Once the foundation was complete and the basement floor was poured, it finally felt like we were ready for the “exciting” part of building a home—watching it go up. This is the stage where your house starts to look like an actual house instead of a very expensive hole in the ground.
Unfortunately, as we’ve learned time and time again with this build, nothing ever goes exactly as planned.
A Change in Plans
We originally had a contractor lined up to start the framing process, but shortly after beginning, he had to step away from the project due to ongoing issues with his employees. While I completely understand that things happen, it put us in a tough position.
Framing is not something you can just pause and forget about—once you start, you need to keep moving. So suddenly, we found ourselves scrambling to find a new contractor on the fly.
I won’t sugarcoat it: this was stressful. Between timelines, budgets, and trying to keep momentum going, it felt like yet another curveball in a project that already had plenty.
Starting Over (Again)
After a lot of phone calls, meetings, and crossed fingers, we were able to bring on a new contractor to take over the framing. While we were grateful to have someone step in, the transition caused delays—and those delays added time to the framing process overall.
The crew had to familiarize themselves with our plans, the layout, and what had already been done. Understandably, things moved slower than we originally expected, but at this point, we were just thankful to see progress happening again.
Even with the delay, there was something incredibly exciting about watching the frame take shape. Walls went up, rooms started to make sense, and for the first time, I could walk through the house and say, “This is the kitchen,” or “This will be our bedroom.”
That feeling made the stress worth it.
Why Framing Took Longer Than Expected
Because of the contractor change and the downtime in between, rough framing took longer than originally scheduled. While frustrating, it was one of those moments where we had to remind ourselves that doing things the right way mattered more than doing them quickly.
This stage of the build sets the foundation for everything else—plumbing, electrical, drywall, and beyond—so rushing it was never really an option.
Looking Ahead
Despite the setbacks, seeing the bones of our home standing there was a huge emotional win. After years of planning, waiting, and problem-solving, our forever home was finally starting to rise from the ground.
Next up: rough plumbing, electrical, and HVAC—and learning just how many decisions you don’t realize you’ll have to make until you’re standing in the middle of framed walls.
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
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