Financial Transparency
Cabin Build Cost & Budget
Real numbers. One of the few owner-builder blogs sharing actual costs.
This is the complete budget for Ridgetop Refuge, a 2,052-square-foot owner-built cabin on 3 acres in Bryson City, North Carolina. Each construction line shows its original estimate, its current estimate (dated when a new estimate came in; a line that went over its estimate shows what has been paid), and the amount paid so far ("final" means no more bills are coming for that line).
| Cost summary | Original budget | Current estimate | Spent so far |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total project | $341,956 | $346,524 | $147,353 |
| Land and pre-construction (land, septic, site prep, permits, plans; already spent) | $79,370 | $79,370 | $79,370 |
| House construction, four phases | $262,586 | $267,154 | $67,983 |
| Cost per square foot, house only (the standard measure) | $128 | $130 | $33 |
| Cost per square foot, all in (with land, septic, and other pre-build costs) | $167 | $169 | $72 |
The original budget never changes. The current estimate uses the actual cost for lines marked final and for unplanned costs, and the newest estimate for everything else (never less than what has already been paid), plus a 10% contingency on what is left to spend, not on the whole phase. The house-only cost per square foot leaves out the land, septic system, site prep and clearing, permits, plans, and other pre-build costs (everything in the Before the Build section); the all-in figure includes them. The spent-so-far cost per square foot is a running figure that climbs as the build goes on. Last updated October 11, 2026. See how the spending lines up with the work on the build timeline, or browse the build photos.
Land, Permits, Site Prep & Pre-Construction
| Description | Original budget | Current estimate | Spent so far |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land acquisition (Nov 2022) | $36,500 | $36,500 | $36,500 |
| HOA dues (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026) | $1,350 | $1,350 | $1,350 |
| Survey | $1,200 | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Septic permit | $1,150 | $1,150 | $1,150 |
| Property taxes (2023, 2024) | $400 | $400 | $400 |
| Septic system — trenching (Dustin, multiple phases 2024–2025) | $16,900 | $16,900 | $16,900 |
| Site prep — clearing, grading (June 2024) | $8,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 |
| Health dept. site visit | $100 | $100 | $100 |
| Hotspot & Starlink internet | $450 | $450 | $450 |
| Tools & supplies | $80 | $80 | $80 |
| Camo blocks (septic) | $120 | $120 | $120 |
| Tree removal (Nov 2024) | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Outhouse build (materials) | $544 | $544 | $544 |
| Storage shed | $936 | $936 | $936 |
| U-Haul trailer | $175 | $175 | $175 |
| Architect (3 payments) | $4,731 | $4,731 | $4,731 |
| Swain County building permit | $2,534 | $2,534 | $2,534 |
| Fontana HOA bond (refundable) | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Electrician — temporary power pole | $1,200 | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Total invested before construction begins | $79,370 | $79,370 | $79,370 |
Basement + Floor System
| Description | Original budget | Current estimate | Spent so far |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete contract, Collins Masonry (footer, CMU walls, slab, waterproofing, french drain, backfill) | $48,500 | $48,785 | $48,785 |
| Plumber, under-slab rough-in | $4,800 | $3,500 | $3,500 final |
| Sill plates, ground-contact PT 2x8/2x6/2x4 (418 lf incl. spares), sill seal, caulk | $950 | $1,045 | $1,045 |
| Basement wall framing lumber, #2 SPF 2x6/2x4 studs and plates, 2x12 + plywood headers (paid amount includes ZIP sheathing) | $2,600 | $7,597 | $7,597 |
| Floor trusses | $11,746 | $11,746 | |
| Subfloor, 3/4" Advantech T&G, adhesive, nails | $2,800 | $2,800 | |
| Rim/ledger PT 2x12, deck beam hardware | $1,500 | $1,500 | |
| Erosion control, gravel, misc site (actual: basement waterproofing, passed inspection) | $800 | $3,605 | $3,605 |
| Winter wrap (tarps/poly on subfloor) | $600 | $600 | |
| Subtotal | $74,296 | $81,178 | |
| Contingency 10% | $7,430 | $1,665 10% of $16,646 left to spend | |
| Unplanned: tree removal, Nathan's Tree Service (tree at risk of falling on the house, Jun 2026) | — | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Unplanned: tools and supplies (miter saw, nail gun, scaffolding, code book, U-Haul rental, site trailer supplies, Sep–Oct 2026) | — | $2,251 | $2,251 |
| Phase 1 Total | $81,726 | $86,294 | $67,983 so far |
Upper Structure Dried-In
| Description | Original budget | Current estimate | Spent so far |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd floor framing materials (SPF 2x6, plates, headers) | $3,400 | $3,400 | |
| Roof framing extras (ridge beam, blocking, fascia, ladders) | $1,000 | $1,000 | |
| Sheathing, 5/8" Zip roof + 7/16" Zip walls + tape | $3,100 | $3,100 | |
| Hardware, H2.5A clips, hangers, anchor bolts (NC prescriptive) | $600 | $600 | |
| Roof trusses | $10,678 | $10,678 | |
| Metal roof, copper-tone standing seam materials | $9,500 | $9,500 | |
| Drip edge, gutters, downspouts | $1,500 | $1,500 | |
| Truss setting (hired crew) | $3,500 | $3,500 | |
| Freight and hauling to site (Cochran, by the hour) | $4,000 | $4,000 | |
| Subtotal | $37,278 | $37,278 | |
| Contingency 10% | $3,728 | $3,728 | |
| Phase 2 Total | $41,006 | $41,006 |
Envelope Close-Up + Rough-Ins
| Description | Original budget | Current estimate | Spent so far |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows (14 per schedule, 115 mph vinyl) | $9,000 | $9,000 | |
| Exterior doors (4 sliders + 3 French + 2 hinged + 2 garage, 11 openings) | $21,640 | $21,640 | |
| Siding (LP SmartSide B&B, dark green, ~2,000 sf) | $5,000 | $5,000 | |
| Rainscreen furring (1x3 PT), flashing, fasteners | $1,500 | $1,500 | |
| Cedar window/door trim | $3,500 | $3,500 | |
| Cedar T&G porch ceiling (~847 sf) | $2,200 | $2,200 | |
| Electrical materials, DIY install | $3,500 | $3,500 | |
| Plumbing materials, DIY install | $2,800 | $2,800 | |
| HVAC, heat pump, ductwork, licensed sub for refrigerant | $10,000 | $10,000 | |
| Heat pump water heater (80 gal) | $2,000 | $2,000 | |
| Insulation, hybrid (spray foam roof + fiberglass batt walls) | $5,800 | $5,800 | |
| Subtotal | $66,940 | $66,940 | |
| Contingency 10% | $6,694 | $6,694 | |
| Phase 3 Total | $73,634 | $73,634 |
Interior Finishes + Certificate of Occupancy
| Description | Original budget | Current estimate | Spent so far |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall, DIY materials (less T&G ceiling area, includes garage 5/8" Type X) | $2,400 | $2,400 | |
| T&G ceilings, pine, ~1,400 sf | $4,200 | $4,200 | |
| Interior paint | $3,500 | $3,500 | |
| Flooring, engineered wood (living areas) + tile (baths) | $9,500 | $9,500 | |
| Interior doors (11) | $2,500 | $2,500 | |
| Interior trim, base, casing, crown | $2,500 | $2,500 | |
| Stairway finishing (treads, risers, handrail, balusters, newels) | $1,800 | $1,800 | |
| Cabinets, kitchen + 3 bath vanities | $10,000 | $10,000 | |
| Countertops, quartz or butcher block | $5,000 | $5,000 | |
| Plumbing fixtures (3 toilets, 4 sinks, 2 tub/showers, faucets) | $3,300 | $3,300 | |
| Plumbing trim labor (sub returns to install fixtures) | $2,500 | $2,500 | |
| Electrical trim, fixtures, devices, panel finish | $3,500 | $3,500 | |
| Appliances (range, fridge, dishwasher, microwave, washer/dryer) | $7,500 | $7,500 | |
| HVAC trim, registers, final connections, commissioning | $1,500 | $1,500 | |
| Final inspection, CO prep, address signage | $500 | $500 | |
| Subtotal | $60,200 | $60,200 | |
| Contingency 10% | $6,020 | $6,020 | |
| Phase 4 Total | $66,220 | $66,220 |
Project Totals
| Phase | Original budget | Current estimate | Spent so far |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before the Build (land, permits, site prep, septic, architect; already spent) | $79,370 | $79,370 | $79,370 |
| Phase 1, Basement + Floor System | $81,726 | $86,294 | $67,983 |
| Phase 2, Upper Structure Dried-In | $41,006 | $41,006 | |
| Phase 3, Envelope Close-Up + Rough-Ins | $73,634 | $73,634 | |
| Phase 4, Interior Finishes + Certificate of Occupancy | $66,220 | $66,220 | |
| Construction budget (Phases 1–4) | $262,586 | $267,154 | $67,983 |
| Total project (before the build + Phases 1–4) | $341,956 | $346,524 | $147,353 so far |