This Texas Man Built His Dream Tiny Home Out Of A School Bus
Michael Talley, a man from Austin, Texas, was finding it difficult to afford rent in a big city. Rent prices kept rising and he kept getting more and more fed up. Michael decided to do something about his living situation. He bought a school bus for almost no money and converted it into a little house for himself that's actually quite lovely.
Michael put a lot of time and effort into this project, and it definitely shows in the results. Keep reading to find out how Michael made his tiny home.
Rent Was High, So Michael Got Creative
Austin, Texas has recently become one of the most desirable cities in the country. It has nice weather, a vibrant social scene, and beautiful homes. A desirable city means high rent prices. Before Michael built his tiny home, he was living in a studio apartment in North Austin and he was paying $1,500 a month in rent.
Michael was a graphic designer, so he was used to creative problem-solving. He took it upon himself to turn his situation around.
He Got The Idea From Another Tiny Bus Home
Micheal didn't come up with this converted school bus idea all on his own. He has seen other people do similar things with vans, buses, and other vehicles. Michael said, "Ultimately I decided upon a school bus because I thought 'Hey, there's already four walls and a roof.'"
Michael did a lot of research before diving into the construction of his tiny house and he soon realized that he was in way over his head.
He Found The Perfect Bus
Michael found out that The Austin School District sells buses that are no longer in use on an auction site called PublicSurplus.com. The site also sells items that have been repossessed or have been owned by the government. When Michael visited the site, there were 10 school buses listed for sale, and not many people were bidding on them.
Michael said he "made out like a bandit." He bought a school bus for just $2,200. The other nine school buses were all bought by the same person.
The Tiny House Of Michael's Dreams
Now that Michael had acquired a school bus, everything seemed to be falling into place. Because he had a background in graphic design, he wanted to completely change the look of the bus. He drew up a few floorplans, one of which was based on the 1997 film, The Lost World: Jurassic Park.
He envisioned separate spaces for a living room, a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a dining room. It was all coming together
Michael's Design Had Some Flaws
Michael isn't exactly a short dude. He stands at six feet and six inches tall. A school bus is only six feet and one inch in height. Michael was going to have to make some major adjustments if he was going to be comfortable standing in his own home.
Michael decided that he had to literally raise the roof on the bus to give himself more headspace. It was going to take a lot of work, but he was up for the job.
Out Of His Element
Michael was a graphic designer, not a handyman. Converting a school bus into a livable home wasn't exactly in his wheelhouse (no pun intended). It was going to take Michael a lot of time to complete this project because he had no building experience.
Sure, he had dreamt about doing this for a long time and even had some designs sketched out. But "I have never built anything. Ever," he confessed. Luckily, his work as a graphic designer meant he could build an expert floorplan.
Michael's Final Floorplan
Michael got on his computer and created a plan for how the final product was going to look. He measured everything twice to make sure that his plans were accurate. His final layout included living and entertainment spaces of his house toward the front of the bus, and a bedroom at the back of the bus.
The kitchen that Michael drew up in his plans was actually bigger than the kitchen he had in his studio apartment.
Drastic Measures To Save Money
Turning a bus into a dream home takes a lot of time and resources. Micheal knew he has to make some sacrifices if he was going to make his dream a reality. He decided to move out of his $1,500 per month apartment.
"I moved into a tent in order to save money while working on the bus, commuting 40 minutes to work every day, just to afford more steel and more wood," Michael said.
Removing The Seats
One of the first steps to converting a bus into a tiny home is removing all of the bus seats. That might sound simple enough, but Michael soon realized that the whole process was rather grueling. Each bolt had to be removed by hand one at a time.
"A nice man came with his 7 months pregnant wife and 8-year-old daughter to cart away all these seats to the scrap metal yard," Michael shared. "I was super impressed his wife was lifting these heavy seats into the trailer!"
Mistakes Along The Way
Michael then had to remove the panels from the ceiling of the bus. "Removing these panels was the absolute worst," he said. Michael had never used an impact drill before and he didn't really know what he was doing.
“I wish that I had ended up keeping this insulation in," Michael said. “It was in remarkably good shape and would have saved me a few headaches if I kept it in.” This whole project was turning into a learning experience for Michael.
A Feeling Of Accomplishment
Fortunately, Michael's ambitious project wasn’t all hard work. There were some fun breaks along the way, which he documented on social media. This sticky note, for example, brought a smile to his face.
"Found this actual Kick Me sign while cleaning out the bus," he wrote. Hey, kids will be kids! That simple note is a fun souvenir… we hope he kept it to display once the bus was completely renovated.
Stripped Bare
The rubber floors and ceilings were the next things that Michael removed. He said that taking that heavy-duty floor out was not a fun project, adding that it was "hella gross."
The windows also came out and weren't so hard to remove. "Part of me wanted to keep them, but I knew they would rattle, provide little privacy or insulation, and look weird with my roof raise and design," Michael said.
Raising The Roof
As mentioned earlier, Michael was quite a bit taller than the ceiling of the bus. "As soon as I stepped onto the bus for the first time I knew me being 6'6″ was going to be a huge problem," he said. "I was going to have to do some MAJOR work to get this thing comfortable for [me]."
Next, he built a scaffolding system from 2x4s in order to elevate the roof and ceiling to a more appropriate height.
The Scaffolding Was Doing Its Job
After the framework was in place, Michael shared this close-up illustrating exactly how the 2x4s were attached to the ceiling. "Scaffolding ready, screw jacks in place, all that's left to do now is cut my bus in half!"
Before he could install metal ribs, Michael was faced with the unusual task of cutting his bus in half horizontally so that the roof could be raised. First, he cut the sides.
A Taller Bus For Michael
To raise the roof, the bus was cut in half. "Used a Sawzall to cut the roof from one end to the other," wrote Michael. “Have I mentioned how nerve-racking it was to basically destroy my bus by doing all of this?”
After cutting his school bus in half, Michael and some of his friends used screw jacks to lift the roof. Although Michael had originally wanted to bring it up an extra two feet, everyone thought that would be pressing his luck. They still managed to get it up 20 inches, though, and then removed the scaffolding.
Closing It Back Up Again
After the roof was lifted up an additional 20 inches, it felt much more spacious. Now, Michael needed to enclose the bus. He closed up the open areas where the windows had been with large metal panels.
Unfortunately, he suffered a pretty bad injury in the process. In an update, he wrote, "First side done. Easily the most painful and bloody part of the build. Got a sweet permanent scar on my forearm from when one of these steel sheets fell and sliced my arm open. Don't worry, I'll spare you the gory photos!" Ouch.
Combating The Texas Heat
Now that Michael had finished covering the bus with metal sheets he had an unexpected problem on his hands. The Texas heat was relentless. "The bus is basically an oven right now, what being solid steel and in Texas," he shared.
Michael and his friends installed new insulation everywhere and celebrated afterward. "Bus is insulated and me and my friends decided to get very drunk and relax on our make shift lounge area." Sounds like they needed a break!
Lighting Up The Home
The newly-enclosed bus was dark inside. To give the construction site a bit of light and personality he hung a strand of lights. "Steel walls complete, with a festive Christmas motif going on"
The next step of the renovation was to cut out the new window holes and bring some natural light into the space. The holes shown here would eventually become the windows for the bathroom and living room.
Taking A Well Earned Break
Michael worked hard as he converted an old school bus into a tiny home, and he was still commuting to his job in Austin. He managed to carve out some R & R when he could.
He later wrote of this time, "Before the roof raise I moved the bus to a friend's farm in Manor, TX for $0 a month. I would regularly go sit on the roof of the bus and drink some wine and watch the sunset over the Texas farmlands." Work hard, play hard.
Starting To Look Like A Real House
Now for the fun stuff! With the walls and roof completed, Michael got to work on renovating the inside of the school bus. The kitchen was one of the first areas he tackled. He hit up IKEA and got a steal!
"IKEA phased out their old kitchen line and I got a hell of a deal on these drawers and cabinets," he shared. "I paid $30 for everything! The butcher block was also a great deal. All the butcher block in this bus was bought on clearance for $120."
Ikea Furniture Galore
Always one to save money and repurpose things, Michael used his existing furniture to carve out a comfortable living area in the converted bus. "I took my IKEA Karlstad couch from my apartment and took off the back, arms, and feet so I was left with the cushions and the box spring base," he shared.
He then built a new frame for the couch, as well as a storage area for water next to it and began to frame out the bathroom. Michael found the American flag at a Goodwill.
An Unexpected Twist
Anyone undertaking a major construction project like Michael's is bound to run into some unexpected snags. This is probably not one that he had in mind! While he was applying insulation to the ceilings, Michael accidentally got some of the stuff in his beard.
"Fun fact, while spraying insulation I got a bunch in my beard and didn't noticed until an hour or so later, and had to shave the whole thing off," he wrote. This photo was presumably taken quite a while after the incident.
He Installed Solar Panels
Thanks to that same Texas sunshine that made the newly-walled bus so hot, Michael can live off the grid. He installed solar panels on the school bus roof in order to harness the power of the sun. It wasn't easy, though.
"This was the most frustrating day of the build," he said. “I was doing it myself, it was very windy, and things kept falling off the roof.” He captioned this photo, "Desk walls and sneak peek at my Solar panels and batteries."
What Went Behind The Walls
Michael installed the wiring seen here, now hidden behind a wall. "Most likely not perfectly up to code, but a peek at the wall behind my desk. I have 300 watts of Solar panels on the roof, a 3000 watt Pure Sine Wave inverter, and six 6v batteries wired in series."
"White is 12v which powers all my lights, my vent fans, and my water pump. Yellow is standard 110v that powers everything else."
An Office For His Graphic Design Work
Having a large and functional office was a must for Michael's new home. "Being a graphic designer I need a proper workspace. Most tiny houses have these little dinky desks that flip up from a wall or are tucked away in a small alcove," he said.
“This desk is 5 feet wide and 2 feet deep, the largest desk I've ever owned!” A skylight provides some natural lighting to the work area.
A Bathroom That Actually Works
Though small, the bus has a fully-functional bathroom that's hidden from view with a restored wooden barn door. Although he can use the bathroom any time he wants, Michael confided that he prefers to take his business outdoors.
"I can use the bathroom in it, however, I rarely do. I pee outside like the good Lord intended," he said. “As for showering and stuff, I built an awesome little outdoor shower or I shower at the gym.” Thanks for letting us know, Michael!
Michael's Paint Job
Michael didn't want his masterpiece to be mistaken from a "regular" school bus, so he decided to paint it. But what color? There was one choice that made complete sense.
"White is best for the heat here in Texas, and leaves me open to add colors down the road," he explained. “I also couldn't think of what colors would go with my wood interiors. I park it in South Austin, in someone’s shady side yard and pay less than $100 a month in rent and utilities.”
What It Looks Like Inside
So just how much did this project cost Michael, in addition to the labor and the rough times along the way? We knew he spent just $2,200 to purchase the old school bus, and it turns out his total cost wasn't all that much more.
Michael estimates that he spent around $15,000 to convert the school bus into his dream tiny house. Even better is the fact that he pays less than $100 a month for rent and utilities together. This project really paid for itself.
Pain Along The Way
We've read about all the mishaps and snafus that Michael encountered during his bus conversion, but there's more to his story. While he was involved in the renovation process, Michael experienced some deep heartaches.
His beloved grandfather and his dog both passed away, and Michael and his girlfriend also decided to end their long-term relationship during the bus project. It was certainly a trying year for this ambitious young man.
Next Steps For Michael
Now that he's all settled into his perfect tiny house, what does Michael plan to do next? Travel, of course! So he's in the process of renovating a van so that he can tour around the country in comfort.
Speaking of his school bus home, he said, "I have a composting toilet that works great, and it just so happens that I get by using the one at work. The bathroom is mostly used for storing materials for my current van conversion project."
Another Couple Who Turned A Bus Into A Tiny Home
Hailing from Berlin, Germany, Felix Starck and Selima Taibi wanted to leave their ordinary lives behind and do something extraordinary. Felix is a filmmaker and Selima is a musician who creates music under the name Mogli. The young couple was vying to see the world and live life on the road. Together, they imagined a journey through North and South America, living life on the road with the great outdoors all around them. While some might have viewed them as daydreamers, the couple is anything but. They put their plans into action. Follow their incredible journey that they named Expedition: Happiness.
Setting Off On An Adventure
In order to set out on their journey properly, Felix and Selima decided that a school bus converted into a home would be the best option. That way they would have a means of transportation along with a place to call home while on the road.
While other people might see this type of lifestyle choice as too alternative, the adventurous couple was inspired by the idea. While they were still in Berlin, the search for a school bus in America began.
Putting In The Work
Lucky for them, they found a bus that would suit their needs. However, they still had a lot of work ahead of them. The bus wasn't in the best shape and needed a lot of repairs before they even got started on converting it into something that would be livable.
The couple posted to their shared social media account for the journey: "We got all of the flooring out yesterday, but we found one huge hole in the floor. The bus has a lot of rust, but that's the problem or the risk when you buy a bus located in Florida while in Germany."
Doing It Themselves
Yep, Felix and Selima were planning on doing the repairs and the conversion themselves! Once they arrived in America, getting the bus ready for the journey was their main focus. Selima got to work getting the stickers off the bus while Felix organized reworking the flooring.
Since the school bus wasn't designed for someone to live in, there were quite a few adjustments that they needed to make, including adding insulation, as the couple planned on traveling to the snow. "Pumped to get some sub-flooring and insulation in today!" they posted.
Get That Rust Outta Here
The couple purchased the school bus (by itself) for $9,500 USD. They had found it online and bought it before booking their flights to America. Although they were disappointed in the amount of rust and holes that they found throughout, they knew they had to keep a positive mindset and tackle the project head-on.
Felix posted, "We found more rust yesterday. We're gonna fix the holes by screwing in some metal sheets but before we have to get rid of the rust."
A Mentor Showed Them The Ropes
As it turns out, the couple was wildly optimistic but neither had the carpentry background or skills necessary to tackle something like getting rid of rust and repairing flooring. Luckily they connected with a nearby couple in North Carolina, who offered their advice.
The couple had converted a school bus themselves and were able to pass down their knowledge to Felix and Selima as they tackled the build. Once they got the tools in their hands, however, it seemed that they were naturals! Felix humbly bragged, "Mogli just built us a bed... no big deal I guess!'
Rudi Needed Lots Of Space
He may not have helped with the school bus build, but Rudi the Bernese Mountain Dog was ready to join the couple on their epic journey. Good thing they bought a school bus instead of a tiny home, because this pup takes up some space!
Felix and Selima were excited to take Rudi along for the ride, and show him what snow is all about! They also told their followers that Rudi was a source of inspiration for them and added to the excitement of their upcoming trip.
The Grand Kitchen
Once the frame of the bed was built, they began to build out the kitchen. The school bus offered a unique floor plan; long and narrow, and they needed to carefully plan out every inch to be utilized in a meaningful way.
In tiny spaces like their bus, it's of utmost importance that everything is designed for functionality and to make the best use of the space. Once the cabinets were installed, they felt pretty good about the pace of their build.
A Functional Bathroom
As the kitchen came along, so did the bathroom. Felix posted photos of Selima crouched down in the tiny designated space with the caption, "painting our teensy tiny toilet." They realized that the bathroom is much tighter than one you would find in the average home, so they improvised.
Selima painted the space white, to make it appear bigger and set handmade tiles to make it feel like more like home. Throughout the process, the couple remained optimistic and cheered each other on, keeping spirits high.
New Paint Freshens Up The Bus
Once the interior of the bus started coming along, it was time for the exterior to get a facelift. Although the adventurous couple believed a school bus would make the best home for them, they didn't want it to be mistaken for a bus that takes kids to school.
Felix and Selima decided to paint the exterior white. But... "Gray! It turned out gray!" Felix shared with their followers. They weren't too worried about it though and kept painting anyway. "Black parts will be cream," Felix decided.
The Main Interior Space
Things were taking shape and the bus was no longer recognizable as the bright yellow school bus it once was. Now, it was a home. When designing the floorplan for their bus, Felix and Selima chose to stretch a counter along each wall.
On one side would be the kitchen, with plenty of counter for food prep. On the other side would be enough space for each of them to have a desk. This was important not only for Felix to edit film and Selima to work on her music, but to update their social media with content from their journey.
A Bedroom At The Back Of The Bus
Another area that was important when designing the floor plan was of course, the bedroom. The couple wisely decided to stick this room in the back of the bus, where it could be quiet, private, and removed from the rest.
And take a look at the bed Selima built! You wouldn't even believe that the couple had no previous experience building furniture, as the entire space has clean lines and beautiful design.
Rudi Has His Space, Too
Felix and Selima have their bed comfortably set up in the back of the bus, but what about Rudi the Bernese dog? Of course, he got his own space, too. In fact, the bus allowed enough room for a big doggie bed up in the front of the bus.
This way he can be right where the action is as they hit the road. He also has a custom elevated table for his doggie bowls. Living the doggie dream.
