Skip menu and go to the main content Skip to footer
Mighty Small Homes Logo Mighty Small Homes Logo Mighty Small Homes
Phone icon Phone icon Call Us Email icon Email icon Email Us
  • Our Kits
    • A render of a completed Modern kit. Modern kit page.
    • A render of a completed Contemporary kit. Contemporary kit page.
    • A render of a completed Ranch kit. Ranch kit page.
    • A render of a completed Cottage kit. Cottage kit page.
    • A render of a completed Carriage kit. Carriage kit page.
    • A render of a completed Tiny kit. Tiny kit page.
    MODERN
    VIEW DETAILS Modern kit page.
    A render of a completed Modern kit.
    Sizes:
    • 256 sq. ft.
      (16 x 16)
    • 600 sq. ft.
      (20 x 30)
    • 1200 sq. ft.
      (30 x 40)
    RANCH
    VIEW DETAILS Ranch kit page.
    A render of a completed Ranch kit.
    Sizes:
    • 384 sq. ft.
      (16 x 24)
    • 768 sq. ft.
      (24 x 32)
    • 936 sq. ft.
      (26 x 36)
    • 1200 sq. ft.
      (30 x 40)
    COTTAGE
    VIEW DETAILS Cottage kit page.
    A render of a completed Cottage kit.
    Sizes:
    • 480 sq. ft.
      (16 x 24)
    • 600 sq. ft.
      (20 x 30)
    • 864 sq. ft.
      (24 x 36)
    Contemporary
    VIEW DETAILS Contemporary kit page.
    A render of a completed Contemporary kit.
    Sizes:
    • 900 sq. ft.
      (30 x 30)
    • 1200 sq. ft.
      (30 x 40)
    CARRIAGE
    VIEW DETAILS Carriage kit page.
    A render of a completed Carriage kit.
    Sizes:
    • 396 sq. ft.
      (18 x 22)
    TINY
    VIEW DETAILS Tiny kit page.
    A render of a completed Tiny kit.
    Sizes:
    • 192 sq. ft.
      (8 x 24)
    • View All Kits
    • Build Your Custom Kit
  • How It Works
    • Home Buyers
    • Builders
    • What's Included
    • Assembly Guide
    • Mighty Ideas
  • Advantages
    • Hurricane-Resistant
    • Sustainable
    • Structural Insulated Panels
    • Prefabricated
    • Made in the USA
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Connect With Us

  • Mighty Small Homes Social Media Links
  • Facebook icon Facebook
  • Instagram icon Instagram
  • Pinterest icon Pinterest
  • Twitter icon Twitter
  • Youtube icon Youtube
Back to Blog

Yes, We Really Built a Home in a Day

August 13, 2019

MFH_5710-1024x679

On November 3, 2017, we invited the public into our Louisville-based manufacturing facility to see just how easy it is to build a tiny house on wheels with one of our structurally insulated panels (SIPs) kits. We invited Kim D. Kolarik, a freelance writer and photographer based in Louisville, to capture the event for our blog. We hope you enjoy hearing his perspective and seeing his photos.

Curiosity got the best of me

Build a tiny home in two days? No way, I thought. I had to see for myself what was happening at the Mighty Small Homes™ headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky.

I know the interest in tiny homes is not a fad. It's part of a movement for simpler living that is friendlier to the environment.

EXPLORE: Know the red flags when choosing a builder

The event announcement I saw on Facebook said it would take two days to build the 300-square-foot home. I was curious. I had my doubts.

I was wrong. It didn't take that long.

Mighty small home construction

The prefab small-home kit was one of the versions Mighty Small Homes offers on a flat-bed trailer. When I arrived on Friday, the foundation on the 40-foot tandem-wheel trailer was complete.

That work took about two hours the previous evening, Mighty Small Homes co-owners Damian Pataluna and Cyndi Masters told me.

Mighty Small Homes home kit plans

What came next made me a believer. The sturdy walls went up quickly because they're prefab factory-built SIPs – structural insulated panels. These have been around for years, but I never saw them used and didn't know the benefit over traditional "stick-built" construction – the way most homes are built.

The SIPS are pre-assembled in a factory using two-by-four studs and meet building code specifications and feature high R-value solid foam insulation. The studs are pre-drilled the pull the wiring for electrical service.

What was great about watching the build was to see all the pieces up close. The wall panels and roof panels are numbered to match the detailed building plans.

Mighty Small Homes Tiny Home Kit SIP marked for roof


The crew didn't need extravagant tools. I saw hammers, a hand drill for the screws, industrial construction glue and a level.

About four or five guys lifted, tugged, pulled and pushed the panels into place snug against its neighboring panel. All four walls were securely in place in about four hours. By the end of the first day, the roof panels topped the house. As it turns out, this was about five hours ahead of schedule.

In retrospect, said Steve Corwin (one of the builders), a team that large wasn’t even necessary on this project. He surmises he could do the exact same job in the future with only two people.

setting structural insulated roof panels for a tiny home

The only work remaining on the second day of the build was adding the roofing paper and house wrap for the outside-facing walls.

After I left the building project, I got to thinking about the possibilities for Mighty Small Homes housing. The company offers building kits for larger homes built on foundations. Their largest is about 1,200 square feet, Cyndi Masters told me. These could be great solutions for in-filling the vacant lots of many urban areas. And they could be the solution homes lost following natural disasters.

Imagine the possibilities.

Kim D. Kolarik is a freelance writer and photographer in Louisville, Kentucky.

Want to see more? This video captures the entire day in less than a minute

This time-lapse video captures the entire day into less than a minute. You’ll see how a small team ...

  • Secured the floor panels to the trailer base
  • Joined together structurally insulated panels (SIPs) to create the floor and walls
  • Placed the roof panel

Want to build your own tiny home on wheels? Just contact us to get started.

Previous Post Next Post

Subscribe

Stay up to date with small home trends and our newest builds

Get a Custom Quote

For a more detailed estimate, click below and we’ll have a representative get in touch.

Contact Us

View
Our Kits

See All of our kits
A render of a completed Modern kit

Related Articles

December 12, 2022

How Our House Kits Help Entry-Level Homebuyers Build Wealth

October 31, 2022

Mighty Small Homes Help Downsizers Struggling with Low Housing Inventory

January 10, 2020

Why Pocket Neighborhoods are Attracting Builders and Investors

Why Mighty

  • Advantages
  • Our Story
  • Our Kits
  • How It Works
  • Mighty Ideas
  • FAQs
  • Blog

Contact

  • (502) 242-2977
  • contact@mightysmallhomes.com
  • Proudly based in Louisville, KY
Get a Custom Quote

Subscribe

Get updates on small home trends
and our newest builds

Follow

  • Mighty Small Homes Social Media Links
  • Facebook icon Facebook
  • Instagram icon Instagram
  • Pinterest icon Pinterest
  • Twitter icon Twitter
  • Youtube icon Youtube
© 2023 Mighty Small Homes DBS Interactive Logo DBS Interactive's Logo - a white chevron Louisville Web Design by DBS Interactive
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.

A "cookie" is a small digital file that is created by a website and then stored by a user's browser. We use these cookies to help improve our site, including improvements to both content and ease of use. We do not use cookies to store any personal identifying information about you, and you can remove cookies from your browser at any time.