A Step-by-Step Guide to the Construction of a Home

It's lovely to build a new house, especially when you know how it's done. It makes sense that buyers are eager to watch the construction of their new home from beginning to end.

The process of building a home to an Interior fit-out company in London, from laying the foundation to framing it, is something that "our homeowners like witnessing," the builder claims. "Once the house has drywall, they begin to picture themselves living there and envision how they would use the space, picturing where the furniture will go and how they will entertain guests.

They put a lot of effort into designing the house to fit the needs and tastes of their family, so watching it all come together is satisfying for them.

1. Get the building site ready and pour the foundation

Builder submits a permit application and gets it.

The local government must first approve the design and issue permissions for everything from the zoning and grading (altering the terrain's shape to accommodate your home and road) to the septic systems, home construction, electrical work, and plumbing before a builder can even start digging. Construction can begin physically as soon as permits are obtained.

Building crews level the site.

Usually, the same crew handles site preparation and foundation work, but this may not always be the case with a wooded lot. The team removes rocks, rubble, and trees from the home site using a backhoe and a bulldozer and, if necessary, digs a septic system.

The builder for the temporary foundation erects wooden forms.

The team clears the site, erects wooden forms as the foundation's model, and excavates the trenches and holes.

Installed are footings.

At this time, a well will likely be dug if your house has one. The pit is dug, the footings are made and poured, and the foundation walls are created and run if the house has a full basement. If the structure is built on a slab-on-grade foundation, the footings are dug, shaped, and poured; the space between them is levelled and fitted with utility runs (such as plumbing drains and electrical chases), and the slab is then sprayed.

Plumbing and watertight are installed.

The team covers the foundation walls with a waterproofing membrane once the concrete has had time to harden. Additionally, they put in drains, the sewer system, water taps, and any plumbing that must be put into the basement floor or first-floor slab. The hole around the foundation wall was then backfilled with the excavated dirt.

Timeline

The most crucial process, which can also be the longest to complete, is laying the foundation and making space for the house. This process typically takes a month or longer.

First inspection

A city inspector visits the site once the curing process is finished to ensure that the foundation's components are installed correctly and according to the following code. Depending on the type of foundation, this check might need to be repeated (slab, crawl space, or basement).

2. Finish Rough Framing

The wall, floor, and roof systems are finished.

The house's framework is finished, consisting of the floor system, the walls, and the roof system.

Exterior walls are coated with protective wrap after sheathing is done.

The outside walls, roof, and windows are sheathed with plywood or oriented strand board before the exterior doors and windows are put in. After that, a house wrap—a protective layer that keeps water from penetrating the building while enabling water vapour to escape—is applied to the sheathing. It lessens the possibility of mould growth and wood damage.

3. Complete Rough Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC

The following things are installed during this phase:

• piping and wiring
• vents and sewer lines
• water delivery systems
• Toilets and showerheads
• Air ducts for an HVAC system
• pipes for HVAC vents
• Electrical outlets and wiring

After the shell has been completed, siding and roofing can be put in. The plumbing and electrical contractors simultaneously run pipes and cables through the inside walls, ceilings, and floors. Each fixture has its own water supply line and sewer and vent lines. Since there is ideal space to move big, heavy objects at this time, bathtubs and one-piece shower/tub seats are installed.

For the furnace and perhaps the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, ductwork is installed. In addition to installing Insulation on the floors, walls, and ceilings, HVAC vent pipes are also built through the roof.

Timeline

The HVAC system installation may only take three to seven days, but the rest of the mechanical systems, including the electrical and plumbing, may take two to four weeks. This stage shouldn't be rushed because delaying it will cause construction to take longer and slow the project's progress.

Inspections #2, #3, and #4

Inspections ensure that the rough framing, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems adhere to building codes. These three inspections will most likely be separate ones. At the absolute least, the framing inspection will be carried out independently of the electrical and mechanical examinations.

4. Add Insulation.

Insulation is essential for boosting indoor comfort and consistency while dramatically raising a home's energy efficiency. The thermal performance of Insulation, also known as its R-value, which describes how well the substance resists heat transmission, is one of its most crucial properties. All exterior walls, the attic, and any floors that are above unfinished basements or crawl spaces are typically all insulated in most houses.

Fibreglass, cellulose, and foam are the three forms of Insulation most frequently utilised in new homes. Your builder may choose to use mineral wool (also known as rock wool or slag wool), concrete blocks, foam board or rigid foam, insulating concrete forms, spray foam, or structural insulated panels, depending on the area and climate.

Timeline

The entire house may be insulated in one to two weeks on average. When considering your schedule, it's crucial to consider the size of the home and the type of Insulation.

5. Finish interior fixtures and drywall; begin exterior finishing

The drywall has been taped and hung.

On the inner walls, drywall is hung, taped to hide the joints between the boards, and finished with drywall texturing, if necessary.

• The paint is painted with a primer coat.
• The outside has been finished.
• Contractors start exterior finishes like siding, stone, brick, and stucco.

Timeline

The house swiftly takes shape once the framework is put in place and the walls start to take shape. Depending on the size and intricacy of the home, this process can take a few days to several weeks.

• 6. Complete the interior trim; put it in the driveway and walkways outside.
• The installation of doors, windowsills, and decorative trim.
• Installed decorative trim includes inside doors, baseboards, door casings, windowsills, mouldings, and stair balusters.
• Mantels for the fireplace, vanities, and cabinets have been put in.
• It is time to paint over everything.
• A final layer of paint or, if appropriate, wallpaper is applied to the walls.

The driveway, pathways, and patios are also formed at this time on the exterior. Because heavy machinery (like a drywall delivery truck) might harm concrete, many builders prefer to wait until the project is finished before pouring the driveway. However, some contractors will pour the driveway as soon as the foundation is finished so residents who visit the construction site won't track mud on their shoes.

Timeline

Several steps can start to come together at once at this time. Flooring, trim, driveways, and walkways can all be installed within one to two months.

7. Conclude exterior grading and install hard surface countertops and flooring.

• Flooring options include ceramic tile, vinyl, wood, and counters.
• The outside grading is finished to ensure adequate drainage away from home and readies the yard for landscaping.

Timeline

The flooring and countertops can be installed as the trim and cabinetry come together. Depending on the size of the workforce and the weather, grading the outside may need several days.

8. Complete the mechanical trims and put in the bathroom fixtures.

• The electrical panel is finished, and outlets, switches, and lighting fixtures are all installed.
• Registers are finished, and HVAC equipment is installed.
• Toilets, sink, and faucets are installed.

Timeline

It should only take a few weeks to install the finishing touches once everything has begun to resemble a home.

9. Complete flooring and exterior landscaping; install mirrors and shower doors.

• Installation of mirrors, shower doors, and carpet is completed, along with final housekeeping.
• Planting trees, shrubs, and the grass are done, as well as other external landscaping.

Timeline

After the inside work is finished, the final cleanup takes about a week. During this time, the external landscaping can be completed, giving the house an equally flawless exterior as it does an interior one.

5th inspection

An occupancy certificate is issued after a final examination by a building code inspector. If any flaws are discovered, a subsequent analysis may be planned to verify that they have been fixed. It can occasionally take a week.

10. Finish the walk-through.

Your builder will tour your brand-new home to familiarise you with its features, the functionality of various systems, and your duties for maintenance and upkeep. They will also go over the details of your warranty and how to take advantage of it. It is frequently referred to as a walk-through before settlement. Be alert and perceptive to identify anything that needs to be fixed or corrected.

Timeline

It may take more than a week to finish the final walk-through.

A Word on Timing

Maintaining continual communication with your builder is the best approach to obtaining an exact timeframe for your project.

A Few Remarks Regarding Inspections

As you can see, your new house will undergo periodic inspections while it is being built. At crucial stages of the process, your builder could perform quality checks in addition to the required reviews for code compliance. Though some difficulties might not become apparent until after you've lived in the house for a while, the goal is to identify as many potential issues as possible before construction is complete.

According to a study of the New Home Source Insights Panel, the majority of panellists are interested in following the development of their new houses, whether through email correspondence from the builder, driving by, or even through the use of drones. Talk to your builder early on about attending inspections with or without your real estate agent before you unexpectedly show up at the homesite.