Home Building in Big Lake, MN

One Builder Accountable for Every Stage of the Build

New homes across Minnesota have needed passive radon-resistant construction since June 1, 2009, and more than 2 in 5 homes in the state test above the EPA action level. Curtis C Contracting LLC handles custom home building in Big Lake, MN, Becker and Otsego: lot evaluation, engineered plans and permits, footings at 42 inches, framing and truss setting, mechanical rough-ins, insulation and air sealing to the energy code, and interior finish work through drywall, trim and the final inspection.


Construction runs on a critical path, so we sequence excavation, framing, mechanical rough-ins, insulation and finish carpentry against inspection dates instead of guesswork, and we coordinate every subtrade ourselves. We hold Minnesota residential building contractor license BC808587, carry BBB A+ accreditation, answer 24-hour emergency calls, and bring 30 years of hands-on framing and finish work to each build. Minnesota Statute 327A warranty coverage comes with your new home. Estimates are free, so start yours on our contact page.

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Homes We Build From the Ground Up

  • Lot Evaluation and Site Planning

    Before plans are drawn we walk the parcel with you, checking soils, drainage, setbacks, utility access and where the driveway can meet the road. Solar orientation, tree cover and the walkout grade all shape the foundation type and the house placement.

  • Engineered Plans and Permit Submittal

    Drawings go to the city with structural details, beam and header schedules, energy calculations and a site survey. General building permits here run 10-15 business days, so we file early and answer plan-review comments before the excavator is scheduled.

  • Foundations and Frost-Depth Excavation

    Footings land 42 inches below grade because Sherburne County sits in frost Zone II, and the foundation gets damp-proofed, drain-tiled and backfilled once the inspector signs off. Basement walls are laid out for 7-foot finished ceilings where a lower level is planned.

  • Shell Framing, Windows and Exterior Finish

    Walls, floor systems and trusses go up to the engineered plan, then windows, doors, siding and roofing close the shell against weather. Trusses are set for the 50 psf ground snow load, and every bearing point carries down to the footing.

  • Insulation, Air Sealing and Blower-Door Testing

    Climate Zone 6 calls for R-49 attic insulation and R-20 cavity or R-13+5 wall assemblies, with a blower-door result of 3 ACH50 or tighter. Air sealing happens before insulation, and the passive radon vent stack goes in under the slab.

  • Interior Finish, Cabinetry and Final Inspection

    Drywall, trim, cabinetry, flooring, paint and fixtures land in an order that keeps trades out of each other's way. A punch walk with you comes before the final inspection, and touch-ups get closed out before the certificate of occupancy.

Why Choose Us for Home Building

A Written Schedule You Can Hold Us To

You get dates, not vague promises: excavation week, framing week, mechanical rough-in, drywall and finish, each tied to the inspection that follows it. When a truss delivery or a plan-review comment moves a date, you hear it from us that week.

Allowances Set Before You Pick Finishes

Cabinets, countertops, flooring, lighting and plumbing fixtures carry written allowances in the contract, so the number you sign reflects the finishes you actually want. Selections happen on a calendar, early enough that lead times never stall framing, drywall or the finish trades.

Change Orders Priced in Writing, Not After the Fact

Moving a wall or upgrading a window package changes the number, and you see that number in writing before anyone swings a hammer. Nothing gets built on a handshake, which keeps draw requests, the lender and your budget lined up.

Weekly Walkthroughs While the Walls Are Open

Once framing is up and rough-ins are in, we walk the house with you before insulation covers anything. Outlet heights, blocking for future grab bars, cable runs and appliance clearances are cheap to change then and expensive to change later.

Blower-Door Numbers Verified, Not Assumed

Air leakage gets measured, because the energy code sets a ceiling of 3 ACH50 and a house that misses it costs you every heating season. We seal rim joists, top plates and penetrations first, then test and correct what the reading finds.

Statutory Warranty Coverage Explained Up Front

Every new home in this state carries the 327A warranty: 1 year on workmanship, 2 years on plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling, and 10 years on major structural defects. We hand you that language and the paperwork trail at closing.

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Moving In Knowing What Is Behind Every Wall

A finished house hides almost everything that matters: the footing depth, the load path, the air sealing at the rim joist, the vent stack under the slab. Curtis C Contracting LLC builds homes in Big Lake, MN with those details documented, inspected and photographed as the work goes, so you move in knowing what is behind the drywall rather than hoping. If you have a lot picked out, a plan set in hand, or nothing more than a rough idea and a budget range, we are glad to sit down, look at what the parcel allows and put honest numbers on paper. Put the project in front of us through our contact page and we will quote it free.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What should I do first when planning a new home build?

    Start with the lot and the budget, because both set the floor plan long before style does. A soils check, setbacks, utility access and a lender conversation come ahead of drawings, so plans get designed to what the parcel and financing actually allow.

  • What is the order of steps in building a house?

    Site work and footings come first, then foundation, framing, roof, windows and exterior, followed by mechanical rough-ins, insulation, drywall, trim, cabinets, flooring and fixtures. Inspections punctuate that sequence, and each one has to pass before the next stage begins.

  • Do I need to own the land before getting a construction loan?

    Not always. Many lenders roll the lot purchase into the construction loan and close on both at once, while others want the land owned outright or under a signed purchase agreement first. Your lender's program decides which path applies.

  • What is a construction-to-permanent loan?

    One loan that funds the build in draws and then converts to a standard mortgage when the house is finished, so you close once instead of twice. Draws are released as stages pass inspection, which keeps payments tied to actual progress.

  • What causes delays in new home construction?

    Weather, plan-review comments, truss and window lead times, late selections and change orders account for most of it. Curtis C. Contracting orders long-lead items early on builds in Big Lake, MN and books inspections ahead, since general permits run 10-15 business days.

  • Can I make design changes once construction has started?

    Yes, though timing decides the cost. Moving a wall or a window while the framing is open is straightforward; the same change after drywall, cabinets or tile means demolition and rework. Every change gets priced and signed before we build it.

  • How do I choose a lot to build on?

    Look at drainage, soil, tree cover, utility access, setbacks and what the zoning permits before price. Curtis C. Contracting walks lots with clients in Big Lake, MN, reading grade for a walkout and checking whether city sewer or a septic system applies.

  • What is included in a set of house plans?

    Floor plans, elevations, foundation and framing details, wall sections, electrical layouts, window and door schedules, and structural notes from the engineer. Cities also want a site survey showing setbacks, and the energy calculations that back up the insulation values.