Step-by-Step Modern Craftsman Farmhouse Build Guide 🏡🔨

📰 Today’s Build Bulletin: Modern Craftsman Farmhouse (Plan 818035JSS)

1. Groundwork & Footprints

Headline: “Laying the Farmhouse Foundations!”
Step-by-Step:

1. Site Survey & Staking: Mark out the 103′-0″ × 72′-4″ footprint, front and back porch limits.

2. Clearing & Grading: Strip topsoil, level terrain, and install silt fences.

3. Utility Trenches: Excavate for water, sewer, electric, and gas lines—run beneath the future mud room and utility.

2. Foundations & Slab

Headline: “Rock-Solid Base Poured!”
Step-by-Step:

1. Footing Excavation: Dig trenches below frost depth for garage, great room, and bedroom wings.

2. Formwork & Reinforcement: Build wood forms; set #4 rebar per engineer’s grid.

3. Concrete Pour: Pump high-strength mix; screed and float for a smooth slab under the 24′-3″ × 33′-3″ garage and main living areas.

4. Curing Protocol: Cover slabs with plastic and mist for 5–7 days to prevent cracking.

3. Structural Framing

Headline: “Walls Rise for Five Bedrooms!”
Step-by-Step:

1. Sill Plate & Anchors: Bolt treated sill plates to concrete at 6′-o.c.

2. Wall Framing: Frame 2×6 exterior walls—define office, dining, great room, game room, and four guest bedrooms.

3. Roof Trusses: Lift prefabricated trusses; secure with metal hurricane straps above the vaulted 18′ great room.

4. Porch Beams: Install heavy timber front and back porch beams to carry the 10′ ceilings.

4. Weatherproof Envelope

Headline: “Sealed Tight for All Seasons!”
Step-by-Step:

1. Sheathing & Barrier: Apply ZIP panels or OSB with house wrap; tape seams.

2. Window & Door Rough-In: Set energy-efficient units in the great room, primary suite, and mud room.

3. Roof Deck & Underlayment: Nail plywood roof deck; roll synthetic underlayment beneath metal drip edge.

4. Shingles & Flashing: Install architectural shingles; flash all penetrations and valleys.

5. MEP Rough-Ins

Headline: “Systems Wired for Modern Living!”
Step-by-Step:

1. HVAC Layout: Hang ductwork; position furnace in the utility room, condenser pad outside.

2. Plumbing Runs: Stub PEX lines to bathrooms, kitchen island, pantry sink, and laundry.

3. Electrical Wiring: Pull circuits for recessed cans, outlets, and dedicated kitchen appliances.

4. Low-Voltage Prep: Prewire for security, audio, and smart-home controls in the entry hall and office.

6. Exterior Finishes & Stonework

Headline: “Craftsman Charm Takes Shape!”
Step-by-Step:

1. Stone Veneer Base: Mortar-set ledgestone around the front porch columns and garage skirt.

2. Board-and-Batten Siding: Install vertical siding panels on gable ends and dormers.

3. Trim & Soffits: Fit craftsman-style fascia, window casings, and porch ceiling beadboard.

4. Gutters & Downspouts: Mount seamless aluminum gutters to channel rain away from the foundation.

7. Interior Fit-Out

Headline: “From Drywall to Designer Details!”
Step-by-Step:

1. Insulation & Drywall: Spray-foam exterior walls; hang, tape, and skim gypsum board.

2. Millwork & Cabinetry: Fit kitchen cabinets, pantry shelving, mud-room lockers, and office built-ins.

3. Flooring & Paint: Lay wide-plank hardwood in main areas; tile baths and laundry; apply two-tone paint.

4. Finish Trim & Doors: Install baseboards, casing, interior doors, and coffered ceiling beams in the great room.

8. Porches & Landscaping

Headline: “Porch-Perfect Farmhouse Finale!”
Step-by-Step:

1. Front & Back Porch Decking: Lay pressure-treated decking boards and railings.

2. Outdoor Lighting: Mount sconces beside entry doors and under porch eaves.

3. Hardscape & Planting: Pave the driveway apron and add flowering shrubs along the foundation.

4. Final Punch & Walk-Through: Address any touch-ups, test all systems, and secure occupancy approval.