Building Timeline: Delays and Unexpected Wins
About two weeks ago, we learned that the company responsible for the house module drawings wouldn’t finish them before midsummer! That would have meant that, under the most optimistic scenario, the house frame could only go up in July. Our spirits sank a little—but just a week later, we got amazing news. Another person was willing to complete the drawings themselves—much faster and cheaper! By now, most of the drawings are ready, including the foundation plans.
Right now, we’ve scheduled foundation work between May 16–26 2017, during Mr. Right’s vacation. Preparations will begin slightly earlier, with the gravel and sand base for the foundation. Once the foundation is poured, we’ll wait for funds from the apartment sale. Ideally, the foundation should cure for 28 days before the house is built, so we wouldn’t be able to start construction until at least the end of June.
If the apartment sale takes longer, it’s not a problem—the foundation and drawings will still be fine. But if the sale goes through in the summer, about a month later we can start interior work. At this point, the timeline for completing the house (move-in ready) is flexible. In the best-case scenario—if everything is perfectly planned and several workers handle tasks simultaneously—it could take four months. Realistically, it’s more like 6–8 months. One thing is certain: depending on the bank, the house must be completed within 1.5–2 years.
Building a house involves so many variables that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Will we sell the apartment before the house is ready to assemble? Will we secure the loan? How will the house frame be valued? When can we move in? These are questions that kept us on edge until foundation day finally arrived.
Preparing for Foundation Work: Planning and Goals
The first day of foundation work is unbelievable—we’ve been waiting for this moment for so long that it almost feels unreal! The plan was clear: start digging trenches for sewage, water, and electricity, and begin preparing the base for the concrete foundation.
Material Delivery and Site Preparation
Today was mostly about bringing materials to the site. We received:
- Two truckloads of gravel of different sizes
- L-shaped foundation blocks
- Mini excavator
- Front loader
- Large storage bus
- Pipes, rebar, and large stacks of polystyrene
Although many materials are still missing, having the essential ones on-site already speeds up foundation progress significantly.
Trench Work: Sewage, Water, and Electrical Setup
Mr. Right started at 8:00 a.m., not with construction work itself, but by mounting a timelapse camera on a utility pole to capture the entire process.
Next, he dug trenches for sewage and water pipes, with the correct slope away from the house and for incoming electrical cables.
The trench bottoms were compacted with fine gravel and sand. Sewage pipes were set at the proper gradient, followed by layers of sand, polystyrene, and tamped earth. Finally, the trenches were filled with soil and compacted.
Clearing the Yard and Landscaping Preparations
Mr. Right also removed the last remaining shrubs that would have been partially buried by soil leveling. We decided that the garden for our children should have no toxic plants, and these shrubs were on the list.
After the foundation is complete, we plan to spread the large soil pile evenly and level the yard. Then we can plant hedges or bushes, particularly in the backyard.
The Team and Concrete Timeline
Tomorrow, a 4–5 person team will start work early in the morning. The goal is to pour the concrete within the next two days—though realistically, it may take three days. Timing and coordination will determine exactly when the foundation is complete.
Ending the Day
After a long, exhausting day, it’s finally time to rest. We’ll be back on-site at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow. Physically drained but full of excitement, it finally feels like the house is really starting to happen.
Here is post how we prepared the lot for building. Read here about Day 2.
