My husband and I are now years into our home-building project, and for the first time, we’re finally starting to see real progress every day. The last few months brought more than a few challenges – permits, clearing, digging but I truly believe we are now on the upswing.
Once excavation and leveling were complete, we ordered our basement walls from a company called Advanced Concrete.
Superior Walls
There are two main ways to build a basement:
- Traditional concrete block walls built on site
- Precast concrete slabs that are insulated and prepared off site
We chose the precast slabs. While they cost more upfront, they should save us money in the long run. The walls are thicker, better insulated, and less likely to crack over time—peace of mind that felt worth the investment.
Before delivery, we prepared the site by laying gravel to ensure everything was level and ready. The walls were manufactured off site and then delivered and set into place using a crane, which was honestly one of the coolest parts of the process to watch.
Seeing those walls go in made everything feel real.
Concrete Pour
After the sun came up, our friends arrived to help with the back-breaking work that followed. We filled the basement with gravel, raked everything flat, laid down plastic, and placed rebar on top.
I have never tied so many metal ties in my life—and I hope I never have to again. My hands were black, my arms were sore, and by the end of the day I needed a drink, a nap, and possibly both at the same time.
Once everything was ready, the concrete company arrived to pour the basement floor. They did an incredible job and completed the entire pour in just one day, which felt like a huge win after so many delays.
Designing the Basement
When designing the basement, natural light was a must for me. I also wanted a walk-out patio so friends could enter without going through the main level of the house.
The original blueprint included small windows near the top of the walls, but I never loved the look. Instead, I redesigned one wall to include large windows and French doors. I couldn’t be happier with the result—the amount of daylight that fills the space during the day makes the basement feel open, welcoming, and nothing like a typical lower level.
Follow along as I share the next phase of our home-building journey.
- Finding Our View & Prepare Construction Site
- Foundation Delivery & Basement Concrete Pour
- Complete Rough Framing
- Rough Plumbing, Electrical and HVAC
- Installing Insulation, Drywall, and Our Fire Sprinkler System
- Interior Fixtures & Start Exterior Finishes
- Finish Interior Trim; Install Exterior Walkways and Driveway
- Install Hard Surface Flooring and Countertops; Complete Exterior Grading
- Finish Mechanical Trims; Install Bathroom Fixtures
- Install Mirrors and Shower Doors; Finish Flooring and Exterior Landscaping
- Conduct Final Walk-Through
