Building your dream house is exciting, and many families love watching the process unfold as they picture life in their new home. So it’s natural to be curious about each stage of construction and how long it will take.
This article will detail each of the 10 steps of house building, but feel free to contact your contractors for updates throughout the process.
Table of Contents
Prepare the Land
Before anything happens, the lead contractor will seek approval from the local government and acquire all the necessary permits for the project. Then, once everything is approved and legally ready to go, they’ll begin preparing the land to support your house correctly.
The most precise method to determine the moisture and density of soils and aggregates is the nuclear gauges.
To start, they’ll clear any debris, like rocks and trees, from the site. Then, they’ll begin leveling the earth with a bulldozer. After the soil is level, they’ll compact it with a steam roller to prevent it from shifting.
Pour the Foundation
Once the land is prepped and ready, the crew will begin pouring the foundation, which consists of concrete and steel rods for support. There are two main types of foundation: slab or pier and beam (also known as a crawl space).
Once the concrete is poured, it needs time to cure before moving forward. Additionally, an inspector must come out and approve the foundation for your safety.
Build the Framing
This step is where it starts to get exciting. The crew will begin building the bones of the house: the walls, floor system, windows, and roofing. This step can take a few months, so they’ll cover the exterior of your new home with a house wrap to protect the wood from water damage and mold.
Plumbing, HVAC, and Electrical Installation
Once the framing is built and the house is dried in, the plumbing contractor will come and install the pipes and water lines for your water and sewage systems.
After that, the HVAC contractors will put in the ventilation, heating, and cooling ducts – and possibly your furnace. Then, the electrical contractor wires the house and connects the circuit breaker to the light switches, fixtures, and outlets.
Insulation
Now it’s time to insulate your home, which is vital for temperature regulation. It prevents the house from getting too hot or cold in the summer and winter months and keeps your electric bill down. Typically, the contractors will insulate your walls, floors, and attic.
Drywall and Interior Finishes
Once the home is insulated, the crew will begin hanging the drywall. So your house is almost finished! This is where families usually start to visualize life inside their new home. After the drywall is up, they’ll begin adding the interior finishes, such as your baseboards, windowsills, and paint!
Exterior
Now it’s time to complete the exterior of your home. During this stage, they’ll pour in the concrete for patios and driveways. Once the concrete cures, they’ll seal it to prevent water damage. After that, they’ll finish grading your yard to ensure proper water drainage.
Then, they’ll plant grass and any requested trees or plants around the property. If you asked for a pool or deck, they’d be built at this point as well.
Fixtures and Flooring
Your home is coming along nicely, and now the contractors need to install the lighting fixtures, toilets, sinks, outlets, light switches, cabinets, and countertops. Once that’s finished, it’s time to install the flooring. If you can’t decide between hardwood floors or carpets, you’ll need to consider your maintenance capabilities and budget.
Carpets tend to hold more bacteria since they can’t be cleaned as easily as hardwood. However, hardwood is more expensive, so carpet may be the better option initially.
Clean-up
Your home is finished, and it’s time for the crew to clean up their mess! Typically, debris and waste are thrown into self-dumping hoppers for safe, quick disposal.
Then, they’ll have a junk removal company come out to pick up the scraps. At that point, a professional cleaner may clean excess dirt, dust, and debris from the construction prior to inspection.
Inspection and Final Walkthrough
Before you can move in, an inspector or fire marshal needs to make sure your house is up to code for your safety. If they find any issues, the contractor will need to fix them and have the home inspected again.
Next, it’s time for you and your contractor to perform the final walkthrough. During this stage, you’ll need to check that everything works properly. Then, you should make sure all of the requested features have been built. If something is bothering you, don’t be afraid to speak up. They’ll be happy to fix any issues for your satisfaction.
Conclusion
If you are having your dream home built, then congratulations! You’ve worked hard to earn this, and you deserve to know every step of the process. So, hopefully, this article could provide some insight. If you’re still deciding whether you should build or buy a house, it all boils down to budget and time.
Building a home will usually be more expensive, but you can make it work on a budget. If you’re worried about time, your contractor can give you a rough timeline, but weather and subcontractor schedules will affect it.
