Deciding whether to build your own Tiny House on wheels or get one designed and built for you depends on the skills, budget and time you have available.
How hard is it to build a Tiny House?
Research is vital! At the moment Tiny Houses on Wheels (THOWs) are not regulated by building codes. Rest assured at Aussie Tiny Houses we apply Australian building standard practices and accept responsibility for the safe building, transport and occupancy of every home we design.
Design innovations are intricately related to the space that regulations allow for. Size and weight restrictions apply to register a trailer in Australia so building a towable home requires designing for movement during transportation and upward lifting forces, much like the wind in a storm! A Tiny House needs to be stronger than a regular house to withstand these extra forces while being towed.
Everything from vibrating screws coming loose while the THOW is being transported to the right insulation for our Australian climate needs to be considered. It is possible to build your own THOW as long as it can be registered for the road. THOWs aren’t classified as ‘dwellings’ and don’t require Development Approvals, so take heart…you could build your own house!
For many people the decision to go Tiny centres around financial freedom. For others, the decision was sparked by the possibility of a DIY build. Either way, you’re here because you appreciate a simpler more natural life.
So what’s your goal?
Is it saving money and learning new skills, including learning how to use tools to build your own home? How much personalisation is important to you and how would you like to express it?
Some people have no desire to design or build their homes. For many of us though the temptation of design possibilities and success stories on social media fuels our desire to even consider building ourselves. Followed by thoughts of doubt about how doable it really is.
Small spaces need smart design, even though they’re less complex than a big house. If you do decide to build yourself, put lots of time into planning or you’ll spend double the time solving problems during the build!
Read more:
To learn more about designing for small spaces, listen to the conversation with Aussie Tiny House’s design expert Richard Smith.
Budget to build a Tiny House
It’s typically cheaper to build a Tiny House than buy one but this depends on what you want from a home and how you go about building it. A DIY house can be 30-50% less than what a builder needs to charge to cover their wages, overheads and factory costs. You can save on these by asking friends to help or salvaging materials. If you feel more confident hiring a builder and working alongside them, factor in around $12,000 as a rough starting figure.
At Aussie Tiny Houses, we hire qualified craftsmen for carpentry, electrics, plumbing and painting. We’re able to source quality materials at a reasonable price with a low footprint because we order in bulk. These are the benefits of being a specialised Tiny House building company we’re happy we can pass onto you.
For a DIY project, cost out the project and factor in the quality of materials you want in your home. Add any design costs, the trailer and hired help. You can buy plans or devour YouTube videos and building books and design your own. Going at your own pace with your own project means you can keep an eye on the budget as you go.
It’s extremely difficult to cost a THOW exactly because people have built them using free salvaged materials for under $10,000. However, the average materials costs are around $30,000 not including the trailer or furnishings. If compost toilet, stovetop, shower, plumbing, insulation, wood frame, flooring and lighting are words that thrill the researcher in you and you can’t wait to get your hands dirty, then maybe a DIY house build is right up your alley!
Skills you need to build a Tiny House
Even registered builders are not necessarily qualified to build Tiny Houses on wheels! The principles for building a regular house don’t take into account the portability or small space design requirements of a Tiny House.
When you set out to build your own house you’re likely to learn new skills. It’s also likely you’ll make costly mistakes and have wasted materials. Solo construction is challenging! Sometimes it takes two to hold a plank of wood in place, so think about hiring someone to work with you. If you hire an expert and work with them, they’ll help you make fewer mistakes and fix them more quickly.
Regulations and Safety
You can trust professional Tiny House builders with years of experience to build a THOW that’s the correct size and weight for towing on Australian roads.
If you’re doing a self-build, take your time to research and carefully design a safe and well-sized home. You could buy some pre-designed plans, although they may not be personalised enough for your needs. Talk to us to find out how our design team can help you get architecturally sound plans.
For more, see the Australian Tiny House Association – Building Regulations.
Time to build your Tiny House
Some Tiny House DIYs can take two years, depending on how much time you set aside to work on the house and if you’ve got helping hands. On average it takes 800 working hours to build a Tiny House.
It can feel good to go at your own pace and make adjustments along the way, although there is a risk of losing interest and patience! Is time something you’re happy to spend working on your home? If that’s a yes, maybe you would like to be involved in the hands-on construction of your Tiny House.
Professional builders typically work on an 8 to 10-week timeline from signing off on design plans to completion (waitlist excluded).
Many say control of the project is a plus for building your own. That’s the clincher in many ways. When you build your own Tiny House, you are in charge of everything!
We understand that you want to be involved with the building of your dream home but may not want all the weight on your shoulders. So at Aussie Tiny Houses, we make sure you have a fully supported, enjoyable experience designing and building your home.
Watch:
Bryce from Living Big in a Tiny House talks to Matt about his DIY home. Matt had some help from friends, chose a timber frame, which is typically easier than a steel frame for a self-build, and called in a plumber!
Read more:
- Tiny House vs Caravan – What’s the Difference?
- Tiny House on Wheels or a Foundation?
- Granny Flat vs Tiny House – Which One’s Right for You?
Still not sure whether you want to build or buy your own Tiny House? Have a conversation with our sales team to get clearer on what suits your needs and how Aussie Tiny Houses can help.
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