Builds by Carly Mountain Home Construction

Builds by Carly Mountain Home Construction Building in the Smokies—and showing what makes it work.

For tradespeople, builders, investors, and anyone who loves a hard build: follow cliffside construction as it happens, then tour finished vacation homes.

09/02/2026

Welcome to the reality of custom mountain building. Today, we are tackling one of the most difficult lots I have ever developed.

When you build on a cliffside, gravity isn't your only enemy. We are dealing with massive property line setbacks, extreme septic constraints, and zero room for error—oh, and a local black bear.

09/01/2026

Before building on raw land, you need to know exactly where you are allowed to build.

At this property, we’re planning a hiking trail that leads up to a small lookout point on the ridge. It sounds like a simple outdoor amenity, but before we choose the final location, we need to make sure it stays outside the building setbacks.

That’s why surveying is so important.

Property lines, setbacks, easements, and buildable areas are not things you want to guess on — especially on steep land where moving something later could be expensive, difficult, or sometimes not realistic.

A few feet can make a major difference when you’re planning a house, driveway, deck, trail, or outdoor amenity.

Surveying helps protect the project, the budget, and the finished property.

Disclaimer: Property lines, setbacks, easements, permitting rules, and buildable areas vary by location and property. Always work with qualified surveyors, local officials, and building professionals before building or placing structures on land.

08/29/2026

We just bought a property with a three-bay garage—and it’s almost the same size as the one-bedroom house we’ll be building!

It can’t become additional living space, but almost everything else is on the table. One bay is completely separate, while the other two bays are connected.

What would you create in this space—and what do you think we have planned?

08/28/2026

You voted, and we listened! At our Azalea model in Pigeon Forge, we removed the large pine tree obstructing the mountain view—but kept the corner tree for privacy from the neighboring property.

Now imagine enjoying this view from the future hot tub or waking up to it through the bedroom’s window wall.

Did we make the right decision?

08/25/2026

What happens when you invite real clients and future buyers inside a brand new, custom site-built luxury home to tear apart the floor plan? No sugarcoating—just honest feedback on layout, headroom, square footage, and what actually works for a high-end mountain build.

Full reactions live on Youtube Tours Channel: Link in bio.

08/19/2026

Building on the steepest, rockiest terrain in the Smoky Mountains means you can't just build to minimum code—you have to engineer for the elements.

In this Bluff Mountain job site update, we are breaking down why we went above and beyond to add spray foam insulation underneath our treehouse-style pier foundation, even though it wasn't required.

Full Video Live on Youtube: Link in bio.

08/18/2026

When building a tiny house, outdoor amenities should not be treated like an afterthought.

At this property, we’re planning a hiking trail that leads up to a lookout point on the ridge. That may sound like a separate feature, but it actually affects construction decisions now — including how we design the permanent stairs and landing.

If amenities are planned too late, they can create extra work, added cost, awkward access, or missed opportunities.

Whether it’s a hiking trail, lookout deck, fire pit, hot tub, sauna, or outdoor seating area, these details can affect grading, stairs, walkways, drainage, utilities, safety, and budget.

Especially with short-term rental properties, you are not just building a house — you are building the guest experience.

The best amenities are planned early, not patched in later.

Disclaimer: Site planning, amenity placement, access, safety requirements, grading, and permitting vary by property and location. Always work with qualified professionals and local officials when planning outdoor features.

08/13/2026

This Pigeon Forge home is getting an amenity I’ve never seen incorporated into another property: a private hiking trail leading to a lookout at the highest point of the ridge.

From one side, you’ll see layers of Smoky Mountain views—especially at sunset. Turn the other way, and you’ll see the lights of Pigeon Forge after dark.

Which would you choose: sunset mountains or city lights?

Follow for distinctive Smoky Mountain properties, creative building ideas, and behind-the-scenes looks at what makes these homes stand out.

08/09/2026

In our first well drilling video, we drilled over 1,000 feet and still didn’t know if the well would produce enough water for this build.

Now we have the update.

Full video Live on Youtube: Link in bio.





08/04/2026

With an A-frame, insulation is not as simple as people think because the roof is basically your walls and ceiling too.

So you’re not just insulating a roof — you’re insulating the entire shape of the house.

That means you have to think about comfort, air sealing, moisture control, and how the roof assembly is designed.

On this build, we’re using spray foam insulation because this is not something you want to treat like an afterthought.

And because this home is built entirely on piers, we're also paying extra attention to the floor system.

The underside of the house is exposed to outdoor air, so we're using spray foam insulation there too.

Spray foam helps insulate the floor system while also helping create a better air seal, which can improve comfort throughout the home.

It’s one of those details people may never notice in photos, but they can absolutely feel once they’re inside.

That’s the thing about tiny houses: the smaller the space, the more every detail matters.

Follow for more Tiny House Tuesday tips and real-world building insights.

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Knoxville, TN

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+18655050514

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