How One Couple Turned a Shed into an Adorable Two-Story Tiny House

If you are looking for a generally uncluttered life that costs very little overhead, building out a Tuff Shed shell might be the way to own your roof at just a fraction of the cost of a traditional home. But is the shed home life for you? Or is shed construction more complicated than it seems?

If you’ve been wondering about this small house option, just read on because we’re about to dig into the details and hear the story of one family who used a Tuff Shed to build an affordable two-story tiny home.

What is a Tuff Shed?

Tuff Shed is a brand, and the company builds exactly what the name implies: a tough shed.

People use Tuff Sheds for all kinds of things, including backyard storage, to build residential and commercial buildings, garages, and of course, the emerging Tuff Shed tiny house!

One can purchase a unit through the company directly or through an authorized distributor like The Home Depot. And once you choose your shed, you can select from various upgrade options- all for an additional charge, of course.

Then, after you lay a foundation, Tuff Shed will send a team to help you with the installation.

So why would you use a Tuff Shed to build a tiny house?

When you think of the word ‘home,’ chances are you picture something beautiful. Maybe you envision window boxes, an open-concept living room, or amazing views. But with the 2022 median price of a traditional home coming in at $398,500 (according to the National Association of Realtors), many are looking to shed homes to make their dreams come true on a budget.

And if you want further evidence that these tiny homes could be the way to go, just talk to Barry Smith and his wife, Beth.

This real-life couple built a two-story Tuff Shed tiny house!

Once upon a time, Barry and Beth lived in a 3,500-square-foot home. But after evaluating their priorities, they moved out of their traditional house and bought land to create a family compound.

Their first project was a foundation-built tiny house that is now home to their adult daughter. And their second project- the one the Smiths currently inhabit- is the two-story Tuff Shed the internet can’t stop talking about.

So why did the Smith family choose to build a Home Depot Tuff Shed? To be mortgage free and have the money to travel the world.

And can we just say they nailed it?

Maybe it’s the nice seating area in the kitchen, or maybe it’s the welcoming upstairs bedroom or the simpler life the Smiths gained when they took a chance on their dreams. Whatever it is, the vibe they have created is everything we want for our own tiny houses!

On the couple’s YouTube channel, Beth told the world that the Smiths paid approximately 60k to build their home. This number includes the cost of the following:

• Shed
• Permitting
• Foundation
• Utilities
• Interior finishing

Here’s what that price does not include:

• Land
• Well
• Septic system

Barry Smith and his wife are quick to point out that they did not include the cost of the things on the second list because those elements were already in place from the couple’s previous home.

So what does this famous Tuff Shed tiny home look like on the inside?

The Smith’s affordable two-story tiny home is approximately 768 square feet. The first floor includes a living area, a kitchen area, and a cozy dining area perfect for up to four people.

And upstairs, the modern farmhouse aesthetic from the first floor continues into the couple’s bedroom- a space that takes up the full second floor! A high ceiling plus an airy window near the bed makes the space feel large and bright. And an ensuite bathroom (complete with a soaking tub!) will make you forget that this space began as a Tuff Shed shell!

The Smith’s two-story tiny house is an inspiration for sure, but before you head off to The Home Depot to buy a shed, here’s an overview of what’s available. We want you to have all the information when preparing to build your new tiny home!

Sheds and upgrade options. Decisions, decisions!

Whether you buy your Tuff Shed from the company directly or through The Home Depot, the options available will depend on where you live. For this article, we chose a popular Los Angeles zip code and found approximately fifteen options on each site.

The sheds include walls, a roof, and a floor, but remember that you will have to do the interior work (like adding plumbing and building out each room to create a kitchen, bedroom, etc.)

And once you choose your basic structure, you’ll want to consider the upgrades available. A metal roof is an option, as are dimensional shingles and boxed eaves. Siding colors vary from shed to shed, and if you’re willing to spend a little more, you can also buy a model that includes windows.

What are the pros and cons of Tuff Shed tiny homes?

Building a house out of a shed has pros and cons, so it’s important to weigh the specifics of your situation before committing.

The main pro of a shed is that it could allow you to build out a home for less money than a traditional house.

But like we said before, you’ll still have to build a foundation, add insulation to the walls, put in utilities, and complete the interior finishing.

Do those added elements sound like a lot of work? Because if so, that’s the main con.

It’s easy to fall in love with the cute little structures in The Home Depot parking lot, but turning a shed into a livable house will still require considerable effort.

And unless you have specialized knowledge of such things, you’ll likely have to hire separate crews to install plumbing and electricity, frame each room, and build a front porch.

The other con is that permitting one of these homes could be tricky.

Unlike a tiny house on wheels, a shed home isn’t a structure you can move easily. And this makes a living under the radar a less viable option. You don’t want to spend money building a home that you are not allowed to live in. So don’t be that person who has purchased a shed and hired builders before they’ve even run their plans by the local planning department!

How much does it cost to build a Tuff Shed tiny house?

Now that you know what a Tuff Shed is and what it takes to turn one into a house let’s look at price. How much is this endeavor going to cost you?

Well, the average price of a Tuff Shed from Home Depot in Los Angeles is $3,979. Of course, foundation pouring, adding plumbing, and building out a living area will start to add up, but you can mitigate these costs if you’re able to DIY all or part of the project.

And one way to do this is by becoming your own general contractor.

General contractors typically don’t build. Rather, they are responsible for tasks like creating budgets, maintaining timelines, hiring sub-contractors, and keeping an eye on quality control.

Another way to save is by doing your own finished work. Tasks like painting, adding trim, or tiling your own bathroom can save a buck or two as well.

How much will it save you, exactly? 

Well, according to Barry Smith, building a tiny house will cost an average of three times more if you hire out the work. This ratio is supported by contractor blogger the Armchair Builder, who says that being your own general contractor will save you 20-25%, and doing your own finish work will save 5-10%.

But should you build a Tuff Shed tiny house yourself?

If you have a background in construction, own tools, and know a thing or two about the permitting process, you probably have the skills to turn a shed into a tiny house.

But if you’ve never built so much as a birdhouse, the cost of your inexperience might not actually save you money.

And then there’s the real question: does building your own home sound like fun?

Conclusion

Now that you have all the information, is a Tuff Shed tiny home the way to go? Here are our two cents.

If you’re looking to save money, and are willing to go through a potentially lengthy process with your local planning department, then yes, a Tuff Shed conversion could be a rewarding way to build a small home on a budget.

It’s important to weigh your experience and resources, but it’s more important to weigh your passion and the effort you’re willing to put in. 

People of all ages and walks of life learn new skills and transform their lives every day. 

So why not you?

Still, if your goal is to secure the easiest possible housing, a more standardized type of housing, like a park model home, could be a simpler way to go. And if your main interest in sheds stems from a desire to avoid financing, keep in mind it could be more efficient to become a stronger borrower than to turn a Home Depot Tuff Shed into a tiny house.

The bottom line with Tuff Sheds is that while turning one into a tiny home will take some effort, the houses people create from these storage sheds are pretty darn cool. And if you decide to turn one into a tiny home of your own, we’ll be behind you 100%!

We’re just happy to see people dusting off their tools, learning new skills, and thinking of creative ways to live a better life for less money.

Do you love tiny homes as much as we do? Our team here at The Wayward Home loves to explore all kinds of small-space dwellings. And if you’d like to subscribe to our email list, we’ll drop our latest findings right in your inbox!

Thanks for reading!