Custom Home BuildingCarolina ForestNew ConstructionMyrtle Beach Real Estate

September 28, 2026

TL;DR: The latest Weekly Walk shows a Carolina Forest custom home moving from a poured slab toward framing. Rain, a short-handed crew and a shifted plumbing schedule cost about a week, and a 50-foot steel beam is the next big coordination task. August 2026 CCAR data shows why timing and planning matter in this part of Horry County.

Carolina Forest single-family homes closed at a median price of $490,950 in August 2026, up 12.3% from a year earlier, according to CCAR MLS (August 2026). Behind numbers like that, homes get built one pour and one delivery at a time. In the latest Weekly Walk, our crew poured the slab, absorbed a week of delays and lined up trusses for framing. This post follows the previous episode and connects what happened on site to local market and cost data. It also shows where a custom home build in Carolina Forest can slip.

Custom Home Build in Carolina Forest: Slab Pour Day

Slab day was long. Seven truckloads of concrete arrived, which the team estimated at about 80 cubic yards. Blocks were filled first, then the slab was poured.

The concrete crew started at 7 a.m. At 5:20 p.m. they were still on site, scoring control joints. Those joints are cut so the slab cracks where planned instead of at random. The team also plans a separate video with the concrete contractors, so this post focuses on schedule and cost. As they noted, this stage can look like little is changing, even when a lot is happening.

Slab Pour Day at a Glance

Detail	Reported on Site	Why It Matters
Concrete delivered	7 truckloads (about 80 yards, estimated)	Large footprint, one continuous pour day
Crew start time	7:00 a.m.	Finishing takes hours after the trucks leave
Still working	5:20 p.m., scoring joints	Joints control where cracks form
Schedule lost	About one week	Rain, crew shortage and plumbing shift combined

Source: Carolina Crafted Homes Weekly Walk video, latest episode.

Foundation work carries real weight in a budget. According to the NAHB Construction Cost Survey (2024 data, published January 2025), foundations averaged 10.5% of construction cost, or $44,748. The excavation, foundation, concrete and backfill line alone was 10.0%, or $43,002. These are national averages and 2024 figures, so local costs will differ.

Why Custom Home Build Schedules Slip

The crew lost about a week between the pour and framing. Rain came first. Then the concrete contractor was short-handed, and the plumbing schedule shifted because it depended on when the concrete could go in. Small gaps add up because trades follow one another. When one trade moves, the next one usually moves too.

The team also worked through a design change to the pool equipment plan while on site. Changes made mid-build are never ideal, but a plan was in place by the end of the visit.

Weather is the hardest variable. Until the home is dried in, with the roof on, the crew cannot control much of the schedule. After that, interior work moves more predictably. Our post on why custom home builds get delayed in Myrtle Beach covers these causes in more detail.

Site rules also shape timing. In unincorporated Horry County, a permit is required when construction or improvement costs exceed $500, according to Horry County Government (page accessed July 2026). For flood zone AE, the lowest floor must sit at least 3 feet above base flood level, verified by a finished-construction elevation certificate. Zone VE and Zone A follow different rules. Consult with a licensed professional for your specific parcel.

What Comes Next: Trusses, Framing and a Steel Beam

The crew confirmed truss delivery for that Friday, with framing set to start the following Monday. Another lumber drop was scheduled for Monday as well, in about three or four loads. Those loads cover the first floor, then the floor system between levels, then the second-floor walls and the roof.

A steel beam adds one more coordination task. The engineer recommended it because the home has a large span from side to side. The beam is about 50 feet long, and moving it from the shop to the lot takes planning. The team also plans a zip system on this build and will explain it in an upcoming video. The team described the pace as slow, slow, fast, then slow again. The structure goes up quickly, but interior work can make progress harder to see.

What Comes Next on Site

Step	Timing Stated	Detail
Truss delivery	Friday (two days out)	Confirmed during the walk
Lumber delivery	Following Monday	About 3 to 4 loads
Framing start	Following Monday	First floor, floor system, second floor, roof
Steel beam	About a week and a half	50 feet, delivery and install coordinated
Structure framed up	About two weeks	Progress looks slow again afterward

Source: Carolina Crafted Homes Weekly Walk video, latest episode. Timing reflects what was stated on camera and can change.

What Grand Strand Data Says About Timing

Local conditions matter when planning a build. According to CCAR MLS (August 2026), Carolina Forest single-family inventory fell 9.0% year over year, to 284 homes. Closed sales dropped 22.6%, while days on market improved to 93.

Carolina Forest Single-Family Market, August 2025 vs. August 2026

Metric	August 2025	August 2026	Change
Median sales price	$437,000	$490,950	+12.3%
Closed sales	106	82	-22.6%
Days on market	104	93	-10.6%
Homes for sale	312	284	-9.0%

Source: CCAR MLS, Local Market Update (August 2026), MLS Area 10B. Median price does not account for concessions and reflects all single-family sales, not only new construction.

Across the wider CCAR region, the single-family median was $369,900 in August 2026, up 1.9%, with 4.1 months of supply, according to CCAR MLS (August 2026). Financing costs also shape budgets. According to FRED (Freddie Mac 30-year rate series), the average rate was 6.95% for the week of September 17, 2026, versus 6.26% a year earlier. Programs and rates are subject to change; verify current details. Our buyer's guide explains how to plan around them.

Thinking about a custom home build in Carolina Forest? The stretch between slab and framing is where schedule, budget and site conditions meet. Questions about flood elevation, permit timing or how a steel beam changes the framing plan are worth asking early. Our team can walk through your plan and explain how we handle each step. When you are ready to talk specifics, start the conversation.

FAQ

How long does it take to get from a slab pour to framing on a custom home?

It depends on weather, crew availability and trade sequencing. On this Carolina Forest build, trusses were confirmed for delivery within two days of the video and framing was set to begin the following Monday. The team also lost about a week to rain, a short-handed crew and a shifted plumbing schedule. Timelines can change, so treat any single build as an example rather than a promise. Our guide to how long it takes to build a new home in South Carolina explains the full range of stages.

Why do custom home builds get delayed after the foundation?

Trades depend on each other. In this Weekly Walk, rain, a short-handed concrete crew and a plumbing schedule that had to wait on the concrete combined to cost about a week. The team also revisited its pool equipment plan on site. Until a home is dried in, weather stays outside the builder's control. After the roof is on, interior schedules tend to be easier to manage. Ask your builder how each trade is sequenced and what happens when one slips.

Why would a custom home need a steel beam?

In this build, the engineer recommended a steel beam because the home has a large span from side to side. The beam is about 50 feet long, and getting it from the shop to the lot requires coordinated delivery and installation. Structural choices like this come from the engineer's design for your specific plan, not from a general rule. Consult with a licensed professional about your own floor plan and lot.

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Horry County?

According to Horry County Government (Build Responsibly page, accessed July 2026), a permit is required in unincorporated areas when construction or improvement costs exceed $500, including materials and labor. Rules differ inside city limits, so confirm which jurisdiction your parcel sits in. Horry County Code Enforcement lists 843-915-5090 for questions. Regulations change; consult with a licensed professional and verify current details before you build.

What flood elevation rules apply to new homes in Horry County?

According to Horry County Government (Build Responsibly page, accessed July 2026), buildings in an AE flood zone must have the lowest floor at least 3 feet above base flood level. In a VE zone, the bottom of the lowest supporting horizontal member must sit at least 3 feet above base flood level. In a Zone A without an established base flood elevation, the lowest floor must be at least 24 inches above the highest adjacent grade. AE and VE homes need a finished-construction elevation certificate. Consult with a licensed professional for your parcel.

What is the Carolina Forest single-family market doing in August 2026?

According to CCAR MLS (August 2026), the Carolina Forest single-family median sales price was $490,950, up 12.3% from August 2025. Closed sales fell 22.6% to 82, days on market improved 10.6% to 93 and inventory dropped 9.0% to 284 homes. The median reflects all single-family sales, not only new construction, so it can shift with the mix of homes sold. Data reflects MLS Area 10B and is current as of September 10, 2026.