How It Works · Ed’s Backyard Builds
Six Steps. Total Transparency.
No Surprises at Any Stage.
Every Ed’s Backyard Builds project follows the same process — from the first conversation to the completion walkthrough. The steps do not change based on which series you choose or how large the structure is. What changes is the content of each step: the site conditions assessed, the materials specified, the upgrades planned, and the permits required.
This page documents every step in full — what happens, what Ed does, what you are responsible for, and what to expect at each stage. If you read this page and still have questions, call Ed directly. He answers every inquiry personally.
Contact
Visit
Proposal
Build
Walkthrough
01
First Contact
Your Inquiry & Initial Conversation —
You Reach Ed. Ed Answers.
The first step is a direct conversation — by phone, by email, or through the contact form. You reach Ed Shackelford personally. Not a call center, not a customer service representative, not an automated scheduling system.
This first conversation has one purpose: to understand your project well enough to determine whether a site visit makes sense. Ed will ask about your series interest, property location, intended use, timeline, and any specific site concerns or constraints.
- What to have ready: your approximate property location, a general sense of which series interests you, and any site constraints you already know about — setbacks, grade changes, HOA rules, or access limitations.
- What Ed will tell you: whether your project sounds like a fit for Ed’s Backyard Builds, any immediate questions or concerns based on your location or series selection, and what the site visit will involve.
- No commitment required: the first conversation carries no obligation on either side. Ed will tell you honestly if he does not think your project is the right fit before a site visit is ever scheduled.
- Helpful tip: if you have photos of your backyard or intended build site, attach them to your email inquiry. They help Ed assess grade, access, and setbacks before the visit.
02
Site Visit
On-Site Assessment —
Ed Visits Your Property Before Anything Is Priced.
Every Ed’s Backyard Builds project begins with a site visit — an in-person assessment of your property conducted by Ed before the written proposal is prepared. This is not a sales call. It is a technical visit.
The information gathered here shapes every line of the proposal that follows and prevents the surprises that happen when a project is priced from a satellite image and assumptions.
- Grade & drainage assessment: Ed evaluates slope, drainage patterns, and soil conditions at your intended build site. Significant grade changes may require additional foundation work or alternative leveling approaches.
- Setback confirmation: required setbacks from property lines, existing structures, easements, and utility lines are assessed and discussed before pricing is finalized.
- Access & placement: material delivery access, optimal structure placement, and existing backyard features — trees, fences, grade changes, and structures — are documented.
- Electrical & utility routing: for structures that benefit from electrical service, Ed notes panel proximity, potential conduit routing, and load requirements based on your intended use.
- HOA review: if your property is subject to HOA restrictions, the compliance conversation happens before any commitment is made.
- Series and size recommendation: Ed may recommend a different series, size, or placement based on what he observes. His recommendation is driven by what is right for your property — not by what produces the largest sale.
03
Written Proposal
Line-Item Pricing. Every Material Specified.
No Surprises at Handoff.
Following the site visit, Ed prepares a written proposal — a complete line-item document that specifies every material, every upgrade, every exclusion, and every cost associated with your project.
The proposal is delivered in writing before you commit to anything. You have time to review it, compare it, and ask questions about any line item before signing.
- Series and configuration: the specific series, size, and configuration selected, with standard features documented — foundation system, floor assembly, framing specification, roofline, windows, siding, and exterior primer.
- Upgrade line items: every selected upgrade — electrical sub-panel, insulation, HVAC, plumbing rough-in, low-voltage rough-in, or door upgrades — is priced separately and clearly.
- Site-specific work: any foundation preparation, grading, or access work required by site conditions is itemized separately from the standard build price.
- Explicit exclusions: what is not included in the proposal is stated as clearly as what is included. Interior finishes, exterior paint, permits, and work outside Ed’s structural scope are noted.
- Timeline estimate: a realistic build timeline based on municipality requirements, material ordering, current schedule, and project complexity.
- No pressure: Ed does not follow up with high-pressure calls. When you are ready, you reach out.
04
Permits
Permits Are Your Responsibility.
Ed Gives You the Exact Roadmap.
Building permits for accessory structures are the homeowner’s responsibility. Ed does not pull permits on your behalf, and he will not advise you to skip a permit that is required.
What he will do is give you a clear, specific roadmap for your municipality: what type of permit to apply for, which office to contact, what documentation the application usually requires, and what to expect from the inspection process.
- Permit roadmap provided: Ed identifies the likely permit type required for your structure and the documentation generally needed, such as site plan, structural information, and HOA approval if applicable.
- Electrical permits: if electrical service is included in your proposal, the electrical permit is handled by the licensed electrician, not by the homeowner.
- Plumbing permits: if plumbing is included, the plumbing permit follows the licensed trade process and may involve additional municipal review depending on your jurisdiction.
- After you apply: Ed coordinates material ordering and build scheduling around the realistic permit approval timeline for your project.
- If your permit is denied or modified: Ed reviews the denial or modification requirements with you and advises on how to respond.
05
The Build
Ed, Randall, and Travis — On Site.
Every Structural Element Built by Hand.
The build is where everything discussed in the previous steps becomes a structure. Ed, Randall, and Travis arrive on site and build every structural element — foundation, framing, roofing, siding, windows, and doors — by hand.
Licensed trade partners handle electrical, plumbing, and HVAC if selected — coordinated and scheduled by Ed to follow structural completion in the correct sequence.
- Foundation: 6×6 YellaWood® pressure-treated grade beams are positioned, moisture barrier is installed, and the leveling system is set to your site’s specific grade conditions.
- Floor system: 2×6 pressure-treated joists are installed at 16" on center, the double center beam is set, and 3/4" 7-ply pressure-treated plywood subfloor is installed. Never OSB.
- Wall framing: 2×6 kiln-dried studs at 16" on center, 1/2" pressure-treated sheathing, and interlocking double top plate establish the structural shell.
- Roof structure: custom-cut 2×6 rafters or steel-plated engineered trusses, hurricane ties, 1/2" roof sheathing, and roofing material are installed to specification.
- Exterior finish: LP SmartSide® siding, windows, doors, shutters, gable vents, and extended eaves are completed. Exterior is primed and ready for finish coating.
- Trade work: licensed electrician, plumber, or HVAC technician arrives for selected upgrade installation after structural completion, sequenced by Ed.
06
Completion
Completion Walkthrough & Handoff —
The Build Ends. The Relationship Does Not.
Before Ed and his sons leave the site, they walk the completed structure with you — every detail, every finish, and every installed system. Nothing is handed off without being reviewed.
- Structural review: foundation, floor system, framing, roofline, siding, windows, doors, shutters, gable vents, and eaves are reviewed with you on site.
- Trade systems review: if electrical, plumbing, or HVAC was installed, systems are reviewed and confirmed operational according to the applicable trade scope.
- Warranty documentation delivered: the 30-year structural warranty is documented and delivered at the completion walkthrough — not left vague or “available on request.”
- The 30-day sealing requirement confirmed: all exterior wood surfaces must be sealed within 30 days of structural completion or warranty coverage can be affected. Ed confirms this requirement directly at handoff.
- Care instructions provided: exterior maintenance guidance, paint compatibility with LP SmartSide®, and recommended inspection intervals are discussed.
- Ed’s direct contact confirmed: Ed’s phone number and email address are your direct contact for follow-up questions, warranty issues, or future project conversations.
Process Questions · Ed’s Backyard Builds
Questions About the Build Process
That Do Not Fit Into Six Steps.
These are the questions that come up between the steps — the ones a homeowner thinks of after reading the process and before picking up the phone.
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The total timeline depends mostly on permitting, municipality review, material ordering, weather, and current scheduling. The actual structural build is usually the shorter part of the process.
A straightforward structure in a municipality with efficient permit processing can move faster. A more complex structure with electrical, plumbing, or more detailed municipal review naturally takes longer. Ed gives you a realistic timeline estimate at the proposal stage based on your municipality and configuration.
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Yes, but changes after proposal signing are handled as written change orders. No change to the project scope proceeds without a documented change order that explains the modification, cost impact, and schedule impact.
Some changes are straightforward. Others, such as adding electrical after materials are ordered or changing a configuration after permit review, may carry real cost and schedule consequences. Ed explains those consequences before the change is approved.
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The payment schedule is specified in the written proposal and may vary by project size and configuration. A typical structure uses staged payments tied to commitment, material ordering, build progress, and completion.
Ed does not require full payment upfront, and final payment is not requested before the completion walkthrough is conducted and unresolved items are addressed.
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Ohio Valley weather is factored into build scheduling. Weather delays are one of the most common reasons a build schedule changes, and Ed communicates those changes directly when they occur.
Structural framing, roofing, and siding cannot be safely or properly installed in high wind or heavy rain. If weather affects your build, Ed updates the schedule. No pressure is applied to work in unsafe or improper conditions.
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You do not need to be present on site for the entire build, although many homeowners choose to be present on the first day when placement and foundation work begin. Ed will need agreed property access and access to any utilities included in the scope.
Your presence is expected for the completion walkthrough, because that is when the finished structure is reviewed, documentation is delivered, and final handoff occurs.
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The completion walkthrough exists for exactly that reason. If anything in the completed structure does not match the proposal specification or falls short of the workmanship standard, it is identified and resolved.
A walkthrough is not a formality. It is a quality checkpoint where the proposal and finished structure are compared directly. Items that do not pass that comparison are addressed before final handoff is complete.
Ready to Begin · Ed’s Backyard Builds
You Know the Process.
Step One Is a Phone Call.
Every project starts with a direct conversation with Ed. No forms that disappear, no automated scheduling, no contact queue. Call or email — he responds personally.
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