Tiny Home Glossary
The terms you will hear while shopping, explained in plain English.
Schedule Free ConsultationBuying a tiny home comes with its own vocabulary. This glossary breaks down the terms you will run into most often, so you can compare models, talk to lenders and read the fine print with confidence.
What Sets Our Homes Apart
The six terms worth knowing before you compare us to anyone else.
Extreme Weather Package
closed-cell spray foam, 150 psf snow load, cove radiant heat
Cove radiant heat
even, direct warmth built into the wall/ceiling line
Mini-split HVAC
efficient, ductless heating and cooling standard on every home
NOAH certification
the industry's highest third-party quality standard
RVIA certification
national safety standard for plumbing, electrical and heating
D-rib metal roof
steel roofing that sheds snow and outlasts shingles
A
ADU
An accessory dwelling unit — a second, independent home placed on a property that already has a main residence. Our park model tiny homes generally qualify as ADUs.
American made
Every Snake River Tiny Home is built in the USA, not imported or assembled from overseas components. That matters for build quality, parts availability, and warranty support.
ANSI A119.5
The national standard that park model recreational units are built and inspected to.
C
Closed-cell spray foam
A denser, higher R-value spray foam insulation used in our Extreme Weather Package (R21 walls, R30 floor and ceiling). It adds structural rigidity in addition to insulating value.
Cove radiant heat
Electric heating units mounted where the wall meets the ceiling that warm the room directly, rather than blowing heated air. Four cove radiant heat units are part of our Extreme Weather Package.
Covered porch
An optional covered outdoor entry space, extending the living area beyond the home's footprint. Offered as a 7-foot option on the Trailblazer.
D
D-rib metal roof
A ribbed steel roofing profile, offered in a choice of colors, used across our lineup instead of the asphalt shingles common on cheaper builds. Steel roofing sheds snow better and lasts significantly longer.
Delivery
Transport of the finished home from the factory to its final site. We deliver anywhere in the continental United States, and current promotions include $3,000 off delivery.
Down payment
The upfront portion of the purchase price paid before financing covers the rest. We offer financing with as little as 10% down.
E
Extreme Weather Package
Our upgrade package for cold, high-snow climates: closed-cell spray foam insulation (R21 walls, R30 floor and ceiling), a 150 psf snow load rating, and four cove radiant heat units.
F
Family owned and operated
Snake River Tiny Homes is owned and run by the Talbot family — not a franchise or investor-owned rollup.
Full-height walls (8-foot)
Interior walls built to a full 8 feet rather than the shortened walls common in many tiny homes, which keeps the space feeling like a real house rather than a trailer.
I
IRC
The International Residential Code, the standard used for traditional site-built houses, which some tiny homes are built to.
L
Loft
A raised sleeping or storage area that uses the vertical space under a tiny home roof, typically reached by a ladder or spiral stair.
M
Maintenance-free vertical panel siding
Our standard exterior siding material, which doesn't need repainting or re-staining, unlike the wood siding many other builders charge extra to upgrade to.
Manufacturer's warranty
Coverage against defects in materials and workmanship for a set period after purchase. Every new home includes a one-year manufacturer's warranty, with appliances covered separately.
Mini-split HVAC
A ductless heating and cooling system with an outdoor compressor and one or more indoor wall-mounted heads. Standard on every home, giving efficient, zoned heating and air conditioning without ductwork.
Model line
Our current lineup — the Trailblazer, Outpost and Scout — each a different floor plan and size, built to the same construction standard and certification.
N
NOAH certification
A marker confirming a park model was built to ANSI requirements plus amended International Residential Code (IRC) provisions and third-party inspected — the industry's highest standard for quality and compliance.
O
Open-cell spray foam
The spray foam insulation used in our standard build (R14 walls, R21 floor and ceiling). It seals gaps effectively and outperforms the fiberglass batting used by many budget builders.
P
Park model
A type of tiny home built to the ANSI A119.5 standard, typically up to 400 square feet, designed to be set in one place and lived in like a small house.
R
RVIA certification
Certification from the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association confirming a unit meets national safety standards for plumbing, electrical, heating and construction.
S
Snow load
The amount of weight a roof is engineered to carry from snow, measured in pounds per square foot (psf).
T
THOW (Tiny Home on Wheels)
A tiny home built on a permanent steel chassis and towable trailer rather than a poured foundation. THOWs are titled and regulated more like RVs or park models than site-built homes, which affects where they can legally be placed.
Tiny home
A compact, fully functional dwelling, usually under 400 square feet, designed for efficient full-time or part-time living.
Tiny Living Alliance
An industry association focused on trustworthiness and transparency in the tiny home industry. We're a member.
Tongue-and-groove interior
Interlocking wood boards used for interior wall and ceiling finishes. We use natural pine tongue-and-groove as a standard finish for a warm, cabin-like feel.
Trapezoid window
A large, angled window shape used to bring extra natural light into a compact floor plan without adding footprint. The Trailblazer includes two large trapezoid windows in addition to its standard windows.
U
Utility pedestal
The above-ground box where a park model connects to electric, water and sometimes sewer service, similar to an RV park hookup.
Z
Zoning
Local rules that determine where a tiny home or park model can legally be placed and how it can be used. Rules vary by city and county.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a tiny home and a park model?
What does psf mean for snow load?
What is an ADU in simple terms?
Still have questions?
If a term has you stuck, just ask. Schedule a free consultation and we will explain anything you want to understand before you buy.