Fencl School Project Underway

Bob St. Cyr teaches construction and woodworking classes at Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School (KCI) in Ontario, Canada. Normally the classes might build sheds, but this year the 45 students ranging in age from 15 to 19 are building a Fencl. Not only will they be building a tiny house on wheels, but the project will raise the student’s awareness of environmental issues and consumerism. It’s the perfect assignment for students because it covers all elements of building: reading architectural plans, ordering materials, framing, exterior work, insulation, plumbing, electrical, roofing and interior finishing.

Bob has been busy putting together a materials list and ordering. Susan been busy figuring out what kind of cupboards, siding, finishes, etc. Do we get propane for the burners and fridge or just go with electric? We’ve got to make decisions about how to customize things and it is all fairly anxiety inducing. What if we make the wrong decision? Is it fixable? It is important to remember nothing is set in stone and learn to breath again.

One decision we made that is definitely right is to use a new trailer. We trekked out to a farm to look at a used one, and by the time we put on new tires, new suspension, new electrical, sandblasted the rust off and painted it, it would have cost only marginally less and since it is already at least 20 years old who knows what the true condition of the axle is.

The axiom — a house need “good boots and a good hat” — is true in this case. If the trailer represents the boots, it better be the best one around.

I’ve had lots of great discussions with students and teachers about why I’m doing this. The most common question is “why not just buy a real trailer? Second hand ones are cheap.” Yes, but they’re all metal and plastic and not remotely anything I’m interested in living in. I’d stick with a tent before I’d move into metal. Heck I’ve tented for 27 years on my gram’s property and it is doable, but a tiny house on wheels will be a home.

Written by Susan with Kitchner-Waterloo

Inside the Bodega

Over the years, we’ve accumulated a catalog of interior photos for our tiny house on wheels. However, since we don’t build the larger houses (250 square feet or more), but only sell the plans, we simply haven’t had the photos to show. We’ve begun creating 3d drawings of the interiors, and will add more photos for our other “small house” over the next few months.

Bodega House Plans on Sale

The Bodega has a fireplace, a full bath and kitchen (261 sq ft), and also has the option for an add on bedroom (356 sq ft). Designed with cost savings in mind, this green design is proportioned just right. Charming and bright, the simple use of space and building materials keeps construction costs low without sacrificing design. This small house plan comes with an option for a full loft over the great room, kitchen and bathroom, or a 1/2 loft with a cathedral ceiling over the great room.

Estimated Material Costs: $22,500

High School to Build Tiny House

Sue Danic spent summers in her gram’s pre-World War I cottage and ever since, she’s wanted a tiny house. She’s seen it all: straw-bale, cob, rammed earth, cabins, sheds, tree-houses. Or, at least, she’s bought the book, visited the website or attended the workshop. In 2009, Sue traveled to New York City to attend Jay Shafer’s tiny house building seminar. Eureka. She hit gold. Since, she couldn’t build on her gram’s land, a tiny house on wheels would solve her first problem. Problem Number two was building the thing. Sue has almost zero talent in building. Sure, she’s built a table and even a bench, but a project of this size was beyond her grasp.

Enter Bob St. Cyr who teaches construction and cabinet making at Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School (KCI). This was a project that Bob thought his construction and cabinet making classes could accomplish under his guidance. The plan is to build the entire structure in one semester. The students will not only build and finish the interior, but they will blog about their accomplishments while building the Fencl.

Inside the XS-House

In 2005, Jay lived in the XS-House, our smallest model on wheels. HGTV filmed him inside the house. Jay sold the small house after living in it for just 1 year, and this video is the only peak inside. The XS-House has a kitchenette and bathroom.

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