3 Uses for Sheet Metal Fabrication in Van-to-Tiny-Home Conversions
In the tiny home community, one of the increasingly popular design options is to convert a van into a tiny home. Depending on the type of van you have, the conversion may require some sheet metal fabrication to make everything work properly as a functioning tiny home. You may already think of the bathroom or sink areas as the primary option for sheet metal fabrication needs. The truth is, there are some other areas where this type of fabrication can be useful. Here are three of those areas and what you need to know about each one.
Sink Drainage
One of the first areas that you may need to use sheet metal fabrication is to create a form of sink drainage for your cooking area. You may not think that sink drainage would be necessary if you will be collecting the used water in a container to dispose of later. The truth is, you will still need some kind of plumbing drainage leading to your container. This is usually hard to handle with your traditional home improvement pipes and prefabricated options. A sheet metal fabrication contractor can help you create a drainage option that will securely filter into your container device and prevent leaks during use.
Window Shutters
Depending on the type of van you have, you may have windows that could use shuttering during colder weather. The problem is you want to make sure that you aren't drawing attention to your van to notify people you live in it and that valuables may be inside. For this reason, many people go with interior shutters that incorporate insulation for extreme hot or cold weather. You can have a sheet metal fabrication contractor take your measurements, need for an exterior removable shutter system and the need to have insulation connected to the system. They can use his information to fabricate the option you need for your van.
Drop Down Shelves
Tiny homes, in general, do not have much storage space. This is especially true in a van to tiny home conversion project. One way to add storage space is to install shelves. The problem with shelves in a van is the movement of the van and the frequency the van would be mobile. You can still have the shelves you need when you are in one place for a longer amount of time by having drop-down metal shelves installed. These shelves can be attached to the wall and locked into place with special latches. When you need them, they can be designed by a fabrication contractor to drop down easily.
These are just three of the areas in your van to tiny home conversion where sheet metal fabrication may be useful. If you think you will be using any of these areas along with sheet metal fabrication, contact your local fabrication manufacturer. They can help you with pricing, designs and any further help you need to outfit your van to tiny home conversion project.