Rising Walls and Falling Leaves: Building a Livable House in 3 Months

“Autumn is a fleeting season, melancholy by nature. Its ghostly beauty cultivates a fertile atmosphere for memories that wrote their history on a tablet of fallen leaves… Whatever else autumn may be, it is the prophet of winter.”
Brian P. Easton, Autobiography of a Werewolf Hunter

The transition to fall happened gradually. Brisk mornings made it harder to rise before dark for my morning run. Oak trees began dropping acorns on the freshly poured cement. Honking geese passed over, and sometimes took refuge in, the stream that runs through our property.

Nature’s subtle changes were a reminder that the clock was ticking. Living in the camper worked well for the summer, but looming frosts would change that quickly. It was time to move full steam ahead with our DIY house build.

Month 1: Walls and roof

As Labor Day weekend approached, Brett’s dad parked his RV and trailer of tools on our land and my dad made reservations at a nearby hotel. On September 4, 2021, I watched in awe as the guys framed and raised the first exterior walls of a structure we’d call home by winter.

One down… or should I say up! This is the exterior wall of a future bedroom. Left to right: My dad, Jim; my husband, Brett; Brett’s dad, Dave; Paisley snoozes while Goose watches with keen interest.

After the slow process of demolishing the mobile home, preparing the foundation, and obtaining approvals, this part seemed to move at lightning speed. I could barely tear my eyes away to make coffee or lunch for fear of missing out on the action.

If, like me, you’ve gone your whole life without knowing –- or even thinking about -– how a house is made, your reaction may also be of complete wonder. Who knew walls get assembled on the ground and then lifted up to stand vertical?

*Jim, Dave, and Brett confirming a stud measurement. Measure twice, cut once!*

More importantly, it was so special to witness three important men in my life working together in this way. Many memories are etched in the walls, from long days of building to evenings sitting around the campfire or having dinner together in Dave’s camper. It was a unique time that can never be replicated.

*In just a few hours the guys moved on to the interior walls. Here you can see the skeleton of a bedroom, bathroom, and utility room.*

*This wasn’t Dave’s first rodeo. He used to build houses as a side business — hence how Brett was exposed to construction from a young age.*

*Not too shabby for the end of day one.* *Now there is another bedroom, the floor of the loft, and studs for a balcony.*

As the days went on, other friends and family stopped by to lend their hands and expertise. Besides being extremely helpful to keep things moving, it freed me up to restock snacks, cook meals, run back and forth to clean our short-term rental, and — of course — document the process as much as possible.

*Thumbs up to having the tallest wall up, which will become the living room. Brett’s Uncle Jeff (right) joined us to raise that beast.*

*Brett’s uncle and godfather, Gary, (left) also stopped by to help.*

*With interior and exterior walls up, it was time to install the i-joist roof rafters. Brett’s brother, Mike, (right) joined for this portion.*

*Yet another helping hand. Brett and his longtime friend, Clay, adding underlayment to the roof.*

*Inside, Dave’s cousin, also named Jim, wires our electric. Yes — the Gerners are a talented bunch.*

*Just when they were making strides on the house, it was time to start from scratch on the small attached garage.*

*A peek-a-boo view from the stream bordered by fall foliage. My quick canoe ride was such a welcome reprieve from all the activity.*

*Gaps around the windows in the last photo being covered with plywood sheeting. This is the high east-facing wall facing the stream.*

*Our little house in the woods after one month of building. I still can’t believe how much progress was made while only working around our ‘real’ jobs on weekends, evenings, and early mornings*.

*As September closes out, the original crew of Brett, Dave, and my dad start on the steel roofing.*

Month 2: House wrap, foundation insulation, soffit, fascia, windows, and doors

October started off unseasonably warm, but there was no stopping the shortening days and looming frosts. Soon my rose colored glasses cleared to a startling reality of how much work remained before we could move in.

What more could we do than layer on extra clothing and use lights when daylight waned. More and more often I was called upon to climb a ladder or the roof to help with something.

*Jim, Brett, and Dave stapling house wrap to protect our plywood walls from the elements. Little did I know this Tyvek alternative would serve as temporary siding for two years!*

Dave and Brett working on soffit and fascia while Uncle Gary supervises. From this view you can see some of the many things in progress at the same time: windows, foundation insulation, and roofing. Oh, and there’s the new septic system!

*One of the most tedious tasks at this time was digging a “moat” around the foundation and installing insulation to protect the concrete slab from frost.*

*Some trees are holding on to their fading fall leaves, but the grasses are covered in frost. Winter is coming.*

*A view from inside as the guys prepare to install the patio door from the loft.*

*Patio door installation continues into the evening.*..

October 31: the house and garage are wrapped, roofing is installed (minus the garage soffit and fascia, which would wait until summer 2023), the foundation is insulated, and exterior doors and windows are installed — except for a special order window that didn’t arrive with the rest. Just one example of the many hiccups Brett had to troubleshoot along the way.

Month 3: The home stretch

November was physically and mentally challenging. There were, of course, exciting moments, like the first fire in our new wood stove, the plumber hooking up our shower, and a gorgeous long weekend getaway to North Carolina for a family wedding — complete with a night staying in a horse and goat barn in Kentucky.

For the most part, it was a slog.

My days on the sidelines were over. Our main focus was insulating the ceiling, walls, and windows. Brett and I spent many dark, cold mornings and evenings working away by the glow of a floor light. Brett stood on a ladder or scaffolding, announced the measurement, and waited for me to deliver a piece of insulation cut to size. Staple. Measure. Cut. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat…

*Brett stapling insulation in the ceiling. Itchy and monotonous, I tried to remind myself how every piece created a barrier between us and the cold outside. Mind over matter!*

Brett working on the chimney so we can light the wood stove. It was a good thing we split so much wood throughout summer — heat escaped quickly with only plastic covering the opening of the missing window.

*Fear not — the long lost window arrived in mid-November. Paisley snoozes by the fire while Brett uses a can of spray insulation around the edges.*

*Brett pounding foam board insulation into a window header. Who knew there were so many different types of insulation?*

*A close-up of Brett spraying insulation around a bedroom window. My job was to shake the cans for at least a minute before opening them — a good way to warm up a shivering body.*

*Our plumber hooking up water to the toilet and shower in the bathroom right around the time we had to winterize the camper due to consistent temperatures below freezing. Talk about luxuries!*

*Paisley out by the road on a frosty, late November morning. It looks like she’s had it with this nonsense and hoping a new family will pick her up*.

*Our new home standing tall on frozen ground. Not finished. Not quite comfortable. But three months after breaking ground, the house is livable.*

What does ‘livable’ mean?

I realize our standards of a livable house may not match everyone’s. The inside lacked drywall, flooring, interior doors, and a kitchen beyond an Instant Pot and a hand-me-down fridge. Dishes were washed in the bathroom sink. Patio furniture served as a dining room set. We slept on an air mattress.

The work was far from over, but our necessities were covered: an insulated roof overhead, unlimited heat from a wood stove, running water from a well, electricity, and even wifi. The fridge occasionally leaked on the cement floor, but it was full sized. Compared to the camper, this was a palace!

House building video highlights

This video from early October 2021 includes highlights from the mobile home demolition and our first month of building.

Thinking of building your own house?

Occasionally we hear callers on the Ramsey show ask if it’s a good idea to buy land and live in an RV while building their own house. Dave doesn’t sugarcoat his advice and he often raises important concerns, such as the toll such an undertaking can take on a relationship or family. “You can do it if you want, but I wouldn’t if I were in your shoes,” he says.

Yet, some of us choose to go for it. It’s a given that you need knowledge, skills, and a certain level of physical abilities to build your own house. But where many how-to resources fall short is the mental and emotional challenges involved. I might not be able to explain how to bring a house blueprint to life, but I can offer some insight on the mental side of the equation.

Here are six insights I’ve learned throughout the process of DIY house building with my significant other.

1. Know your ‘why’

This is common advice in the entrepreneur space, but I think it’s helpful for just about any challenge we face in life. Why is this a dream worth pursuing? What end result or higher purpose will keep you motivated when the initial excitement wears off?

2. Communicate often

Building a house with your spouse may be the ultimate marriage team building activity. With so many decisions to make, tasks to manage, and people to coordinate with, it’s easy for stress and fatigue to wear on your relationship.

Rather than just trying to get through the difficult times, talk it out. Share how things are going, how you’re feeling, and what each of you can do to handle tough situations better in the future. Yes — there will be more!

3. Remain flexible

Part of the allure of building your own home is being able to intentionally design everything to suit your needs and style. It’s great to have a vision, but understand that not everything on your Pinterest board will be realistic. (Sad, I know.) Problems will pop up. Timelines will change. Things will be out of stock and you have to choose a second best option. The paint color will look purple instead of gray…

All you can do is handle each issue as it comes, making the best decision you can with the knowledge and resources you have at the time. Be willing to compromise and keep it all in perspective. In the scheme of things, it’s just a house. I understand that’s easier said than done.

4. Ask for help

Many of us struggle to ask a neighbor for a cup of sugar, let alone asking someone to give up their Saturday morning to smooth cement. There can be a misguided notion in the homesteading world that self-sufficiency means doing things completely on your own. Not true — “It takes a village” means relying on others and lending a hand when someone else is in need. Don’t try to do it alone.

5. Document your progress

When a project is consuming your world, it’s hard to imagine there will be a time when you can’t remember the details of what it was like. Take pictures and videos and jot down your thoughts in a journal along the way. This is a unique experience you won’t want to forget. My morning gratitude journal doubled as documentation and therapy!

6. Be ready for an adventure

Adventure is more than an exciting or unusual experience — it includes a level of danger and risk. Choosing to step outside the mainstream and build your own house can feel like unchartered territory. Success isn’t guaranteed. The road will be bumpy and winding. It will be uncomfortable. Allow it to test you and shape you. You’ll come out the other side with new knowledge and skills, incredible memories, a stronger marriage, and a home you can take pride in — imperfections and all.

Questions? Comments?

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