c/home-construction-prep

I learned to make pancakes on a hotplate during drywall installation. Different times.

Siblings would argue over who mixed cement better.

Those fights built character and a solid base.

My building permit approval finally arrived

I've been stuck in permit limbo for weeks. Getting the green light today has me pumped to start the foundation. What was your experience with local building departments?

Maybe it's just me, but traveling to see old construction methods used to be how we learned. Now it's all videos and blogs.

Backhoe clipped a gas line marker I missed, now I double-check everything

Was clearing the lot for my new build and got too eager with the excavator. Didn't see the little flags for the gas line and nicked the marker post. Luckily, no damage was done, but it gave me a real fright. Called the utility company right away, and they came out to confirm it was safe. Now I always walk the site with the plans before any digging, and it feels like a big step forward in being careful.

CEI Excavating vs Apex Earthworks for a custom house build?

Hey everyone, we're gearing up for a custom home build later this year (late 2026) and need to hire an excavation contractor for the foundation, grading, and tying into the main sewer and water lines. I've narrowed it down to CEI Excavating and Apex Earthworks. Has anyone used either of these recently? Apex gave a slightly cheaper quote but CEI seemed more thorough during the walk-through. Would love to hear your experiences before we pull the trigger.