Harbinger
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297 square feet - click here for more dimensions
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The Harbinger is newly added to our website. This small home features a bump-out on the front that can be used as a sitting area or a sleeping area. It is large enough to fit a Queen size bed. The loft also offers additional sleeping and storage space; and at its peak, the loft height is 6′4″. The loft is not included in the total square footage of the house because it is not technically “habitable“. That being said, if you choose to include the loft square footage, this house would actually measure almost 600 square feet. The Harbinger is designed as a stationary house only, permanently affixed to a foundation. This is not a modular home, and therefore cannot be built and shipped to you. We offer the plans so that you may build it. We suggest talking to local contractors about building costs in your area. Under most circumstances, building costs for a home affixed to a permanent foundation range from $100-$200 per square foot. |
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197 Responses to “Harbinger”
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I love the new Loring and Harbinger designs. The Loring reminds me of the prefab Sear’s bungalow that was sold in the forties (I think), attractive and durable, you can see many of them here in Maine. The Harbinger is a larger Weebie no? Most of my homes have been pretty small. The first one I owned was 450 sf, built by a cabinet maker so everything was well made and built in with a little sleeping loft (not as spacious as Loring and Harbinger). It had plenty of room for me, I don’t accumulate allot of stuff, but there was a full foundation underneath for storage. Since these have obviously been built, it would be nice to have more inside shots.
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J reply on December 7th, 2008 8:30 pm:
A nice feature of the Harbinger design in particular is the option of having a bed on the first floor - good for elders or guests.
That being the case, consider expanding that area’s use - and visual attractiveness to rest of main floor - by building or investing in a *side-opening* Murphy bed. Result would be “sun room” style seating during the daytime / double bed at night :-).
Cheers to All
J
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Chris reply on February 11th, 2009 12:03 am:
Yes. Inside shots would be nice.
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hi - yes I agree Nancy. I would like to see some more shots of inside. I am getting serious about building within the next year and am looking at all options.
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 5th, 2008 3:56 am:
We don’t have any interior pictures yet. Several houses are currently being built and we know we’ll be getting pictures from the builder. If anyone has built a Tumbleweed House and has pictures to share, we would greatly appreciate it.
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kristie erreca reply on July 16th, 2008 1:07 am:
I would like some interior pictures too! I thinkn these houses are so neat and it could provide a home when many people are losing their big houses. That’s not a judgemeny, thought I would clarify that, it’s just something that’s happening. Very scary for this country.
How come you guys stay on the west coast!? I think I know, but it still bums me out that no where in Michigan are you going to see these tours of Tiny Houses.
Does your book have interior shots in it?
Thanks,
Kristie
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on July 16th, 2008 5:31 am:
The Harbinger hasn’t been built yet. When it is built, we’ll post interior shots. Our next road trip will be somewhere new…
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Rocky reply on October 29th, 2008 1:19 pm:
I have a lot in Leland, Michigan I’d like to build one of these on. So, whoever said something about Michigan, take heart!
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Elizabeth Molinaro reply on May 31st, 2009 7:23 am:
Rocky - I’m on Hammond Bay on Lake Huron (north of Rogers City, south of Cheboygan.) I plan on building something similar.
Our permanent structures MUST be 500sq. ft., so I’m including the loft in my square footage to get away with this.
Civil disobedience works, if you’re creative!
Joe reply on August 16th, 2009 1:54 pm:
I agree too
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Andrew reply on October 5th, 2009 4:58 pm:
I totally agree! I mean it doesnt really give you a good visulisation otherwise. Its about time they post up some inside pics =) I too am getting ready to build within the next year nd it would be nice to be able to make some comparisons.
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Jay Shafer reply on October 7th, 2009 2:57 pm:
It takes me about 50 hours to develop each composite image, and I haven’t received any pictures back from those who’ve built the houses yet, so it may take a while yet. Steve and I are extra busy these days.
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In the harbinger, do you use a ships-style ladder to get to the lofts?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 7th, 2008 11:32 pm:
Not typically, but you can use which ever type of ladder you like.
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stephanie mcelfresh reply on December 14th, 2008 9:41 pm:
i thought (by looking at the floor plans) that these were stairs, is this a ladder like in the tiny houses? and how could you make stairs for this? would that ultimately change the plan?
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Jay Shafer reply on December 18th, 2008 4:49 pm:
I imagine stairs would require going outside the existing footprint.
Dave reply on June 13th, 2009 12:10 am:
Maybe a compact spiral staircase, to minimize the increase in “footprint”?
How do you cool? Window air conditioner?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 9th, 2008 7:27 pm:
Yes, that’s one way. Which every way you decide. You could put a small A/C out back with central air and heat if you wanted to.
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Lina reply on June 27th, 2008 4:05 pm:
Steve, Do you mean not attached to the house or attached to the back of the house? Do you think it is possible to have a small house for a/c that would vent into the home? Something similar to a pump house for a well? If possible, that would help keep the noise of the a/c down.
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Matthew Bostick reply on June 10th, 2008 6:20 pm:
A minisplit system would probably be the best option.
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Lina reply on June 27th, 2008 3:51 pm:
Please, What is a minisplit system?
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Paula Horvath-Neimeyer reply on July 17th, 2008 1:01 pm:
These are great little units. They’re also called ductless AC units. The compressor sits outside and then there’s a wall-installed until (looks like a window AC unit, but in the wall) inside through which the cold/hot air is blown. It works great! And, like a more conventional AC unit, it’s very quiet. We installed one in a 1,000 square foot cottage we have.
jen reply on September 30th, 2008 10:05 pm:
the thing i like about the individual units is that there’s an energy saving catch that keeps the air from running 100% of the time…. is there an energy saving option with the compressor?
(i’ve never had central air, that’s why i’m asking)
The Harbinger looks nice. What happened to the Z-glass house? It was near the same size and looked much easier to build.
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 12th, 2008 2:13 am:
We still have the Z-Glass House. We decided to put our most popular houses on our website. More info about the Z-Glass is available in our portfolio.
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chad reply on July 4th, 2008 4:59 am:
Steve — you might try a quick Web search for the Z-Glass. People have posted its one readily-available picture to lots of sites…judging by their written compliments, it is the “face” of Tumbleweed to many who are not yet customers. Lots of us are waiting patiently to see more of its interior! Hope you’ll get a Z-Glass up there soon with a good slideshow accompanying.
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on July 5th, 2008 8:55 pm:
Thanks for the info. I wasn’t aware it was so popular. It’s great to hear people’s feedback.
I wonder if a small spiral staircase could be installed in lieu of a ladder–in this and the other slightly larger models. What do you think?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 13th, 2008 3:33 pm:
Interesting idea, but you would lose a lot of floor space. The spiral staircase is at least 5 feet wide by 5 feet long. I think in most areas, the house would no longer meet building code because the main room would not meet mininum size standards.
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Doug reply on October 29th, 2008 10:14 pm:
could you potentially put a spiral staircase in the bumpout? Would that still make the living room too small? Seems to me like it would be worth it to lose the bump out space if it makes all that extra space upstairs more easily accessible.
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Jay Shafer reply on October 30th, 2008 9:42 pm:
It would be a great idea except that the ceiling in the loft above that area is only 4′ high. Spiral stairs are a great space saver though.
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Can any of these homes be RPTIA certified? (park model homes 400 square feet or less)
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t would like some information about the homes what are the prices for say 300 sq feet because i have a child i wouldn’t need a loft
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 24th, 2008 11:15 am:
The price of a 300 sq foot house will depend largely on the costs in your area. The homes of that size need to be built on site. People have built them on their own, but most do hire professionals. Normal building costs might run from $30,000 - $60,000.
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It’s a big jump from 297 to 660ish. Do you have any designs in between?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 24th, 2008 11:13 am:
Yes we do. They are featured in our portfolio of houses. We’ll slowly be adding them to the website in time.
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I love, absolutely love, your houses and your philosophy. The gypsy in my past life yearns for one. Maybe in my one of next lives.
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like the harbinger for a guest house. is there any alternative to entering the bathroom through the kitchen without losing space. also i ordered the new plans book but cannot remember when you will be ready to send them out. thanks jj
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 25th, 2008 6:16 am:
The new portfolio is still in print, and you will receive it by July 11.
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What is the depth of the kitchen counters?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 28th, 2008 12:40 pm:
24 inches
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Love the Harbinger, but it looks like in the downstairs bedroom there is no room on the right side and at the foot of the bed to walk. This would mean climbing over the person on the left when leaving the bedroom. There is no place to put a nightstand(s) and I dont see closet space/shelf space or a door to the bedroom in the downstairs bedroom. Would it be possible to lengthen & widen the bedroom and add a door, perhaps a pocket door to save space? Can you also add some pictures of the Harbinger?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 28th, 2008 11:27 am:
The bed fits very snug in the bumpout. It could be made larger.
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Scott reply on June 28th, 2008 8:56 pm:
I would really like inside pics.
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on July 1st, 2008 3:35 pm:
We don’t have any interior pics yet, but as soon as we receive some, we’ll be sure to add them to our website.
Where in the Harbinger, or for that matter any of the houses, could one put a stackable washer/dryer?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 28th, 2008 11:26 am:
On the floor plan, you can see “w/d” which referes to “washer/dryer” and “r” which refers to refrigerator. Both are designed as undercounter options. It you were to switch the place of both the washer/dryer and fridge, you can easily install a stackable washer/dryer. If you don’t want it there, you could put it in the closet off the living room.
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Would it be possible to combine the bump-out of the Harbinger with the Ernesti? I love the facade of the Harbinger, but with 3 boys, I need the square footage of the Ernesti. Would I need to by both house plans, or can a contractor modify the Ernesti house plans?
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Could you please tell me the dimensions/square footage of the bathroom? Thank you very much!
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myself reply on July 14th, 2008 8:07 am:
oops, I just found the spot where it lists dimensions. Nevermind!
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What ever happened to the Glass house design? I really liked that one, altho it looked trailerish in the front and could of used a large bump out by the door area perhaps. But i really liked the simplicity of design that went with it. the back was awsome. It seemed really perfact. Is that coming back anytime soon? Or is it gone forever?
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I love the feature of having a bedroom and bathroom on the first floor — I had really bad sciatica during pregnancy and couldn’t do stairs at all.
Trouble is, our “family bed” is King size. Is it possible to make the “bump out” just a little larger to hold a King size bed? Can I steal a little room from the living room, or would that negatively affect the structural stability of the house?
Thanks!
Crystal
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on July 18th, 2008 8:49 pm:
Yes, you could make the bumpout slightly larger or steal from the living room. Both are possible.
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Hey! I just discovered all of your youtube videos and your website today. I am so inspired. Are there any tiny home communities that you can share with me? If one is so cute you can only imagine what fun ten of them would be.
I ordered both of your publications today and I am eagerly awaiting them. I am so looking forward to my very first house being one of these new Micro Homes. Let’s hope that this “modest” point of view takes off in many more aspects of modern day life.
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Such great designs! I too have ordered the books.
I like the Harbinger design, but think I might have a need to make it 14×22 instead of 14×18, with some slight alterations to Bath and Bump-out. Would I need to get my own architect (after purchasing your plans) or do you do ‘customizations’ of your existing plans, and what is the rate/hr. or cost for that work? Thanks so much!
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These houses are prety sa-weet, but how do you get stuff into the loft through the little hole? I’m thinking like a bed and such. do you have to just build it in there or what?
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Jay Shafer reply on August 20th, 2008 3:18 am:
I use a high-density foam bed that rolls up.
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For the Harbinger house, where the bedroom is on the lower level, can that be an expansion of the living room. And the loft upstairs, is that enough room for bedroom furniture, like dresser, bed frams, etc or is it just enough for a bed at the peak? And if it wont fit, then which of your houses are the biggest to fit furniture in? Im a college student, and my parents have some property where I can build a little house on.
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Jay Shafer reply on August 20th, 2008 1:37 am:
The bed room could be an expansion of the living room, and the loft will fit standard furniture. It’s roomy.
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The Harbinger has not been built yet, but we are viewing a picture of it. If the house has never been built how do you know the plans all come together, and where did the photo come from? I’m very interested in this home, but would like to find out if one has actually been built.
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Jay Shafer reply on August 26th, 2008 10:21 pm:
We still haven’t built the Harbinger, but I’d bet other folks have finished it off by now with the plans they have ordered. I suppose this is as good a time as any to request shots of the bigger house from anyone who has them. Our three images of the larger houses are currently composites.
You can tell if a design will work before it is built by using span charts, a little math and a lot of common sense. I spend hundreds of hours on each of our designs to ensure they work exceptionally well in terms of form and function. The smaller the house, the more time it takes.
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My heart is already pretty set on this. The inside pictures will be the clincher, cant wait. Its adorable. Im in the UK though, do you think it will be just as easy to source the right supplies?
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How much more for Hawaii?/Alaska and you will sell your home with interior photos. Pictures makes all the difference in the world.
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Jay Shafer reply on September 11th, 2008 5:35 pm:
The delivery cost might be prohibitive. I’d buy plans and build it there or hire a local carpenter.
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For saving space, why not try a lovely murphy bed? They are making them especially nice now with extra firm mattresses. My friends in NYC have them in their small studios and they are so comfy and stylish when closed up.
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Tom reply on September 12th, 2008 1:20 am:
—I mean of course, comfy when open and stylish when closed!!
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rogue reply on September 30th, 2008 12:14 am:
Tom….that was sooooo funny. I love Murphy beds and will have one ,,at least one,,,in my Tiny home.
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Like James, above, I too am interested in a community dedicated to tiny homes. I cherish a fantasy of developing my own subdivision with nothing but tiny houses and with green options encouraged.
I’ll have my Tiny House eventually.
I love the new designs, Jay, thank you!
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this one is my favorite of the sizes that would be practical for my living. The shiftable loft space and the attractive bump-out in the front.
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I just found this yesterday and I am so excited! I would not only love to own one but I think the idea of a community/subdivison is fantastic. This has me thinking of ways to simply my whole life.
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Jan reply on May 23rd, 2009 6:54 pm:
I, too, am intrigued by the idea of a community of tiny houses. After living on a 32 ft. sailboat for 10 years, the idea of a tiny, boat-like land dwelling resonates with me. I don’t want much furniture, clothes, stuff. I would like to live with others who share those values. I have lived on Whidbey Island where Ross Chapin has built a1000 sq ft-house community. Lovely and important, but too big for me. Is anyone interested in a West Coast Community of really Tiny Houses?
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Victoria reply on May 24th, 2009 9:26 pm:
Jan,
Yes, I think about it all the time! I live in the SF bay area and would love to live in a small house intentional neighborhood. I want to connect with other like-minded folks; I plan to take a permaculture class this summer and that may be a way to find people interested in small, sustainable communities.
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Jay Shafer reply on May 29th, 2009 6:42 am:
I’m right there with you, Jan.
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If you don’t mind small spaces, a little house wins, hands down due to the fact that with a big house, it not only takes time to clean, pay for utilities, matenance, but you also have a huge morgage to pay off, one that you probable won’t see gone until you’re in your seventies or more!
I definatly will be building this for my first house.
Thanks for the Ideas, keep ‘em coming!
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My husband and I would love to build this house instead of buying one. We hope to do that someday. We like the loft as a studio / work area. Hopefully we can find a reasonable piece of land!
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Hi Jay,
I love the Harbinger model!
Here’s my question: I noticed that the Harbinger model has two sizes: 297 sq. ft and 391 sq. ft. If the 291 sq. ft model is the one with a footprint of 14′X18′, is the footprint for the 391 sq. ft. model something like 16′X20′?
If it is, that would be great (I’d love to build a Harbinger house that’s bigger than 300 sq. ft., but no bigger than 500 sq. ft)!
Thanks,
Lars
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Jay Shafer reply on September 20th, 2008 4:01 pm:
It measures 14′x26′ w/out the addition and 14′x34′ w/ the additional BR.
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Karen Sorensen reply on January 29th, 2009 3:57 am:
Dimensions above the Harbinger photo say Footprint for 297 sq ft model is 18′x14′. Should it be 14′x26′?
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Jay Shafer reply on January 31st, 2009 5:48 pm:
You’re right, Karen.
Jay,,,you are the BOMB!!!! I love these homes . I want to settle down soon in Va. I AM going to build one of these homes,,,using the Murphy bed system too. Until then,,,I’ll be using a tent. I don’t need much.
Thanks again for being such an inspiration…..and such great ideas too. This is what I was looking for when I started the search for “small house plans”.
Thanks,,,,Rogue
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Marilee reply on July 19th, 2009 10:21 am:
Murphy bed system….good idea to increase space. Wonder if wall height will accomodate them.
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Jay Shafer reply on August 2nd, 2009 10:13 am:
Not quite, but one could build-to -it.
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I love the idea of tiny houses and the exterior of this one is cute-has an old-house look that I really like. However even the thought of changing sheets on either of those beds makes my back ache.
And why have windows surrounding a bed where you want to sleep and only one in the living where you need more light?
Living in the northeast (PA) I’d rather see all the plumbing on inside walls. I’ve got a severe allergy to frozen water pipes.
Also putting them on opposite of the same wall would save on hot water bills.
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Jay Shafer reply on October 7th, 2008 4:46 pm:
1. Thanks.
2. Yeah, like I’ve said, living small has made every aspect of my life easier… except for making the bed.
3. The furniture placement on the plans is only intended to illustrate options. It’s all flexible.
4. None of the hot water pipes run for more than 6′. I’m always careful about that, as sprawling plumbing systems waste plenty of resources and unnecessarily spew tons of greenhouse gases (not to mention the big bills).
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How do your homes meet minimum square footage requirements? Are there problems placeing them in communities due to these restrictions?
Thank you for your reply.
Dave Reid
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Cheryl reply on October 7th, 2008 3:58 pm:
dave-local zoning would probably be up to the contractor/builder, not the designer. Just a guess.
Cheryl
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Jay Shafer reply on October 7th, 2008 4:19 pm:
Of course the tiny houses don’t have to meet those building codes pertaining to size because they are not buildings. They are vehicles.
I believe all of my larger, immobile designs do comply with International and Universal Building Codes, which are the codes generally adopted by local jurisdictions in the U.S and Canada. These are often tailored a bit at the local level. So Cheryl’s right. While all of my designs should comply with the basic codes, you should check with your local housing dept. when you intend to build any of the bigger, immobile ones.
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Heather reply on November 5th, 2009 11:51 pm:
do you have to be a contractor or have a contractor’s license? (especially in CA) thanks
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To Jay and Tumbleweeds crew: thankyou for the Portfolio and 3-part Small House Book. Big things come in small packages. I have been browsing your tumbleweeds.com for over a year now and I feel like I hit the lotto. My vision of purchasing the plans and building my Fencl will come about in 20 months. Just because one may not be a millionaire, doesn’t mean you can’t live like one.
Simple, Mortgage free, and composting my own sh*t. I can’t wait!
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I’m excited about Jay’s houses, having always been interested in alternative/small house design. I’d like to offer my services to somehow provide Tumbleweed homes to small-house seekers in Northeast Wisconsin. I would also offer my own designs and consulting.
Land use might be an issue, since lots are usually too large and expensive for the size needs (and budget) of a tiny-house dweller. Does anyone know of small-house communities or groups who have bought land together? I envision a parcel of land not unlike a mobile-home park but with full ownership by the homeowners…
Contact me if I can be of help!
Thanks, Rusty
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I am currious about getting up to the second story of the “Harbinger” floor plan. Are these stairs or a ladder??
is is possible to add a small room on the back, much like your larger home the “Enesti”
Thank you so much for your time.
Nor Cal Toni
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Man, this house looks awesome. A couple of questions, though:
1) Would it be possible to cut the loft in half so that the ceiling is open over the living room area?
2) Is the ceiling in the loft section sloping like in your portable houses or is it level with attic space above?
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HINT,,
Bathroom, and toilet should not be in same room.. Japanese have not put a toto in with bath in centuries.. Put toto alone,, make bath it’s own room,,will do well if you do this..I get pop ups on your site, annoying..please stop..
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Jay Shafer reply on October 27th, 2008 9:04 pm:
Thanks for the input. One of my favorite design ideas actually entails taking the tub out of the toilet room and making a separate shared bath house for several clustered tiny houses.
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Cordy+ reply on June 25th, 2009 11:58 pm:
I’ve been trying to imagine -and take the step to - actually living in one of the these (or the Weebee ). It would be for about 2 years. Scaling down is not the big issue. I just have a real problem with the bathroom opening off the kitchen! For some reason this keeps bugging me. Silly, since I have for decades spend half my year living on ships or working in the woods. But somehow the idea of toilet off the kitchen…dunno. Might have to move that door.
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Freth reply on June 27th, 2009 7:15 am:
since there is no sink in the bathroom …
all you do is spray the the air deodorizer, open the door, and you are right at the sink (kitchen) to wash your hands! A very practical savings in space and utility. :0)
Jay Shafer reply on June 29th, 2009 1:31 pm:
That is true of our smallest house, Freth, but, in this case, there is actually a small sink that sits on the back of the toilet. We really should mention that in the description.
Jay Shafer reply on June 29th, 2009 1:28 pm:
The newly revised plans for a portable 14′ wide x 20′ long Harbinger are now done. It’s similar to the old version, but the bathroom opens to the great room instead of the kitchen. We haven’t posted the design yet because we don’t post anything until we have at least one exterior image to show, but, incase you’re interested, it really looks the same as the old exterior. The roof will have to be removed for transport.
Erika reply on July 22nd, 2009 12:55 pm:
For the 14 x 20 portable Harbinger, what kind of vehicle would you need to tow it? And where would the roof go while the house was being moved? Also would you have to get some sort of special permit to transport something as wide as this on the highway?
Thanks so much!
Jay Shafer reply on August 2nd, 2009 10:03 am:
You’d need a permit and a big truck. I can’t answer the rest yet as I’m still working on it.
love your small houses please send brochure
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Jay Shafer reply on October 27th, 2008 7:52 pm:
Please visit ://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/books/ to get a portfolio.
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I sent in wrong e-mail address
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Hi! I am now completely obsessed with these homes. Can you tell me how wide the doors are? I am curious about bringing a little bit of furniture inside… I have a tiny couch but it may not be tiny enough!!!
Thanks!
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Jay Shafer reply on October 27th, 2008 11:26 pm:
The front door of the Harbinger and all other houses of similar size or bigger is 3′. Interior doors are 2 or 2 1/2′. Most rooms have windows at least as big for access.
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Harbinger has GREAT curb appeal! I love to work with small space design & could only suggest you reverse the interior layout of the back half of the house. That would permit a larger living space and create traffic flow from entry to kitchen without cutting thru living room.
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Jay Shafer reply on October 29th, 2008 4:14 pm:
Good idea. You seem to understand the realm of the tiny.
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Why does it say 297 & 391 sq. feet over the photo of this home? At first I thought that meant with or without the loft, but in the description it says it’s almost 600 sq. ft. with the loft. Are there different options and therefore different square feet choices? I only see one plan here. Does the 297 & 391 refer to first floor square footage only?
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Jay Shafer reply on October 30th, 2008 9:37 pm:
Yeah. The different numbers refer to the standard house, the house with additional BR and to total amount of usable square feet (that is to say including the loft). Sorry about the confusing variables.
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Love your little houses! Would we HAVE to have a loft in them or can we just make them one floor, with no living room. Just a bedroom, a bath and a kitchen? We do not need a living room at all, nor a loft. Help, please!
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Jay Shafer reply on November 2nd, 2008 4:50 pm:
That will work great, especially with a fold-out couch or murphy bed. Then you can have a wide-open cathedral ceiling if you want.
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just wondered where the waste from the toilet goes ? do you hook up to a sewer site? is there a holding tank?
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Jay Shafer reply on November 4th, 2008 5:16 pm:
Sewer, septic, compost… you name it.
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What are the width and lengh of this house?
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Jay Shafer reply on November 5th, 2008 3:24 pm:
14′x20′ plus 6′ porch.
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I absolutely love the Harbinger! I have started to seriously think about retirement and downsizing to a smaller homes. The harbinger is just exactly what I would want.
I do have a question that I couldn’t find in any of the blogs on it.
the access to the loft, is it a fixed stairway, a ladder or a pull down?
If it is a fixed stairway, can a second set be installed below it to access a basement (as the house can be set on a foundation, I am considering a basement for the laundry area which will give more room in the main living area.
thank you for your response
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Jay Shafer reply on November 10th, 2008 3:22 pm:
It uses a ship’s ladder. You could put another ladder beneath that and replace the pocket door to the closet with a swinging door so as to allow for another basement portal.
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I love these homes. I’m hoping to build one when I’m done with school and in my career. On the home page when I scroll over the Harbinger it advertises up to 391sq ft. I was wondering if that was an add-on and if so, where.
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Jay Shafer reply on November 16th, 2008 3:30 pm:
Yeah. It goes on the back or side with a door in the kitchen or main room.
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Would it be possible/do you know of anyone who has tried building one of the tiny/foundation homes using strawbale/natural construction methods? Seems like a perfect fit, especially for maximum energy efficiency. I’m just starting to look at strawbale and got the idea last night when browsing the floorplans and photos.
Hubby and I love the idea of the tiny homes, we currently live in about 700 sq ft… but unfortunately it was built 60 or more years ago and is very poorly designed (very inefficient use of space for sure).
Thanks, in advance for your excellent work here!
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Jay Shafer reply on November 19th, 2008 9:03 pm:
Yes, but a bit of reproportioning might have to be done to allow for the thicker walls. I could help.
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Do you make any houses that are handicap friendly? My father is in a electric wheelchair and wants to move close to me and my wife. Is that something you make or would make?
Kirk J Holmes
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Jay Shafer reply on November 19th, 2008 9:00 pm:
I would be happy to design something for him if the ones I have don’t work.
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I’m intrested in these tiny homes but i do have a few concerns:
1.) What is the exact cost of the harbinger? can anyone give me an estimate?
2.) Is the whole house made of wood? Is it easy for someone to break into the home?
3.) Is it enough room for two people to liove in it?
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Jay Shafer reply on December 12th, 2008 3:42 pm:
1) It depends on the cost of materials and labor in your area. We only sell plans for this house.
2) It’s all wood / Not if you lock it.
3) Yes.
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my first house was 837 square feet. we had a kitchen, living room and dining room that we used as a bedroom. it was fine
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I pay 1,110.00 amonth for rent can you, HOUSING HAS A PROGRAM THAT HELPS YOU BUY A HOME DO THEY EXCEPT THAT DOES ANY ONE KNOW IF THEY DO?
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I just got my portfolio last night. I’m debating between the Harbinger and Whidbey. Two questions:
1. Since I don’t see a place in the floor plans for a hot water heater of any size, how is hot water generated for the w/d and the shower?
2. Are the Tiny Homes (not the ones on wheels) small enough that building codes don’t require a second entrance/exit? I notice the front door is the only way in and out.
Thanks for such great, inspiring designs!
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Jay Shafer reply on December 18th, 2008 4:35 pm:
1) We don’t show the water heater in the presentation drawings. It’s situated under the counter in the floor plans though.
2) Yes, in most areas.
Thanks.
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Can the Harbiner be trailered 150 miles, from brother-in-law’s shop, to its permanent slab?
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Jay Shafer reply on January 1st, 2009 2:06 am:
When there’s a will…
It’s about 16′ wide at the eves.
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The Z house is my favorite as the bedroom is on the first floor and not a “bump out”. However, I am curious as to why the bedroom when added on to the back of the house isn’t the same width as the rest of the house. I also think instead of 7 feet deep it should be 8 feet deep. The 2 small bedrooms in my townhouse are 8.5 feet by 10 feet and it is difficult enough to get around the beds to make it up or straighten the bedclothes. I am getting older and am having difficulty climbing stairs and don’t really need so much space. (My townhouse is 1,250 square feet.)
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On the floorplans for the Harbinger, is that a combo bathtub and shower in the corner of the bathroom, or is it just a shower?
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Jay Shafer reply on December 31st, 2008 4:04 pm:
Sorry. Just a shower.
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I LOVE THESE HOUSES! THE HARBINGER IS TOO CUTE. i AM LOOKING FOR A SMALL HOUSE TO BE MY HOME. i LOOKED AT KATRINA COTTAGES AND SMALL CABINS, YOUR HOUSES HAVE THE LOOK OF A HOME. i NEED TO KNOW MORE, DO YOU HAVE A CATOLOG? CAN A SMALL FIREPLACE BE ADDED OR IS THAT MY CHOICE? ARE THEY HEATED? DO THE BURNERS AND TUBS AND SUCH ITEMS COME WITH? PLEASE EMAIL AND TELL ME ALL ABOUT THESE HOUSES. I CAN’T WAIT.CAN A HALF A BATH BE PUT UPSTAIRS? THANK YOU SHIRLEY
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As an apartment dweller, these look like the perfect standalone home, but I’m curious whether you’ve looked at applying these principles to a townhouse design? I’m imagining something like 10 units totaling 3-4000 square feet– I’m sure local zoning laws would be a pain, but those would make great starter/eco-friendly/affordable homes and could really maximize density.
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Jay Shafer reply on January 15th, 2009 4:47 pm:
You’re so right. Maximizing density is the way to go.
I do have a bunch of plans for townhouses on narrow winding pedestrian streets with parking out back. I keep them tucked away in a folder. I did actually include one page of them in my first portfolio. Thanks for reminding me.
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I am very serious about building the Harbinger on my mom’s property. Being in CA I still have to look up laws and permits and the not, but I currently live in a 1200 sqft california bungalow from 1928. I have 2 kids so we will probably stay in that was I have a relative who is getting married and with the horrible economy they want to rent for awhile. I like to preserve old time architecture and minimal size and effect on our 1 acre ranch. I hope to see some interior shots someday or when I biuld in 6 months or so I will post some.
Getting very serious about this,
thanks
carol
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Jay Shafer reply on January 21st, 2009 12:45 am:
Yes, Carol. Please send photos when you finish.
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How tall is the Harbinger on the outside? Our Zoning code requires ADU’s be 18′ or less. Would the Harbinger qualify? And one other question regarding zoning. Do the Plans show the wall thickness (double line drawings they call them) at a minimum scale of 1/4″=1″ ? (Another requirement from the city of Portland, OR for ADU permit applications.)
Thank you!
Karen
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Jay Shafer reply on January 31st, 2009 5:45 pm:
You’re in luck, Karen. The Harbinger is about 6″ shy of 18′, and the plans are at 1/2″ scale with wall thicknesses depicted.
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How about this plan. Is the rear upstairs window of this plan full size? Or is it a tiny window like in the front? I love the bump out, btw. Nice touch.
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Jay Shafer reply on February 4th, 2009 7:15 pm:
It has a big rear window of about 2′ x 3′.
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I am really impressed with your houses, but I have to add my voice to the chorus wishing you would feature more interior shots. You’ve said several times in comments from many months past that they are coming, but I cannot find them anywhere - not here on this site, not on your flickr community, not through numerous Google searches. The interior shots you do have are nice, but you should show more, particularly those with people in them.
I also ordered your catalog over a couple years ago and was very disappointed to see it was simply the same shots of the houses that appear on your website, with the same plan sketches that appear on the website - no additional photos or interior photos. It wasn’t worth the $20+ I paid for it and I just think that you have a good thing going here and you owe it to your company to be more forthcoming with your potential customers.
There are other tiny house companies out there that are able to do it - show the interiors of completed houses - and it’s really helpful to see a person standing inside to get a sense of dimension. I’m finally at the point where I’m ready to choose my plans and I’d like to make the best decision I can without being able to actually be in a house first. Your company’s plans seem phenomenal, and are certainly the tiniest available that I’ve seen, making the most out of every inch - but it’s just too much of a shot in the dark without better interior images to look at.
Amber
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Jay Shafer reply on February 22nd, 2009 4:25 am:
I’m sorry you were not happy with your purchase. We did remove some photos from the site after receiving a couple of similar complaints from other book customers. At this point the book contains a lot of images and several houses not shown on the internet. We will add a few more photos to the site when the new book with dozens of additional pictures comes out this Spring.
I am sorry if I misled anyone. I shouldn’t promise more interiors “soon” when the word “soon” can be interpreted in so many ways. Perhaps it’s better for me to say “as soon as humanly possible” and make it clear that, while it is certainly a priority, we only have so many hours in each day. Please be patient with us.
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Would there be a way to add a simple outdoor staircase to the back of the house? It seems an outdoor staircase would make the loft more useable…I would keep the ladder, but the steps and door at the back of the house would be very helpful for moving large items….
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Jay Shafer reply on April 20th, 2009 9:27 am:
That’s a great idea.
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I’m wondering do you use hot water on demand, or a hot water heater? Where would same go? love the w/d option (I can always do my own dishes).
Would also like to see some safety features (innovative ways to escape in case of fire, etc)
Do you compile a list of communities that have codes that permit building of smaller houses. We have several communities that put a lower end restriction of 1400 sf. (I find this ridiculous).
Do you know of any movements afoot toward permitting the building of the smaller homes on lots within cities where a pre-existing (and subsequently condemned or removed house once stood)?
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Jay Shafer reply on April 25th, 2009 8:17 pm:
I usually include a tankless WH on the materials list, Lauren, but it’s up to you.
Check out Ross Chapin’s communities on our “links” page.
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If my comments are redundant to info on our site I apologize now.
Besides the obvious “green” elements inherent in design and visible features/equipment are you exploring any others; e.g. solar-related like solar shingles, natural light options for loft area so it can be used as work space or studio, etc.?
My husband is 6 ft 4 in and will not even consider a Tiny House despite being a stereotype of a frugal, simple-living engineer. Are there any tiny house in Southeast Minnesota or even in Minnesota?
Because Tiny Houses follow Christian Biblical scripture to care of earth and live simply, I wonder if you are aware of any ministries utilizing your tiny houses? Keep up your call it’s what people need!
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RHowe reply on May 1st, 2009 5:49 pm:
Sorry! I just saw the FAQ page, Please disregard my earlier message.
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The main page said that these are IBC compliant, but IBC 1210.5 (from 2003) says that bathrooms can’t open into kitchens. Is that rule still in effect today?
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Jay Shafer reply on May 16th, 2009 2:54 pm:
You’re absolutely right, Rick. Steve pointed that out to me a few months ago, so I rearranged things so that the BR doors lead straight to the living rooms instead. I need to get those revisions posted asap.
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Questions
1) Could the loft be split into 2 rooms. It would kind of be hard to show you, but if you forget the existing interior walls of the loft, and made a T
shape of walls, like this ____ with one bedroom being bigger
[ __ _]
[ _ ] ]
[_] than other, and the entrance sort of being on the top part of the drawing, totally excluding the closets. Would this work? and if doors would take to much room, I suppose I could use curtains.
2) I asked this about your B-53, but could the extra bedroom be 7 by 13 (or 14, I cannot tell which) like the rest of the house, and the right side be a kitchen extension, and the left side be an area for a stackable washer dryer. And along with that, instead of a shower, could there be a bathtub going vertically? I know this may be hard to imagine, but bear with me for one second.
3) Could an amuteur build the basic walls and stuff, then hire someone to do electric and plumbing?
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Nevo M reply on May 16th, 2009 3:19 pm:
the picture came out messed up.
___
[___]
[_] ]
[_]
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Nevo M reply on May 16th, 2009 3:29 pm:
Nother q.
Lets say with the bumpout with the front, you had a couch, a tv hung on the wall, and a few shelves and such. would there be enough room for the couch to be a futon, or you know, those half couch half bed thingy’s?
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Jay Shafer reply on May 17th, 2009 12:50 pm:
That would fit well.
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Jay Shafer reply on May 17th, 2009 12:49 pm:
Yes on all counts, Nevo.
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Uggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. just forget it.
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nother q. Man do I have a lot of questions! Anyways, is the interior of this house made with drywall, or sheetrock, or whatever you call it? or is it just wooden like your tiny homes? If it is wood, could it be changed?
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Jay Shafer reply on May 17th, 2009 12:47 pm:
I usually recommend drywall for cost, but it could be wood, etc.
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I just sold my Bambi 16ft. Airstream and miss it terribly, but the payments were killing me. Plus towing it was getting to be super expensive. I want to figure out an alternative to what I had only I want to do it for less. I don’t know about investing upwards of $42, 000 on a travel trailer, again. Are these road worthy? What is the tow weight? How do they compare to the space inside an Airstream? I am intrigued and basically it’s all about selling your idea. I bought an Airstream once and I will do it again, if I am not inclined to change gears and do something radical.
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Jay Shafer reply on May 17th, 2009 12:46 pm:
Sometimes I miss the Bambi I lived in too, Paige, but then I remember scraping ice off the inside of my walls.
That said, I recommend sticking with an Airstream if you’re not going to be in a cold climate and you plan on moving a lot. My smallest houses are easy to move, but not very aerodynamic. That means you’d pay even more for transport. Buy a used Bambi with a totaled interior for $3000 or less and redo the inside for another grand. That worked well for me, anyway.
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hi paige, sometimes when i want an answer fast i scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page. in the black area, on the left, in white are tiny links…the 1st link is ’search’ and if you click on that & type in your topic and you will get a list of places to find answers common to your questions. jay’s “tiny” houses are on wheels, but the “small” houses are not. hope this helps
betsy
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Hi, I am in a fix. Looking for small land space for something like this house. Also low income social security. Any suggestions where building permits a town allowing small houses? Thanks.
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Jay Shafer reply on May 20th, 2009 12:42 pm:
Renting a spot worked well for me for years. See my blog entry, “Viva La Tiny Revolution” for infofmation regarding codes, etc.
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Could all my previous questions apply to the whidbey? I saw the floorplans on flickr.
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Well actualy, about the whidbey thing, Would it be okay to basically not have the wall for the downstairs bedroom and be a sitting room instead? Also would it be possible to have a small hallway upstairs with a door leading into each room?
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Jay Shafer reply on May 20th, 2009 12:35 pm:
Yup.
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Here’s a brainwave for those of us who need a little space to get away from each other (about to retire!) but love this philosopy: trailer in two tiny homes and connect with a glassy studio/breezeway!
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Oh, forgot to ask: what do people do about getting water in, grey water out, and heavy-duty insulation? We live in extreme-winter conditions so these are issues we need to figure out before buying plans.
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Jay Shafer reply on July 4th, 2009 6:00 pm:
There are so many answers to your first question, Dee. Whatever people are doing in bigger houses, they’re doing in smaller houses as well (if not on a more modest scale). Water catchment, city plumbing, wells, compost toilets, insinerlets, direct grey water systems, septic sewer, etc. have all been used.
As for insulation, I am always sure to put in more than enough to keep any house in a cold climate warm and condensation-free with very little fuel, but, if you live in a really cold climate, you cold always increase the thickness of the walls, floor and roof and, thereby, increase the room for more insulation.
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Dear Steve,
I’m only twelve but into architecture, especially in your homes. I also wrote this letter to ask a few questions:
- are they available in Canada?
- i did not notice a sink in the bathroom of this house does this happen in many of the tiny homes?
- Were you already in a career in archtecture when you started tumbleweed homes.
Finally
- how much do you charge for shipping
thank you for reading my letter.
( it is my parents who are hoping to buy a tiny home)
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Jay Shafer reply on July 17th, 2009 11:16 am:
Jay here, Kaelan. I design the houses while Steve does everything necessary in the real world to make a business run.
1) Yup. We can sell you plans or build you a tiny one here and deliver it.
2) It’s hard to see because it’s on the back of the toilet. See the Real Goods website.
3) I was just designing for fun (no formal training) when it evolved into my full-time job. Follow your bliss.
4) I think it’s something like $3.00 per mile these days. If you’re not on the West coast, it might make more sense to order plans and build it yourself.
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I’ve gone from thinking of ways to make one of your larger models comply with size-requirement building codes to imagining a little community of individual tiny houses. I’m currently living in a 400-square-foot apartment with a less-than-optimal arrangement, and still finding it quite acceptable for a single — I even have space for a home office. Something like the Harbinger would be ideal for me (especially with the “sitting room”, which would have wonderful light for reading), though entertaining would be a bit difficult. The Tumbleweeds — maybe a mixture of different sizes, pairs of the smaller and larger “tiny” houses in similar style, with and without the extra rooms — would seem to make for an ideal co-housing community. Building a few units at once could help bring down building costs (and would make it easier to get a group of people together for mutual building aid), and adding another unit as shared space for entertaining, guests, and the occasional potlach would make it even easier to live in the smaller private spaces.
I’ve had to push back my time frame for getting my own place in order to account for grad school but, especially after paying attention to how it feels to live in cozy spaces, I’m even more convinced that tiny houses are a good approach. Higher-density housing (Vancouver-style) may still be the most sustainable, but a satellite mini-community of tiny houses, especially with a bit of vanpooling and some cooperative gardening, will easily come close and might be more livable for those of us who need a lot of green space. And even the high-rises could benefit from living spaces designed more like Tumbleweeds.
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Jay Shafer reply on July 17th, 2009 11:18 am:
I like the way you think.
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Would you consider making a Harbinger with a full upstairs and in the 500 sq. ft. range? I would love that. This plan reminds me alot of the old family house that was just torn down.
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Jay Shafer reply on September 4th, 2009 11:22 am:
I’ve had some trouble proportioning one of this style to fit all of that stuff up there, look nice and still meet code. I do have a lager version of the Harbinger pictured in my book though. It has a large bedroom downstairs and a large open sleeping loft. I call it the Whidby.
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Hey Jay, sorry to bug you again. I have a couple more questions about the portable Harbinger.
1) When will it be possible to buy those plans?
2) Do you have any suggestions of where to buy a trailer big enough to build the Harbinger on? (how big would it actually need to be?) I’ve been doing some research and am having a hard time finding wide trailers.
Thanks so much! I’m sure there will be more questions soon…
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Jay Shafer reply on September 22nd, 2009 9:54 am:
1) I suppose there’s no reason why we couldn’t sell you a set now. They’re finished, but we don’t have any graphics to advertize them with yet.
2) It would need to be 12′ wide x 26′ (or 24′) long. It’s probably best to have someone local manufacture it for you, as mobile home trailers rarely come this short.
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Erika reply on October 3rd, 2009 10:45 am:
Thanks, I think we should be able to find someone to build a trailer for us to work with.
Now I’m wondering whether we should get the trailer built longer than needed for the house to put the roof on for transport. We would likely only move the house once, but it would be through the mountains so the roof will definitely have to come off. Any thoughts on how that will work?
Thanks, Erika
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Jay Shafer reply on October 7th, 2009 2:52 pm:
I’m still trying to get the roof to lay flat on top when hinged down, but, so far, the longer trailer is the way to go.
it’s kind of cool to run in to family when your just goofing around on this thing i found RLM quite by accident yesterday . so icame at you from a different angle this morning JUST a hello to someone in my address book another black sheep of which there a lot from Louise’s covy
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I visit your website often to dream of a simpler life. I was glad to see the addition of a bedroom on the main level. I think climbing up and down a ladder is a little narrowly focused on the 20-something, able-bodied crowd.
The Harbinger is my favorite floorplan, but I hate the name. I usually see that word preceeding the words “of bad news.” Seriously, you should consider renaming this cool little house to something like “Jonquil” or “Joyful.”
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Hey Jay, so it sounds like from Steve that the portable harbinger plans may not be ready for another year or so (something about needing to get it registered as a park model home)…bummer. There is a small possibility that this may still work for us timing wise depending on what we find out about the feasibility of other options (like yurts). But, if you do get the plans ready earlier, or there is a way we could access them earlier, do let us know! Thanks, Erika
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Hey Jay, I suspect you’ve already seen this example of a hinged roof:
http://tinyhouseblog.com/stick-built/the-barn-raiser-homes/
and the website of the company who does it: http://www.barnraisersheds.com/default.html
It got me wondering (if we could figure out how to do a hinged roof like this), whether it would be possible to build one of your houses like this (ie not on a trailer) and then hinge down the roof and just hire someone to move it when the time came.
Would we have to change something in the construction of Harbinger (besides the roof) to make it movable like a mobile home?
Thanks, Erika
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Jay Shafer reply on October 20th, 2009 7:24 pm:
Thanks. I have seen it, and I’m glad to be reminded.
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Hi Jay,
I love the design of your houses and do intend to buy the plans and build one to live in permanently and travel constantly. It looks like they are built using 2″ X 4″ construction. Even screwed and glued, I am worried about the strain on the building after a few thousand miles. Is there anyone out there travelling in a Tumbleweed constantly? Thanks for the inspiration.
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Jay Shafer reply on October 20th, 2009 7:28 pm:
That’s not a problem, but you might be better off with something more aerodynamic for extensive hauling.
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Jay,
I absolutely love the Harbinger design, particularly apropos name since I am going through an entire life overhaul right now and I would prefer to think of the changes as signs of good things to come. There are a few design modifications I would need to make, some major, to fit the design to my particular needs, and I wondered if you could give me some feedback. Is it possible to place this design on a full-size basement? That would enable me to carve out enough room for a private bedroom and full bath away from the public first floor areas. It’s also important to have an underground bolthole where I live because we’re in tornado central. I would then place basement access on the backside of the current living room closet location and reduce the first floor bathroom area to a toilet/sink combo with a pocket door. I had considered the add-on bedroom modification, but I think instead I would like to keep the door placement you have for the add-on as a back door and have it lead to a lean-to greenhouse area that I would have dining seating in and literally “green” my space. Do these seem like feasible modifications? Also, I know that other people interested in this design are concerned about getting furniture, etc. through the loft opening, as am I. Would the design structurally support a traditional pull-down attic stairway that would open down into the living room area when needed and close back up into the ceiling when not in use? I realize these are major changes, but any feedback you could give would be greatly appreciated. I’m just trying to get a better handle on where to go from here. Thanks for the beautiful designs and the dreams they inspire! Elizabeth
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Jay Shafer reply on November 4th, 2009 9:07 pm:
It all sounds completely doable. And furniture could go through the large back window too.
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Jay,
I bought and downloaded your latest book, and after a closer look at the designs I discovered that your new mid-size small house design, the Whidby, addresses many of the structural changes that I was considering with the Harbinger. I have one concern: the composite photo of the Whidby does not appear to have enough clearance to support the head room needed for a staircase, but there is one in the plans. Is there enough head room? If there is, then this design is definitely the way to go for me. I would like to find out as soon as possible because my intent is to break ground this coming spring.
Thank you,
Elizabeth
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Jay Shafer reply on November 4th, 2009 10:50 pm:
It does have the necessary headroom, Elizabeth (6′ 6″ at the lowest point).
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