If you want to build or buy a tiny house which can stand up to harsh weather, the “Leaf House” is one excellent choice to consider. The company itself, also called “Leaf House,” Is based in Yukon, Canada. While striving to come up with a tiny house design which could stand up to the extreme Canadian winters, they actually developed several which are at once eco-friendly and aesthetically appealing.
There have been three versions of the Leaf House. The first was called simply “Version.1.”
The house measured just 16’, and was constructed for less than $20,000, which is amazing. Reclaimed materials were used and the house was outfitted with a Dickinson propane fireplace, open joint rainscreen siding, a bucket toilet, a stove and oven, and solar panels.
The next Leaf House was Version.2:
This house is a bit larger, built for a 20’ trailer. No longer on a shoestring, the builder decided to spend what was necessary to make it truly luxurious. Construction features include FSC cedar siding, lightweight drywall, metal stud framing, hardwood floors, and sprayfoam insulation.
Despite the diminutive stature of the house, it is possible to stand up fully next to the bed in the loft. Other amenities include a combined shower and bathtub, a tankless water heater, a composting toilet, a skylight, and a light cover for the entrance which glows. The sale price for the house was $41,500.
The most sophisticated rendition of the Leaf House to date is Version.3. This one was constructed using open joint rainscreen siding with floating concrete mesh. Vacuum insulated panels and the Lunos HRV heating system were incorporated to keep the home cozy and warm in cold climates while restricting its footprint and keeping it lightweight. Indeed, the entire house weighs under 5,500 pounds.
Interested in your own Leaf House? It is important to know that Leaf House is a bit different from many other tiny house manufacturers in that it is not a mass production company. Leaf House actually has a waiting list, since they only build one or two houses each year.
You can learn more about Leaf House on the company’s website, where you can also sign up for their waiting list. Want to build a Leaf House from scratch? Check out the Plans page.
Right now the plans for Version.2 are available for just $150 CAD plus tax.