What It Actually Cost to Build Our Foundation: Phase 2

After site prep, grading, and building up our elevated house pad, it was finally time to start the actual foundation.

This was the phase where everything started to feel real.

Up until this point, we had mostly been looking at dirt, equipment, stakes, and plans. Once the footers were dug and concrete started going in, we could finally begin to see the actual footprint of our home taking shape.

For our build, we chose a stem wall foundation.

We first built up our elevated house pad during Phase 1, then dug the footers down into that pad. From there came the rebar, concrete footers, stem wall block, interior prep, and finally the slab.

Here is exactly what we spent.

Phase 2: Foundation Cost Breakdown

Footer Excavation + Prep — $4,500

The first step was digging the footers into our newly elevated house pad.

This cost included the machines and labor needed to excavate the footer trenches and prepare everything for the foundation work to begin.

Cost: $4,500

Rebar + Reinforcement — $2,400

Once the footers were dug, steel reinforcement was installed throughout the foundation.

The rebar helps reinforce the concrete and provides additional structural strength within the footers.

Cost: $2,400

Footer Concrete Pour — $8,000

Next came the concrete pour for the footers.

This created the reinforced concrete base that our stem wall would eventually sit on.

Cost: $8,000

Stem Wall Block + Fill — $10,000

Once the footers were complete, concrete block was used to build the stem wall around the foundation.

The block was then filled with concrete as part of the structural foundation system.

This was when we could really start seeing the perimeter and shape of the house.

Cost: $10,000

Foundation Fill + Prep — $1,200

Before pouring the slab, the area inside the stem wall needed to be prepared.

This included additional fill, compaction, grading, and machine work necessary to create the proper base for the slab.

Cost: $1,200

Slab / Foundation Pour — $20,000

And finally — the slab.

Once everything underneath was complete and prepared, the concrete foundation slab was poured.

After months of looking at plans and dirt, seeing an actual concrete floor where our house would stand was a pretty big moment.

Cost: $20,000

Phase 2 Total: $46,100

Here’s the complete breakdown:

Footer Excavation + Prep — $4,500

Rebar + Reinforcement — $2,400

Footer Concrete Pour — $8,000

Stem Wall Block + Fill — $10,000

Foundation Fill + Prep — $1,200

Slab / Foundation Pour — $20,000

TOTAL: $46,100

And just like that, we officially had a foundation.

No walls yet. No roof. No windows.

But for the first time, we could actually stand inside the footprint of our future home and start imagining where everything would eventually be.

Why I’m Sharing the Actual Numbers

When I was researching custom-home builds, I constantly found broad estimates and huge price ranges.

What I really wanted was for someone to just say:

“Here is what we actually paid.”

So that’s exactly what I’m doing with this series.

Our numbers obviously won’t be identical to everyone else’s. Location, house size, labor, material pricing, site conditions, foundation type, contractor pricing, and a million other things can affect the final cost.

But hopefully sharing our actual expenses gives someone else a much more realistic starting point.

Where We Are Now

So far:

Phase 0 — Plans, Permits + Pre-Build: $88,102.50

Phase 1 — Site Prep + Elevated House Pad: $22,500

Phase 2 — Foundation: $46,100

Total spent through foundation:

$156,702.50

And now comes the part I have been waiting for…

We’re going vertical.

Phase 3 will cover our first-floor and second-floor block walls and the structural masonry portion of the build.

Follow along as we continue building our forever home from the ground up — and sharing what it actually costs along the way. 🤎