Forgot a question or two I know many will ask. I started the stone circle base after killing Elkthyr. Needed that antler pickaxe to whack boulders for the stone. Used core wood for framing.

Yes, it did take a lot of time and effort. I like expending my time and effort in building, rather than rebuilding and rebuilding and rebuilding.

Once I could build a stone cutter, I replaced the earthen support columns with stone to get more interior space on the ground floor. I did not replace the outer earthen walls with stone walls. From my experience, enemies are much more likely to attack and breach wood and stone walls than they are earthen walls.