COMPLETED BUILD // MANTENO, IL

Manteno New Construction: From Empty Lot to Finished Ranch Home

This three-bedroom, two-bath ranch in Manteno, Illinois, is a spec home we built from the ground up on an empty lot, managing the project from site preparation through the final finishes.

We started with a permit-ready ranch plan and improved it along the way. We added two feet to the back of the house for more living space and replaced the planned garden tub with a larger 36 × 48-inch walk-in shower in the primary bath.

01 // SITE PREP

LAYING OUT THE LOT

The lot sits on a cul-de-sac and is just over half an acre. Before any digging, the home's footprint was staked and strung out on site.

Empty lot in Manteno, Illinois staked and strung out for a new ranch home

02 // FOUNDATION

EXCAVATION AND FOUNDATION

The home sits on a full basement. After excavation, footings were formed for the basement walls and the attached two-car garage. The poured concrete walls were then damp-proofed on the outside, with window wells set for the basement windows.

Excavation and footing forms for the basement and garage of a new construction home in Manteno, Illinois

Poured concrete basement walls with exterior damp-proofing and window wells at a new construction home in Manteno, Illinois

03 // FRAMING

FRAMING THE VAULTED GREAT ROOM

The great room, kitchen and dining area share one vaulted ceiling, framed with scissor trusses. The bedrooms have 9-foot ceilings, and a full staircase leads down to the basement.

Framed vaulted great room with scissor trusses in a new construction ranch home in Manteno, Illinois

04 // CUSTOM DETAIL

BUILDING THE SUNBURST WALL

The dining area's feature wall was laid out on site with a laser, then built and painted as a black and gold sunburst under the vaulted ceiling.

Sunburst accent wall trim being laid out with a laser level in a vaulted dining area

Finished black and gold sunburst accent wall under a vaulted ceiling

05 // PRIMARY BATH

A BIGGER PRIMARY SHOWER

The original plans called for a garden tub and a small separate shower. Instead, we created one larger 36 × 48-inch walk-in shower that made better use of the available space.

The shower was built with cement board, a waterproofing system, wood-look and charcoal tile, a recessed niche, and matte black fixtures.

Primary shower framed in cement board and waterproofing before tile

Finished 36 by 48 inch walk-in shower with wood-look and charcoal tile and a recessed niche

06 // THE FINISHED HOME

THE FINISHED HOME

The finished home has a vaulted great room, a custom maple kitchen with a quartz island and walk-in pantry, three bedrooms, two fully tiled baths, and a board-and-batten and stone exterior.