Building the Fencl
January 26, 2010 · Print This Article
Over the spring of 2009 we built our largest home on wheels, the Fencl. This small house is 130 square feet and features a kitchen, bathroom, sleeping loft, fireplace and much more.
How long did it take to build?
Jay Shafer, the designer, and a crew of 4 others built this house over 10 weeks.
We spent 825 hours to purchase materials and build this green design house.
How much did it cost to build?
When all was said and done we spent $19,148.
Jay shopped around and shaved almost $2,000 from the cost when he found a trailer 100 miles away at a much lower cost.
Build one myself?
Depending on your skill level and determination it is possible to build a mobile home for a fraction of the cost of buying on already built. We do recommend hiring licensed contractors for the plumbing and electric work. When we build a house we hire specialist for those tasks. Typically, the electrician and plumber are the highest paid people per hour, so we keep the amount of their work limited to just those two areas. We spent less than $2000 to have that work completed on the Fencl.
When we build a small house we usually hire a finish carpenter as the job foreman. We keep the number of workers at any given time to 2 or 3. Aside from the finish carpenter and electrician and plumber, the other crew doesn’t need as much experience.
Buy this house from Tumbleweed?
This green home can be purchased for $53,997 plus shipping and applicable tax.
Is the price negotiable?
We price our homes and home plans with a very low markup. We do not leave room in our pricing for a discount. Our expenses are subsidized by selling ad space on our website and by the sale of our books. We are proud of the fact that we pay our crew a fair US wage with insurance.
Would you be willing to share how much money your website brings in from ad revenue?
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stewart reply on October 20th, 2010 5:23 pm:
I think that Jay and the boys have worked for a long time for free and any money they get from the web site they deserve it. I have followed this site for many years and they are doing humanity a service. Keep up the good work. Cheers from Australia …Stewart
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Amos reply on May 20th, 2011 12:35 pm:
I also like the Fencl.
However, I wouldn’t put that sloped roof over the porch and the bump-out. Too much storage space is wasted.
Why not just bring the end on out to a gable like the other side of the house, where the kitchen and bath are?
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Very cool. I bought the book and think the lifestyle and the products and work you (all) have done is fabulous!
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Can this housing concept be made wheelchair accessable and or liveable for someone in a wheelchair?
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Would it be possible to get a rough cost breakdown as incorporating salvaged RV equipment looks like a promising alternative to all new components. Thanks.
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Buy a used camping trailer with frame rot – you can tell because the corners are starting to open up and they are coated in silicone (get it for almost nothing) … then save all the important stuff: inverter, sinks, stove, refrigerator, shower/bath, water heater, tanks, wiring, plumbing, windows, and hardware. Well, maybe you don’t really want the windows … OH! And keep the trailer.
Sell the aluminum skin for scrap metal. Burn the rotted wooden frame and sawdust-board interior (after you remove it from the trailer).
The trailer represents $2,000 … the inverter represents $345 … all the good stuff you save represents money in your pocket … and reduced overall cost to build your new one.
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[...] to the Tumbleweed website, this Fencl cost $19,148 in materials and after ten weeks of construction, retails for $53,997 plus [...]
Great video Jay!
This is the year that I build my Fencl!.
I’m based in Scotland and am still doing a little more research before I buy the plans. Despite my latter years of desk-sitting, I’m a qualified electrical fitter who’s pretty good with his hands and is very much much looking forward to building something solid and tangible again.
I’m also highly motivated by the idea of freedom, independence, mobility, small bills and minimal cleaning!
I wonder if you could help me out with a few queries…
1. I’m looking at a total off-grid solution. Energy supply will be a mix of solar/butane with water supplies via the sky (purified with colloidial silver).
I’m assuming that solar panels can be fitted to the roof OK?(am still trying to figure out if I can run totally on 12v DC or will have to go with the more inefficient 240v AC via invertor – do you have a view on this?).
We get plenty of rain here in Scotland and I’m assuming that it would be easy enough to fit some guttering/channeling to the roof to capture rainwater into a water butt. Is this the case?
2. Also, trailers are built a bit smaller here in the UK, so it looks like I’ll have to have one custom-made. Do the plans provide enough technical nformation for me to approach trailer manufactureres for quotes? If not, can you provide any guidance on what I should be asking for?
I’ve been following your blog for ages now, and would like to sincerely thank you for the inspiration.
Warm regards,
Paul.
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on February 22nd, 2010 6:19 pm:
Hi Paul. You can use rainwater as best as possible. It’s a nice supplement. We suggest solar that is portable and can be moved to catch the sun’s rays. Since we’re not experts in solar, we don’t advice on the particular details.
What are the standard dimensions for trailers in Europe? It would be great to make the adjustments to our plans to fit your trailers. email me the answer at http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/contact/
But if not, here are the dimensions for our trailers: http://www.bigtextrailers.com/pdf/70pi.pdf
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Paul reply on April 7th, 2010 7:00 am:
Thanks Steve.
The maximum width for a trailer (for a standard driver/vehicle) here in the UK in 2.3M (7′ 6″). Max length is 7M (22′) – plus towing equipment.
Just to be clear, does that mean, if I want to build a legal Fencl here, that I would have to buy a trailer that would have the wheels under the bed? ie. the bed of the trailer would have dimensions of 7’6 x 18′ sitting above the wheels?
Thanks!
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Paul reply on April 7th, 2010 7:04 am:
PS. No height restrictions in the UK, although common sense regarding tipover potential applies.
For your interested UK readers, I spoke to a very helpful trailer manufacturer earlier today. (www.batesontrailers.com). Ballpark quote for such a trailer is £2.5K.
Leila reply on January 20th, 2011 1:19 pm:
Hi Paul,
How did you get on with your Fencl build?
I’m in Scotland too, and loving the tiny houses. I’m thinking about purchasing land in the next year or so, and I’m researching the logistics of having a tiny home on it.
I was hoping you might share with me any planning permission issues or info resources you’ve come across, with regards to where you’d site your home?
Regards, Leila
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We had our friend and builder Chuck document our tiny house building project and have loved how it turned out! We chose a composting toilet but did have room for a 3 ft x 3 ft shower, and made more headroom available under the loft by decreasing the roof pitch. Our tiny house is in Illinois and you can see pictures and some video at http://www.ourtinyhouse.com. Good luck to all of you building your own!
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Hey Jay , i would like to purchase the Fenci house ,but i leave in the caribbean island in St Marteen.
How to ship it and the cost for it ?
I dont need the heater could you changed it for a AC ?
I’m waiting for your answer……
Big kiss for you & your crew …..Sweet job guys !
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So what’s the resale value?
Can you pull out equity or refinance?
How is this any different from living in an RV?
Say hello to depreciation folks! Do yourself a favor and buy a REAL house.!!!
Yea umm no thanks! You can buy an actual house for under $100k now!!
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Three guys could build this house in a week–and that includes everything. I think your idea of putting in AC power is silly.
A better choice is to make it off grid and put in DC lighting and appliances, solar and gas for hot water, and both solar panels and a boat wind generators for power, going into a couple of 8D batteries. Also another possibility is a Whispergen to provide power and hot water.
Save even more money by living on a boat. Have more space, and if anchored out, pay nothing for the cost of land.
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Tumbleweed Houses reply on August 7th, 2010 1:28 am:
Living small is not just for everybody. It’s your choice.
Thanks for the info on living in a boat.
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If this house was built for $19,148.00 why is it on sale for $53,997.00. That seems like a very hefty profit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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Tumbleweed Houses reply on August 9th, 2010 2:23 am:
Kindly read:
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/faq/cost/
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I find myself spending hours each day on the Tumbleweed website! I definitely want to have my own Fencl. Unfortunately, after almost 19 years as a police officer, I suffered an injury and was forced into a disability retirement (that does not include health insurance benefits, so most of my meager pension is eaten up in monthly medical and prescription costs. I will most likely never be able to afford one already built, but I am going to buy the “Tiny House Book” and do my best to save up enough money to get the Fencl plans. At least it will give me some hope that I could have one eventually, because if it wasn’t for friends, I would be completely homeless right now! I have an antique desk that is supposedly worth around $15,000 so maybe I can find a buyer and get on my way to building my own Fencl. I think what you guys have come up with is great! The Fencl is the most beautiful, most practical HOME I have ever seen and I hope to become a member of The Small House Movement as soon as possible!
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Shane Waas,
I am in Seattle. I have three stripped down RV trailer frames.. If you can get Jay and crew to modify the plans to fit one of these, I will give you one of these trailers.
I do not know where you live, but if that can be worked out, I think it will do for what you want.
I am 4.5 years post transplant for CLL (Chronic Lymphatic Lymphoma), so I am fully aware of your situation. It beats you up and doesn’t leave you much energy.
I plan to build one of these some day on one of these other frames. So I do understand your desires For the Fencl.
If you have all of these good friends, I would bet one of them has a building where you could live and build your Tiny House.
Whatever you decide, Good luck with your ideas, dreams and your efforts.
Never give up. Fall down, get up!
Grin,
Puck
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Brendan Howley reply on December 15th, 2010 6:39 pm:
Harasho Puck: I’m a software developer/filmmaker in Stratford Ontario Canada saving up to build a Fencl for my family for wkends at the lake. Your generosity coming out of your own hard times really made my day. Thank you and good luck to you and Mr Waas. best/brendan
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Harasho Puck reply on December 19th, 2010 10:30 am:
Brendan,
I grew up in Texas, in a small community. When people had tough times, the community would pull together and help. I learned that lesson, among others, when I was very young. It has been a staple in the way I deal with people and situation.
The Tumbleweed House “Community” can be much like that. Where one person has an excess of material or energy; it can help another member to achieve their goals and dreams.
In the midwest, where I went to college, they still had barn raisings where the community of farmers and others would gather to put together ad raise a barn for a newly wed farmer or where a farmer’s barn had met calamity. If enough people, who want to build a Tumble weed House, find themselves in the same area and have the skills, time, energy and materials to share; they could make some deep progress on building quite a few of these.
I have not heard from Shane. I do hope he is still pursuing his dream to build one of these, with or without my trailer.
I just received the book in the mail. As a skilled remodeler, carpenter and engineer, I hope to take one of my trailers and build one of these myself. Keep an eye out here for updates and photos as I get started and progress.
Thanks,
Puck
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Hi Puck. Thanks for another great note: in my other life, I’m building a software ecosystem with Canadian government investment that’s essentially a barnraising online: a suite of collaboration tools. Interesting to see how our values intersect. I will stay in touch, for sure. I’ve worked construction but am not a finish carpenter, so I’ll monitor your progress for sure. We’re moving house here and my plan is to build a Fencl as a mobile work/live space that we can also use as a lakeside retreat. cheers/brendan
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Brendan,
Your “Internet barn raising” sounds interesting. How comfortable would you be as the electrician / wifi wiring guy on a team of commonwealth builders?
Back on the subject, I have been seeing an interesting lady for the past few months. She has this fetish for destroying blackberries. And I have 5 acres with about a third in blackberries. On top of that, she is good at eradicating them.
Before she came to ply her fetish, I had already shared the Tumbleweed House web site with her; and when she got here to see the trailers, her first statement was, “I want to help build one of these!” I think this can become infectious with many people. And if the many who are interested are willing to pull their share on all projects, then everyone could come out ahead.
I am also a realist. In my 56 years, I have come across people who would work themselves to death for the common good knowing they were a part of it. I have also met those who are leaches, and would work just enough to get their project done then leave everyone else in the lurch.
I think the first Tumbleweed I want to tackle will be the Vardo. Simplistic and functional. And it would not be as labor intensive as the other designs, as well as instructive on how to build them. Then I can take on the larger units with more confidence.
Like I said, I have a plethora of trailers that I can use and two or three of them would work well for the Vardo.
If energy and good friends hold out, I may start that early next Spring.
Thanks,
Puck
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