Weebee
102 square feet  Ready made: $48,997 Build it yourself: $21,150 |
slideshow |
| House width: | 8′ | Porch: | 2 ½’ x 2 ½’ |
| House length: | 15′ | Main Room: | 6′ x 6 ½’ |
Trailer Size:  |
7′ x 14′ | Kitchen: | 4 ½’ x 4′ |
| Road Height: | 13′ 5″ | Bathroom: | 4′ x 2′ |
| Dry Weight: |
4900 lbs | Ceiling height: | 6′ 3″ |
| all measurements are approximate | Loft height: | 3′ 8″ | |
The Weebee boasts the wonderful bump-out windows in the front. The interior is completely finished in pine with stainless steel counters. The bathroom is the shower (also known as a wet bath) and is finished with stainless steel as well. The upstairs sleeping loft is large enough for a queen sized bed with ample storage to compliment the storage downstairs. It’s heated by a boat heater which keeps this little house warm in extremely cold climates.
Learn more: Connecting to utilities, Purchasing a house, Building a house
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Building Plans: $859 |
| Includes 1 set of plans printed on 11×17 paper | |
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Add 2 additional copies of the plans: $10 |
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Add 4 additional copies of the plans: $15 |
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Add 1 hour of consultation with Jay Shafer: $49 (save $50) |
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Add 3 hours of consultation with Jay Shafer: $99 (save $200) |
| Add 2 tickets for the tiny house workshop: $99 (Save $475) | |
Comments
288 Responses to “Weebee”
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The new website design and pictures really show the attention to details and quality workmanship that are a part of these homes. I am inspired once again by your efforts!
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Michael L. Neumann reply on March 1st, 2009 4:22 am:
I live in northern Wisconsin, and I am wondering how you would keep the water lines from freezing when it is -20 or colder?
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Jay Shafer reply on March 1st, 2009 6:35 pm:
http://www.nofreezewaterhose.com/index.html
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Josh Leach reply on March 10th, 2009 5:14 am:
Michael,
I live in Northern WI also and have been wanting to build a tiny house for some time now. I’m trying to get a better handle on the construction of the houses first, though. I have a design almost finished but really want to see a tiny house before I start. You haven’t built one, have you?
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Do you folks sell your bathroom fixtures? I have a 12′x 16′ board and bat cottage that needs shower , sink and toilet. If you do not sell them can you point me to someone who carrys small fixtures? Thanks Robert.
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on May 28th, 2008 4:09 am:
Try http://www.compactappliance.com. They have some really cool stuff.
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Michael, WA reply on July 7th, 2008 7:45 am:
Here’s a link that sells tiny shower stalls, sinks, toilets.
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Michael, WA reply on July 7th, 2008 7:49 am:
dyersonline.com/Departments/RV-Plumbing-Supplies/Shower-and-Bath-Tubs.aspx
James Redfield reply on March 28th, 2009 6:24 pm:
This company make tiny fixtures: http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/
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Are there any more pictures of the Weebee’s main room, table, etc? Also, is the floor plan available to view?
I love all the houses! You’ve motivated me to seriously downsize my possessions, with an eye to building and living in one of these tiny houses in the next few years or so.
Are there any couples who live in one of the ones on wheels? I’d love to hear from anyone that has tried that…
Thanks!
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 10th, 2008 3:19 pm:
We don’t have more pictures of the main room. I’ll add the floorplan diagram soon. There’s a couple that lives in the XS-House.
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I love this home design but I have questions regarding electricity and plumbing. It appears these homes do not have any sort of plumbing so what is used as a water supply, especially hot water? In addition, how is electricity generated for these homes? Do you use exterior generators? Thanks!
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Daniel reply on June 14th, 2008 3:24 pm:
It does look to be some plumbing in these structures. If you were to build one yourself, you could supply the water with a standard water hose. With the hot water, I have found sources that have on demand water heaters made for RV’s and also very small ones to be used at the location of water usage.
Electricity can be supplied by an extention cord. I think some people are also considering the use of solar electric systems too. I’m looking at building one of these houses myself so these are just different things to consider.
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Judy P. reply on June 30th, 2008 9:10 pm:
When I build mine, I want to go as “green” as I can. Where can I find out more about solar electric systems?
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Paul B reply on August 8th, 2008 1:40 pm:
I love these homes, great concept, but I live in nova Scotia (Canada) and it gets cold in the winters, so when it comes to water hookups I need to be able to connect to something that won’t freeze (garden hose would not work for us in winter). Can one of these hook up to a well / septic system. I would also onsider having one of these hooked up to a perminate power source (other then extension cord) with a green “backup” such as wind or solar. Can I have one of these hooked up “on the grid”?
http://www.wsetech.com/
A great canadian Company that offers solar and wind powered systems… and other cool toys:)
Jay Shafer reply on August 20th, 2008 2:17 am:
No problem. Any of these would be doable, Paul. The utilities are the most flexible part of my designs.
Jack reply on October 2nd, 2008 5:07 pm:
I was looking to solve the problem of a freezing water hose too. I found this site which looks like a good product.
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Jay Shafer reply on October 7th, 2008 5:43 pm:
Nice! I’ve bookmarked it.
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Paul Guyon reply on November 7th, 2008 2:23 pm:
Looks like the bookmark has disappeared?
David Ogg reply on December 15th, 2008 11:32 am:
Anyone have the link?
Donna reply on December 15th, 2008 2:41 pm:
http://www.nofreezewaterhose.com/index.html
brant reply on February 17th, 2009 1:24 am:
I have a property in New Brunswick and would like to know
if other Canadians are developing communal, small house living
situations? Perhaps shared communal washing facilities,
kitchens and studios etc. on the land would be an idea.
Solitude with the option for community and connection.
Also, any Canadian workshops on tiny house building on the go?
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Jay Shafer reply on February 22nd, 2009 4:38 am:
I’ll be doing a workshop in Vancouver on May 9 & 10.
Great idea i live in a 1053 sq ft home with 3 bedrooms by my self how dumb is that. Heating alone is 700 to 900 a season in Ontario canada. And ya the bigger home you have the more stuff you aquire to fill it , what a waste. With one of these homes I could save so much money id be sick. good job keep it up Tumbleweed less is more as you have showen.
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This is by far my favorite design; it’s so bright and open to the sunlight.
I realized while I was scanning the floor plans of your houses that when I moved into my new apartment, I was straining to find things to fill it because it was too big (although it isn’t THAT big…it’s only a little studio). Obviously these houses would be a much better alternative for me and my minimal lifestyle. Who knew?
Now to decide where I can put it…
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Nancy Miller reply on December 20th, 2008 6:46 pm:
I am very interesting in purchasing a tiny home to retire in, however I am not sure where I could put it. How would one go about finding out where you can put these tiny homes? Do building codes or community covenances restrict one in deciding where to place a tiny home?
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Jay Shafer reply on December 21st, 2008 6:48 pm:
It does vary locally. In general, you can put one anywhere you can put a travel trailer. Ask your local zoning officials for details.
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Please post a floorplan. I am having a hard time visualizing where the sleeping & living areas are in relation to everything else. Thanks!
Love your site. Keep up the great work.
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Robin Bobula reply on June 22nd, 2008 10:29 am:
The floor plan of the Weebee is just like the Epu, but with the front bump-out, and a table where the Epu’s desk is. I just got the new portfolio, but I had already pretty much figured this out after studying the specifications and interior pictures of the Weebee and Epu.
Hope this helps!
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Georgiana reply on June 25th, 2008 3:31 pm:
It seems as if the square footage for many of the models has decreased a bit ( I remember the Weebee being listed as 110 square feet). I have been keeping my eye on Tumbleweed houses for a while, and I am hoping to build one at some point, I just hope that the sizes stay relatively the same.
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Daniel reply on June 25th, 2008 3:37 pm:
Somewhere on this site (I think) they said that they measured from different parts. The structures are the same just measured differently.
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on June 26th, 2008 10:24 am:
The sizes of the homes have not changed. We have listed them using more conventional measurement standards. You can read more here.
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For me, traveling is not the intended pupose of a house on wheels. Rather, it is the freedom from building codes and restrictions of the like. The largest trailer allowed is up to 399sq ft, not including porches or lofts. Lofts can have a max. of 60″ head-room.
I’d like to see models that take full advantage of the 399sq ft allowance, which can be 12X33 or 14×28 – much less restrictive than 8ft wide.
I’d also like to see the return of the ‘dogrun’ or whatever that model’s name was. It was a small bit that connected two trailers. This would definitley open the doors for someone with kids to have on of these affordable homes.
Mike
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Tracy reply on July 2nd, 2008 2:44 pm:
Any designs upcoming that are 10 or 12 feet wide, 25 to 30 feet long, and on wheels?
Thanks
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on July 2nd, 2008 3:09 pm:
Moving a house that is 10 or 12 feet wide on the roadways requires a wide load permit and a 2nd car with orange sirens. It’s expensive to move. We make our portable homes as wide as possible without requiring the added cost and permits to travel down the roadways.
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Michael, WA reply on July 7th, 2008 7:48 am:
oooo..that depends where you are. In WA you need a $10 permit ($20 for a month of unlmited moves) and no lead car if you are 11ft wide or less.
But true – 400sq ft is probably going to take more than your truck can pull around.
What is the most common arrangement that people use to live in tumbleweed homes? Is it necessary to own a piece of land, or can it be done through an arrangement with someone who has extra room?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on July 1st, 2008 11:19 pm:
Some people own the land. And others rent a space in the yard. For example, Jay rents from people because he likes to move around. He usually moves to a new location about once per year. It’s up to you.
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Great, Great site and houses!
…will you be adding a floor plan to the Weebee page?
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on July 5th, 2008 8:58 pm:
Yes, I’ve been soooooo busy I haven’t gotten to it yet. Sorry for the delay.
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I really would love to see a floor plan of this, my hubby and I think it’s so cute! We love the stainless steal and wood combination
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Ever since I saw these cute little thangs I’ve wanted to get one, a GREEN one. That is SOLAR powered and without creepy chemicals from bad building materials. I can imagine using all kinds of beautiful recycled materials to build it. For the past 7 years I have “lived” out of my mini-van, commuting from VA to VT to work as a painting therapist. My DREAM is to have this as my traveling ART-MOBILE and home. Since I am 1 of 5 folks in the USA w/diploma to do this painting therapy work, it seems like SOMEBODY has to get it around… that’s ME – the traveling artist. SO now folks, where can I get the grants to fund this idea??? AND who wants the traveling show in YOUR neighborhood? Have ART will TRAVEL.
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Chas in ME reply on July 15th, 2008 12:13 am:
Martha,
Do you know about Grants.Gov? You may find grant funds there.
Good luck.
Chas
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Dana reply on July 25th, 2008 4:42 am:
Wow, as one of only 5 to have your skills I would think you could charge a reasonable enough fee for your work to fund your own dreams. Good luck in your endeavors.
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Is anyone using these in a cold climate such as MN in winter? I’m trying to imagine how one keeps water lines from freezing. I’m also wondering what people are using for blackwater/greywater….tanks that you have to empty?
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Gerry reply on October 1st, 2008 8:32 am:
I’m wondering about this exact same thing too. I live in Canada and get 5 month winters.
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what happened to the z glass?
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anyone got an estimate as to what the utility usage would be out of this thing?
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I recall hearing that Dee spends $6 per month for propane for her Tumbleweed house. I don’t know which model she has, though. I suppose that utility usage would be extremely variable depending on your needs.
Even so, it’s got to be a lot cheaper than many houses! In 2005 my 1,600 sq ft house cost $265 a month on the “budget plan” for natural gas and electricity, including an electric stove and nearly constant PC use. The “budget plan” is not a discount service — it only spreads the costs over an entire year so that people don’t have huge bills in some months (say, January and August) and small bills in others (say, May and September). Also, we were signed up for the “greenest” power option available — only solar and wind suppliers — so we were paying about 2x as much for electricity compared to other sources (coal, nuclear, natural gas).
Meanwhile, another person I know paid about 3 x as much. His house ws bigger than mine (2700 sq ft), but that’s only 1.7 times as big as my house. Perhaps he and hs family have a less efficient refrigerator, keep the heat on high and the AC on low, and leave lights on all the time.
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Love the houses. Looking forward to floor plan of Weebee. Seems like I have seen it here in distant past, but cannot remember what it was like.
I have lots of questions, but will try to control myself.
What type of insulation is typically used? Fiberglass?
Is the treadplate in the baths aluminum?
Cedar siding?
Wonderful!
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Jay Shafer reply on August 20th, 2008 3:16 am:
Thanks. 1) Foamboard, 2)Yes. Aluminum, 3) Yes. Cedar
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Will the bump out accomodate a twin size bed? I realy love this model. How functional is the wet bath and could you have a composting toilet in a wet bath? Great houses and love the new website…. I will be building one of these one day!!! My sister is hooked too!!
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Jay Shafer reply on August 20th, 2008 2:22 am:
The bump out is exactly 4′-1/4″ wide. I put a tri-fold foam bed/couch in the last one we built.
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The video of Jay’s Epu demonstrated how the loft can be cooled quickly when equipped with a fan. Can this model be similarly cross-ventilated?
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Jay Shafer reply on August 20th, 2008 1:43 am:
It is.
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Would like to talk to Jay about an idea we have. My husband is an architect and project mgr. We want to do a pod-system idea, our little invention designed to build our dream home on a time-budget while still enjoying it along the way. We wish to start with a tiny log “pod” that would include 1 bdr and loft, a nice kitchen/great room and a bath with a nice soaking tub that is open to nature and has some “bringing the outside in” sort of touches with glass, water, etc. Kind of Frank Lloyd Wright goes to the mountains. Then as time and money allow we would add another pod that would be a great room and larger kitchen with powder room that could be later attached by a glass passive solar breezeway. Later still would add another pod that would become our master suite with a REALLY nice bath, bedroom, and sitting room, also connected to the other pods by a breezeway. All would be heated by tiny soapstone woodstoves and all would be “green” as my husband is big on this at work and is LEEP certified. Would eventually tie the whole pod-home together with a floating deck-and-pergola area with outdoor stone fireplace and wood-fired cook area. That’s our dream. Would you be interested in working with us? Home to be built in NC blue ridge mtns, very remote. Thank you.
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Jay Shafer reply on August 20th, 2008 1:40 am:
I had better not even consider it until I finish my own projects here at Tumbleweed… and that could take years.
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what year was the weebee house designed? 1999?
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Jay Shafer reply on August 19th, 2008 8:21 pm:
2007
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What is your opinion of spray-in foam insulation?
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Jay Shafer reply on August 22nd, 2008 8:52 pm:
It’s Great Stuff. At least it works well for me and my applications. Don’t get any on you though.
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Mary Hemme reply on August 23rd, 2008 1:20 am:
Would you have any comment on SOY-based spray-in insulation?
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Jay Shafer reply on August 25th, 2008 7:56 pm:
I’m sorry. I have n0 experience with it.
Nelson Eisel reply on September 14th, 2008 3:51 am:
The woman at turnbulltinyhouse.blogspot.com built a small shack-house on a trailer, similar in concept to the rolling Tumbleweeds but not as nice to look at. She used spray-in soy insulation. The product’s brand name is BioBased.
Connie Fritter reply on April 2nd, 2009 8:09 am:
I am very interested in these tiny homes but my husband and I were both poisoned by formaldehyde in a new modular home we had built and we have to have a formaldehyde free home, our home was over 3,000 sq ft and we built a small metal building next to our home to get out of the poisoned home. We are liveing in a 24×24 home built formaldehyde free so my husband could breath and have become acustomed to it! Do your homes have any pruducts that contain formaldehyde as we have to be very careful now…we want to travel and one of these tiny homes would be great IF there is NO formaldehyde..Thanks, Connie
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Jay Shafer reply on April 9th, 2009 4:51 pm:
We do not use any inside, but the plywood sheathing in the outside shell dose contain a bit. It is isolated to the exterior by a thick vapor barrier.
It’s criminal what they can (and do) put into houses these days.
Connie Fritter reply on April 9th, 2009 6:45 pm:
what do you mean by ‘a thick vapor barrier” ? I shtere anyway to use a sideing that does NOT contain formaldehyde?
Jay Shafer reply on April 10th, 2009 4:19 pm:
Ordering plywood sheathing without formaldehyde is an option. It just costs more.
I’m really quite taken with this design, and I’d love to maybe purchase one in the future, maybe somehow fit a desk in there as well. The problem is I’m a rather tall person at 6′5 and the ceiling height is only 6′3. If I was to purchase one is there any way we could make it taller without throwing off the design?
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Jay Shafer reply on August 26th, 2008 9:38 pm:
I just stretched one of these mobile designs out for a tall guy in Seattle last month. It turns out all you really need to do is use the original plans but cut your studs a few inches longer when framing the walls. If you reduce the pitch of the roof a hair that will keep it under the max. height for East Coast road travel, and it still feels roomy (albeit shorter) upstairs.
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Hi,
I think I’m about to buy the two Tumbleweed books. Maybe they will help with some of my questions and thoughts I have. But I think I’ll just post a couple questions here in case anyone can give some answers.
I read in a comment above that someone rents spaces from people. I wonder how much people are paying for a space to rent? Are many people open to this arrangment? (I might also be interested in also finding someone with an unused yard for gardening.)
I think that’s the only way I could do this. I’d prefer one of the tiny stationary homes but to purchase the land would be way too much money(I live in the Seattle area).
Currently I do have a place just outside of Seattle, my brother’s property which is a front yard/parking area, where I could build one of these mobile homes. But I worry if the neighbors/city would shut it down and say we need permits or that I couldn’t live in it.
How much might it cost to build one of these on your own, mostly buying new materials? My brother is an excellent carpentor and would be down to help me so except for electrical I don’t think I’d need a contractor.
I do hope the books answer these questions or help me find avenues to find the answers.
Does anyone know the laws in the Seattle and King county area concerning this type of home and living in them? Or where they are posted on the net or wherever. I don’t want to take the time, effort and money to build it only to be kicked out or removed from someone’s backyard.
Also, another major conern is hooking up the plumbing. Or if I do use an rv type toilet how, and where, do you dump the dump?
Thank you all in advance.
Jesse
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Colin reply on September 14th, 2008 10:03 pm:
You should get the books, they are a good read.
I have gathered prices from my local Lowe’s rip center and I have tallied a Weebee to be $13,900 in materials but I’m lacking a few items like shower paneling and metal roof as they don’t have those items so I would estimate $15k. Add 500+ hours of labor and it easily adds up to the asking price.
A stretched 8×10 Vardo comes in at $6900 sans stainless and they are hands down cutest of all by a NY mile.
For waste disposal most have chosen to install a sawdust toilet. Don’t pay for one of these, they are easy to build, in fact I am building one now as a test unit. Or you could be like Gregory Johnson and have no toilet. Personally I think a “no toilet” sign above the front door would be exceptionally cute.
To answer your disposal question, you dump the toilet in the yard of the person you are renting from. You also dump the grey water in the yard so when you rent you’ll need to ask if it’s OK to dump your toilet and grey water in the yard. Most people are clueless to composting so you will likely have a serious challenge finding a space to rent. I suggest you try to find a lot for sale in an unincorporated area that does not have any deed restrictions.
Option #2 would be to purchase two $199 25 gallon holding tanks. Just remember that a 25 gallon tank weighs 210 pounds when full. You would still have to dump these somewhere and at 210 pounds a piece it would not be easy. And where will you put them?
As per construction, check with your code compliance department. You won’t need a permit if you build on wheels, just tags, but you may get a ticket for having a trailer parked on grass.
If you build on wheels you can tell the tax man to stick it. You may recover the cost of the trailer in short order depending on how high your prop tax is.
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Jay Shafer reply on September 15th, 2008 2:59 pm:
Thanks, Colin. Well researched.
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Daniel reply on October 2nd, 2008 6:44 pm:
I’ve been looking into materials myself, but I’m also trying to figure out how to finish the bathroom. I haven’t found anything that would work out for panels or anything else for the floor or walls (thinking tiled floor, but still unsure about walls). Aside from that, I figure my project would cost $12-13K (slightly modified Epu). I’m thinking of using a sawdust toilet.
Any suggestions on finishing the rest of the bathroom?
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Jay Shafer reply on October 7th, 2008 5:40 pm:
Tile can get pretty heavy. Stainless steel is great if you don’t mind paying an arm and leg. I bought a cheap shower stall at a local home improvement store and tore that apart to finish the shower in my first house. Just flash and calk the heck out of the corners.
Paul Vlasuk reply on December 23rd, 2008 2:43 am:
Colin,
In your Sept. 14, 2008 comment you mentioned a sawdust toilet. Where would I get information on how it functions and how to construct one?
For anyone else….I live outside of Seattle….25 min. from Downtown…15 min. from Microsoft…and would like to share my property with others. I have 2 acres, an orchard, garden space … total privacy.
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Victoria reply on December 23rd, 2008 9:57 am:
See the book, “Humanure”, which thoroughly explains “sawdust” or composting toilets. Google “humanure” and go to Joseph Jenkins’ website.
Jay Shafer reply on January 1st, 2009 5:19 pm:
Thanks, Paul! That’s the kind of information we can use.
Check out the Humanure Handbook for the answers you seek.
Larry Clay reply on January 7th, 2009 12:57 am:
paul
My name is Larry Clay.I live in North Bend Wa.Ihave been building custom homes on the eastside for 30 years.I stumbled onto umbleweed Tiny houses on the net.Iam intrigued.these mini houses are really cute.
I have a 5 year old boy thatI am making a “club house ” with and has similar dementions 8′x12′ although shorter walls,5′ studs.The roof pitch is 12-12 and it candelevers over the front porch 3′ supported by 4″x4″ posts and it makes for a 5′x12′ loft,theres not that much usable space because of the steep pitch.Anyway I am having lots of fun building this.I could Email photos if you would like.
If you come across anyone who wants a tiny house built,I am a licienced,bonded general contractor and would like to talk.My web address is http://www.valleycustomhomesllc.com
Larry
Shannon Rose reply on March 22nd, 2009 4:27 am:
I built my own sawdust toilet according to the Humanure website only I added on a side “container” to hold the sawdust. It’s excellent, has NO smell whatsoever, and is easy to keep. I also have 3 sons who use it and so far, so good!
Shannon Rose
Jay Shafer reply on September 15th, 2008 2:36 pm:
I have never had any problems finding a property owner who is delighted to have me on their land/yard. Towing my house downtown and waiting for someone to come along and offer has worked very well. Posting “House seeks Home” signs works well too. I’ve paid between $50 and $300 for a spot plus wifi, water, electrical and parking. The higher rent is for the spots in town in the Bay Area. I use a sawdust toilet and a grey water system to avoid sewer hook-ups.
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M. Kelley Harris reply on January 1st, 2010 6:56 pm:
Hi Jay – Please describe what you do with the sawdust toilet output. I’ve read the Humanure book and while I’m personally up for the recommended composting, I’m stumped at how to do it legally in Califrornia, and how to leave the compost pile not completely composted, if moving to a new living location. Thank you
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I love small spaces and this website is an absolute dream for me! Do these homes come as is or are there options?
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Jay Shafer reply on September 20th, 2008 4:06 pm:
I can do simple customizations, but I try to stay away from major overhauls. I leave that to the buyers.
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ginmar reply on September 28th, 2008 12:57 am:
Do you have any plans to dream up a larger vardo? That would be wonderful.
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Jay Shafer reply on September 28th, 2008 5:04 am:
Not right now, but there are so many bigger well proportioned vardos out there from other companies. Google “Gypsy Wagon”.
Gostaria que traduzissem todo o site para o português. I’m from Brazil , i no speack inglish , i speack a portuguese, please traduction for page from portuguese.. Were brazilians love you work, it’s a beautifull. maginific, I, work carpinters are my maried. I and my holiday your house for world. Congratulations, book is in portuguese for me? Traduction?. Gostaria que traduzissem o livro de voces para o portugues. Muito obrigada
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Valter reply on September 23rd, 2008 4:57 am:
Irmã, teu ingles é de doer… Acho que o cara não tem ideia do que vc ta querendo dizer… Mas vamos lá. Vou quebrar teu galho desta vez:
Copia e cola… Mas acho que é melhor mandar no email do cara…
“Hi, I’d like to see this webste translated into Portuguese. I’m from Brazil and I don’t speak or read any English. We in Brazil love your work, it’s beautiful. My husband is a carpenter and I’d like to build one of these houses for holidays and vacations. Is there already a POrtuguese version? If not, is there this possibility? Thanks in advance.”
Espero que te ajude… E se matricule numa escola, numa boa, ok? Fique na Paz
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Jay Shafer reply on September 28th, 2008 5:16 am:
We will most likely start translating once we can afford it.
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Valter reply on September 29th, 2008 12:31 am:
Jay, wanna have a deal? Let me and my sister (she’s an English teacher) translate the book for you. All I ask, after the job is done, is that you send us printed copies (both in English and Portuguese — the latter if possible), like if you sent us your course/book as a fee.
If you’re interested, drop us a line. BTW, we also speak/write Spanish and French (no German yet
)
Jay Shafer reply on September 30th, 2008 5:39 pm:
Sounds like a deal to me. Send me your address, and I’ll send you the book.
Jay Shafer reply on September 28th, 2008 5:34 am:
Thank you. Perhaps someday we can tranlate the book and site into several languages.
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Sasha reply on May 17th, 2009 10:36 am:
Hi, Jay! I live in Russian Federation, in Moscow. I like your houses very mu?h, especially WeeBee. I dream about to build it on my garden plot. Also I can help you as Valter – translate you book and site on russian language
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Jay Shafer reply on May 17th, 2009 12:37 pm:
Thanks, Sasha. I’d love to see it in Russian.
Sasha reply on May 18th, 2009 3:39 am:
Jay, I have’t you book yet. Can you send me book in electronic view(as ebook) on my email? Where(on you email?) I can send my site-pages translations?
Jay Shafer reply on May 20th, 2009 12:53 pm:
I’m technically impaired, so I’m forwarding this to my business partner, Steve. I’m sure he can send you a copy.
Thank you, Sasha.
I’m curious why this design, the Weebee, has the unusual roofing design over the doorway. It seems to me that if the roof line were to mimic that of the Lusby or Tarleton that it would be a simpler build and increase the space available in the loft/sleeping area. No offense but the novelty of the roof projection doesn’t add significantly to the aesthetics. Don’t get me wrong I love these little houses and there’s a build in my future but this just struck me as an odd and non-functional detail. Thanks for all of the inspiration!
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Colin reply on September 27th, 2008 11:23 pm:
I think I am going to do just what you suggested and build with a gable roof instead of the hip. The dutch hip looks nice but it is not detailed in the plans so you would have to take your best guess based on side elevation.
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Jay Shafer reply on September 28th, 2008 5:07 am:
The gable will be easier and it will look nice.
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Lindsay in Ontario, Canada reply on September 28th, 2008 7:39 pm:
Well, I’ve crossed one hurdle, as I’ve been offered a space to do the build. Still won’t be happening in the very near future but it is nice to pass that first obstacle. I know others have mentioned the idea of using an old RV frame to situate their tiny house, that appeals to me because it would allow for the recycling of many fixtures. It would be nice to have the plumbing and appropriate kitchen features on hand and designed for travel. My main concern would be that it would make the house too tall. It could also limit flexibility in terms of placement of utilities.
Other than that, I think I would be looking at modifying the plans a little bit. The basic plan I like is the Tarleton. However I really like the notion of a smaller porch as in the Weebee. That wins a significant amount of interior space and in this climate, one spends a large amount of the year indoors. I also just love the little sitting area it creates in the Weebee. By extending the gable roof, the second loft area is able to stow a good deal more stuff and as a musician, guitar cases take up mucho space. Would also mean that it could accommodate a guest if the occasion arose.
My final thought, and I’m curious whether you’ve considered it Jay, would be going with a gambrel style roof. It would make the sleeping loft feel much more spacious, though it would complicate the build. But once a jig was set up it would be pretty simple. Again thanks for the work you’ve done putting these micro-palaces up for us to admire and for the dreams they inspire.
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Jay Shafer reply on September 30th, 2008 6:20 pm:
Your concerns about the RV frame are valid (esp. height concerns).
I have never understood the utility of a gambrel roof. I’ve heard it said that they are better than roofs with unbroken rafters because they increase the amount of interior space. But I don’t see why you wouldn’t just reduce the overall pitch and carry unbroken (and, thus, less complicated, stronger) rafters all the way out to taller walls for even more space. It may simply be an aesthetic preference/proportioning thing. If that’s the case, I’m all for it, as the small amount of space, simplicity and strength lost would be an insignificant price to pay.
If anyone out there can fill me in on the utility part of the issue, I’m all ears.
Can you tell I’ve been thinking about gambrel roofs too much for too long now? I am such a design geek.
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Lindsay in Ontario, Canada reply on October 1st, 2008 12:24 am:
Hi Jay, thanks for your response. My interest in the gambrel was primarily to win a little headroom in the loft, especially valuable with company. But minimizing the roof pitch is a solution that would work as well, without sacrificing strength which would be very important for a structure on the road. The gambrel seemed to me a solution that would be aesthetically pleasing but I do have concerns about the strength. Every extra joint is a potential point of failure and all the extra storage in the world wouldn’t be much good with your roof lying on the highway. I don’t know why I didn’t just cotton on to the idea of reducing pitch. Daft I suppose.
As for aesthetics, it occurs to me that the charm of the Tumbleweed houses might be retained with reduced pitch by mimicking the facade of the classic prairie and old west building style. The kinds of places that would line the one street of a town called Gulch of one sort or another. In the Canadian west many of those older buildings had flat or shallow pitched roofs and a distinctive look that echoes the romance of a bygone era. Much as the current models of Tumbleweed do. Keeps the build simple, gains valuable space and the structure strong.
Here are a couple of miniatures for model train buffs that give something of the idea of the facade.
http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/Buildings/general
http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/Buildings/wellz
Cheers Jay
Karen reply on October 16th, 2008 8:54 pm:
Hey, we’re in the process of building a wee house like these, only with a gambrel roof and some other major design modifications. We’ve only just finished the rafters, but I can tell you that the gambrel does offer a bigger feel than the pitched roof (a friend had my stepfather build the shell of her wee bee from your plans, so I’ve been inside one.) It is a little tricker to put together though.
It remains to be seen how much bigger it will seem when the interior is complete, but there is definitely more headroom.
We’ve also made a 3/4 open loft instead of a hole access loft, and the gambrel gives a nice airy feel when looking up to the roof from the first floor.
Don’t know if this helps but thought I’d post it just in case.
http://www.cottagecompany.com/cczoning.html
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About the website. When I hit Weebee there is no photograph, just a blank grey screen. When I hit slide show it is a blank black screen. Three other people here cannot figure it out either. Perhaps next month I will try again. CS
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Jay Shafer reply on October 7th, 2008 5:21 pm:
Thanks, Carl. I’ll look into it.
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Jay,
My husband and I were wondering if there is a specific reason why the Weebee is 4ft shorter than the Lusby? Could we extend the Weebee out 4ft? With this extra space can we add 2ft to the back of the house for more space in the bathroom and kitchen and add the extra 2 ft in the front? Also, we were looking at the compact all-in-one washer/dryers. Where do think we could put it? If the house could be extended 4 ft, is it possible to have more of an open loft? We are so excited about your houses! Thank you so much for your fantastic idea!
P.S.-We live by Chicago and were thinking about flying out to come to your open house in December. Is that date set in stone? How far in advance do you need to schedule an hour phone converstaion?
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Bryan B reply on November 2nd, 2008 7:39 pm:
I was wondering the same thing.
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Hi Jay,
I love theses houses. My plan is to simply and bring peace of mind to my husband’s life and mine. We want to live without a huge mortgage and being slaves to jobs we dislike.
It is just the two of us and I believe it can work for us. My only
concern is that my husband is 6′ 5″. You stated somewhere
on your site that you altered a house for a person that I believe
was 6′ 3″. Can that be done for someone 6′ 5″ and be able to stand comfortably? He lived on a submarine in the Navy without a problem. I truly hope it can be done. Also, instead of purchasing your portfolio over the web, can it be done via snail mail? I will be purchasing it soon either way.
Thank you for the opportunity for a new way of life.
Lori K.
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Can you please explain the approx. $450/sf that the tiny houses are listed at? That’s over 4 times the cost to build a conventional home (usually approx. $100/sf).
I think your houses are very cute — I just can’t see paying that kind of price.
Thanks.
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Jay Shafer reply on October 28th, 2008 2:55 am:
Thanks for asking, Victoria. Forgive me if this leads into one of my longer rants, but you have provided me with the perfect opportunity to do some much-needed explaining.
Square footage is really the cheapest thing you can add onto a house. At the core of most any dwelling you will generally find that the electrical system, plumbing, heating, appliances and structural components are similar in at least one key way. They are all expensive. This costly core is housed in the relatively cheap volume that surrounds it. Because the price of extending core components outward to accommodate any amount of additional space really isn’t all that high, and open space itself is priced at next to nothing, square footage is really the cheapest thing you can add onto a house.
Combine this with the fact that small house design and construction is almost always much more difficult than that of a large house and you can start to see why small houses are a bit of a hard sell in a culture where the first rule of economics has already been all but forgotten – bigger is not necessarily better.
At first it might seem that you really can’t afford to buy anything less than the most house you can get your hands on. It would certainly seem that the more you buy the more you save, and who doesn’t like a bargain these days? It’s the hidden costs that get people into trouble. After all, more house than you need comes with more debt in total, more utility bill, more maintenance than you need and more foreclosures and more bailouts than any of us needs.
Consider the quality of any designed space over quantity. A well designed little cottage will feel less crowded and provide more utility than a poorly designed mansion. Live well. Build small. Buy smart.
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I love your homes! I stumbled to this website when I was searching for a way to build a floating home. Im in the Seattle area and love the mini homes on water. Do you have any plans on designing for floating homes? Im planning on purchasing one of these plans as soon as I can figure out where I’d like a pontoon/floating home to be moored. Again, you have such a knack for small home design, keep it up!!!
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Jay Shafer reply on October 27th, 2008 9:31 pm:
Thanks, Vivika. I love Seattle’s houseboats. Check out Sausilito’s if you haven’t already. Any of my designs will work on pontoons. I sometimes think of living on the water. I even have drawings for Waterworld style villages.
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I would have been looking at getting one of these for a future house. But I’d be taking it to college with me and I was wondering if having a built in desk like the one in the Epu would be too much of a detour from the original design? Is it possible for you to add a built-in desk?
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Jay Shafer reply on November 2nd, 2008 5:01 pm:
A 30″x 48″ desk in the bump-out is what I originally had in mind.
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Possible to add extensions (like a bow/angle window) into the walls and the floor? This would provide more space for storing or adding things.
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Jay Shafer reply on November 2nd, 2008 4:58 pm:
Sure.
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[...] cool tiny home [...]
do they tiny homes have washers and dryers?
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Jay Shafer reply on November 4th, 2008 5:19 pm:
All the ones over 200 s.f. do.
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Does the Dickinson heater hook up to a thermostat? Does it auto start and stop when the temp reaches set temperatures? It is hard to tell on the dickinson website. If it doesn’t could you suggest a propane heater that can hook up to thermostat? Cold New England winters would be rough if you come home to a cold tiny house.
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Jay Shafer reply on November 5th, 2008 3:33 pm:
The Dickinson I instal does not have a thermostat. I don’t find it to be a problem because the manual temperature control can fine-tune so nicely.
The Dovre I use in the larger houses does have a thermostat. It’s much bigger, but I did put one in my first little Epu, and it did work well.
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I really love this house especially because of the extra light and space afforded by the windown seat instead of an outside deck. However, I like the open sleeping loft and storage loft that the Tarleton has (which would make it possible to put in a sunlight to light the main room). Does it work to “morph” the two plans and put the Tarleton’s sleeping loft above the kitchen/bathroom/shelves as well as a smaller storage loft above the window seat, thus leaving the main room with vaulted ceilings?
Thanks!
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Jay Shafer reply on November 6th, 2008 3:02 pm:
You’re talking about the Fencl. It will be posted on the site as soon as Steve can find the time. For now it’s pictured only in the portfolio.
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Carol reply on December 17th, 2008 5:32 am:
I can’t wait till you put the Fencl on your site. I hope it will be soon.
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Jay Shafer reply on December 18th, 2008 3:41 pm:
Me too.
Hi Jay,
I’m planning at this point to build the Wee Bee but not absolutely 100%. I would like to keep cost as low as possible so I am in process, for example, of looking for used and discount lumber and maybe a used trailer. Before committing to the building plans, is it possible to get a materials list so I know what to look for?
Also, I ordered the portfolio book. Are there models that are available as plans that are not on the website?
Thanks,
David
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Jay Shafer reply on November 15th, 2008 3:52 pm:
There will be a few houses in the portfolio that aren’t yet on the site. Using recycled materials can lower your costs (especially when it comes to the trailer). I encourage it.
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David Scheffler reply on November 16th, 2008 5:16 am:
Actually I don’t need a complete materials list, just a list of the kinds of wood being used so that I can keep an eye out for used/recycled lumber.
thanks,
davud
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Jay Shafer reply on November 16th, 2008 3:16 pm:
Keep an eye open for a few dozen 6′ and 8′ 2×4s (preferably light and dry) and a trailer with a 7′ x 14′ deck.
Calgar C reply on November 18th, 2008 8:08 am:
if you are building a house that isn’t going to be moved i would probably try some drywall and wooden panels i guess i could say for the siding
Love these homes! One aspect that seems to be lacking in is cooking. I was looking at a website you listed for appliances. I found this oven but was wondering if it could fit into the counter space and could hook up to the propane that the fireplace is hooped up to.
http://www.compactappliance.com/TNM630R-Summit-Professional-Stainless-Steel-Four-Cooktop-Gas-Range/TNM630R,default,pd.html?cgid=Appliances-Ranges_Cooktops-Gas_Ranges
Also i saw in another person house that you had a link to, a tankless water heat and found it on compactappliance.com could that also work for these houses?
-mason
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Jay Shafer reply on November 16th, 2008 3:25 pm:
Both could fit if one added 3″ of depth to the counter for the range.
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Hello Jay,
How do you get a queen size bed up into the loft with such small opening?
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Jay Shafer reply on December 1st, 2008 9:39 pm:
It’s high-density foam… very comfy.
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I’m trying to determine what size solar power system I would require what do you recommend?
Thanks
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Jay Shafer reply on December 4th, 2008 2:48 am:
It depends on your needs and how much sun you get. I lived with just one pannel and one battery in Iowa, but that was cutting it close.
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I’ve been looking at these houses for a while now, finally realised this this could be just what I need to do. Given that I live in the UK, I’ve been looking at available options for building and coming up with my own design to accomodate the things I can scavenge inspired by Jay’s work.
However, I’ve just found out that you can’t live in one in the UK legally. If you park one even on land you own yourself, you can’t live in it for more than 28 days without planning permission.
Complete madness. Still looking for stealth options but my plans might be scuppered for now.
Still can’t quite believe it.
Cheers,
J.
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Jay Shafer reply on December 6th, 2008 6:09 pm:
Complete madness, indeed! You can check out my rant, “Viva La Tiny Revolution”, if you care to know how I feel about such laws.
Oh and remember, just because it’s a law doesn’t mean it’s right… or enforceable.
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hi jay was wondering can you tell me more about the wetbath the shower toilet area was wanting to use that in a bigger the lusby what is the size and what do you use for the panels in the video it looked like a sliding door area to cover window and doorway plexiglass???? want to save space in the bathroom area dont spend much time in the bathroom kitchen so want to use the space in the other areas have you read greggs new book it tells alot about living in your small house would recommend it to all and tried to get a hold of him to maybe see his house as i only live 75 miles away but cannot seem to live in burlington iowa also am glad you are an iowa guy
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Jay Shafer reply on December 8th, 2008 3:59 am:
Hello Iowa. I used the kind of plastic often used to build greenhouses for those doors, and I used aluminum diamond-plate for the walls. I like the doors, but might choose a harder metal or plastic for the walls.
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Jay,
Congratulations! You are doing something that I first came up with the idea in 1980 and never moved on it. They look great and very well done. Land is a bit expensive out here in California, but the market sure is and ready. I would love to get involved with this project.
The very best of luck to you as you have, as they say, “hit the nail right on the head”.
Best regards,
Jonathan Field
President
The Jonathan Field Collection
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I have a question about the nice gravity water jugs that are often
pictured by the kitchen sink. I’ve seen these on some of the
Tumbleweed house photos. Who is the maker of these jugs – where are they available – does the maker have a website? These look very niceand attractive and it would be a nice addition to our small house. I’d be interested to know more detail on this.
Thanks,
scott
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Jay Shafer reply on January 4th, 2009 11:07 pm:
It’s just one of those common water dispensers without the 5 gal. bottle in it and a plate on top.
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I would just like to reitterate the madness of the UK’s legislation in that, yes we’re scuppered. Following on from Justin Peer’s comments in December, I too live in the UK, and like most who have wrote on your site, feel that the design, concept and attitutude of these abodes are an ideal solution, a worthy alternative and an absolute godsend to those who would chose to follow a different path.
Why cant we have small houses?
Why must we be mortgaged to the hilt?
Why must we use up so many of our resources?
Wouldn’t you think that, disused land, brownbelt for example (ie mixed use, in urban environments), or even disused industrial land, could be utilised by individuals/couples choosing to build and live in perfectly adequate, attractive homes. Instead, we’re forced into unattrctive apartments, using rediculous amounts of concrete, and costing the earth, or into homes we can’t afford.
Surely our green and pleasant countryside could be improved, with small plots given way to people who chose to live life simpler, in more modest housing, growing their own veg etc!!!!
End of rant now, but I’m sure you get my drift!!!
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Jay Shafer reply on January 6th, 2009 6:05 pm:
I couldn’t have ranted it better myself. While it is disturbing to realize that a mortgage based system of perpetual taxation is so widespread, it is encouraging to hear that Americans aren’t the only ones who are getting fed up.
Viva la tiny revolution, UK! Viva la tiny revolution around the world.
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Well, bullet bitten, I shall be building my own tiny house and figuring out ways to live in it afterwards. Particularly given the housing market crash and the global economic downturn, now is the perfect time to be doing something to make a difference. I’m planning to start in February, though may take a few weeks just gathering materials before starting, I now have some storage available in a friend’s garage.
Yesterday, while walking home from doing laundry I passed a water tank with complete filter system just out for the garbage collection. Naturally I had to womble (old english kids programs about creatures that pick up rubbish and reuse it) that, so nipped home, grabbed some tools and now have several filter housings, piping, both a 240v submersible and a 24v external pump. Not sure how, or if, I’ll use them yet, but as my water supply will be rainwater, I’m guessing something can be created from it.
Have feelers out for building materials etc and I’m searching ebay and other places for a suitable trailer. Once I’m in process I’ll be blogging my build and will post a note here once that’s up.
Thanks for all the inspiration Jay, I think it’s going to be fun.
Cheers,
Justin.
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Jay Shafer reply on January 10th, 2009 9:15 pm:
I can’t wait to see it and the reduced total cost!
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My goal is not to take up a lot of tumbleweed staff time (sorry!), but I just can’t help all of the questions that come to mind as I consider making one of these tiny homes a reality for my family.
My main fear is that I will not find a legal location to settle into (ie: someone’s back yard or such). I know Jay recommends the “don’t ask, don’t tell” plan, but if I went that route and then was “caught” and told to move, I might not have another place to go to. It seems RV parking sites are generally around 10 dollars a night. (or so it seemed when I looked online) That strikes me as a bit expensive for the simplicity of the tumbleweed lifestyle.
I guess you would recommend planting the home on a huge property (most of the tiny tumbleweed photos are in non-populated/open areas) so that the home would be “out of sight” and “out of mind” to the township? (ie: my parents home is right next to a school on a block full of homes with 1/4 acre properties each)
$46,000 is a lot of money for me to spend on something that just might not work. I have a young child who needs stability. Is there any other sure option for parking tiny tumbleweeds besides RV sites?
Do you think it’s possible for someone to buy a large piece of land and get local approval to make a small community for trailor-built homes (like tiny tumbleweeds)? The privacy factor might be a problem, though, being that a large part of the tumbleweed appeal is the “letting the outdoors in” factor.
Thanks so much for your time and patience, tumbleweed staff. I am trying to read all of the comments on the webpages so that I’m not re-asking old questions.
Ben
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Jay Shafer reply on January 15th, 2009 4:57 pm:
I think you should take this question down to your local planning and housing departments, Ben. They make the rules, and if there’s any problem, they should have the authority to change the rules. Your concerns are shared by many.
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Paul Guyon reply on January 31st, 2009 3:06 pm:
I live in Florida and so my answer to your question may or may not apply. If you need a stable place to put your TinyHouse on, I think the best answer is to build in an unincorporated area. Try to make sure it’s going to stay unincorporated for a long while. You don’t want to build and then a year later be kicked off your own land. Usually, you’re grandfathered in, but the people who do this sort of thing don’t always fully understand freedom, truth and what we think is the American way. You may still have to deal with the county building code, but they usually are not anywhere near as restrictive as citys or towns.
As to starting a “small community”, will work but can be rather expensive. I know in Florida you could do something like a PUD (Planned Unit Developments), but the requirement to pay for your own roads, payments for additional school seats, etc. (the list can seem endless) can make it very difficult to break even for smaller house like we want to build. Plus, for new developements, the real estate taxes can get astonomical if you don’t have a savvy lawer to help you out.
But, it all can be done. You’ll need more perseverance than I have.
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Jay Shafer reply on January 31st, 2009 6:57 pm:
Thanks, Paul.
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How do you officially register the tumbleweed as an RV? Reweigh the trailer with the house built on it and coorect the trailer title weight with the department of motor vehicles? Keep license plates and current registration on it at all times? How do you keep a town from calling it a landscape trailer or a “small mobile home” and fining you?
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I live in rural upstate new york and was wondering who to talk to to find out if I can buy property and live in a tiny house on wheels. Has anybody out there tried this in NY. Do they have rules about septic etc. I have about a thousand questions. I’m now trying to research where to find the answers. I have to get out of this apt. before I go insane from boredom.
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Jay Shafer reply on January 31st, 2009 6:59 pm:
Call the local planning and building depts. They should have some answers for you.
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betsy reply on February 1st, 2009 10:49 pm:
i live in upstate ny and can answer a couple of questions you might have. first off, if the house is on wheels and considered an ‘rv’, it won’t have any rules about septic providing you only use it as you would an rv without a septic hookup (as in an rv park). that means basically ‘roughing it’!! second, some places like upstate rural communities, have zoning laws that prohibit ‘camping’ in your own back yard and the tiny house would be considered that since its on wheels. as small as a tiny house is, it won’t meet the minimum requirements for ‘mobile home’ living where certain places have an ordinance or zoning that allows mobile homes. my choice will most probably be NOT to live in ny. if i spend the money on a piece of land, i would like to have SOME freedom to do what i want to on it. ny is very stringent about such things.
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Michael Roerick reply on February 3rd, 2009 12:39 am:
You see, the problem is not the jurisdiction, it is the people that elect the officials that make the rules. Rather than run to an unincorporated area, or to a different state, people should become a voice and be heard to change the laws that are obsurd. I am trying to fight the county right now where I live because I built a building on wheels and they can’t tell me if I need a permit! Is it a building, travel trailer, park model home, ect……. But they sure don’t hessatate issuing a stop work order untill they can decide what I am doing! this is the reason I came to this site. Don’t give up and move because it will catch up if we all give in.
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Brian reply on March 9th, 2009 1:10 am:
I agree . My son, my job and my life are here in NY. It amazes me that our politicians talk so much BS about environmental issues but would rather I built a 5000 sq ft monster using ”green”technology than a truly environmentaly practical home. Its all about taxes, taxes ,taxes.
Question: for the WeeBee. Is it possible to have a full shower in the bathroom, similar to the Lusby??
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Jay Shafer reply on February 4th, 2009 7:13 pm:
Only if we make the kitchen smaller. I recommend the Fencl. It’s the Tarleton floor plan with the weebee front.
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[...] personal favorite is the Weebee [...]
I live in Idaho and i was just wondering; if I put it on a trailer would it be road legal?
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Jay Shafer reply on February 4th, 2009 7:18 pm:
Yes.
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Does anyone know if the Dickinson heaters can be wired to a thermostat? And if so, how reliable would the setup be? Could a redundant system be set up between the fireplace/ whispergen? I have a tropical parrot that’s very sensitive to cold temperatures. A couple of hours below 50 degrees F could kill him, which might in turn kill me, considering he’s been part of my family for fifteen years and counting. I would appreciate any information on this issue, thanks!
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Paul Guyon reply on February 2nd, 2009 3:57 pm:
I downloaded the Dickinson user manual, and no, it doesn’t look like there would be anyway to wire in a thermostat. One possible partial solution might be a thermostat for the 12V power cord for the fan. The owners manual has btu ratings for low, low with fan, high and high with fan. I think you can buy a thermostat sort of thing from Home Depo, Lowes, Radio Shack, etc. that will turn on or off anything plugged into it. I don’t think I would want to mess with trying to put a thermostat on the LP line to the heater, too much risk of getting it wrong and filling up the house with gas. Plus you’d need to way to relight the heater when it turns on after being off.
Another idea – a friend of mine has three parrots. He bought little electric heaters from one of the big box pet stores that fits on the bottom of their cages somehow. The birds are smart enough to stay in the cage when it’s cold. Be aware some parrots really like to chew on extension cords – he has to wrap all the electric cords throughout his house.
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Zack Zanzinger reply on February 4th, 2009 7:50 pm:
Thanks for the suggestions, Paul
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I love these houses! The WeeBee is my favorite, although I’m planning on coming to the Salt Lake City open house in May. I have a two bedroom condo that is much too big, although I’ve been renting out the extra bedroom for money, I love the idea of these small houses and being mobile (and green!)
One question tho…. how do you deal with laundry?
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Jay Shafer reply on February 4th, 2009 7:31 pm:
I go to the launromat.
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Mark reply on February 5th, 2009 12:47 am:
LOL, thats what I figured.
Just checking to make sure I wasn’t missing something. My neighbors can’t afford a washer/laundromat, so they’ve been washing their clothes by hand, so kinda wondered if that was your solution.
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I don’t see a floorplan or pictures for a Fencl. Is there another website i can go to to see it or something??
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[...] like Jay Shafer’s Tumbleweed Houses, especially little ones that go on wheels, like the weebee. Kind of like a VW van but a little more permanent. I don’t think we’re likely to [...]
What is the door width on the Fenci, Lusby, Tarleton? A previous post said that the front door is “made from a window”? Why dont you use a standard 30″ or 32″ door? How can you get chairs/mattress through such a small a door as pictured? Also-it appears that the windows in the photos dont look like vinyl framed. Are the door and windows shown good enough for winter climates? They seem more decorative than energy efficient.
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Jay Shafer reply on February 14th, 2009 4:58 pm:
Actually, they’re super-insulated, aluminum clad (much better than vinyl) windows from Jeld-Wen. We only use the best.
The door is custom-built to maintain the proportions of the house, but it is 30″ wide.
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[...] Originally Posted by ThatHideousStrength Man that’s cool. I’ve been looking at some ideas. Tumbleweed Tiny House Company Pretty cool stuff. I would love to live in a small fit my needs house. This one is bad ass: Weebee | Tumbleweed Tiny House Company [...]
[...] recently received an email from a young couple who intend to build their own Tumbleweed-style tiny home. They’re just beginning to collect materials for their project and wondered if anyone in the [...]
I am currently a freshman living in a dorm. Heck, the living spaces here, roommate included, are smaller than some of these travel homes.
My question is: Are there any artists out there that live in one of these travel homes? I’m planning on being a graphic designer. What with storage and work space (incl. paperwork on an elevated design table), is it even possible?
I imagine the only way this would work is to have a tiny house with the largest loft possible and put your table up there.
Anyway, just looking for some people who have done this, or something similar, seeing as so many artists live and breathe supplies (paper, tools, table(s), extraneous crafts and scraps, etc.)
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Jay Shafer reply on March 1st, 2009 1:02 am:
I devoted nearly a quarter of the main room in my Epu to my desk and a lot of space to storage to accommodate my design habit. I think you should measure how much space you need and consider if it would fit in the front bump-out on the Weebee.
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[...] 102 SQFT – Weebee by Tumbleweed Tiny House Company This is my favorite Tumbleweed design. I love the front facade and [...]
Hi Jay. Hope you are having a great Sunday.
I have decided to go with WeeBee. And to bring the cost down, I am planning to build it myself – with a helper of a builder of course – but mostly by myself. So here are some questions for you:
1- How much does a builder usually charge if I also help him as labor? If you have examples in mind – you know of people who have done it – please let me know.
2- How much will it cost total if I need to do it on my own.
3- Is there anyway to bring the cost down even more and basically build the main structure (that includes all major things, shower, kitchen, bathroom,…) but add other stuff later and if that is possible, how low will the price come. I know this last question sounds like a crazy question but I am just trying to get it started and then gradually add other things to it.
Thanks
Best regards
beezhan
beezhan@beezhan.com
310-739-2630
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Jay Shafer reply on March 1st, 2009 11:31 pm:
1) In the Bay Area a decent builder will run from $25 – $40 per hour (give or take), but in normal economies you should be able to find someone cheaper.
2) I believe the materials for the Weebee run a little more than $20,000 if you buy them new, but you can save a bundle buy buying a used trailer, etc.
3) Oh yes. I started my first house by building the shell and finishing off the loft, so I’d have a place to sleep until finished.
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beezhan reply on March 12th, 2009 5:27 pm:
Hi Jay, you mentioned:
“I started my first house by building the shell and finishing off the loft, so I’d have a place to sleep until finished.”
How much will it cost to build WeeBee shell?
Thanks
Best regards
beezhan
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Jay Shafer reply on March 13th, 2009 11:42 pm:
About half the finished price in materials and/or labor.
Hi Jay, thanks for your quick response.
I just finished a project and I am getting a check soon. But it is not $45,000.
So here is my question:
What is the lowest/best flat rate you could give me to build a WeeBee for me. Here are some details:
1- I don’t want to use used material.
2- I will volunteer to help you, although I am not a builder but a hard working man
3- I just want to build basics for now and add later. So I can at least sleep in it.
Best regards
beezhan
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Donna F. reply on March 2nd, 2009 6:28 am:
Hey Jay,
Do you (Will you) build to a percentage of completion? Jim Walter does, and that is how my parents got their new home when I was a wee one. My dad plumbed it, ran the wiring, insulated it, put up the sheetrock, etc. Just had the shell and he did the rest. Is that something you would consider doing for us–just build the shell?
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Jay Shafer reply on March 3rd, 2009 11:35 pm:
YES! We will just fame and sheath it. Come pick it up with a U-Haul, and you’ve saved about $20,000 or so.
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Jay Shafer reply on March 3rd, 2009 11:06 pm:
I just received word about someone in Canada who recently built the Tarleton for just $13,000 in materials, but I don’t know if they reclaimed stuff or not. I think your best bet would be to have us build the shell without windows then pick it up yourself with a U-Haul to finish it off back home. You could find much cheaper vinyl windows [not that I advocate such a toxic option (but they are cheap)], you could buy prefab cabinets, and you could put your earnest sweat equity into aesthetic elements rather than those requiring substantial structural integrity.
And/or you could pay $275 to attend the Building workshop I teach and do virtually everything yourself.
The heater, stainless steel and widows are the most expensive perts. Change those and you’ve saved a bundle.
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Hi Jay, I just signed up for your vancouver workshop. What is a “guest ticket”?? Do you mean I can bring a friend for $99?? Please clarify… Cheers, Emily
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Jay Shafer reply on March 3rd, 2009 11:40 pm:
I look forward to seeing you, Emily. Yes, $99 for your guest.
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Hi, again, Jay,
I just wanted to clarify that I meant “the bump-out like the WEEBEE has,” not EPU. Sorry.
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I’m looking for the tiny of the tiny houses where I could live as well as do my asanas. In a perfect world a space with a 7′ diameter would work… but if I work on the diagonal maybe I could squeak by at 6′5″
It was suggested I look at the Lusby, and others… I’m thinking the great room of the weebee is the same size as the great rooms of the other homes – maybe bigger. Is that true?
Ben
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Jay Shafer reply on March 9th, 2009 6:51 pm:
It’s shorter because the loft is overhead. The Tarleton would probably work, but the Fencl would give you more elbow room.
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Hi Jay.
How much does it cost to build a WeeBee shell with bamboo. Just the shell (walls with windows and door, with nothing else inside and a used $500 trailer.
Thanks
Beezhan
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Jay Shafer reply on March 13th, 2009 8:04 pm:
I’m sorry to say I don’t know, Beezan.
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has anybody built this kind tiny house ?
send a few pictures
best wishes
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Love the houses on wheels! But as a woman, I’d like to see an alternative design with space for a full bath– a minimum-size bathroom that acomodates a full-size bathtub, and a small sink (separate from the kitchen sink.). The space above the bathtub can be used to hang laundry or raincoats to dry.
Even better, the bathroom could line up with the porch, with a separate door. On rainy days, grubby people and wet dogs can enter through the bathroom and shed mud & moisture before entering the living room.
What do you think?
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Jay Shafer reply on March 31st, 2009 11:16 am:
I built a Lusby with a full sized tub for a woman who lost her house in Katrina. It worked out pretty well.
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How is it to sleep in the loft when it’s raining on that metal roof a couple feet over your head? Has that been a problem for people? Is there a way to do sound dampening but doesn’t take up too much space?
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Will reply on March 25th, 2009 7:31 am:
I live in a Tarleton in rainy British Columbia and I have no problem at all with the rain noise on the roof (you can hear the rain when in the loft but it is really fairly quiet). I think it is the steep angle of the roof so raindrops hit at an angle.
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Kerr reply on March 26th, 2009 12:20 pm:
Thanks, Will, that’s good to know.
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TM reply on April 6th, 2009 11:47 pm:
Good to know that it isn’t loud. However, I don’t know about you, but the sound of rain on a metal roof puts me to sleep as quick as anything.
Jay Shafer reply on March 31st, 2009 11:16 am:
It’s not very loud at all.
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I realize that everyone has differing priorities, but large bathrooms are really a waste of space. I lived on a 40 foot sailboat for two years. The bathroom was about 3 feet wide, and about 6 feet long. It had a 2 foot separate shower stall added on to one end. Height was about six feet. The space was adequate, and I never felt claustrophobic. I also never used the shower. If I ever chose to build one of these houses, I’d put a hot water shower outside. First off, this keeps any wetness or dampness outside the building. Second, there is no hassle with cleaning wet, moldy bathroom surfaces. Third, the hot water will keep you toasty warm even if the weather is below freezing outside. On the boat, there was a hot and cold hand-held shower in the cockpit, and I always showered in the cockpit by kneeling on the cockpit floor.
Mark.
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James Redfield reply on March 28th, 2009 6:28 pm:
I agree…I spent 17 years in San Quentin in a 6×8 room and I even shared the space with a couple of roommates. We never showered either. (Showering is so overrated.) I really like small spaces and it would be doing a huge favor for the planet. Anybody want to share one of these?
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dana reply on March 29th, 2009 9:46 am:
james, i have a question first…what were you in prison FOR?? dana
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Mark, like you say, to each his (or her) own.
Me, for $45,000 — I would insist on a full bathroom to double up as mudroom and pet-cleaning room and as extra storage for ourdoorsy gear and as a drying room on rainy days.
To add to that, I may look into eco-friendly features — at this price. Solar panels, wiring to accomodate such. Wiring to accomodate internet. Passive solar features (in addition to insulation.) Sustainably-harvested wood.
Love the house, but one can buy a very nice, functional travel trailer for a few thousand, or less. I appreciate craftsmanship and the cottage feel … but I would insist on a comfortable bath/utility room.
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[...] talked about it much before a couple days ago, I’ve been dreaming about tiny houses like these for years now. And, thinking about yesterday’s clutter, and how moving in to such a small [...]
I’m looking into purchasing one of these and wondering if anybody out there knows if it is possible to get insurance on one of these things? My ins. guy seems to think it’s impossible, how can this be true? Thanks!
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Jay Shafer reply on April 10th, 2009 3:58 pm:
I was just talking to someone who just tacked their Fencl onto their car insurance policy without any problem.
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Erin Rose reply on April 10th, 2009 4:39 pm:
Thanks Jay.
Do you happen to know who they are insured through? Having insurance is a must for me. Thanks! 
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Jay Shafer reply on April 16th, 2009 9:14 am:
I’m sorry that I don’t recall.
Susan Thompson reply on December 29th, 2009 7:34 am:
I have a small Vintage travel trailer that I was able to insure with my car insurance. It is a separate policy that runs about $50 for a whole year. I go through State Farm. If these houses are on wheels it would probably be covered under an RV type policy. Also if it is attached to your vehicle and something happens to it it is covered under the car policy the other insurance would be if it was detached and something happened.
Hope that helps,
Susan Thompson
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Hello,
I was wondering if somebody could tell me how realistic these things are to travel in. This is a silly question, but where can I find a place to connect water and electricity to a tiny home? For instance, if I were to park one in somebody’s back yard, would there be anyway I could have power as well? Thanks a lot, I’m very interested!
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Jay Shafer reply on April 16th, 2009 9:34 am:
Just hook up to an extension cord and an insulated/heated hose and you’re ready to go (assuming they have wireless).
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Jay, I’ve pretty much decided on the WeeBee with a full gable roof.
I have three questions: is it possible to configure the house the other way on the trailer? Its first home will only be accessible by backing in and so the hitch will need to be in front.
2) Do you have any rough idea of the weight capacity of the upstairs storage loft (opposite the bed area)?
3) Will you be publishing new pics/plans showing new additions/modifications (such as the oven range) or will they only appear when one buys the plans? (It would be nice to see some pics of open kitchen cupboards to get a sense of what to expect.)
Thank you!
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Jay Shafer reply on May 8th, 2009 10:13 am:
1) You could flip it on the trailer, but, may I suggest, pushing/pulling from the back end to position it. I did this just last week with my house.
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Sydney reply on May 8th, 2009 10:42 am:
Yes, but “its first home will only be accessible by backing in and so the hitch will need to be in front.”
It’s a narrow driveway, with not enough yard on either side to turn it sideways, even assuming a truck could get in or it could be moved by hand. That’s why I was asking.
And, part 2 of my question, do you have any rough idea of the weight capacity of the upstairs storage loft (opposite the bed area)?
Thank you.
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Jay Shafer reply on May 8th, 2009 3:11 pm:
1) I mean push or pull from the non-hitch end with ropes or chains. You can also use a trailer donkey or pulley system at the hitch side… or just flip it, as you suggest.
2) About 500 lbs.
Sydney reply on May 9th, 2009 6:54 am:
Thanks so much, Jay. I’ve decided on the WeeBee & and now am in the process of figuring how to make my lifestyle fit into place. At least 95% is fine (although tall, I’ve always been a small space gal); but there are still a couple of tricky bits left.
I’ll keep working on it!
I have always admired the New Popomo but it seems to have receded from the website. Will it see the light of day? I have the feeling the plans may not yet have been completed.
Thanks!
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Jay Shafer reply on May 8th, 2009 10:10 am:
Thanks. I’m glad you like it.
The plans were recently completed, and I know we have plans to include all the houses in the book on the site soon.
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The prices for these tiny houses have skyrocketed since being featured on national media shows … what the heck is going on here?!
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Hi Jay,
Could the bathroom in the Weebee accomodate a sink other than a toilet lid sink? I don’t fancy brushing my teeth in the kitchen, and it seems like it would be a waste of water to flush the toilet everytime you wanted to brush your teeth.
Thanks!
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Jay Shafer reply on May 16th, 2009 2:50 pm:
The toilet sink actually saves water by using the grey sink water in the bowl next time you use the toilet. I’d hace a hard time squeezing a separate sink in there.
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Raymond reply on May 19th, 2009 5:48 pm:
under the shower head. I mean divert the water like a bath tub/ shower combo. (:
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Jamie reply on May 24th, 2009 6:09 pm:
Thanks for the reply. Would it cost much extra to include a kitchen like in the XS so that the bathroom could be extended slightly to accomodate a sink? Would rather have a sink in the bathroom than a bigger kitchen! In that case, would the kitchen have an oven/hobs/etc?
Thanks!
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Jay Shafer reply on May 29th, 2009 6:45 am:
When there’s a will…
In Waldoboro Maine under 100 sq. ft. you don’t need a building permit period, no if it’s an additional building stuff. So if you could keep that in mind next time (and an oven) I would be much abliged.
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Raymond reply on May 20th, 2009 2:52 pm:
sorry, that sounded a little rude; I didn’t mean it to. I guess I didn’t notice when I typed it
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Lisa reply on July 7th, 2009 12:50 pm:
Some of Jay’s houses are less than 100 sq. ft. Also, what I like to use for a small oven is a toaster oven (some are fancy enough to do everything an oven can).
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We live near Boulder and want to come down this month. Not sure whether we are ready to do the workshop, but may we take a tour inside the tiny house you are towing?
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Jay Shafer reply on May 27th, 2009 7:50 am:
Yes. The tour’s free. I hope to see you there.
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Does anyone have a brilliant suggestion (or experience) for hanging coats & dealing w boots/wet footwear in a WeeBee?
It seems you come in the door and the stove is just beyond that, so except for the inch or so clearance behind the door, there is no space.
I live in Canada, so this is definitely a seasonal need!
I know the easiest solution would be to turn the bump-out into a closet, but I really want that area for a multi-use desk space.
Thanks!
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Jay Shafer reply on May 29th, 2009 6:33 am:
I put a few hooks above my heater (see Epu pix).
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Aria reply on June 2nd, 2009 9:48 pm:
Sunshine, as far as the wet boots, have you ever tried or have seen Boot Trays? I just saw one at Wal-Mart for around $12.00. It’s a thin plastic tray with a raised design that is meant for placing by the front door, so when you walk in, you step your wet boots/shoes right onto the tray, and the raised design lets air under the shoes so as to help dry them out. They come in different sizes, but I mostly see them in a size that fits two to three pairs of shoes at a time. They are easy to clean being plastic, and because they are thin, only around an 1-1/2 to 2 inches deep, it’s easily stored behind a door, tucked into a cabinet, or hung on a wall when not in use. Just a suggestion
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I think those are some great ideas as well as the advertisement.
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I have always fancied the idea of mobile living, however, the typical rv/motorhome designs have never appealed to me. I love these tiny homes, they have personality and certainly must be constructed more sturdily. I love the idea of greener/low impact living.
Now, I’m going to be quite frank: On what planet does it cost $450.00 a square foot to build a home? Where I live, I could hire a general contractor to build this tiny house for about $98.00 a square foot… ¼ the price that you are asking for the finished product!!! Less than half the price or your “build it yourself” option.
I’m about to the point of losing faith in the human race, has everyone turned into a greedy SOB? Very disappointing…
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Jay Shafer reply on June 5th, 2009 7:46 am:
Please see “the Cost of Frugality” on our blog page for answers and the possibility of renewed faith.
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Jay Shafer reply on June 5th, 2009 7:48 am:
I should also mention that we offer plans, so that, with recycled materials, one can now build a quality home for next to nothing.
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Love all your plans – have always loved small spaces (might have something to do with only being five feet tall – lol). This is my favorite floor plan, not sure why. It feels the most “house-ish” to me. I like how the kitchen feels so separate and the bookshelves make it seem like there is more space. My question is about the access to the loft. Are the shallow shelves in the entrance to the kitchen in fact the ladder to the loft? Seems like kind of a jump to get up there from the top of the shelves if that is in fact the way up…….. thank-you……
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Jay Shafer reply on June 23rd, 2009 12:57 pm:
Like the Epu (see” Jay’s Tiny House Tour” video) there is a portable ladder that sits in the kitchen.
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ohhhh.. i badly need something to report on monday. and i’ve chosen this one. but why cant i save this so that i can print it???? huhuhuhu…
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hola … just want to ask whose the architect of this weebee..???
and the materials used…? hope to get ur answer real soon, or asap. gracias…:)
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Jay Shafer reply on June 29th, 2009 1:36 pm:
Hi. I’m Jay Shafer, and I’m the designer of all these little houses. We build from cedar and pine mostly.
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All these models are amazing!
A major concern for me would be the weather on the Atlantic side of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia.
What winter temperatures can the Weebee withstand? Can it be equipped to handle an average winter low of -10C ( lowest recorded is -27C)?
Many thanks.
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Jay Shafer reply on July 12th, 2009 1:50 pm:
No problem. Though I’d consider getting the bigger of the two Newport heaters from Dickinson Marine.
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Paul reply on January 11th, 2010 10:20 am:
Kevin, I`m in halifax and am considering one of these as a cabin. I figure that with some small modifications to the origional plans (foam insulation – and a bigger heater for starters) it`ll make for a nice year round place on a peice of land I own the other side of truro on the bay of fundy.
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Nancy reply on January 13th, 2010 11:56 pm:
Can anyone tell me if the tiny houses or the small houses are legal in British Columbia, Canada?Or do they too have to be built so they are portable?
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Kim reply on January 13th, 2010 7:07 pm:
Hi Kevin and Paul,
Jay’s site provided me with the proof I needed that I wasn’t crazy (or at least the only crazy one!) and since seeing it last winter I’ve gone ahead with building myself a little cabin on a trailer. I live in the Yukon, and am heating with a small cast iron woodstove. I haven’t finished the inside yet, but even with just a temporary plywood door she heats up fast and stays nice and warm. I used 3.5″ of extruded polystyrene in the walls and 5.5″ in the floor and ceiling – am intending to add another 1.5″ to the walls for good measure before finishing the interior. Would be very curious to touch base with anyone else mulling or building something similar for cold climes!
Cheers (and thanks for the inspiration Jay)
Kim
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you are very smart
it’s nice that you’ve used your mind and energy to do something so great
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Jay Shafer reply on July 12th, 2009 1:58 pm:
Thanks, Jeff!
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interested in buying any resale including the z-house asap, do you know of any for sale?
thanks, lori
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Jay Shafer reply on August 2nd, 2009 10:17 am:
No, but I’ll let you know through this site if and when we do, Lori.
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I’m very interested in the WeeBee, but I noticed that the ceilings are 6′3″. I myself am 6′6″. How feasible would it be to add another 9 inches to the ceiling, while taking 9 inches away from the loft?
Also, what would this do to the pitch of the roof, and thus the sleepability of the loft?
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Jay Shafer reply on August 22nd, 2009 12:07 pm:
A lower pitch on this roof with taller walls downstairs would actually look great. The resulting shorter loft would be fine for sleeping; just don’t try doing your aerobics up there.
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does the loft run the whole length of the unit and is there a trap door to close the entrenc from downstaires. I love all of your designs.
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Jay Shafer reply on September 22nd, 2009 8:54 am:
I designed it so that the loft runs the full distance with a portal, but no trap door. I recently saw pictures of one that was build with the loft over only the back end, though.
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Wow! I’m really interested in these! I think they’re a great idea and they’re very aesthetically pleasing as well. Unfortunately, I’m only in my sophomore year of high school but as soon as I can legally get a job and start making money, I’m without a doubt saving for one of these amazing houses. I had some questions though…
1) How much do you think prices with rise in the 3 years I have to wait? They’re already fairly expensive (yes, I understand about the square footage pricing. (= ) and I’m worried about even more cost.
2) I think you mentioned in a earlier comment that you could add a desk into the pop out area of the Weebee? As I’d be using it in college a desk would be VERY convenient.
3) The loft. I love the Weebees small size, but the Fencl’s more open loft appeals to be. Could this be done?
4) Skylights! From the pictures I see, the houses are already very well lit. However, the loft seems to be a bit dim. Could skylights be added? Any cost estimations?
5) Three more, smaller questions. Do the shower-room come with the sliding doors you demonstrate in your video? Does the metal used for the walls have to have the pattern – are alternative patterns/plain design available, and with the gas stove. Is there any risk of discoloring the wood behind the gas burners because of the fire/heat?
Thanks so much! Thank you for everything you do! You change the world 100 square feet at a time. =)
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Jay Shafer reply on September 22nd, 2009 10:00 am:
1) Ideally, the prices will actually come down, or at least stay solid, as we become more efficient. I recommend buying plans, coming to the workshop and building yourself to save money and develop skills.
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Jay Shafer reply on September 22nd, 2009 10:07 am:
2) It would work well.
3) It was recently done very nicely by a woman in Sisters.
4) This has also been done with success.
5) a. No, but we could add them for about $150. b. I recommend no pattern at all, but it’s your choice. c. I’ve never had any problem with discoloration.
Thanks.
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I’ve put my house on the market and am just waiting till I can get my own little house. Since I live in the north country of NH, I really need shelter for my (tiny!) car, a couple of kayaks and bikes, in addition to some garden tools. Has anyone added a shed or even a solar green house to a tiny house?
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can you consider adding social bookmarking to your pages? i’d like to show my friends my dream house. thanks:)
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Jay Shafer reply on November 17th, 2009 11:50 am:
I’m sending your request to webmaster, Steve.
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[...] 102 sq. ft., Jay Shafer’s Weebee model home, above, is not even the smallest design that he offers through his Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. [...]
What a frigging rip off!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I can have these built in China(With good sheet rock!)
For about 2000 dollars!!!!!!!!!!!
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Jay Shafer reply on December 13th, 2009 1:39 am:
Oh, Richard. I don’t have enough exclamation marks to make you see things differently.
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Hi Jay! Been admiring this site for about 4 years now. Would love to get a WeeBee or fencl someday. Or build it. How wonderful of you to come up with such a beautiful concept and such cozy designs. I was curious about the WeeBee loft. And the Fencl I suppose. No one seems to have asked this question but how would you get a bed through the opening? I suppose a memory foam matress could squeeze through it. Just the less expensive ones that come in a box or something. May I ask what kind of bed you use, or how you got yours up there in your home? Thank you so much! Happy Holidays to you.
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Jay Shafer reply on December 13th, 2009 1:43 am:
I use high-density foam. It’s very comfy.
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Richard, You must not live in China, because unless you plan to stay in china and lease land, which they only lease to big owners and not to someone like you because you don’t own land here the government dose. You rent the land for 70 years. The next thing is if you were able to make it at such a cheap price the cost of shipping back overseas, the cost alone will kill you. So, much for your 2,000 dollar idea. I suppose if you put more thought into your idea rather then bash others then you would have known that but seeing that you seem to resemble your name, I can how your named was picked. Oh, how do I know this. I live in china!
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Hey, Jay, this is the other Jay.. LOL.. I have been looking at the tiny houses. Both my wife and I. I live in china. We don’t need much space here and plan to move back to the U.S. soon. I suppose the question would be on toilet. Do you get rid of all the crap like campers and trailers or what.. I didn’t get a chance to see it all. The other option was a camper. Nothing is set in stone yet. only seeing what options there are. Find land is easy and I want to know how easy it is out of city limits to set up. With Cell phones now, you don’t really need a land line and water most people get it from anywhere. I hope I have been able to articulate my point. thanks jay from china
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Jay Shafer reply on December 13th, 2009 1:51 am:
We like to put a septic tank on wheels under each portable house containing a flush toilet. That way you don’t have to haul an entire residence to a dump facility. I also like composting toilets ’cause they don’t require any such trips.
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Hello, I see you have one in Ohio that is open for viewing, is there a list of your homes somewhere that can be viewed in other states (Ky or Tenn possibly)?
Thanks, Gabe
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Jay Shafer reply on December 13th, 2009 1:45 am:
Only OH and CA right now.
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Have you guys considered offering built-in solar energy as an option in addition to being able to connect to the grid like it already does? The reason I suggest such is that you guys know your houses better than anyone trying to buy one and attempting to figure out what solar system to use seems questionable for someone who knows nothing about it…
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I was wondering if one of the houses (Weebee) could handle sea side conditions in the UK.
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Just a few questions:
1. How much weight can the trailer hold after the finished weebee is affixed to it?
2. How does the weebee handle moisture. I am thinking about having one in a very humid climate. Would there be any mold/mildew issues with the wood?
3. What keeps the water from the shower from getting into the kitchen?
4. Is there a compact dishwasher you know of that would work in this home?
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Some people here on this site expressed some concerns about these homes ability to handle cold climates. My concern is just the opposite. How would these homes do in a hot climate such as in the Phoenix, AZ area in the summer? It appears that these homes do not have any AC or swamp cooler in them.
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I, personally love the overall design of the Fencl but I really am psyched about the design of the Bathroom in the Weebee. I love the metal covering on the walls and floor. I am assuming this would allow more room for overall showering without be restricted to a small set shower space. Is it possible to see more pictures on how this bathroom is set up and how does the water not go under the bathroom door?
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A couple of questions.
How is the water heated?
Is the water stored in a tank or is it coming in directly from a hose?
Is there a propane tank for the heater?
Will you ever have sales on the other tiny home plans?
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[...] We are lisc, bonded and insured. If you decide to get these shoot me a pm.. $49,000 for this?? Tumbleweed Weebee I,ll do it for $30,000 and ship it to you… [...]
Out of curiosity, does a queen sized mattress fit through the square hole entrance to the attic or does this design require the mattress to be built in, i.e., placed in the attic prior to finishing installing the attic floorboards? Perhaps I am misinterpreting the floorplan, but I just wanted to ask if people are commonly using mattresses that easily roll up and can be shoved through to the attic or if a “standard” “modern” aka “mattress with springs in it” fits. Also, regarding the shower: for any of these houses, has anyone implemented a solar shower? Perhaps where water is heated outside the house (black pipes on roof? enough roof area?) but where the shower is still inside the house, for privacy. Thanks for any response and thanks so much for maintaining this super cool website!!! What a great forum. Weebee is currently my top choice, so I just wanted to clarify these questions.
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Forgot to ask one more thing — do you have any labor estimates on this house? I noticed the “approximately 820 hours” estimate for the 4-person crew which spent 10 weeks on one of the other houses — was that in clock hours or in person-hours? I’m assuming clock hours, so total person hours was about 3,280 total? And, granted, that was for an experienced team. So a person working alone with no tumbleweedhouse experience (but let’s suppose the person has general handiness and woodworking abilities) might expect to work 4,000 person-hours total? I’m just looking for an order of magnitude estimate, and appreciate that this number will vary drastically depending on the person.
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on February 22nd, 2010 6:26 pm:
That was total hours, including the time to buy materials. Jay bought a lot of the materials, and he is very, very picky. I think he spent 50 hours on that.
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do you guys do payment plans. how much would this model cost (minus certain features), with a monthly plan
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Tumbleweed Houses reply on February 26th, 2010 12:15 am:
This issue is one of the things we’re working on right now. see the link for detailed info.
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/faq/financing/
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Hi Jay! This is Ryan of Iowa, and my fiancee and I are very interested in your tiny homes! We were looking into buying a home for the first time and stumbled upon your homes on Youtube. We think they’re awesome. We were wondering if there is any way that we can request either a blueprint or a prebuilt home that is slightly modifying to our needs? We were thinking that 100 sq ft would probably suit us, but we like aspects from a few of the homes and would like to mesh them together if possible. Wouldn’t be much of a change, just a hybrid home of the same size. We really like the Weebee and the Lusby.
We are also curious if anyone has any pets that live in these homes. We have two well-behaved cats that we don’t want to give up but aren’t quite sure how this would work out. We’re not sure what to do about a litterbox, and being in Iowa, they would definitely be indoors all winter. In the summertime this probably wouldn’t present as much of a problem.
Any input on the pet situation, anyone?
-Ryan & Angie
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Tumbleweed Houses reply on February 26th, 2010 12:13 am:
Hello Ryan and Angie! Living in a smaller space doesn’t limit or hinder having pets of your own. Of course you can have your cats, and sooner you’ll be able to find the right balance between them and yours.
Regarding customization of plans, please see this link: http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/faq/custom-plans/
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Would you be interested in carbon fiber walls that need no heat to cure. We are getting ready to build 1000 homes in Haiti?
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