I am so proud of what my husband and I have accomplished in the last few weeks. While we aren’t nearly as far on building our A-frame cabin as I thought we would be, I wanted to share an update. While no framing has started, we have been doing things to prep the foundation that is just as necessary.
We told someone the other week that we feel we are working backwards on this project. Typically you build a house and then work on landscaping. So while we are waiting for the framers to arrive, we have been working on getting things cleared up and planning out gardens and landscaping details.
Meet our New General Contractor
If you missed it, I am now the General Contractor for the build of our home. In British Columbia, you can apply to be an Owner Builder. You need to pass an exam on home construction, and then you can be the general contractor for the construction of your own home. I completed this process in the Spring and highly recommend if you love to be involved in the construction of your new home that you look into this process.
Our A-frame foundation
Dirt work is something that my husband and I are capable of, so we are saving money by prepping the foundation under the A-frame. There will be a gap below the floor of the A-frame and the ground. So preparing the ground to look nice and taking the proper steps to prevent things like:
- vegetation from growing up under the house
- preventing rodents and such from making their home under the house and
- preventing cats from making it their personal litter box are all essential to us.
How we prepped the ground under the A-frame
First, we levelled the dirt around the form columns. I also removed the cardboard from around the concrete pillars. These pillars will be partially exposed after the home is complete. I want these pillars to blend in with the house, so I stained them black with C2 Gaurd in the colour Carbon. This is the same product that I will be using on the outside of the A-frame.
We laid down two layers of black geo-tech matting. This matting should prevent little shrubs, ferms, and wild plants from growing beneath the house. Finally, we added 4″ of washed rock to the foundation. Cats don’t like to go to the bathroom on this type of rock; it’s not ideal for rodents to want to habitat as well. And finally, I feel like this gives us a simple, clean appearance.
Clean Up
Burning brush piles was something I had been looking forward to. First, I wanted to burn the piles close to where the A-frame would go so that we didn’t have to worry about burning near our home after the fact. Second, lighting the fires felt very therapeutic—a great way to cleanse this land. Something I haven’t shared a lot about is the spiritual parts of my life. We have discovered some very powerful energies on this piece of land, so I have also been spending time connecting with that energy and clearing the space for our family.
Look how small the brush pile burned down too. We will have a lot of ash to still deal with, but I can work that into the soil!
The Creek
THE CREEK! I am so excited to have flowing water on this piece of property! There is a spot where water flows out from the side of a drainage ditch we dug. The water is so clean and is so much better than our water well water, so we drink out of here when we are out working! We had just let the water from its own path over the last year. We decided to make its course more permanent and dug a deeper trench for the water to flow down. My hubby added a couple of little waterfalls so that the sound of the water is louder.
The creek runs about 15 feet from where the cedar hot tub and deck will be. We dream of nights sitting in the hot tub listening to the stream. There is something so calming about it.
I will be filling the creek with rocks I pick around the yard. It will take a while, but I know it will look great my fall. Also, having a place to throw the rocks is a bonus as there is no shortage of stones around here, haha.
Building is EXPENSIVE
Want to see what $20,000 looks like. This bit of plastic is our septic system. This is the cheapest, simplest system we could install here, and it still costs $20,000. This system was installed last November, but the tank lifted and began floating. We decided to dig up the Septic System, and it will be installed again when the A-frame is almost complete.
The other big task we completed was regrading the ground in front of our shop. We dug up soooo much dirt. I spent hours hauling the dirt from the front of the shop to the back of the shop. It felt so good to know that all of the water will now drain away from our shop and our A-frame!
While things may not look beautiful yet, we are feeling very grateful for the things we were able to accomplish in the last few weeks!
I hope you enjoyed the update, and I’m hoping there are some actual framing updates coming very soon.
Want to read more about our A-frame cabin plans? Here are some things we have planned for the exterior design of the cabin.
Totally excited for you and proud of all you’ve accomplished. It’s not easy. I know first hand how difficult dealing with contractors can be.
You get em girl…..
Thanks for the updates.
And everything is so expensive now it’s ridiculous.
Thanks for the encouragement, Mary! Isn’t it crazy how expensive things have gotten!
Looks great! Lots of physical labor but will be soo worth it!
Yes, we love putting sweat equity into our home! It feels good to do it ourselves as well!
Thank you for the update. It is looking awesome. I know it can be discouraging waiting to feel like you are SEEING things happen but I can see all the hard work you’ve done.
Thanks, Kristin!
Sometimes it doesn’t look like much but it’s nice to even look at pictures from a few weeks ago and see how far we have actually come!
Hi Brittany, You are like the Phoenix… rising from the ashes….I admire your tenacity and resilience….life is not always easy…the ability to adapt is truly a gift….thank you for sharing your story and your strength…
Hey Lise
That is such a kind compliment! We are persevering and pushing toward our dream!
Thanks for being here!
Britt
I can almost hear that creek water in Toronto… I would kill for that!
Great update! You did a lot!!!! Celebrate every milestone!
K
I am so excited for you and glad you are feeling the spiritual side of your land and our earth. It is important!
Every day matters and I pray you are filled with energy and perseverance!
Looking forward to seeing your beautiful home!
This piece of land is amazing and very powerful! Thanks for being here and excited to see our A-frame start to take form soon.
Looking good! All your hard work is showing. Excited for you all.
Thank you! Sometimes its hard to see how much you have accomplished.
This is a dream. I love doing the work myself (my husband, not so much! Hahh). My father worked construction his whole life so I know a thing or two 😉 and it is going to be SO satisfying to say you and your family did this! Your project is a motivator for myself. I look forward to the updates. You guys are really moving along. So awesome!
My husband doesn’t love the idea of starting projects, but once we get going then he is awesome! But I doubt he will help with the painting haha
It looks amazing. My husband and I have always been a team for any renovations we’ve done to our home. Ten years ago we added a major addition and it was him and I. I remember how long it took to get the first boards laid on top of the foundation but he said if the base isn’t right then it will affect the whole thing. My two boys are also so proud to be able to say they helped build our house! I can’t wait to see the journey of your house coming to life!
Thanks for sharing that with me! It feels so good to know you have worked hard to create a home! Good foundations make great homes!
YOU, are amazing! So proud of you taking the reins and making all the decisions yourself. As difficult as the process was in the past with the other crew, I think this is the smartest thing you could have done. You will get EXACTLY what you want in your own time frame. I am so excited to see the progression. Thank you so much for sharing ❤️
Yes, it feels good to be part of building our dream! Thanks for being here!
Thank you, Britt, for sharing this journey with us. I love that you have been connecting with the earth and her energy. Clearing the energy for your family is so important. We’ve really only begun our journey with energy, and it is exciting! Clearing our home, and welcoming positive energy into our lives is so very important. Everything you do now, physically and spiritually, will benefit you for many, many years to come! I’ve wondered how your boys are doing? These are big changes and quite an adventure!!
Wow! You two are talented. So much work completed in just a few weeks. If you said and I missed this sorry…where are you sleeping? How is your son healing?
Hey Lisa! Thanks so much… love working on this land so much!
Britt
Congrats! This is not the work that gives instant gratification, its a hard slog but its is the work that makes living in your home functional and Is often forgotton! (Until the house is inplace and the piles and dirt below don’t match the final aesthetic)
Go team, its going to be great
THANKS!!! Yes we will be so glad we took time to do all of this. It will all pay off in the end!
You and your husband are truly amazing I am so impressive what you have done. I also build a house with my husband a long time ago 30 years ago it was a nightmare but somehow you learned to survive and it makes you stronger and it makes you better good luck as you move forward
I love working on our home with my hubby! It may be our favourite thing to do! And always nice to hear couples still married after so many years after building a house!
So excited to see all you have done in preparation for the pretty stuff. A home is only as strong as it’s foundation and you are doing a great job with all that prep. (My father was a contractor back in the day when contractors did the carpentry work. He always made sure the foundation and bones that don’t show were strong.) Thank you for taking us along on this journey. So happy for you!
Hey! Your father sounds amazing! Does he want to come help??? Yes, we will be glad we did all of this when the house is done!
So happy to follow along with your progress! I am so thankful you are still willing to share the journey with us. I wish you all the best and pray that framing begins very soon and things go better than before! You got this!!!
Hi Chasity! Thanks for joining me on this journey! And yes hopeful framing starts soon!
It’s so beautiful! I can’t wait to follow along on this journey. I love the creek I can totally hear the sound of it when you write about it. You guys are all so amazing. Looking forward to all you do
Sabrina the creek is so awesome! I just planted a garden right beside it … lets hope something grows haha