Building Off the Grid

Marine scientists in Florida hire engineers Nicolas Derouin and Arnaud Luguet to create a first-of-its-kind floating home; they have nine months to complete it, but unpredictable weather and building hiccups may sink this project before it can swim.

A young family embarks on their biggest and most challenging build yet -- an in-earth cavern in the mountains of northern Georgia. But building on a mountain will be anything but easy as they deal with a rocky terrain, extreme heat and heavy rain.

A couple sets out to build a tree-house retreat in northern Georgia overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains; although the build calls for a mile-long, uphill trek with all of their materials, the end result is the ultimate childhood dream come true.

An outdoor enthusiast works to build his dream retirement home in the Idaho mountains, but weather and material shortages slow his timeline.

A couple plans to build an oceanfront oasis for their family in Maui, Hawaii and, to keep the budget low, they design a Quonset hut which can be built cheaply and quickly, but some setbacks test their limits at every turn.

Novice builder Danny Clark attempts to construct a 600-square-foot stone cabin in Vermont's White River Valley; the home is sure to be a true work of art, but his inexperience, the harsh winter and the unusual architecture push him to his limits.

Off-the-grid contractor Gregg Smith battles the elements to build a cliff-side retreat for a family in the Sierra Nevada Mountains; for Gregg and his team, erecting this house in the middle of nowhere comes with its share of challenges.

A couple plans to build a unique outdoor living space in Colorado by using donkeys to get materials to the top of their steep build site, but their plans go haywire.

A Colorado couple attempts to build one of the most energy-efficient homesteads in the state; Mother Nature and bleeding-edge technologies give them a run for their money as they race to complete their high-end alpine lodge before winter hits.

A family of three in the North Georgia mountains is building a geodesic dome home at the top of their property; after endless rainstorms, their build site becomes inaccessible and they question if their home will ever be completed.

A nature-loving architect builds a modern California cabin that rivals the views of nearby Big Sur.

First-time builders Shay and Shae set out to build a home using five shipping containers on a wooded lot in Oklahoma.

A musician college student works to build an off-the-grid treehouse compound in Arkansas, but water and supply issues could disrupt his 30-day deadline, even with his father's help.

A Missouri couple who have inherited property are now cleaning it up and building it out, but troubles multiply as hurricane rains flood the buildsite, a gigantic burn pile creates larger flames than expected, and materials arrive broken.

In Ohio, two brothers build a high-end, off-grid vacation home on their family's cattle ranch.

A family of four is building a luxury glamping escape overlooking the Texas Hill Country, but the build process is anything but glamorous; with the rain, challenging terrain and critters, they must work together to get to the finish line.