How We Build

inside the Hope Factory, the tiny home building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle

We build our homes to last 20 years. Here’s how.

Sound Foundations NW uses a very unique system of jigs and templates to build our tiny homes. We also build our tiny homes assembly line style. Since the need for tiny transitional homes is so great, using the assembly line means we can build the same quality homes faster.

Time lapse video of building on our jigs and tilting up a tiny home (no sound).

the pre-cut lumber station at sound foundations nw, a nonprofit buyilder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle

First, we pre-cut all the lumber for the home. We have two chop saw stations, one for each side of the assembly line. Since there are a limited number of lengths for the boards, we use a template to assure that all lumber is cut to the proper length.

We use cordless power tools like nail guns, screw guns and drills that are less noisy than pneumatic tools in our space. Many of these tools were donated from our Community Partners Lowe’s and Operation Tiny Home.

………….. ………. tools at the Hope Factory, the tiny home building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle ………

how we build at the Hope Factory, the tiny home building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle

The jigs themselves are a simple way for people with no construction experience to build the various components easier. We have six different types of jigs: one for the platform (floor), one for the side wall with no windows or doors, one for the front wall with a window and a door, one for the back wall with just a window, one for the structural triangle, and one for the half roof assembly.

Here is a close up of one of the jigs with and without the lumber.

building jigs inside the Hope Factory, the tiny home building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle more building jigs inside the Hope Factory, the tiny home building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle

We use simple “Ikea like” instructions to assemble the components on the jigs.

standardzied building plans at the Hope Factory, the tiny home building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle

Once the platform is built, it is then placed on the wooden skids in the rolling steel carts. This begins the assembly line process.

……. volunteers building at the Hope Factory, the tiny home building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle …. the first building step for a new tiny home at the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle ….. a volunteer builds at the Hope Factory, the tiny home building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle ………..

Next, one of the side walls and front wall are built on the jigs and then tilted up on the platform.

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Between each jig is a workstation that houses all hand tools, power tools and materials for the jigs. Each crew member has everything they need within reach.

hand tools are ready inside the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle

The second side wall and the back wall are then built and tilted up.

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Next comes the roof system. It is made up of the structural triangles (front and back) and two half-roof assemblies (sides).

a building jig inside the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle a volunteer builds a half-roof assembly inside the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle a building jig for a half-roof inside the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle

We now add our unique vent system and start the finishing process; adding insulation, interior panels, and plywood for the roof.

volunteer installs ceiling vent blocks in a partly finished tiny home inside the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle … … volunteers install wall panels in a partly finished tiny home inside the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle

Next, the home is wheeled around to the “Finish Line” On the interior, the home gets a floor, door, and trim.

finished wall panels and interior trim inside a partly finished tiny home at the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle The a volunteer caulks inside a partly finished tiny home at the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle trim is placed over the exposed seams in the paneling. Every seam, nail and screw is caulked so that moisture does not penetrate the insulation and cause mold.

One of our traditions is to write “love notes” throughout the home. It always gets covered over with paint, but new residents to the tiny homes have told us that they can “feel the love” when they walk in the door.

volunteers write love notes inside a partly finished tiny home at the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle

a nearly finished tiny home gets interior paint at the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle The inside is then painted with a primer specifically designed to eliminate mold.

On the outside of the home, trim is installed and a final coat of paint is applied.

a volunteer nails window trim to a nearly finished tiny home at the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle a nearly finished tiny home gets exterior paint rolled on at the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle

We have build a special workstation called the Skymobile so we can shingle the roof safely. The Skymobile even has a materials elevator!

a nearly finished tiny home awaits a new shingled roof at the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle

When the home is finished, it gets wheeled outside to our staging area. We can store several homes here, waiting to be transported to the next tiny home village.

………. a finished tiny home waits to be moved out the door of the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle …………. finished tiny homes for the homeless in the outdoor storage yard of the Hope Factory, the building facility of sound foundations nw, a nonprofit builder of tiny homes for the homeless in seattle