Building a Home of Your Dream

Building a dream home is one of the most outstanding achievements one can ever make. Once you’ve budgeted and had your finances at hand and the required contractors, you can begin working on constructing your home.

Here is a compilation of a standard home construction process. However, there could be slight changes here and there depending on the type and size of the residential home you want to construct.  

Phase One: Pre-Construction

During this first phase, you need to have your plan in place. You will need to consult a professional architect to help you plan the design of your home, its size, and other details depending on your budget. Apart from the architect, it will also be prudent to have a structural engineer on site to give more nuanced details of the construction process. These would include insight on the gravel and pillar sizes required, the depths of the foundation, reinforcements required, e.t.c.

You also need to obtain relevant permits from different government agencies to ensure that your construction process moves flawlessly. The following documents will be necessary when seeking the licenses:

• Land survey
• The land’s soil test report
• Architectural drawings
• Land documents
• Structural report

The most critical site test required is the Soil Penetration Test, SPT. It reveals the parameters and properties of the soil at the construction site.

Phase Two: Foundation

The team begins by clearing the area of rocks, trees for the building, rubble, and, if required, the septic system, using an excavator and a bulldozer. The crew prepares the site by levelling it, erecting wooden forms as a foundation pattern, and digging the pits and trenches. Next is putting the footings in place. At this time, if the home has a borehole, the crew will dig it.

The next step is to dig the hole, create and form the footings, and then follow the formation and pouring of the foundation walls if your home has a complete basement. If the foundation is slab-on-grade, the crew digs, forms, and pours the footings; next, they level and equip the space between them with utility runs like electrical chases, telephone cables, and plumbing drains; and they pour the slab.

It will take time for the concrete to cure after being put into the pits and trenches. There will not be any activity at the construction site at this stage. You can thus take advantage of this period to assemble the other items like tiles and cabinets. Though you will not need them immediately, it is best to have them on-site in advance to avoid inconveniences at a later stage.

The crew next installs sewer, drains, water taps, and any plumbing that has to be in the basement floor or first-floor slab, and backfills the space surrounding the foundation wall with excavated earth. 

Phase Three: Framing

The house’s shell, floor, wall, and roof systems are complete. The builders sheath the outside walls and roofing with oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood. You need to contract the services of a reputable company like Falcon FW Windows and Doors to fit the windows and exterior doors. Then follows the wrapping of the sheathing in a protective shield called a house wrap, which keeps liquid water out while simultaneously enabling vapor to escape. As a result, wood rot and mold are less likely.

The contractor will then install the roofing and siding after the shell is complete. Electrical and plumbing technicians simultaneously begin running utility lines through the inside walls, floors, and ceilings. Sewer pipes and vents are fit, along with water supply connections for every fixture. Since there’s more room to transport huge, heavy things, the contractors will install the one-piece shower/tub sets and bathtubs at this time. You will need to factor in the plumber’s cost at this stage.

The heating, ventilation, and conditioning systems (HVAC) system, including the furnace, require ductwork. The workers lay insulation in the ceilings, walls, and floors and connect HVAC vent tubes through the roof.

After this, an electrician installs outlet, switch, and light receptacles and runs lines from the breaker panels to every case. The project includes cable TV, a music system, and telephone wiring.

Inspectors check the building code conformance on rough plumbing framing and electromechanical systems. These will most probably be three separate examinations. The framing inspection will then be conducted independently from the electrical and mechanical reviews at the absolute least.

Phase Four: Interior and Exterior Finishing

There’s much happening both on the inside and outside. There’s waterproofing to keep the wall from becoming damp and external siding to improve the house’s elevation. Waterproofing is applied to the slab’s surface to prevent leaks. Terrazzo tiling is typically for preventing the slab from corrosion.

Internal plaster walls have a smooth texture, and the flooring is tiled or finished according to your specifications and desires. Painting and texturing the walls takes place now. 

Fixtures and woodwork fitting are also critical at this stage. It entails the installation of the bathroom and kitchen cabinets, cooling and heating systems, plus fireplaces. The switchboard, electrical, and plumbing fittings are complete in the bathroom and kitchen.

Painting is essential as it also adds beauty to your home to give your house a long life and color. There’s also the setting up of mirrors and other accessories as landscaping takes place on the outside. It may entail tree planting, gardening, and anything you desire.

Phase Five: Final Touches

Finally, your home construction work is over. It is essential to clean up and remove the casing on different items to make them ready for use. A critical point is a final inspection where the relevant authorities will assess the house and its drawings to ascertain whether you compiled with all the instructions.

You can thus apply for water and electrical connections plus any other basic need. The remaining part is a walk through your house. Your contractor will take you on a tour of your new home, explaining the features and operation of different systems and components, along with your care and upkeep obligations and warranty coverage and processes.

A pre-settlement walk-through is another term for this. It’s also an excellent time to look for anything that requires fixing or alteration, so be alert. Check for probable damage on the surfaces of the fixtures, walls, countertops, and floors. When you discover a scrape in a countertop after moving in, you’ll have no way of showing if the builder’s team or your movers caused the damage, causing a dispute.

Being satisfied with the work, you can now make arrangements to move into your new home.

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