I need to build a Tiny Home thats MCS and EMF safe

[integral]

I have chemical sensitivities (MCS) and need to build a 355 sq ft tiny home on my land in Quebec where I can control every single material going in. The goal is 100% clean air, zero VOC, and EMF friendly.

I'm planning to use solid wood throughout, wool insulation, metal roof, no glue, no spray foam, no petroleum products. I want to do wood-to-wood joinery as much as possible and minimize fasteners.

I have zero building experience. I'll be learning from YouTube and AI as I go. Quebec building code requires permits and inspections so there's no room for mistakes.

Budget is tight. Around $70K for the build itself.

@Natasha Tori Maru what do you think? 🤔😭 Is it realistic to pull this off on my own? Anyone done something similar?

[Leo Gura]

What is wrong with using nails and screws?

I think you are being overly paranoid.

House frames are usually nailed and screwed together.

Solid wood is very expensive. That's why houses are usually built of two by fours nailed together. It's the cheapest option.

I suggest you rent a small eco-friendly place first to test whether this plan of yours will even affect your health. Rent a small place and live in it for a month to see if your health improves or declines, before you throw all your money into this quixotic project.

The notion that some wood glue is gonna affect your health is kinda silly. You are not a seahorse.

Edited 13 hours ago by Leo Gura

[Elliott]

That's easy, you can do it. Don't sweat the inspection, just fix something if they want something changed. Draw a detailed plan how you're going to install everything; to submit to the plans examiner.

[Natasha Tori Maru]

Damn bro - this is a lot.

You need to caulk joints - will you use caulk? Wood to wood like Japanese style joints? Takes a seriously skilled carpenter - and even then it won't stop air.

What sort of mechanical system?

We talking like, physical containment level air filtering / sealing? Negative pressure? I've only done labs to PC2.

Not sealing the wood joints is going to be your biggest contaminant leak. 

This is just off the top of my head...

$70k??? Flat no

Edited 12 hours ago by Natasha Tori Maru

[Natasha Tori Maru]

Also what type of air monitor you got? I have a Qingping which is very good. VOC's are the hardest thing to minimise imo.... 

[mmKay]

May be stoopid idea but have you considered wearing a full face respirator mask? 

https://308industries.com/products/mira-safety-cm-6m-tactical-gas-mask-full-face-respirator-for-cbrn-defense?utm

Can't think of a quicker cheaper solution

Edited 12 hours ago by mmKay

[Elliott]

You don't need to get it air tight, you just need to filter make-up air and slightly 'pressurize' it. Remember to seal the ground/floor, for radon from the ground. Use metal clad electrical cables for reducing emf.

Edited 12 hours ago by Elliott

[Natasha Tori Maru]

You might want to research what processes are involved with treated pine, as modern building materials are usually bathed in chemicals. Not sure how wood off-gasses at all tbh. I only have experience building with steel/plaster for commercial application - never done resi. Most modern pine is treated to resist rot, decay and termites. The extent of my work with wood is on joinery and that is typically ply - if that. Most builds are MDF for joinery.

But your budget isn't going to allow for much... you don't know what you don't know. Mistakes are very costly. An experienced carpenter or builder would be an asset. Labour is always the really costly part - so anything you need to subcontract will destroy budget.

[Leo Gura]

Sub-contract your lumber to beavers. Free and all-natural.

[Leo Gura]

Why do you just invest some money is good air filtration and buy lots of house plants. They absorb and clean VOCs and toxins.

[Natasha Tori Maru]

3 hours ago, Elliott said:

That's easy, you can do it. Don't sweat the inspection, just fix something if they want something changed. Draw a detailed plan how you're going to install everything; to submit to the plans examiner.

There is a bit more to it.

[Rigel]

I hope for you that the wool trick works considering our winters.

Edited 2 hours ago by Rigel

[Ulax]

8 hours ago, Leo Gura said:

Why do you just invest some money is good air filtration and buy lots of house plants. They absorb and clean VOCs and toxins.

I will add that you also have to water the house plants.

Don't make the same mistake I did. RIP Jeff

[Elliott]

25 minutes ago, Rigel said:

I hope for you that the wool trick works considering our winters.

Its not a trick, wool is a normal insulation used, it's better than standard fiberglass even.

https://havelockwool.com/products/r13-batt-insulation-16-o-c

 

[Elliott]

There's no way any purification system or house plants will clean all the chemicals from the air in a normal house. Everything painted and finished, every synthetic material off-gasses. The interior of a normal house has worse air quality than Times Square or downtown L.A., often 100 times more polluted than outdoor air.

Edited 1 hour ago by Elliott