for anyone who comes to stay on their Severn, Ontario, property in the future.

Liz and Matt had to drill a well to provide water for the property. Wastewater is captured and treated with a gravity-fed septic system that will also serve the main dwelling, when it’s completed.

It doesn’t hurt that it’s also an awfully convenient spot to set up camp while they work on completing their dream house. And to really put their bunkie through all the paces, Liz and Matt are now raising a toddler, Bear, in the cozy 301-square-foot space, which they built themselves from scratch after commissioning a design from Adrian Worton, principal of Daymark Design. 

Liz and Matt had to drill a well to provide water to the property. Wastewater is captured and treated with a gravity-fed septic system—this will serve the main dwelling when it’s completed, too.
The bunkie features a 1925w solar array, complemented by additional battery storage and a backup generator. This creates more than enough power for the family to live a comfortable modern life, complete with a 40-gallon water heater.

See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: A Canadian Couple Test Their DIY Mettle With a $112K Off-Grid Cabin
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