1 YEAR TIMELAPSE Building Our Own Home
We are a couple building a debt-free, high-performance home. This video is 365 days of work in 20 minutes, all while holding 9-5 engineering jobs.
To keep it debt-free, we have to do it in two stages: a garage apartment, then a main house addition. We have designed everything ourselves with building science in mind, focusing on water management, airtightness, insulation, and indoor air quality. We are doing the majority of work on this project ourselves to save money that goes towards high quality materials.
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🔨 Alex's Tools: urlgeni.us/amazon/AlexsTopTools
🧰 Alex's Toolbelt (Stile): toolbelts.com/?rfsn=7781903.8...
(get 10% off with code MasonDixon10)
🌱 Elaina's Garden Gear: urlgeni.us/amazon/ElainasGard...
🌻 Favorite Seed Starting Trays: collabs.shop/pla2vz
🐥 Organic, Non-GMO Chicken Feed: bit.ly/layermash
(get 15% off with code masondixon15)
Our Camera Gear ⬇️
-Main Camera 1: amzn.to/4aKsars
-Main Camera 2: amzn.to/3Hbf4pB
-Drone: amzn.to/3TKkMGu
-Wireless Mic: amzn.to/3wDwYvL
-Voiceover Mic: amzn.to/3kVu0A4
-Main gimbal: amzn.to/3HhH8Hj
-iPhone gimbal: amzn.to/3HfX1ya
-Camera backpack: amzn.to/3wB6DOS
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Here's a link to the build playlist! This documents our journey from the very beginning. kzhead.info/channel/PLni94M13ZdKavtkntD4KbWkxPg4V6-P5m.html
Hmm k
terrible technology
Керемет 👍🇰🇿
Amigo, quanto custou toda esta obra de engenharia!
I'm a civil engineer and from the point you were preparing the foundation and had very neat rebar spacer cages i was impressed. Very few people go to the bother of really perfecting those details such as rebar spacing in foundations. Then i saw that every single detail of this house build had the same attention to detail with no corners cut or botch jobs. Everything looked absolutely perfect. Unbelievable self build.
Do you mind me asking what you do for a living? You folks are animals. Never seen people work so hard after working a day job and to be so disciplined to do every detail correctly. I admit i could not do it.
Thanks so much!! We are both mechanical engineers. More details in the ‘We quit our jobs video’
@@MasonDixonAcres - Thanks! I knew you folks had to be engineers!
Its code for the rebar cages to be even. Its standard practice.
what kind of country do you live? i never see no rebar spacing in the 45 years i work in the sector. 1979 i started
Nothing on earth is more wonderful than having a wife that pulls together with YOU. AWESOME!
True that! Thanks for watching 🙂
Being an engineer is one of the best professions in the world. This was inspirational.
We civil engineers are the spearhead of human civilisation. 😊
I bought my 20 acres. The banks required me to hire a contractor. I refused and spent a year putting in a 600 ft driveway, put in electic, telephone, and natural gas to an existing barn. Regraded, drainage, installed the septic system and dug the pond. Year two I dug and poured a 2000 square ft walk out basement, roughed in my 2000sq,ft ranch house and tied in the utilities. Year 3 I insulated, wired, plumbed, drywalled and finished most of the inside. The first half of year four I did all tile floors, entry ways, bathrooms, wash room and closets. At the end I contracted out the rest of the fooring and drilling the well. After three and a half years I finished building my house - debt free.
Life isn't about its duration but about its donation. This beautiful home will last for generations. And a wedding proposal as an added touch. Congratulations to you both. This is truly amazing.
Great quote! Thanks so much ☺️
until a hurricane or smth like that comes. its only made out of wood..
@@user-ne4sx8vr6g Noah's Ark was made of wood as well.
😂😂😂😂@@user-ne4sx8vr6g
the knowledge you two have to do all of this is really impressive, youre a great team and congrats on the engagement!
Thank you so much! It definitely takes teamwork to make it happen
wow that was amazing wasnt it
They had different contractors out there for every step of the way lol.. well, besides some plumbing and wiring.
@@sonderevokingbuns reality is you need to know your shit if you hire contractors, it's a huge learning process just to know what to do when. Unless they're paying a general contractor that we don't see they deserve major cred for pulling this off
Each day, each minor accomplishment, each milestone reached, it must be so satisfying. You two are doing it! Living the life.
Slow and steady wins the race as they say 😁 thanks so much!
I stumbled on your channel this morning. My wife and I did a similar construction project in our early years as well. … brought back many memories. It’s hard to remember the endless energy we had in our youth! I eventually learned that you also are engineers … and also from PA. (We’re Penn Staters too … originally from Somerset county). … moved south to Virginia in the late 70’s and been here ever since. We started and ran an engineering company for 30-some years and recently sold it and retired. I’m impressed that you were obviously coached well in the power of positive thought and action. Well done! Keep up the good work !!
Thank you for this thoughtful comment! The hardest part of a project like this is all the mental work - positive thoughts are a necessity to make it happen 😁We are 😉
great job!!! I built my 60x70 garage with 2 friends and my wife and kids few years back. We had about 13 zones for the heat in the floor. Radiant was the best choice. I spend about 150 a month keeping it 65deg in the winter. You did an awesome job.
I’m looking to buy 10+ acres and would love to build a home without going into massive debt. This video is inspiring me to build a garage with an apartment and then build a house when I can afford it.
Good luck and have a plan and deep pockets b4 you begin
This is what we wanted to do, but in our area you can’t build a garage before your primary dwelling 😢
Yup, typical government cock-block tactics
I'd do it anyway
@@daniellelemay2696 why can't your primary dwelling be above your garage? because, in your case, it will be. temporarily
Highly impressed as a carpenter since 91. Congratulations to both of you. May you have long and happy lives together !
I worked for home builders in the 1980s… I could not take my wyes off this video. You Two are amazing people. What an amazing home!! Thank you for sharing!!!
Oh to be young again! Enjoy every minute together!
Cheers to you both. My wife and I finished our self-build 15 years ago. Was the hardest thing we had ever done and it was a test in a lot of ways, but you will be extremely grateful to yourselves for the rest of your lives that you undertook this.
This video is such a wonderful lesson about how little video makers need to actually talk while showing how to do something as elegant as building a house! Great job!
You are an experienced builder. I think that sometimes viewers can do what you do with any or much experience. This is professional quality work..and great to watch.
So much respect and admiration when folks wake up in the morning to then think "ya know what?, I'm gonna build my own home". To many hours of time, blood sweat, tears, dedication, and commitment to see the project through, coming together to fruition. I wish you all the best that life presents to you in your forever home. Thanks to KZhead recommendation, subbed and hope to enjoy your life journey. Also, best wishes together, lovely proposal.:)
Haha yep that's pretty much the thought process! Thanks so much ☺️
Thanks for making this time lapsed of your build. I’ve been with you from the beginning and along the way if either missed or due to my MCI I’ve forgotten some so thank you for sharing!😊
Thanks for sticking with us Billy, we appreciate the support!
You two cannot be stopped! Can't wait to see the new place
You guys did the electrical work tooo man. Blown away.
It's very extraordinary, the way you build the floor foundation and wooden wall trusses until they stand is very extraordinary, my brother, I will always stay to see the continuation of the video, my brother. ❤
I know a lot about what I do but seeing you building this I can't help but be jealous of your talent and knowledge, amazing build so far.
Thanks so much!! Lots of learning in the process
U two must have an amazing connection and love for each other. Hope u guys have decades together in the house. Such a beautiful couple!!
Well done you two! Enjoy your many years in that lovely home.
I have no idea how many years I have been watching KZhead videos, but THIS video is far and away one of the BEST I have ever had the pleasure of watching!!! Y'all made me laugh AND cry! The proposal was absolutely brilliant! I am so looking forward to watching the rest of your journey, especially as we are planning on building our own house one day soon (hopefully)!
Wow, thank you so much for that! Probably the most positive comment we've ever gotten! Still lots more to come, we appreciate you following along 🙂 hopefully the videos help for your future build!
@@MasonDixonAcres ❤
Nice :D. We in Austria build our houses extremely differently :) - more robust (we have cold winters). But it's very impressive you did it all by yourself.
Man you are extremely talented. Understanding concrete, framing, electrical, plumbing, etc. Most engineers are unable to combine both field and schooling experience, but its very clear to see you have both! Congrats
Must admit surprised the house is a timber build with the weather the us faces , but must admit the house looks quality and the workmanship looks very good on the project .
it must have been not as easy as it might seem to be. make a video on challenges you had to face and what you did you overcome those, i'd love to watch it. good work
Yeah, admittedly, those sweater puppies in the thumbnail brought me here. But I stayed because of the cool project. Great job you two. And congrats to you as well young man!
Marketing worked
Sweater puppies.
Stop demonizing women.
I believe you are confused about the meaning of the word "demonizing." @@youngjdet
@@vike50brian stop sexualizing women. Better? Either way stop looking at women like they're sexual objects.
How nice it is to live in a warm climate! In the the video the water supply is 3 feet deep. In Russia we need to go 7-8 feet deep. And the walls of the house should be thicker. However, in the summer the temperature can be 90-100 Fahrenheit
So glad I found your channel! I am building a garage apartment next spring on 4 acres in northwest WI and while I am not doing it myself your videos are so informative on how things work and how you arrived at your selections. I wish I had your skills!
Thank you so much! We are glad to have you here. It's great to be informed even if you're not doing the work. There's so much to learn with building and being able to ask the right questions to contractors is key! We are excited for you and your project. Sounds like a similar project!
Congratulations 👏🎉 Never ceases to amaze me the amount of stuff that goes into building a house ...... I'm a retired Architect more on the commercial side of things.....and there's most definitely a lot of stuff that goes into building commercially too.... enjoy the process for sure.... don't miss dealing with contractors at all ....
Thanks so much! Lots of details and time, but worth it in our view!
So inspiring guys! The proposal brought a tear to this old mans eye too :) Youve got yourself another subscriber!
Thank you!!
My husband and I built our home 7 years ago. (And yes by “built” we did it ourselves!) It was an amazing experience and one our biggest undertakings while working full time jobs and having kiddos. It paid off though! Our market value is crazy. We are getting ready to list and we plan on doing it again (much smaller/modern home this time!)
Amazing just to see you all building it up
Man, what an awesome journey. I am so happy for you guys. So much blood, sweat, and (plenty of) tears went into this. What an awesome accomplishment. Congratulations!
Thank you for the kind words, you’re right 😁 it’s quite the journey but wouldn’t trade it!
This is the first of your videos I have watched, I don't know your background but If I had to guess you must have done some plumbing and HVAC work before, the planning and workmanship was at a very high level, I am impressed with the work and attention to detail. I've built a few houses and garages over my lifetime and the amount of work that goes into even a small reno is way more than you always imagine, working full time and doing the build in the evenings and weekends is hard core. Congratulations on the engagement as well.
Alex here - really appreciate that, and yes even the small tasks require a lot of thought and planning. Tools, materials, order of assembly, etc. I've done a little bit of plumbing on a small bathroom renovation (older video recap is on the channel) but nothing near what I've had to learn for this project. What's not pictured in the timelapse is how long I sit and think through the plan & layout before touching anything, and how much slower I probably am than a real plumber 😂
Great to see all the accomplishments for past year!
We are a structural and geo-technical engineering firm. Great work here. My only note would be if you are using CMU's, by using all 12" bond beam blocks, you are able to tie in horizontal rebar on 8" centers for the entire wall height (which significantly strengthens the wall against lateral forces, although not needed on very short walls).
Congratulations on building a beautiful garage.
Передаю большой привет с другого уголка нашей планеты) Прекрасное, замечательное видео, показывающее, что нет ничего невозможного. Очень завораживает наблюдать как на пустом месте строится прекрасный дом для прекрасной семьи! Будьте здоровы и счастливы, друзья, вы большие молодцы!
Нету ничего не возможного, да. С такими финансовыми возможностями.
@@user-jt9uc4jp1o наверное, накопили на жильё и посчитали, зачем переплачивать за готовый если можно самим построить. Хотя вы, конечно, правы, - все эти 12 месяцев где-то надо жить, что-то кушать и по счетам платить. Инструменты тоже денег стоят. Ну и не стоит забывать, что это Штаты, где заработок семей на порядок выше нашего. В той же Пенсильвании средняя зп 55000 долларов в год.
@@user-jt9uc4jp1o Любой в состоянии поправить свои финансовые возможности.... нет ничего невозможного. Мешает людям в этом только лень
I am a construction manager and this build is excellent. Great attention to detail from the ground to the top. Well done to you.
Thank you very much!
That was a satisfying video to watch! Plan on watching the whole build playlist. Thanks for sharing
Very happy for you two! So smart, good thing you are engineers.
The creative problem solving skills have definitely been strengthened by this project 😂
I don't know you guys but this looks like a huge dream come true that you both worked super hard on. Congratulations on everything! We have a similar dream with my fiance (buying a large plot of land with forest and build a house from scratch) and we believe we'll get there someday too.
Much appreciated, anything is within reach if you have the goal and work a little towards it every day 🙂
Literally the same issues that I’m running into now trying to build. Thanks for videoing the process!
Great job. I'm happy for the two of you. Pride of ownership is much bigger when you have built it yourself. Keep up the good work and keep us posted.
Much appreciated!! Agree 100%, lots more to come!
Awesome video guys! It's a true test of a marriage to do what we've both done. Best of luck with the rest of your project!
Much appreciated! Checked out your channel, you're doing an awesome job. Keep it up
@@MasonDixonAcres Thank you!
Oh my goodness! I laughed, cried, and smiled the entire time! I'm so proud of you both! This was amazing to watch. The video was so well done, too. I can't wait to see what you do next!
Thank you so much!! Lots more to finish!
Incredible to see how a house is built, and congrats! This is very cool
My grandfather built his own home. So much logistics involved. It didn't help he lived two states away from the house he was building. I remember as a boy running around the site non-stop to get everyone something, either tools, nails, or whatever was needed. We slept in campers or trucks for a few weeks. He had help with the trusses (crane) and pouring the footings. After they moved there permanently, he went on to build a 2nd garage for his shop, an apartment above it, and a carport. He re-roofed it with a metal roof later and it's on its second metal roof now. He put in hardwood floor later along with jetted tubs, bathroom heaters, and some other amenities. He was a well-driller by trade but could do anything, carpentry, finish work, plumbing, electrical, etc. I wish we had the technology to video all of that back then like this.
That's a great story! It was definitely more common back then, but even now there are a lot of folks who undertake the challenge, quite a few have reached out!
Its really interesting to see how does looks like building a house not by company but most likely by yourself in US. I mean its build mostly of the wood meanwhile in europe we use bricks or filling lost formwork so its more solid. So it was really informative to see how it looks like in timelapse like this.
We don't build them to last in the US. Just long enough....
SO inspiring!!! It's coming along beautifully!!! ✌️🖤🔨
Thanks so much!!
I love when couples create their passion to go for ,and go for love.maybe one day I'll share that same energy with someone ❤
А вообще вы двойные молодцы. Сначала заработали на дом, а потом его построили. Красавчики!
Awesome. Congrats. I am currently going through the process myself. Building it completely alone is a bit stressful at times though.
It would be much more difficult completely solo, major props!
What an incredible journey and build. You’re only 27 as well, well done young man. You are a provider and your fiancé is lucky to have you. Congrats to you both and my comment was not to undermine the work your fiancé has done with you. You’re an incredible team 👏
Thank you!! It truly has been a team effort, I couldn't have done this alone!
My wife and I are in our 60's so I'll build ours single story with the garage on a side entrance and the garage leading into the kitchen in the back. Great ideas with the ductless AC units.
I built a garage with an apartment, and I promise you, mine doesn't have as good of a foundation, nor heated floors (at least downstairs) nor is as square, level, and plumb as yours. Well done. Very well done. Exceedingly well done. BTW, I hired out the foundation, framing, sheething/exterior, roofing, natural gas, and rough plumbing. I, along with a hired handyman (and good friend), did the electrical, HVAC, sheetrock, flooring, kitchen, shower/bathroms, low voltage wire, heated floors, and everything else, once it was dried in. I did my own trenching for electrical and low voltage in one trench, and water/sewer/natural gas in another trench. Got really good with an excavator.
That's awesome! All the skills are very learnable with the right education, time, and determination. Glad to hear your project turned out well!!
Very well built, you two and your helpers constructed things the right way. Great job!
Thanks a ton!
What a wonderful pair
All the things you learned through the process. Priceless!
Great work! Headed back to the beginning to see it all in detail!
This is awesome 🎉🎉🎉 You guys are inspiring ❤
Желаю вам счастья и испытать ещё больше радостных событий в Новом доме!
Amazing video y’all! I’m in the process of doing the same thing on my newly bought 27 acres here in Louisiana. Keep it up! Y’all’s dedication paid off
Awesome!! Same to you, all it takes is some planning and a little hard work 😉
A year from now you may wish you had started today....that moved me
Guys enjoy your lives to get her .find your faith. Christ will never leave you. You are an amazing couple. I just celebrated my 50th wedding anniversary.we are one.I pray that will be you as well.
Hello from Florida!🐊 ♥️Congratulations! That's so Amazing, you truly are Soul Mates!! Here's to many more years together, and May God Continue to Bless You and Your Family! ♥️✝️🇺🇲👨👩👧👧☮️♥️
That's why hurricanes blows away the whole buildings in USA...
true. Maybe there it’s safe
True that
Don’t think there’s gonna be many hurricanes where he’s at…
i love these 1 year timelapses
I may request to interview you one day. I have plans to design and build my own house as well and it would be nice to get a rough outline of the staging and which areas are best done with professional help and which can be done on your own. Looks like a blast!
It is definitely quite the undertaking! On our website you can book time to walk through everything once you're ready!
Debt free? Sure if you have a pile of cash you don't need income from.
Yes because they did have cash?
We got they had a pile of cash cause normal people can’t do this
@@C0D3R33Deveryone's a normal person at some point. Get up.
No, it’s called not buying things that aren’t necessary. Buy things you can only afford.. pretty simple honestly. You don’t need much cash to be debt free. Use your money wisely.
Exactly. Which one had the wealthy parents. Or was one of them a trust fund kid. Either way. Pretty awesome house.
The amount of skills and knowledge you have picked are worth so much moreover than the money you saved.
We feel the same way!!
Somehow this video came up in my recommendation to watch.. Since i love building and engineering i started watching, then came along the concrete truck pouring the footing.. It says Hanover Concrete, I am like hold up, i live in Hanover as well. So long story short, i throughly enjoyed this and congrats from one Hanoverian to over..
Talk about building strong foundations for life, well done you two!!
My NEW favorite channel! You guys are great and a breath of fresh air. Your videos are extremely watchable and Informative and entertaining. You pack a ton of content in, packaged with awesome music tracks, and that makes it truly enjoyable. The sped up parts are so welcome because it allows you to show so much more in a short time (though we'd all love longer videos, like 30 mins). I love your attitude. Thanks and keep up the good work! It will pay off in the end. And. Merry Christmas.
Thanks so much for all those kind words and Merry Christmas to you as well! We're actually experimenting with leaving a little more of the slower paced work clips in the videos so you should notice slightly longer videos going forward!
7:05 proposal was wild. Bro won life
Crazy to see how you build houses in the US. In our country, garden houses are built more solidly. :) Congratulations on your engagement!
Thats pretty cool, congratulations!
Just discovered you guys...I have watched several of your videos and I really enjoy them. Good luck to you guys and I will be watching your progress. Take care, tom
Thanks for watching!! Plenty more to come in the journey ☺️
Let me know if anyone ever calls you lazy...I will personally slap them for you. Very Impressive work you two.
Congrats Alex and Elaina on the build and the engagement! This video was incredibly interesting and super well edited. I can only imagine how much work went into everything, but the build and video look great. Rob and Bill would be proud haha. Keep up the good work and keep enjoying life! I wish you both all the best. I'm subscribed for future videos, so keep em coming.
Thanks buddy, long time no see! It's been quite a journey and still plenty left to go. Maybe this will run across either Rob or Bill's KZhead homepage someday 😂
You guys crushed it and should be so proud of your accomplishment. It’s inspiring
Thank you! We aren't done yet but we are slowly but surely getting there. It's fun to look back and see the progress we made in one year. Hoping to be moved in soon!
Thanks for sharing this project!!
Благодаря.ПОЗДРАВИ ОТ БЪЛАГАРИЯ.
Awesome - congrats!
Fascinating to see how different you built in America compared to EU. We just built our new house. Our outer wall is brick. then we have a layer of insulation then aerated concrete for the inner walls.
This is quite a common comment for those building in Europe! There's a number of reasons wood is the primary building material in the U.S., but it mostly boils down to earthquakes, availability, versatility, and cost. Essential Craftsman just did a great video addressing this exact topic.
I remember several of these clips!! The skid steer and pallet of blocks...the foam board going over the pipes...
That's awesome! You have a good memory. We even forget some of the things we filmed until we edit a video like this lol Definitely have completed a lot of work over the year!
@@MasonDixonAcres How do you eat an elephant!? ONE BITE AT A TIME!!! LOL
You two are awesome. Nice work!
The next wind blows it away
Amazing... So happy young couple. 😁 Try to keep this gift.
Аххх. Эти деревянные дома. Такие красивые, но хрупкие.
Well done you two. Congratulations👍
What a Couple! Unreal you two amazing work 😄
Outstanding !!!!
Класс, очень интересно было смотреть. Хорошо когда климат позволяет строить лёгкие дома.
Whauw, congratulations on this result. At the same time I (we) build a house over here in the Netherlands. Some things are different (like the walls and the roofs), but on the other hand, there are lots of simalarities. I know there are lots of moment that you know you do the right things, but te road is soooooooo long. Over here I had several professionals who helped me, but what I saw from your video, you do a lot by yourself. Big Big compliments for that. I'm looking forward to see your progress in other video's. Good luck with the upcoming months!
Thanks for sharing your journey. Me and my wife are currently building a house by ourselves and in about a couple of months we will move in. It's been a 3 year journey for us but we are debt free and we have our dream home. We don't live in America so it's been great watching the building process over there.
That's amazing! Definitely the toughest but best thing you will ever do!