Scrap House and Hurricane Sandy
I covered Ted Fort and his scrap house back in 2009. This is a home he built for free while in high school. You can check out his blog thescraphouse.wordpress.com and learn more about the project. Yesterday he sent me an update on how it is holding out so far through Hurricane Sandy and I wanted to share his note and photos with you.
I thought I’d send you a photo of the scrap house fighting off Hurricane Sandy. Currently about 55-60 MPH winds, with 6 or so feet of flooding. That’s about two feet deep where the wood is floating. During Irene the water was half way up the door, so this is a lot better so far. Proof that tiny, and in this case freely built, houses can withstand some serious weather!
Photo Credit: Patricia Fort
This will be the fourth or fifth major storm it’s been through. I also attached a photo looking towards Pamlico Sound, about 100 feet away from the Scrap House. Hope you’re doing well, I still read your blog regularly. -Ted Fort
I also asked about the scrap house and here is a short update from Ted.
No, I haven’t really worked on it much since high school back when I was updating my blog. I’ve done some more interior work, but nothing substantial. The last update to thescraphouse.wordpress.com was April 2011, which is a bit sad I must admit. Overall, though, I’ve been extremely pleased how well it’s held up considering it was built for free. Nothing leaks, etc. It is eventualy going to be moved, likely several hundred miles, so I’m hesitant to put too much more effort into it until it’s in a permanent location. I’m starting to see why building on a trailer is a good idea.
Thanks Ted for the update and keep us posted if you should move the home, etc.
Photo Credit: Patricia Fort
8 Responses to “Scrap House and Hurricane Sandy”
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stay safe. we’re keepin’ the east coast in our thoughts today.
Glad it survived. I was wondering if I had a vacation tiny home, how would it hold up.
So sweet…good it made it, I sure hope he will update his blog! ?
it gives me such anxiety just looking at the pics!!
Like small boats small houses will out perform large ones. It comes from the fact that a 3×2 six foot long is stronger than one ten foot long and there is only one way to overcome this. More material and more costs. My gypsy wagon is made from 20mmx20mm steel tube is six feet high and is built without any joins in the hoops. Making joints weakens the structure. Material costs are then kept low. http://imagineering-engineering.blogspot.com.au/ Cheers Iggle
Once more from Spain, our thoughts to all those afflicted in NY and NJ..indeed in all battered weather zones. Come and build amongst us in Andalucia high on the hills… on wheels! Best plan so that the mayors cannot issue you with illegal licences! 300 days of sun guaranteed here, folks. Yeah, like the man says, build small and get some wheels!
Christine
Been a blog member for about 6 mo’s. Dreaming of a tiny house for myself as I just turned 50 and suddenly fear of aging while paying someone else’s mortgage (renting) is setting in.
I can invision building one of these and paying for materials as I go. What I have yet to figure out is how to purchase a piece of property just large enough for my tiny house and an additional shed/building for tools, etc. Without spending $100, 000.00 or more and having to then deal with building codes.
I was hoping someone had some thoughts on how one would go about getting a tiny plot that would serve this purpose?
I live on the Kitsap Peninsula. West of Seattle.
Love your pictures and blog posts. Thanks so much for sharing.
Susan
Tiny Dreamer
Hi Susan, I’m older than you and feel the same. I hope you get some good responses. I’ve been looking for a small piece of land where I could live in my travel trailer while working on a tiny house. I’m in Texas right now but wouldn’t mind at all moving to another state, been here too long.