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.
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.
Fractured rock exposed as the basement footprint is carved out.Excavation cut revealing dense, iron-rich stone layers.The crew hammering through some of the toughest material on the site so far.Driveway shaping underway — the first real path into the homestead.
ExcavationSite PrepMain House & Cottage
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.Drone photo of circular cleared house site.
Site PrepMain 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.
