GableworthDesign-Build · Cold Spring HarborProjectsPlan a build
Creek House framed and sheathed beside the salt marsh, two carpenters setting rafters on the ridge.

Creek HouseSouthold

No. 38 / New house / Under construction, week 31 of 69. Photo: week 28, 11 September

A new house on a tidal creek in Southold, under construction now: week 31 of 69.

Scope
New house
Status
Under construction, week 31 of 69
Area
3,240 sq ft
Lot
2.3 acres
Bedrooms / baths
3 / 3.5
Design, approvals, build
7, 7 and 16 months, planned
Contract
$2,962,000
Final cost
Building
Changes
2 owner, 1 site, 1 credit, so far
Superintendent
Luis Amaral
Approvals
Building permit, Septic approval, Trustees permit, Flood elevation
01 / The site

Thirty inches above the marsh.

2.3 acres of flat lawn running to a salt marsh and a tidal creek. The lower third is in a flood zone, and the trustees set a buffer along the marsh edge that nothing crosses.

Contours every 1 ft. High point 100 ft, low point 92 ft. Ground generalized from the survey, which stays with the owners.

TRUSTEES BUFFERFLOOD ZONE, LOWER THIRD95CREEK HOUSESCREENED PORCHSALT MARSHTidal creekROAD98.594.5N050 FTCreek HouseL-1 · CONTOURS EVERY 1 FT · HIGH 99.7 · LOW 91.9NO. 38

Creek House, site plate

TRUSTEES BUFFERFLOOD ZONE, LOWER THIRD95CREEK HOUSESCREENED PORCHSALT MARSHTidal creekROAD98.594.5N050 FTCreek HouseL-1 · CONTOURS EVERY 1 FT · HIGH 99.7 · LOW 91.9NO. 38

On a small screen, scroll sideways to read the whole sheet.

02 / The brief

A house for two that can hold eight.

Two people most of the year, eight in August. The guest wing had to close off in winter so the heat stays where the people are.

Creek House in week 13: the raised concrete foundation with its sill and floor joists, the deck half sheathed, two of the crew at the far edge, the marsh and the creek behind.
PL. 01 / Week 13, 29 May. The sill on its gasket and the first-floor deck going down, 30 inches above the lawn. The two cedars by the marsh stayed.
03 / The answer

An L on the creek.

Two gabled wings in an L, the long one on the creek side, raised 30 inches on a flood-resistant foundation. The short wing holds the guests and shuts behind one door.

STAIR10'-0" x 24'-0"CO-03 seatKITCHEN16'-0" x 24'-0"DINING14'-0" x 24'-0"LIVING26'-0" x 24'-0"PRIMARY18'-0" x 16'-0"BATH10'-0" x 8'-0"CLOSETSCREENED PORCH18'-0" x 14'-0"GUEST12'-0" x 14'-0"BATH10'-0" x 8'-0"LAUNDRYGUEST12'-0" x 14'-0"BUNK ROOM10'-0" x 14'-0"MUDROOM22'-0" x 12'-0"84'-0"78'-0"N10 FTA-101 · CREEK HOUSE · FIRST FLOORThe short wing shuts behind one door in winter.

Creek House, first floor

STAIR10'-0" x 24'-0"CO-03 seatKITCHEN16'-0" x 24'-0"DINING14'-0" x 24'-0"LIVING26'-0" x 24'-0"PRIMARY18'-0" x 16'-0"BATH10'-0" x 8'-0"CLOSETSCREENED PORCH18'-0" x 14'-0"GUEST12'-0" x 14'-0"BATH10'-0" x 8'-0"LAUNDRYGUEST12'-0" x 14'-0"BUNK ROOM10'-0" x 14'-0"MUDROOM22'-0" x 12'-0"84'-0"78'-0"N10 FTA-101 · CREEK HOUSE · FIRST FLOORThe short wing shuts behind one door in winter.

On a small screen, scroll sideways to read the whole sheet.

04 / The price

So far.

Signed at $2.962M in February 2026. Two owner changes, one credit and one site change so far: a soft pocket of soil at the northeast footing, paid from the contingency.

First band
$2,850,000 to $3,100,000
Contract
$2,962,000
So far
+$2,550 in signed changes. $14,200 drawn from the contingency.
Construction
$2,704,000
Site work, septic and flood foundation
$258,000
Total
$2,962,000
Sample data

Design fees are billed separately: 10 percent of construction for a new house, 12 percent for a renovation or an addition.

05 / Materials

What Creek House is made of.

  • Raised concrete foundation

    Poured walls 30 in above grade, eight flood vents

    The whole house. Done in week 11.

  • Charcoal standing-seam metal roofing.
    Standing seam, charcoal

    1.5-in seam

    Both roofs. Ordered 1 June.

  • White cedar shingle

    5-in exposure, left to weather

    Every wall. Goes up in weeks 37 to 48.

  • Aluminum-clad wood windows

    Black outside, painted inside, 31 units

    Land the week of 26 October.

  • Rift-and-quartered white oak

    7-in boards, site-finished matte

    Floors. Awaiting the owners' approval.

  • Unlacquered brass

    Mortise locks and faucets

    Chosen in November and January.

Plates

More of Creek House.

Two carpenters on the ridge of Creek House setting the last rafter pair.
PL. 02 / Week 28, 11 September. Two of the crew on the ridge setting the last rafter pairs.
A stair landing in an open stud frame: a new rough opening for a window and the plain box frame of a window seat below it.
PL. 03 / Week 30. The stair landing where Rachel asked for a seat on 24 September. The plywood box is a mock-up at seat height, so they could sit in the morning light before signing CO-03.
A full-size sample leaning against the studs of a framed house: white oak flooring, stone, a painted window casing and lime plaster on a board.
PL. 04 / Week 30. Samples against the studs where they will be lit: the oak floor, the casing, the plaster. The floor is still waiting on the owners.
06 / The build

Week 31 of 69.

Creek House framed and sheathed: two gabled wings in an L, grey underlayment on one roof, a carpenter where the two ridges meet, two cedars at the marsh edge on the left.
PL. 05 / Week 30, 25 September. Both wings sheathed, the underlayment started on one roof, and one of the crew where the two ridges meet.

The frame is up and the roof is closing in. The framing inspection is booked for 13 October and the windows land the week of 26 October. Rachel and James see every photograph in their portal on Friday, with the superintendent's note beside it.

See the Creek House portal
Creek House, week 1: the site cleared, two red cedars kept by the marsh.
Week 1, 6 Mar. Clearing done. The two cedars by the marsh stay.
Creek House, week 5: footing trenches dug, groundwater at the bottom.
Week 5, 3 Apr. Excavation for footings. Groundwater at 9 ft, as the test pit said.
Creek House, week 11: foundation walls waterproofed below grade.
Week 11, 15 May. Foundation walls waterproofed and inspected. Backfill next week.
Creek House, week 18: first-floor walls standing, the creek through the openings.
Week 18, 3 Jul. First-floor walls standing. The creek side has the big openings.

More houses

Vineyard Barn House at dusk, a black barn form at the end of the vine rows with its tall door lit.

Vineyard Barn House

SoutholdNew house · 2023See the house
Dune Shingle House at dawn: the three shingled gables in soft early light, a pale sky and dew on the dune grass.

Dune Shingle House

BridgehamptonNew house · 2025See the house
Bluff House from the bluff lawn at dusk, three stepped levels of cedar shingle with the living level lit.

Bluff House

Lloyd HarborNew house · 2024See the house

A house like Creek House, on your ground.

The planner starts from this project's size and scope and gives you a fresh band for your town. A site visit is an hour on the lot with an architect and our estimator.

Plan a build like thisBook a site visit

Gableworth Design-Build30 pages / Fictional brand / Demo site by Sumo Studios
Start
Main pages
Details
Try it
Behind the counter
Small print
Back to Sumo Studios

[] previous / next demo