Construction start to finish of a modern ICF mountain cabin.

This video documents the one-year journey to complete the construction of a modern mountain cabin. As an owner-build, the goal was to create something high-end, unique, maintenance free, and modern, using only the best materials.

To discover more of what's unique about the cabin you can find us on Instagram:

@zenplicitycabin

Want to stay here? Find our listings here:

Construction materials:

Exterior ICF (insulating concrete forms) walls (12 inches thick)
Black 16"inch wide, 26 gauge, standing seam metal roofing and front wall.
trex decking
Feeney cable rails
Stained concrete slab with variegation and mottling
Stem wall foundation/gravel backfill
Fiber cement siding
Zip wall system
Low E double paned windows
Interior wood frame

Special features:

Eco-Luxe
Architect Designed (Modern exterior, minimalist interior)
Diakin 18,000 Btu 17-seer ducted mini
split heat pump with 8 kw heat
strips. Unit is ducted so there are no hanging wall units.
Propane powered Navian tankless water heater (NPE-210A2) with a recirculating pump (Instant hot water)
Passive solar design
Smart home technology
Modern black stainless steel appliances
Trimless recessed lights
Floating vanities
Built-in Electric Fireplace
Modern Tile
Triple Bunk

#cabinbuild #architecture #ownerbuilder #ownerbuild #ICFconstruction #ICF #moderncabin #moderndesign #zenplicitycabin #financialfreedom #passiveincome #incomeproperty #shorttermrentals #diy

[richardatten]

I am a General I love that you applied so many newer material applications like Zip Wall and Roof systems, ICF, Mini Split AC, etc...I did not see Solar or rain collection from the roof, but either way, really nice build. Maybe move the trash can and build an enclosure so it's not the first thing you see when pulling up the driveway. congratulations on a job that was exceptionally well done! Great details.

[Louie]

I'm a now retired residential and light commercial builder with 30+ years of custom construction experience. That said, I am very impressed with your building of this mountain cabin for you and the family. Great Job!! Like others, I will be eager to see your cost breakdown. Hopefully you'll have multiple categories and break out labor and materials in those categories. It is obvious that you spared no expense in doing everything in a high-class manner and succeeded in an outstanding finished product.

[pierre.a.larsen]

The cabin looks great and solid. It will last a long time! The outside terrace in the back is amazing.

[angeloc]

That’s a nice robust build and I hope you and your family enjoy it for generations to come! Can’t wait for the cost breakdown video. I bought land on a slope in VT and am planning on building something similar.

Cheers!

[davidjondoh]

Nice build and great commentary. The only thing lacking IMO would be radiant heating in the slab floor.

[PoetClbrown]

That was so interesting i actually sat through the entire thing. I sometimes think I may have chosen the wrong career as a software developer because i love building things and working with my hands. This was very impressive. Beautiful build. I love Northern GA so that was a plus. That foundation is SOLID

[joes]

I like most everything you did with the exception of your water take away and lack of rear overhang. It's my personal bias as a carpenter that all houses deserve roofs with a perimeter overhang more so in harsh climates as it provides so much in extending life of structure. No idea what state or elevation this may be located at but I've been seasoned at 36" annual rainfall and or 2 foot snow loads. Between the roof shedding and the flat drive, seepage at the sill plate just seems to be a matter of time or season. Contemporary style is pretty down on gutters but got to give them their due for water take away. Having a 18in rear overhang could have provided much function and some cool under soffit down lighting to prevent light pollution. Great color/material selections!

[HamandisheMpofu]

The best construction 🚧🏗️ video by far. I absolutely loved it. The commentary is very audible and every single step of the construction have been covered. Well done.👌🏿🤜🏿

[ferrodell]

Great appearance for a modern cabin with all of the modern amenities 👍🏼
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Carpster]

Spent parts of the last 4 days to watch your full build here--John, amazing job buddy. Beautiful area, incredible modern design, and just a really well thought out home. The deck is my favorite part by far, but the fire pit, the hot tub, and all the other little touches really take this place from being solid and serviceable, to extraordinary. Really well done man.

p.s. spent a few years living in Western N.C. and will hopefully own a piece of dirt out that way again sometime soon.

[tynyyn]

Wow. As I put my hands in my pockets, shake my head, and walk away. You did an excellent job at building a cabin, yet as a guy who built my own house I can say there are areas in your build I'd have done differently....to save huge amounts of money. But, everybody is different and the way we both built our houses is different. You went for great amenities, I went for lower cost. Both achieved the same result, a ICF house with a metal roof, yet you got a approx. 1200sq/foot cabin, looking at a valley full of trees, I got a 4350 sq/ft home looking at a cove on a lake. Interesting, very interesting. Hope you enjoy it for years and years! God bless.

[jcdcsc]

Fantastic! Extend that deck out another 12'. Perfect outdoor space.

[kenjohnson]

Them boys did some damn good looking concrete work! That's a hard thing to find these days

[Chief-]

Cool place John, thanks for sharing. I appreciate how you “overbuilt” the place, should be solid building for a long time. Good luck!

[harrisedgar]

I'm having a blast looking at your construction..!!! (Gracias)

[wthomas]

I really like the overall finished cabin. Very chic. I might have actually built it on the upper level of the driveway with the deck extending over the current driveway so instead of dead ending the driveway at one point into the house, the deck would act as a car port and extra level of usable space. Basically shift the whole thing about 25 ft up the mountain slope. That is, if you owned the property. Of course, there's a reason behind everything. Kudos! Enjoy your new seasonal home! The Firespit is great!

[c.n.h]

Congratulations on the nice building. The only thing I would suggest is at least a 30 ft radius of trees be removed around the building it will help prevent damage if they're ever is some kind of wildfire I know it cuts into the view and the for lack of better words hidden home feel but foam melts pretty quickly and in a wildfire temperatures get extremely hot so the farther you cut a radius around the building the safer it will be just some fruit for thought. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.

[macleanclassics]

That was the perfect opportunity to double the sq footage and add a walkout basement....

[annaschmanna]

Very interesting to watch your house build. We just finished almost same build but ours is a 2 storey 8 inch ICF in a small town in Canada. Thank you for sharing.

[FEV]

Thank you for sharing a process like this.