Most budget DIY tiny houses are built for fair weather. This 150-square-foot home in Arundel, Maine was not — and its spec sheet is the interesting part. Two inches of sealed foam in the walls, two inches in the roof with blown-in insulation on top of that, four inches in the floor, and double-insulated windows throughout. Its builder lived in it for over two years, through Maine winters, which is about as honest a durability test as a tiny house gets.
The interior is rustic in the resourceful sense rather than the decorative one. A U-shaped dining area built from pallets fills one end, with a removable table and bench seating wrapping the walls. Wide pine flooring runs throughout, built-in shelves line the walls, and rope lighting around the ceiling handles ambiance. A compact galley kitchen in the middle carries an induction burner, a sink fed by a 27-gallon tank and pump, a mini fridge, and a small separate freezer. The bed at the far end is a full that converts to a twin, with deep storage underneath.
Editor’s note: this home was listed at $19,500 (negotiable) in 2023 and has sold. We’ve kept the tour up because it’s one of the best cold-climate DIY builds we’ve featured at any price. Homes available now are linked below.
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DIY Pre-Owned THOW Built For Cold Weather
Images via Facebook Marketplace
I love the use of pallets to create a beautiful dining space.
Images via Facebook Marketplace
The wide pine flooring gives everything a lovely rustic feel.
Images via Facebook Marketplace
Built-in shelves on the wall provide lots of storage.
Images via Facebook Marketplace
There’s a compact galley kitchen with a mini fridge.
Images via Facebook Marketplace
A twin bed takes up the back of the THOW.
Images via Facebook Marketplace
There’s plenty of space under the bed for storage.
Images via Facebook Marketplace
Rope lights around the ceiling offer ambient lighting.
Images via Facebook Marketplace
Here’s the water pump.
Images via Facebook Marketplace
There’s a separate little freezer for ice cream.
Images via Facebook Marketplace
A funky little rustic sink. Great ingenuity.
Images via Facebook Marketplace
Design Details
- This could be a great camp, art studio, or full time living situation.
- Has been lived in for over two years, even through winter!
- Extremely well-insulated and comes with a heater. Great low cost living situation.
- Roof has 2″ sealed foam with additional insulation blown in under the roof
- Walls 2″ sealed foam
- Floor 4″ sealed foam
- Metal roofing
- 27gal H2O tank with pump
- Full bed, extension is removable to create a twin
- Double insulated windows
- Plenty of storage
- Induction burner, sink, fridge
- Full table with bench all around(table is also easily removable)
- Cord for power with 4 gang interior outlet. Comes with four inside extension chords.
- A/C
- Heater
- Dehumidifier
- Led lighting
- Full mattress
- 150 square feet
- A few of these photos were taken before painting the interior
- Original asking price: $19,500, negotiable (2023, sold)
- Located in Arundel Maine
- Will need to be towed!
What This Build Gets Right
- Insulation is where a cold-climate budget belongs. Sealed foam in walls, roof, and floor plus double-glazed windows costs far less than fancy finishes and is the only reason this house is livable in January.
- Two years lived-in beats any spec sheet. A home someone actually wintered in has had its cold spots, condensation, and plumbing problems found and fixed.
- Removable furniture keeps a small footprint flexible. A table and bed extension that come out let one 150 sq. ft. box be a dining room, a workshop, or a guest space.
- Tank-and-pump water is a feature, not a shortcut. A 27-gallon tank with a pump means the house works anywhere you can park it, with no hookup required.
- Plan for the tow. Homes at this price almost always sell locally, because transport can be a meaningful fraction of the purchase price.
The original Facebook Marketplace listing for this home has expired.
Looking for Tiny Houses Currently For Sale?
This one sold in 2023. If an affordable tiny home is what you’re after, these are on the market now.
Browse all current tiny houses for sale »
A few recent listings worth a look:
- Affordable NOAH-Certified Tiny House on Wheels for Sale in Georgia ($24,500)
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Related Stories:
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Natalie C. McKee
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This is a very well built home for a really great price! Someone should jump on this right away. All the good “bones” are there, just needs the personal touch of the buyer to make it his own. I love this! Deals like this don’t come along very often.