A family in eastern Kentucky is gearing up for winter in a unique way, having recently settled into their unfinished home after a three-year building project. Courtney and Scott C, along with their five young children, made the move in April 2026, but the chill of spring still lingered, revealing the challenges of residing in a partially completed house.
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Courtney shared with PEOPLE that the initial transition was particularly tough for her children. “I remember having to get the kids up and ready for school when it was freezing inside,” she recounted. “They didn’t want to get out from under their covers, and honestly, I couldn’t blame them.” These mornings, she noted, highlighted the family’s urgent need to address the lack of proper insulation and heating in their new home.
Though the C family enjoyed basic amenities like electricity, running water, and a functional bathroom, essential insulation and a permanent heating system were still missing. Initially relying on portable heaters, they found that the warmth quickly escaped through the unfinished walls and ceilings. Courtney explained that it posed safety risks to leave the heaters running overnight, causing the house to be cold again each morning. This experience galvanized the couple’s resolve to prioritise insulating their home ahead of the harsh winter months.
Preparing their abode for winter has taken on additional significance, as Scott has planned ten days off work from his job in coal mining specifically for this project. He intends to utilise this time to manage tasks like installing insulation, hanging drywall, and fitting tongue-and-groove ceiling boards. Furthermore, the couple hopes to install a propane gas log set in their fireplace, which Courtney says can heat areas up to 1,500 square feet. To supplement this, they also plan to install wall-mounted electric heaters in the children’s bedrooms and bathroom.
Financial constraints have added pressure to the project. Typically, purchasing all the necessary materials for the winterisation process could delay progress for several months, pushing any real completion date into December. However, fortune smiled upon them when they received an unexpected email from home improvement retailer Lowe’s that could expedite their preparations. Initially sceptical about the message, Courtney discovered it was indeed genuine—Lowe’s expressed a desire to partner with them and fund the materials needed for their chosen project.
The unexpected support came as a welcome relief to Scott, who has been the primary builder on the house. “He looked relieved,” Courtney recalled, noting the emotional weight that had been lifted. With the prospect of funding for crucial materials, the family is optimistic that they will soon make significant advances in winterproofing their home.
Despite the added pressure and challenges, Courtney has shifted her outlook on the upcoming season.Reflecting on last winter’s difficulties, she expressed a sense of renewed hope. “We take things one obstacle and one day at a time,” she commented. “I’m hopeful that once we get this winterisation project finished, we’ll be in a much better position than we were last spring.”
As the family works diligently to prepare their house for winter, they remain committed to completing their construction journey, one step—and one season—at a time. The story of the C family exemplifies the resilience and determination required when building a home while navigating financial constraints and the practical challenges of seasonal weather.