By this stage of the build, things shifted in a big way—both for the house and for me. I had officially left my bank job and was now working on our home full time. What started as nights, weekends, and “when we can” quickly turned into an all-in, every-day commitment.
And honestly? It was exactly where I needed to be.
Making the Floor Plan Work for Us
As the house continued to take shape, I realized that while the original blueprints were a great starting point, they didn’t fully fit how we live. Function mattered more than sticking strictly to the plans.
With help from my dad, we made adjustments to the interior layout to improve flow and usability. We also added bracing inside the walls for cabinets—one of those behind-the-scenes details that you’re incredibly thankful for later but rarely think about in the moment.
This phase really reinforced how valuable it is to think ahead and make changes before everything is sealed up.
When Trusses Surprise You
When the trusses were delivered and installed, we had a moment of realization we weren’t exactly prepared for. We knew our bedroom would have a vaulted ceiling—but we didn’t realize the master bathroom was vaulted as well.
That meant extra framing work we hadn’t planned on. We were given the option to pay more to have it done, but instead, we decided to frame the ceilings ourselves. It wasn’t easy, but it was one more way we kept costs down and stayed hands-on in the build.
At this point, we had learned that flexibility and problem-solving were just part of the process.
Exterior Finishes: A True Team Effort
While interior work continued, the exterior of the house started to come together in a big way. My husband, my father, and two of his friends took on the siding themselves.
Watching them work—often high up in a skylift—was both impressive and a little nerve-wracking. But seeing the siding go up completely transformed the house. It finally had character, not just structure.
They also built the deck, another huge project that added both function and personality to the home. These were long days filled with teamwork, problem-solving, and a lot of trust.
Adding My Own Touches
One of my favorite hands-on projects during this phase was sanding and staining two large beams for our front porch. It was messy, time-consuming work, but incredibly satisfying.
Those beams are one of the first things you notice when approaching the house, and knowing I had a direct hand in finishing them makes them even more special to me.
Seeing It All Come Together
This phase of the build felt like a turning point. The exterior was taking shape, the interior was becoming more functional, and the house finally started to reflect us.
It wasn’t just about construction anymore—it was about intention, effort, and building something with our own hands and with the people we love.
Next up: interior trim, flooring, and even more details that bring everything to life.
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
