Building a Home in a Rural Area

Building in a rural area presents unique challenges compared to urban or suburban construction. Rural homeowners often need to install and maintain their own infrastructure, including driveways, septic systems, and wells. However, rural builds can offer advantages, such as fewer subdivision requirements and more space between neighbors—if you even have any!

Step 1: Survey & Site Plan

After purchasing your lot, the first task is to assess the site. For instance, if you bought a 2-acre lot overlooking Bark Lake in Barry's Bay, your first steps would be to:

• Locate the driveway entrance
• Mark out the driveway path
• Plan the home's construction area

If a survey wasn't provided by the seller, it's important to hire a surveyor to map out the property’s boundaries, including:

• Driveway
• Well
• Septic system
• Home location

This survey will be incorporated into your architectural site plan.

Step 2: Lot Preparation

Once your driveway, home site, and utilities are located, it's time to clear the lot. This involves removing trees, stumps, rocks, and soil to make room for the driveway and the home.

• Driveway Construction: Driveways in rural areas often require building up layers of crushed stone and gravel for stability.
• Tree Removal: Trees and stumps are cleared from the building site. Sometimes the trees can be sold as lumber or firewood, while stumps and roots are trucked away.

In Renfrew County, where glaciers left behind large rocks known as ‘erratics,’ you might encounter rocks ranging from the size of a softball to larger than a car! This can be incorporated into the landscaping of the yard.

Step 3: Well & Septic Installation

After the driveway is built and the lot is cleared, well drilling can begin. This requires specialized equipment that can now access the site. Around the same time, the septic system may also be installed, depending on the excavation schedule.

Step 4: Excavation

Once the well and septic systems are in place, excavation for the foundation begins. The excavation area is typically larger than the home itself to provide enough room for the construction crew to install footings and foundation walls.

• Materials: Excavated soil may be trucked away or used elsewhere on the property.
• Foundation Preparation: After the foundation walls are built, they are waterproofed, and drain tiles are installed to manage water flow.

Excavation & backfill is also completed for essential utilities like:

• Water lines
• Electrical connections (hydro)
• Propane lines

Ready for Framing

With the foundation and utilities in place, your new rural home is ready for the framing crew to begin work. At this point, all necessary infrastructure is complete, setting the stage for the construction phase.