Thinking big and building small is the philosophy behind the company BuildZing, located in Dripping Springs Texas. BuildZing builds small homes that are eco-friendly, affordable and can have customized exteriors and interiors based on the owner’s budget.
The company builds what they call “flex rooms” that can be used for offices, studios, workshop, retreats, rental properties, and cottages and tiny homes for a simplified lifestyle. Their designs can also be adapted to be ADA compliant to house disabled persons. The designs are energy efficient and specific to Texas climates.
Their 12 foot by 16 foot model costs $13,750 including sales tax. BuildZing can build directly on-site and will consult with you on foundations and utility and sewer attachments, or the building can be delivered ready to move in.
Photos courtesy of BuildZing
By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]
That is one ugly, expensive, little house!
Very cool, but I wish there were some inside pics.
I think this is the first time I’ve seen any builder address the issue of disabled access. Glad to see that it’s a consideration with these units.
I agree with you Irene. For me too this is the first tiny house i have encountered with facilities for the disabled
As an aging-in-place specialist, I am always looking for truly accessible housing for either the elderly or the disabled. The idea of a tiny house to be used as an in-law apartment if very appropriate but I’m uncertain whether or not this house would comply. I agree that it’s nice to see some effort – if only minor – towards addressing accessibility but since we’ve not seen any floor plans, placing a ramp at the front door hardly makes this house accessible.
LOL, I had the opposite reaction to deborah — I quite like the clean lines of these little homes and think the price is quite reasonable! If I lived in Texas, I would absolutely consider getting one of these.
It’d be great if they made a version on wheels, because many people have to circumvent building restrictions if they want a tiny home.
I am forced to agree. I’m also concerned about the bad economy and having to move to work. Having a house on wheels would ease the process of moving.
I love that in a house that small, there is a flex room… All the house on this blog seem like one little flex room that you can do anything within the space!
I like the look of it, too. I don’t think the metal siding is that attractive, but it’s an option you can easily change. And the wheelchair ramp is not going to be on most homes, and that detracts from the appearance. I think it’s a cute little house, and also think it’s reasonably priced.
Since I live in Texas, I will tell you why the metal siding is attractive…With an average summer temperature of 120 degrees, the metal siding insulates. With gusts of wind on an average day getting up to 80 mph and the constant threat of tornado or hurricane, there is some security in knowing the side of your house might stay on with the panels. With termite, carpenter ant, and fire ant infestations being the highest reported home destroyer in the state and higher than any state in the US, metal sure beats wood. So with those things in mind…I believe that the builders of this house were pretty smart.
How does metal insulate? Metal is one of the best conductors of heat (and cold) of any building material.
(Maybe the shed will look better after it is painted.)
Jennifer,
Are you serious, it has never reached 120 degrees, especially not for an average. Wind gust on a typical day 80 mph?, there is no place on earth with these conditions, there may be gust of 30mph, unless of course, there is a hurricane blowing through.
It’s not as cute as many posted here, but I do think a few strategically planted rose bushes or the like would soften the rough look of it, and maybe a tree nearby for some shade would help also.
It does seem a bit expensive and is not very attractive yet it is good to see the small house movement gaining popularity. I am now building a 12 x 16 papercrete house which will cost less than $1000, with a tremendous amount of sweat equity.
This company has some serious issues. First, when you click on their picture on their home page, it rotates to a Rocio Romero home. When I called buildzing, they lied and said they built the Rocio Romero home outside Fredricksburg TX, I know this is a lie because I spoke with Rocio Romero, the only RR home built in Texas is in Travis County, not Gillespie County. RR is asking them to quit misrepresenting.
Tracen right. Their website is currently offline which isn’t a good sign. Makes you wonder.
What kind of foundation is that house sitting on? Looks like just a bunch of paving stones. Pretty wobbly–maybe okay for a garden shed but jeez, not a house. Unlike many readers I prefer to see houses on proper foundations, not wheels, and don’t want to see examples of houses built on trailers just so you can move them, to “circumvent building restrictions”.
I had acreage in Texas and wanted to build a small home. I started with a 22×30 used school portable delivered and leveled for 5k and finished it out from craigslist and habitat for humanity for another 3k. Used a composting toilet I made myself. I sized down from 4000 sf to 1100 sf to this tiny 660 sf. By the time I lived there a year, it seemed large! I am about to close on a quarter acre within walking distance of the Pacific Ocean (home) with a 31′ fifth wheel under a 700 sf ramada. Plan to turn the ramada into a small house with a big greenhouse on the south end. Once I got to 660 sf I started inspiring friends to size down. My son is now turning 1/3 of his split level (1st floor less garage) into an apt. The rent in Seattle will be 800 per month, which he can use with the economy down. I was glad to see him reduce from 2400 sf. I also put in a mostly perennial food garden at his house since I’ve been here and this year they are taking off with the garden! Once I finish out the ramada, I will sell the fifth wheel and use it to pay down the small mortgage on the land. Retirement is just a minute away!
It’s not hard to look at. The right colors and cladding will help.
The square foot cost works out to about $72/Sq.Ft. I don’t care who you are – that’s a deal.
I don’t mind the metal though seems like it would be an oven. Their website is still offline after a week though–that’s a greater concern!
My parents have owned 2 all metal homes in North Texas. They have both been EXTREMELY energy efficient. The reason for this is spray foam insulation. I’ll laud that stuff til the cows come home! Their house is so tight they have to buy a dehumidifier. They run their AC/heater year round. My mother has never paid more than $150 in electric for well over 2000sf of home and that’s with a wasteful teenage daughter.
Side Note: BuildZing’s site is still down. Hope none of the readers purchased one and got swindled! 🙁
Did anybody even find a web site for this company?
If you Google you get hits on a Facebook page with nothing useful on it. You get another hit for a company in Wyoming with no info. You can get phone numbers for the company in Texas but I think they have not been too successful. Don’t think this is too useful of an article unfortunately.