This is a continuation of this thread: https://acurazine.com/forums/home-garden-37/those-you-who-have-built-your-own-land-837269/ about building on raw land.

You can see some pics of the land and descriptions + rear elevation of the house there if curious.

We broke ground a couple of weeks ago, but I've been traveling a lot and haven't had time to post yet.


So, let's see....


We popped over by the land on our way out of town to the OBX 3 weeks ago just to see if they'd started knocking any trees over yet.

We had a cleared driveway and homesite! That was very exciting to finally be able to drive onto the property.

The driveway has to wind a bit to accomodate a fairly steep little ravine off to the left, thus the curve..


(Pardon the crappy cell phone pics...)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7145192231/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7145192231/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr



http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7145192489/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7145192489/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr

Progress was minimal while we were gone due to weather and the builder having to travel, but we still came home to silt fence and some basement digging..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7145193011/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7145193011/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr

We're having one of those big oak logs milled to provide the fireplace mantles.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7145192801/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7145192801/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr

 

Imagine my surprise when I stopped by last week to find the entire basement (and footers) poured! They've since removed the supports, but I haven't been out to see that yet, and won't be back in town until next week.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/6999107318/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/6999107318/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr


Walk-out basement with French doors. He originally thought we'd have steps down into the basement, but they didn't find as much solid bedrock as they worried they would, so were able to grade a full walk-out.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/6999107930/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/6999107930/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr


http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7145194455/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7145194455/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr


It's been awesome to watch the land change as spring hits full stride. The trees are gorgeous. I feel like I'm in a jungle out there with all the variety of bird calls. It's paradise!

I was also delighted to find we have a lot of dogwoods and redbuds in the understory (though, they've gone to leaf now).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7145192009/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7145192009/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr

 

That's got to be the first commune built in almost 40 years.

 

I'll reserve a yurt for you, Mikey.

 

Looking good! Very nice that you were able to grade the walk-out, although it's more like a first floor now than a basement. I'm guessing you'll have quite a few steps to the front door now, too. I love what appears to be minimal clearing of the lot around the house.

 

Thanks chill_dog! We only cleared a 30 ft perimeter, which freaks out my mother, but I love the trees. If one falls on the house out falls.

They'll be bringing in a lot of fill dirt so we should only have a couple of stairs in the front. I'm glad the deck will be so elevated in the back to take advantage of the view.

 

And a hippie hooker that looks like Walshie?

 

Wow progress ftw! Can't wait for more updated pics, wndr.

 

Bet I can do you one better, and get Walshie herself.

Thanks, me, either!

 

You sure that house will be big enough to surround you, D...? I mean, you're the size of a Sperm Whale.

















Keep us posted!

 

Subscribed! Thanks for sharing your house build with us.

Genuinely excited! This is going to be an amazing place to live.

 

 

I would have guessed something beach front would be better, so they would be able to bring buckets of water up and pour them on her

 

 

<3 you fuckers...


( Why else do you think there are double doors into the basement??)

 

Thanks, Aman! It truly is..I can't wait.

 

braggart

 

 

In for progress.

 

 

Awesome! So jealous! Can't wait to see the end results! When is the general expected date of completion on the house?
How close are you to a main city/town from your new property? Still able to sustain yourself without having a 3 hour drive for groceries?
I'd love to have a big piece of land to provide some peace, quiet, and tranquility, but still be close enough to the rest of civilization to live the usual life.

 

For the horses, of course.


Those of us from California think your "basement" looks more like a garage on the ground floor, BTW.

 

What a great site. G/L with the construction.

 

Looking awesome!

We live in the woods and get all kinds of wildlife. Be sure to put up a bird feeder. You'll be recognizing their look and calls in no time!!

Be sure to keep the pics coming. Love to watch the progress of this!!

 

Thanks! They're anticipating October-ish. It's not a particularly large or ornate home, so should go quickly. Just in time to enjoy the fall color, I hope!

We're only 3 miles outside of town limits, so very accessible. Less than 4 miles from where we live now and still ~45 miles from Washington, DC. We marvel at how remote it feels, given how close it is to everything. We're surrounded by similarly sized lots mixed in with larger horse farms and hayfields. We live off a gravel road, but it's only ~200 yards to pavement. Well, after we get off our own driveway, that is...still trying to figure out whether I'll walk my bike up to pavement or drive somewhere else altogether to ride.

Thanks! I will definitely keep the pics coming. Can't wait to go by to see what's been done while I've been out of town.

We've seen quite a lot of wildlife already..wild turkeys, owls, deer, a box turtle, woodpeckers, hawks, chipmunks...absolutely a large part of the appeal.

 

So realistically, next March?

 

Dude. Seriously hope not!!

 

Went by on the way home from work today. Not too much progress over the past week. We've had lots of rain, and they were held up while we arranged a wall check and the termite treatment prior to pouring floors.

They did add a waterproofing barrier, and start plumbing. Also, they removed the framework around the concrete, so the basement door and windows are fully exposed.

The waterproofing gives a good indication of what the final grading will look like...they've got lots of fill to bring in!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7173817284/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7173817284/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr


http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7173817806/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7173817806/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr



Here you can see plumbing in the ground, and also the concrete footers that will support the deck and screened porch.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7173818094/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7173818094/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr

 

Nice, D!

Also.... I SEE YOU JEFFORD

 

 

So cool.

 

 

Thanks, gents. I am stoked.

 

that looks great!!! congrats... can't wait to see more updates...

 

Nice. Looks like it will be a nice place.



I'm in for updates.

 

Thanks!


I went out there with my mom yesterday - really wasn't expecting much change, given they only had Friday to work since I last visited. But...


We have fill dirt!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7185418728/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7185418728/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr


http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7185416650/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7185416650/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr





And a random pic to give a sense of the setting...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7185418280/http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/7185418280/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/moxiephotos/, on Flickr

 

Holy hell you really are in the woods! It's coming along nicely. Quick question: how many levels including the basement?

 

That's a lot of dirt!

 

 

Yup...Very much so. The foliage is so thick, you can't see the house until you're half-way down our driveway this time of year.

It will be 3 levels, including the basement.

Right?

Hey, Scotty! We're finally rollin'!




Sadly, it's raining, and isn't due to let up for a couple of days. Ah well, we need it...