Check out BLUETTI FridgePower: https://bit.ly/4pNImA8 Use code PROJECT5OFF for 5% off eligible models. Amazon option: https://amzn.to/4wYI0Jw #Bluetti #FridgePower #SolarGenerator #HomePower After nearly 12 years of living on sailboats and in a travel trailer, Desiree and I finally have full-size appliances of our own. But before the washer and dryer can go into place, we have to install the very first finished floor in our mountain home. This week, I also join our butcher-block countertops, make the nerve-racking sink cut, and clean up an imperfect cut before Desiree and I seal the counters. Then we take on the most complicated floor in the house and turn the upstairs bathroom into the second finished-floor space in the house. The episode ends with a short trip to the Swain County Agricultural Fair—and a glimpse of the kind of community and family life we hope to build here. ➤ New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel and get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://www.shrsl.com/35iim — Discount code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: https://www.bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions — MobileMustHave: https://www.mobilemusthave.com BLUETTI Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 Chapters: 00:00 Full-Size Appliances After 12 Years 01:31 Joining the Butcher-Block Countertops 03:15 Cutting the Sink Opening 05:10 Installing Our First Finished Floor 07:17 The Appliances Arrive 11:11 BLUETTI FridgePower 13:34 Finishing the Laundry-Room Floor 15:50 Sealing the Butcher-Block Counters 18:27 Flooring the Upstairs Bathroom 21:49 The Kitchen Starts Looking Real 22:14 Swain County Agricultural Fair

They can't harm you, if they can't find you! Use code atticus at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/atticus *This video is sponsored by Incogni.* This week on the build of our mountain home, we're finally installing our kitchen cabinets—but before we can begin, I discover that the entire layout my dad and I marked on the walls is based on the wrong high point in the floor. Once we correct that mistake, we discover an even bigger problem: the most important cabinet in the kitchen—the corner upper—is missing from our delivery. With the replacement potentially weeks away, we have to figure out how to keep the project moving without it. My dad helps me install the first cabinets and learn the process before I finish the remaining work on my own, overcome a few more surprises, and lay the butcher-block countertops in place. The kitchen still isn't finished, but for the first time, this empty room is finally starting to look like the kitchen we'll eventually use. ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://www.shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: https://www.bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://www.mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 CHAPTERS 0:00 Kitchen Cabinets at Last 0:27 Preparing the Room 1:53 The Cabinets Arrive 3:13 Our Most Important Cabinet Is Missing 3:59 Finding a Way to Keep Moving 7:37 Installing the First Cabinet 8:36 The First Cabinet Is Wrong 10:25 Base Cabinets and Family Reactions 12:30 Finishing the Cabinets Alone 14:37 Another Cabinet Problem 16:02 Calling in Reinforcements 17:13 Installing an Upper Cabinet Solo 18:19 Butcher-Block Countertops 19:27 The Kitchen Starts to Feel Real

This video has been sponsored by Brooklyn Bedding. Save 30% on a Brooklyn Bedding mattress at https://brooklynbedding.com/projectatticus with code PROJECTATTICUS. This week, after finally turning on the power, Dad and I keep pushing the interior forward while we wait for the house’s biggest comfort upgrade. We paint the interior doors, race an unexpected storm, and set the upstairs double vanity. Then a licensed HVAC crew installs three MRCOOL® Olympus E Star® mini-split systems and works through a layout conflict beside the future wood-stove chimney. When the downstairs unit finally starts blowing cold air, this building begins to feel like a house we can actually work in—and eventually live in—without roasting. Learn more about MRCOOL® mini-split solutions at https://www.mrcool.com and follow @MRCOOLComfort. ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://www.shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: https://www.bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://www.mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787

Check out the FlexiSpot Kana Japanese Joinery Bed here: https://go.flexispot.com/ProjectAtticus-JPBF Use my code “JPBF” to get an extra $20 OFF! This week, Morgan's Electrical is back to finish the electrical system and finally send power into our mountain home. Before Kyle and Jason can make the last connection, I have to uncover our buried main feed cable and route it into the transfer switch—right as a torrential downpour turns the job into a muddy mess. Once the power is on, we finish the lights, fans, smoke detectors, HVAC disconnects, and a few final electrical jobs. Seeing the house light up for the first time makes it finally feel like a real home. Huge thanks to the crew who helped make this happen — contact details below. Morgan's Electrical (828) 421-4290 ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://www.shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: https://www.bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://www.mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 00:00 One Step From Power 00:43 Morgan's Electrical Is Back 02:58 Digging Up the Main Feed Cable 05:43 Transfer Switch and Ground Rods 07:32 The Finished Electrical Panel 08:19 FlexiSpot Kana Bed 09:46 Sending Power Into the House 11:03 Finishing the Electrical Trim-Out 12:42 The House Comes to Life 13:40 Moving the Upstairs Vanity 15:12 Installing the Bathroom Heater 15:53 Seeing the Finished Rooms With Lights

For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (747) 202-2134 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to https://www.askchapter.org/atticus *Paid Partnership*. Last week I admitted that I couldn’t finish this house alone. This week my nephew Christopher helps me tackle one of the biggest remaining jobs: painting the ceilings and walls before electrical and HVAC need the space. Between running short on paint, working without air conditioning, learning how to cut in, and reaching a fifteen-foot hallway, the job turns out to be harder than we expected—but having one good helper changes everything. ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 0:00 One Good Helper 2:43 Spraying the Ceilings 4:48 We Run Out of Paint 7:58 Christopher Learns the Sprayer 10:21 The Ceilings Are Done 12:20 Rolling the Walls 13:32 Learning to Cut In 17:23 The First Finished Room 18:10 Three Days to Finish 23:15 The 15-Foot Hallway 27:17 The Final Room Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

Thanks to Ekster for sponsoring this episode! Ekster’s Anniversary Sale is live—save an extra 20% on top of web sales with code PROJECTATTICUS using our link: https://partner.ekster.com/ProjectAtticus Everything is backed by Ekster’s 100-day money-back guarantee. #ad After Desiree and I finished priming every wall and ceiling in our mountain home, I thought sanding it would be a quick job. Three days later, with my shoulders completely shot and the house barely any closer to paint, I had to admit that building a house by myself might not be a reasonable plan. This week I figure out how much sanding new drywall primer actually needs, tackle a 20-foot hallway ceiling, and confront the difference between working hard and making real progress. Some jobs make sense to DIY. Some need a small team. And if I want to finish this home—and get good at building houses—I need to become a better manager, not just a harder worker. ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 0:00 Can I Build This House Alone? 0:29 Why Sand New Drywall Primer? 2:43 Finding the Right Sanding Technique 3:52 The Worst Part: The Ceiling 6:39 Ekster 7:59 Day Two: The 20-Foot Hallway 12:09 Day Three: Building Is a Team Sport 16:21 Final Dusting Before Paint 17:10 I Need a Better Plan

For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (747) 202-2134 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to http://www.askchapter.org/atticus *Paid Partnership* This week on the build of our mountain home, Desiree jumps back into the build and takes over painting the inside of the house. Technically, we’re priming — but this is the first coat of paint on all the new drywall, and it completely changes the way the inside of the house feels. The painters we were planning to use got delayed, so we decided to try doing the interior painting ourselves to save money and keep the build moving. With Desiree’s mom helping watch the girls, Desiree was finally able to spend a full day working on the house with me again. She took over the paint sprayer, I rolled behind her, and together we tried to get the whole interior primed while sweating through full-body paint suits in the middle of summer. It was hot, messy, exhausting, and honestly way harder than it looked — but by the end, the house finally started to feel a little less like a construction site and a lot more like our future home. ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 00:00 DIY Interior Painting Begins 01:23 Picking Paint Colors for Our Mountain Home 02:43 Desiree Is Back on the Build 03:06 Prepping Drywall for Primer 05:44 Buying Paint and Primer for the Whole House 06:22 Masking Windows for Paint Spraying 07:03 Masking the Bathtub Before Primer 09:12 Chapter 10:32 Setting Up an Airless Paint Sprayer 11:13 How We Spray and Back-Roll Primer 12:27 Teaching Desiree to Spray Paint 15:04 First Floor Ceiling Finished 15:34 Priming the First Floor Walls 17:16 The First Floor Is Primed 18:05 Starting the Upstairs Primer 19:26 Painting in Summer Heat 21:04 Priming Our Bedroom 21:36 Seeing the Girls After a Long Paint Day 22:16 Day Two of Interior Painting 23:06 Priming Closets and Small Spaces 23:47 Building Memories Into the House 25:31 We Ran Out of Primer 26:03 Back From the Paint Store 26:55 We Finished Priming the House 27:21 Tape to the Tape Chapter: Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code ATTICUS at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/atticus This week, we’re taking a break from the usual construction grind to show what our life actually looks like while we build our mountain home. The house is getting closer — the drywall is finally finished, and I’m starting to prep everything for paint — but right next to the house is the tiny 27-foot travel trailer we’ve been living in with two little girls, one dog, one tiny bathroom, and a whole lot of chaos. So this episode is less about one big project and more about the life happening around the build: nap schedules, Desiree somehow making real meals in a tiny kitchen, our first little garden, bath time in the camper, breakfast at our favorite diner in town, and Scarlett’s first tubing trip at Deep Creek. Trailer life is definitely a sacrifice, but being on this property with the girls has also made this one of the sweetest seasons of our lives. ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 00:00 Life in a 27-Foot Travel Trailer 01:10 The Drywall Is Finished 01:15 Prepping the House for Paint 03:10 Taking a Half Day for Family 03:39 Trailer Life With Two Little Kids 04:41 What It’s Like Living in the Camper 06:00 Nap Time in a Tiny Trailer 06:56 The Trailer Bunk Bed Danger Zone 08:36 Scarlett’s Daily Flower Murdering 09:09 Protecting Our Privacy Online 11:15 Our First Garden on the Property 11:53 Why Trailer Life Is Worth It 12:55 Cold Leftovers During Nap Time 13:53 Movie Time in the Camper 14:28 Desiree’s Tiny Trailer Kitchen 15:57 Fresh Cilantro From the Garden 16:24 Mowing and Maintaining the Property 17:33 Playing Outside With the Girls 18:16 Bath Time in the Camper Shower 20:10 Exhausted After a “Relaxing” Saturday 21:53 Our Favorite Breakfast Spot in Town 23:39 Everett Street Diner With the Girls 25:33 Tubing at Deep Creek 26:38 High Water and Empty Tubes 27:12 Getting Nervous About the Rapids 27:28 Floating Deep Creek With the Girls 29:17 Trying to Get Out of the River 29:53 Scarlett’s First Tubing Trip 30:42 Calling It a Day

For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (747) 202-2134 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to http://www.askchapter.org/atticus *Paid Partnership* For weeks now, the rain has barely let up, and it’s starting to make progress on our mountain home build a lot harder. In this episode, we try to keep moving anyway. First, I work on solving one of the bigger water management problems behind the house by digging drainage trenches for the gutters and trying to get roof water away from the foundation before another storm rolls in. Then, once we finally get a small break in the weather, we get back to siding and work on finishing the last big section of the exterior — including the lap siding detail that we’re hoping will give the front of the house a warm wood look without the maintenance of real cedar. It’s not the fastest week of progress, but even with the rain slowing us down, the outside of the house is getting very close to being finished. Huge thanks to the crew who helped make this happen — links to everyone involved below. Ellis Earthworks & Custom Homes - General Contractor ellisearthworksinc@gmail.com (828) 226-9153 ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 00:00 The rain won’t stop 00:39 The water problem behind the house 01:40 Digging gutter drainage away from the foundation 02:55 Why this spot has to be dug by hand 05:15 Racing the rain with an open trench 06:44 Connecting the gutter drain to PVC 08:45 Planning around the electrical service trench 11:49 Flash flood warning 13:31 Finally getting a break in the rain 14:26 Painting the faux cedar lap siding 15:04 Installing siding in the rain 16:16 Making a custom lap siding jig 18:15 The angled siding gets complicated 19:41 Cutting the 5/12 pitch siding pieces 20:30 The rain comes back again 22:05 Installing the last battens 23:04 Why the build has slowed down 24:02 The siding is finally installed 24:41 Bonus: Dakota’s throwing critique Chapter: Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Average potential savings are based on realized premium, co-pay, and out of pocket savings estimates self-reported by consumers that worked with Chapter Advisory LLC to enroll in a Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and/or Part D Prescription Drug Plan. The average is limited to consumers that chose to self-report. Savings information is subject to periodic updates and corrections. There is no guarantee of savings and any savings may vary by policy type, state, or other factors.

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code ATTICUS at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/atticus This week on the build of our mountain home, we finally start building the front porch. It may not look like much yet, but this concrete slab is the first real step toward changing the entire front of the house. Before the pour, we had to get the gravel base right, make sure the slab would slope away from the house, avoid all the plumbing we just buried, and add footings for the future porch roof posts. I also got to work with the guys from Black Rock Masonry, learn a lot about what goes into a strong concrete slab, and even get some time running their mini skid steer. Next up, we’re hoping to finish the siding and start turning this slab into an actual front porch. Huge thanks to the crew who helped make this happen — links to everyone involved below. Black Rock Masonry - Concrete, Block, and Stone Blackrockmasonrywnc@gmail 828-788-0257 ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 00:00 Starting the Front Porch Slab 00:43 Swapping an Overfilled Construction Dumpster 01:15 Gravel Delivery Chaos on the Job Site 02:51 Preparing the Front Porch Slab Area 03:48 Setting Concrete Forms with a 2% Slope 04:14 Avoiding Buried Plumbing Under the Slab 04:54 Laying Out Footings for the Porch Roof Posts 05:36 Incogni 07:04 Getting Ready for Concrete with BlackRock Masonry 07:57 Why We Need Gravel Under the Concrete Slab 09:48 Learning to Run a Mini Skid Steer 12:58 Compacting the Dirt Before the Gravel Base 13:51 Digging Footings and a Turn-Down Edge 14:47 Tying the Porch Slab Into the House Foundation 15:08 Final Prep Before Pouring Concrete 16:34 Pouring the Concrete Porch Slab 17:04 Adjusting the Concrete Slump 18:15 Concrete Crew Goes Into Action 19:00 Screeding the Slab to the Right Slope 19:57 Bull Floating and Finishing the Concrete 20:52 Broom Finish and Relief Joint 21:46 The Front Porch Slab Is Done 22:15 Catching a Mistake in the Porch Plans

Head to https://www.betterhelp.com/atticus to get 10% off your first month with our sponsor, BetterHelp. Therapy can be a meaningful space to reflect, grow, and create positive change in your life. This week, we tried to dig the sewer trench from our house to the septic tank — and quickly found out that our rocky mountain lot was not going to make it easy. While the drywall crew was inside hanging sheets and turning the interior into actual rooms, we were outside trying to get the utilities sorted before the next big step on the build. We had to clear the future porch slab area, add drainage for one of the lowest spots around the house, connect the water line, and run the sewer line across the yard. The sewer trench ended up being the main challenge. We hit hard rock, ran into the wrong fittings, had to sleeve part of the pipe for vehicle traffic, and spent a lot of time checking and re-checking the fall so the line would drain properly. By the end of the week, the house had drywall, water, and sewer — which felt like a pretty solid bit of progress. Huge thanks to the crew who helped make this happen — links to everyone involved below. Ellis Earthworks & Custom Homes - General Contractor ellisearthworksinc@gmail.com (828) 226-9153 ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 00:00 Getting Ready for Drywall and Porch Prep 00:21 Drywall Delivery for Our House Build 01:57 Boom Truck Drywall Delivery Through a Window 03:26 Protecting the Window During Drywall Delivery 04:54 Starting the Water and Sewer Line Trenching 06:02 Planning the Sewer Line to the Septic Tank 06:40 Clearing Logs and Firewood for Drainage Trenches 08:35 Wrong PVC Pipe Order for the Sewer Line 09:14 Drywall Hanging Begins Inside the House 10:16 Green Glue Soundproofing Between Floors 11:00 Installing a Drainage Box Near the House 11:44 Finding the Buried Water Line 14:12 Laying Drain Pipe for Yard Drainage 14:49 Connecting the Main Water Line to the House 16:28 Turning On Water Inside the House 16:52 Digging the Sewer Trench to the Septic Tank 17:02 Checking Sewer Line Fall With a Laser Level 18:04 Moving Milled Lumber for the Porch Slab 19:58 Connecting 3 Inch Pipe to 4 Inch Schedule 40 20:27 The Wrong Sewer Fitting Stops the Job 21:16 Digging the Sewer Trench Through Rock 22:39 Hitting Dense Rock With the Mini Excavator 25:19 Installing a Sewer Cleanout Near the House 26:02 Sleeving the Sewer Line Under Vehicle Traffic 26:42 Setting the Correct Sewer Pipe Grade 27:10 Gravel Delivery Shows Up Too Early 28:32 Fixing a High Spot in the Sewer Line 29:52 Checking Fall on a Sleeved Sewer Pipe 31:09 Water and Sewer Are Connected to the House 31:44 Drywall Is Hung Inside the House

Thanks to Mileseey the Tools for sponsoring this episode! Get your S50 laser measuring Tool here: https://mileseeytools.com/products/16071697673182972978790910?source_type=sales_plugin_af&slt=sales_plugin_af&referral_code=R5BMQ1C3LQML&utm_source=affiliate_marketing&utm_medium=R5BMQ1C3LQML&utm_campaign=Project%20Atticus&utm_term=projectatticus I thought our small house was finally ready for drywall… but I was wrong. In this episode, we install the exterior front door, get the house fully dried in, test paint colors for faux cedar siding, foam around the door frame, install drywall nailers around HVAC, plumbing, and gas lines, and turn leftover sheathing into attic flooring for storage. The house still isn’t finished — but with the roof, windows, and door finally in, it’s protected from the weather. It’s not a home yet, but it’s finally starting to feel like a shelter. Special thanks to Can from MyWinUsa for supplying our front door! If you're in the market for windows and doors for your home, definitely get in touch with Can! Get 10% off new windows by using Promo Code ATTICUS from MyWinUSA at https://winmass.us/ Or call (612) 300-4204 Huge thanks to the crew who helped make this happen — links to everyone involved below. Ellis Earthworks & Custom Homes - General Contractor ellisearthworksinc@gmail.com (828) 226-9153 ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 Chapters: 0:00 Getting the House Ready for Drywall 1:16 Commercial Grade LVP Flooring for Our Small House 2:27 Fixing the Front Door Rough Opening 3:47 Installing the Exterior Entry Door 5:52 Painting LP SmartSide to Look Like Cedar 8:24 Choosing Faux Cedar Siding Paint Colors 9:18 Black Bear on Our Mountain Property 9:59 Rain Delay Before Drywall Installation 10:50 Spray Foaming Around the Exterior Door Frame 12:38 Laser Measuring Tool for Construction Layout 14:43 Installing Drywall Nailers Before Hanging Drywall 15:08 Working Around Mini Split Drain Lines 16:26 Removing Open Cell Spray Foam for Drywall Backing 16:56 Notching Drywall Nailers Around Plumbing and Gas Lines 18:45 Framing Lessons Before Drywall and Subcontractors 19:46 Trimming Cured Spray Foam Around the Front Door 20:00 Installing Attic Flooring With Leftover Plywood 22:46 Lifting Plywood Into the Attic Solo 23:49 Turning the Attic Into Usable Storage Space 25:45 Fully Dried In and Ready for Drywall #homebuilding #drywall #framing #construction #homestead

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code ATTICUS at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/atticus This week on the build of our mountain home outside Bryson City, North Carolina, we’re finally insulating our house — and I got to suit up and follow the spray foam crew through the entire process. I’ve been really curious about spray foam insulation because it’s not just insulation. It also air seals the house, fills every little gap between the framing and sheathing, and turns the roof/attic area into part of the conditioned space. But it also comes with some serious trade-offs: cost, installation quality, roof leak concerns, and the need for intentional ventilation once the house becomes this airtight. In this episode, we watch the crew prep the house, protect the windows and floors, mix the spray foam chemicals at the gun, spray the wall cavities and roof deck, trim the foam flush, and then install fiberglass batt insulation in the interior walls for sound control. Then I walk through why I chose spray foam for this build, what problems I think it solves, and what concerns I still have about it. Huge thanks to the crew who helped make this happen — links to everyone involved below. SprayFoam by Cohens (843) 761-6587 Plans@cohens.com Ellis Earthworks & Custom Homes - General Contractor ellisearthworksinc@gmail.com (828) 226-9153 ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 Chapters: 0:00 Spray Foam Insulation Day Begins 1:17 How Spray Foam Chemicals Mix at the Gun 1:42 Suiting Up with PPE for Spray Foam 2:26 Watching Spray Foam Expand in the Wall Cavities 2:54 Spray Foam Thickness, R-Value, and Heat Problems 4:06 Air Sealing the House with Spray Foam Insulation 4:56 How a Spray Foam Rig and Spray Gun Work 5:50 Cardboard Baffles for Roof Eaves and Spray Foam Control 6:28 Incogni Sponsor: Removing Personal Data Online 7:42 Spray Foam Installer Technique and Thickness Control 8:35 Cutting and Trimming Excess Spray Foam 9:02 Filling Stud Bays and Avoiding Insulation Voids 9:43 Does Spray Foam Get Harder as It Cures? 10:06 Special Tools for Cutting Spray Foam 10:26 Heat From the Spray Foam Chemical Reaction 11:04 How Spray Foam Changes Sound Inside the House 11:59 Fiberglass Batt Insulation for Interior Wall Soundproofing 12:19 Checking Spray Foam Coverage in the Stud Bays 13:06 Installing Fiberglass Insulation Before Drywall 13:58 Spray Foam Pros and Cons for a Tight Home 15:04 Spray Foam vs Fiberglass Air Sealing 16:13 Vented Attic vs Conditioned Attic with Spray Foam 17:36 Spray Foam Roof Deck Leak Risk 18:42 Metal Roof, ZIP System, Underlayment, and Ice & Water Shield 19:45 Airtight House Ventilation and Makeup Air Problems 20:58 Is Spray Foam Insulation Worth It? 21:24 Outro

The first 1,000 people watching this video to use my link will get a full year of Premium membership to Woodworkers Guild of America for only $1.49: https://go.wwgoa.com/projectatticus/ In this episode, we install a corrugated metal roof on our mountain house, add ice and water shield over ZIP System roof sheathing, finish the gutters, continue LP SmartSide siding, and get the house ready for spray foam insulation. This is a huge step in our first build. The house is finally close to being dried in, but before the insulation crew arrives, we have to finish every hidden detail inside the exterior walls — range hood ducting, wood stove chimney framing, electrical and CAT6 stub-outs, hose bib blocking, HVAC condensate drains, porch roof wiring, drywall nailers, and a few mistakes along the way. Huge thanks to the crew who helped make this happen — links to everyone involved below. AC Siding & Guttering - Metal Roofing Rodney Coggins (828) 506-8502 Ellis Earthworks & Custom Homes - General Contractor ellisearthworksinc@gmail.com (828) 226-9153 ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 This video was sponsored by Woodworkers Guild of America CHAPTERS 0:00 Installing a corrugated metal roof on our mountain house 0:09 Roofing crew arrives for the metal roof installation 0:58 Getting on the roof safely 2:12 ZIP System roof sheathing, underlayment, and ice and water shield 4:30 Flashing around a plumbing vent 5:41 Installing corrugated metal roofing panels 8:32 Exposed-fastener metal roofing vs standing seam metal roofing 9:03 Walking on a new metal roof 10:18 Installing a plumbing vent boot on a metal roof 10:51 Cutting gutter outlets and installing gutter hangers 12:09 Setting gutter slope for proper drainage 13:00 Metal roof and gutters are finished 13:31 Continuing LP SmartSide siding 14:10 Trying to make LP SmartSide look like stained cedar 17:52 Getting ready for spray foam insulation 18:18 Planning the range hood duct before insulation 19:05 Framing for a wood stove chimney thimble 21:56 Checking exterior wall stub-outs before spray foam 23:13 Drilling the main electrical feed penetration 24:35 Installing a hose bib spacer through the siding 25:55 Fixing an HVAC condensate drain mistake 27:57 Patching Z flashing and relocating the condensate drain 28:49 Adding drywall nailers before drywall 30:29 Installing the porch roof ledger board 31:38 Stubbing out electrical and CAT6 for the future porch roof 32:04 Ready for insulation

Head to https://www.betterhelp.com/atticus to get 10% off your first month with our sponsor, BetterHelp. Therapy can be a meaningful space to reflect, grow, and create positive change in your life. We're wrapping up framing and prepping for drywall. That means tackling the tedious but crucial process of blocking for heavy fixtures. We also make a major structural modification: cutting an engineered floor truss (with engineer approval) to gain stairwell headroom. Finally, we pull a well water sample for extensive lab testing before buying a filtration system. Huge thanks to the crew who helped make this happen — links to everyone involved below. Ellis Earthworks & Custom Homes - General Contractor ellisearthworksinc@gmail.com (828) 226-9153 ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 Chapters 00:00 Wrapping Up Framing 00:41 Modifying an Engineered Floor Truss 05:06 Overcoming DIY Perfectionism (BetterHelp) 06:25 Planning Interior Noise Isolation 06:51 Wall Blocking for Kitchen Cabinets 10:39 Nail Gun Deflection 12:16 Stair Handrail Blocking 16:15 Utility Closet & Water Filter Prep 18:07 Hitting an Electrical Wire 19:08 Well Water Testing

The Apex 300 from Bluetti has so many different uses, go to https://bit.ly/4vrFz25 and use promo code PROJECT5OFF to get 5% off. We thought siding would be straightforward… but this day turned into one problem after another. Between running out of materials, fixing missed waterproofing details, working off pump jacks for the first time, and dealing with tricky installs around windows, HVAC line sets, and trim—this was one of those days where nothing is hard individually… but everything adds up. We’re continuing siding on our small home in the mountains of North Carolina, trying to keep up with a professional crew while learning in real time. From installing window trim and soffits, to laying out a frieze board, snapping lines, and dialing in board-and-batten alignment—this is what the process actually looks like when you're figuring it out as you go. Not every day is huge progress… but every day matters if we want to finish this house. Let’s get to work. Huge thanks to the crew who helped make this happen — links to everyone involved below. Ellis Earthworks & Custom Homes - General Contractor ellisearthworksinc@gmail.com (828) 226-9153 ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 0:00 Material check for LP SmartSide siding 0:51 First time working on pump jacks 1:35 Installing window trim before siding 2:06 Fixing missed ZIP tape window flashing 2:49 Taping the window flange correctly 3:29 Cutting battens around the window trim 4:15 Window trim finished and pump jacks moved 5:07 Marking rafters for soffit nailing 5:49 Installing soffit from pump jacks 6:17 Snapping the frieze board chalk line 7:13 Cutting siding around HVAC line sets 8:53 Installing the first full siding sheet 9:24 Aligning siding joints with studs and battens 10:22 Wrong siding delivery slows the job down 11:04 Bluetti Apex 300 jobsite power setup 13:12 Getting back on the pump jacks 14:19 Fixing a window screen cassette trim issue 15:23 Measuring and cutting exterior window trim 16:03 Mocking up corner trim for frieze board layout 16:48 Compounding framing errors at the roofline 17:57 Installing the frieze board 18:09 Caulking exterior trim seams 19:19 Installing Z-flashing over the frieze board 19:24 Measuring angled siding for the gable 20:09 Cutting the peak siding piece 20:45 Planning the front porch addition 21:27 Concrete pad, footers, and gravel prep 22:19 Fixing drainage and grading near the foundation 23:36 Planning equipment access for logs and grading 24:52 End-of-day caulking jokes

If you’ve been thinking about trying therapy, go to https://www.betterhelp.com/atticus to get 10% off your first month of therapy. We’re getting close to the end of the rough-in phase on our mountain home build, but before we can move on to insulation and drywall, we have to pass framing inspection — and that means a lot more than just framing. In this episode, I’m juggling a framing punch list, last-minute material ordering, trim paint, gas line planning, HVAC rough-in details, and porch roof design — all while trying not to slow down the siding crew. We work through inspector notes, install truss screws, frame the attic ladder opening, pressure test the gas line, solve an HVAC condensate drain conflict, plan dryer vent and bath fan duct runs, tighten anchor bolts, add framing straps, and finish a final interior wall. This is a real look at construction project management on a small house build: coordinating subcontractors, solving rough-in conflicts, handling framing inspection prep, and getting HVAC, gas, and framing approved so the build can keep moving. Chapters 0:00 Framing Inspection Prep Begins 0:47 Framing Punch List and Truss Screws 2:14 Gas Line Walkthrough for Generator, Range, and Water Heater 3:21 Ordering Trim Paint and Solving Attic Ladder Layout 5:07 Managing a Build Is Overwhelming 5:35 Porch Roof Planning During Siding Installation 6:07 Porch Roof Pitch Math and Ledger Height 8:32 Gas Rough-In Fittings and Appliance Connections 9:07 How to Frame an Attic Ladder Opening 10:05 Gas Line Pressure Test Before Inspection 11:30 HVAC Condensate Drain Conflict Behind Siding 17:32 Dryer Vent Routing and Bathroom Exhaust Ducting 20:36 Tightening Anchor Bolts on Pressure Treated Bottom Plates 21:10 Fixing a Double Top Plate Framing Inspection Issue 22:02 Framing a Small Closet Wall 24:00 Notching a Stud Around Electrical Wiring 24:43 Installing Bathroom Exhaust Vent Ducting 26:18 HVAC, Gas, Plumbing, and Electrical Rough-Ins Complete 27:10 Finishing the Last Interior Wall 28:30 Inspectors Arrive — Framing, HVAC, and Gas Pass Huge thanks to the crew who helped make this happen — links to everyone involved below. Ellis Earthworks & Custom Homes - General Contractor ellisearthworksinc@gmail.com (828) 226-9153 Pro Star Plumbing PROSTARPLUMBINGLLC@YAHOO.COM 828-226-2312 Jimmy - Johnson & Johnson Heating & Cooling (828) 735-3065 Swain County, NC ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787

Visit https://wildgrain.com/atticus and use code “atticus” at checkout to receive $30 your first box + free croissants for life! This week marks a major milestone for our mountain home: we are finally getting the structure dried in. We’re diving deep into two critical systems that transform a construction site into a functional home—high-performance windows and a smart, budget-friendly HVAC solution. The "Ultimate" Window Solution We’re installing European-style tilt-and-turn windows that are a game-changer for the American market. These aren't standard vinyl frames; they feature internal steel reinforcements for incredible dimensional stability. Most importantly for a high-efficiency build, the multi-point locking system squeezes the sash against triple gaskets to create a virtually airtight seal. Smart HVAC: Performance vs. Price For heating and cooling, we opted for a 3-zone mini-split system. While central air is the standard, this installation took only 1.5 hours compared to an estimated 3-day ductwork installation. We’re also sharing how we’re keeping the bathrooms warm without the massive expense of radiant floor heating. Windows Discount!!! Get 10% off new windows by using Promo Code ATTICUS from MyWinUSA at https://winmass.us/ Or call (612) 300-4204 Huge thanks to the crew who helped make this happen — links to everyone involved below. Jimmy - Johnson & Johnson Heating & Cooling (828) 735-3065 Swain County, NC ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787 CHAPTERS: 0:00 Mountain Home Build: Windows & HVAC Progress 2:08 Rough-In Day: Meet the HVAC Team 2:18 Choosing a Mini-Split HVAC: Why 3-Zones Work 2:40 How to Run HVAC Line Sets and Drain Lines 4:30 Sponsor: Wild Grain Bake-From-Frozen Sourdough 5:51 Pro HVAC Insights: Jimmy’s Career Story 6:20 Bundling Line Sets and Condensation Drains 7:48 Mini-Split Benefits: Cost, Efficiency, and Simplicity 8:17 Speed Comparison: Mini-Split vs. Central Air 8:37 Budget Bathroom Heat: Wall Heaters vs. Radiant Floors 9:51 Engineering the Ultimate Window: High-Performance Specs 10:04 UPVC + Steel Reinforcement: Why It Matters 10:56 Installation Tip: Removing Glass for Easy Handling 12:13 How Tilt-and-Turn Windows Improve Home Ventilation 13:11 Hidden Features: Retractable Accordion Screens 14:22 Achieving a Perfect Air Seal with Multi-Point Locks 16:15 Meet the Maker: Turkish Engineering & Sailing 18:01 Safety & Security: Integrated Childproof Locking 18:42 Coming Up: Siding, Gas Lines, and Framing Inspection

Head to https://drinkag1.com/atticus to get an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2 FREE in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription (a $72 value!). I had the incredible opportunity to step into an "apprentice" role and follow a professional plumber for two days as he completed the rough-in for my house. This episode documents that process, focusing on the logic and high-standard techniques a master uses to ensure a system is built perfectly the first time. Huge thanks to the crew who helped make this happen — links to everyone involved below. Pro Star Plumbing PROSTARPLUMBINGLLC@YAHOO.COM 828-226-2312 ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787

Thanks to KiwiCo for sponsoring this episode! Get 20% off your first Panda Crate at kiwico.com/projectatticus or use code PROJECTATTICUS at checkout. This week we’re tackling the electrical rough-in for our future home in the mountains of North Carolina. I got to work alongside a professional crew, learn a ton, and help wire the house one step closer to move-in. Huge thanks to the crew who helped make this happen — links to everyone involved below. Morgan's Electrical (828) 421-4290 Ellis Earthworks & Custom Homes - General Contractor ellisearthworksinc@gmail.com (828) 226-9153 ➤New to the channel? 👉 Subscribe and follow our journey! @ProjectAtticus ➤ Love our videos? Become a Patron to help support the channel & get early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectAtticus ➤ Gear we use: Sunglasses: https://shrsl.com/35iim Discount Code HPATTICUS Keen Footwear: http://bit.ly/2GSEMjt Our Mobile Internet Solutions - MobileMustHave: https://mobilemusthave.com Bluetti Portable Power Station: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/home-backup-power-ac500?variant=46381280493787