It’s easy to get discouraged during these early phases when my brother and I are literally moving earth with nothing but shovels, a wheelbarrow, and our bare hands. We move forward inch by inch.

On some days, it does not feel as though we complete much. But when I look back at the photos from one month ago, our progress becomes clear. I feel gratified with the hard work.

This project has humbled me to the raw power of nature. We’ve exerted great energy in forcing the sprawling bamboo roots to unclinch their grip on the earth. We’ve hauled away buckets and buckets of soil that flooded the house over the decades. Most of all, we’ve witnessed the power of water.

Wherever we’ve seen a crack in the roof, we’ve found rotting wood below. Water has also seeped up from the ground and into the crawlspace air, destroying the underside of the floorboards. Water has even softened the soil near the foundation, making the stones start to slip downward.

Our most successful task this month has been the digging of over 300 feet of trenches, to be used as a French drain. This is all in the name of getting the water out. In addition to channeling rain and groundwater into the nearby river, the drain system will also lower the land’s water table. This will keep our future footings dry and will reduce the amount of moisture that enters the crawlspaces.

Once this is done, foundation work will begin. My architect has just begun to draw plans and details for the footings. This will no doubt occupy our July and August. This is the most important part of the structure, so the investment of sweat and persistence will surely pay dividends. Wish us luck.

Today’s book, Be Your Own House Contractor: Save 25% Without Lifting a Hammer, has been a great resource for me to ease my anxiety about the intensity of the work. The author Carl Heldmann provides well-organized lists of every home-building step you need to consider, a breakdown of costs, and the proper sequence of steps. This orderly information has helped me put into perspective where I am now and how far I need to keep going.

My architect has told me, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” This book has helped me understand my place in that marathon and manage my energy for the upcoming year. I hope you find it just as useful.

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Books Mentioned In This Episode:

When you purchase a book (or anything on Amazon) with the links below, you support me and the podcast at no extra cost to you:

* Be Your Own House Contractor: Save 25% Without Lifting a Hammer by Carl Heldmann

* Passive House Details: Solutions for High-Performance Design

Links to More Resources:

* The Akiya Project on YouTube

* Build Your Own House website (www.byoh.com)

* Learn Ikebana in Kobe (with me and a local expert!) on TripAdvisor

Cost Breakdowns Provided in the Book

* Permits, fees, surveys

* Installing Utilities (electric, gas, phone)

* Excavation

* Foundation

* Rough Lumber

* Rought Labor

* Windows and Exterior Doors

* Roofing

* Concrete flatwork (slabs) garage floors, basement floors

* Siding

* Plumbing

* Heating

* Electrical

* Insulation

* Water (Well)

* Sewer (Septic)

* Fireplaces

* Drywall

* Cabinets

* Interior Trim

* Interior Trim Labor

* Painting

* Applications

* Light Fixtures

* Floor Coverings

* Driveway

* Garage Door

* Other

Proper Sequence of Steps in Building the House, according to Carl Heldmann:

* Staking the lot and house: 1–3 hours

* Clearing and excavation: 1–3 days

* Ordering utilities, temporary electric service, and a portable toilet: 1 hour

* Footings (first inspection must be made before pouring): 1 day

* Foundation and soil treatment, then foundation survey: 1 week

* Rough-ins for plumbing, if on a slab, and inspection: 2–4 days

* Slabs, basement, and garage: 1–2 days

* Framing and drying-in: 1–3 weeks

* Exterior siding, trim, veneers: 1–3 weeks

* Chimneys and roofing: 2 days–1 week

* Rough-ins (can be done during steps 9 and 10): 1–2 weeks

* Insulation: 3 days

* Hardwood flooring and underlayment: 3 days–1 week

* Drywall: 2 weeks

* Priming walls and pointing up: 2 days

* Interior trim and cabinets: 1–2 weeks

* Painting: 2–3 weeks

* Other trims, such as Formica, ceramic tile, vinyl floors: 1 day-1week

* Trimming out and finishing plumbing, mechanical, and electrical and hooking up utilities: 1–2 weeks

* Cleanup: 2–3 days

* Carpet and/or hardwood floor finish: 3 days–1 week

* Driveway (if concrete, can be poured anytime after step 14): 1–3 days

* Landscaping: 1–3 days

* Final inspections, surveys, and closing of construction loan and interim loan: 1–3 days

* Enjoying your home: a lifetime

Note: Steps 2 and 4 can be done by one sub. Steps 3 and 4 can be reversed.

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