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Construction Log

We’re building more than a house — we’re chronicling a legacy. This page records the full construction process, brought to life by the skilled hands of Lake Anna Timber Homes, a father-and-son company founded by Matt & Ed Benes.

📅 June 2025 – Site Clearing Complete

Initial clearing of the main house building lot is complete. We worked with a local crew to clear brush, push back the tree line, and prep for grading. The views of the Middle River valley are starting to open up beautifully.

Cleared site view toward tree line
Cleared site view toward tree line.
Drone photo of circular cleared house site
Drone photo of circular cleared house site.

Tags: Site Prep Main House & Cottage

📅 November 2025 – Basement Excavation & Driveway Progress

This week brought major movement on the homestead build — quite literally. The crew has been working steadily through an unexpectedly tough section of bedrock while carving out the basement footprint and shaping the main driveway approach. The amount of stone below the surface has been far greater than projected, and as Ed noted, they’ve been “plugging along with the pesky rock” while keeping us updated on the overages tied to the additional hammering and removal work.

A larger excavator fitted with a 10,000-lb hammer is slated to arrive shortly, and the team expects the remaining rock to break up within a day or two once it’s on site. Despite the surprises, real progress is happening — the lower level of the house is beginning to take shape, and the driveway cut is starting to look like the future road we’ll drive up every day.

Large fractured rock uncovered during basement excavation
Fractured rock exposed as the basement footprint is carved out.
Rock wall and excavation cut near the future basement
Excavation cut revealing dense, iron-rich stone layers.
Heavy equipment working through stubborn rock
The crew hammering through some of the toughest material on the site so far.
Early gravel base being shaped for the driveway
Driveway shaping underway — the first real path into the homestead.

Tags: Excavation Site Prep Main House & Cottage

With every beam set and every joint crafted, this home becomes more than structure — it becomes a story, a collaboration of land, family, and tradition.