Building a House

(4 reviews)

Steps: 22 stages
Completion: 1 year

One of the amazing things about homes is that the huge majority of them are built using completely standardized building practices. One reason for this consistency is a set of uniform building codes that apply across the country.

Stages

Grading and site preparation - Houses are generally built on. The site-preparation crew typically arrives on the site with a backhoe and/or bulldozer. The crew's job is to clear the site of any trees, rocks and debris, level the site if necessary and dig as necessary for the foundation being built. Concrete is poured into these trenches and holes and will act as the interface between the foundation wall and the ground. Concrete takes approximately four weeks to cure to full strength (depending on the weather), so once the concrete is poured nothing will happen for some period of time while the initial curing takes place.
Foundation construction - It is common knowledge that the foundation is the most important part of any building. It literally forms the base on which the whole building will rest. Building strong foundations is, therefore, a very important thing if the building is to stand strong and stable. These are all facts that do not need one to be a constructor to understand. There is, however, other important facts about foundations that are not even known to some constructors. Below is a list of 4 things you didn’t know about building foundations: 1. Soil matters When constructing a foundation, the type of soil on which the building will stand matters to a great extent. For instance, a building that is constructed on wet clay soil is highly likely to be less stable as compared to that on dry soil. It is therefore important to choose carefully which foundation to construct. Soil analysis is very important before the construction begins. Soil analysis results will help guide on what kind of foundation to build. Wet soil will require a stronger foundation than the dry soil. 2. Foundation should be kept dry Concrete is not waterproof, as such, measures should be taken to ensure that the moisture that seeps in from the soil is contained. If this is not done, moisture will rise through the concrete and will eventually create an interior moisture problem. To prevent this, a waterproof coat should be applied outside the foundation. A perforated pipe laid around the foundation may also help drain the water away. 3. Give the foundation time to dry While one may be excited to have their building ready in no time, it is always good to give the foundation ample time to dry. A foundation is under enormous pressure from earth’s pressure, not to mention the weight of the building. If it is not allowed the required time to dry, it may not be able to withstand the pressure. This will eventually lead to it cracking and growing weak. Allowing it to dry will ensure that you are able to evaluate it even as it dries up. You are also able to tell whether there was any mistake done, for instance, if it the foundation is waterproof. This will give you a green light once the foundation has passed all the feasibility tests. 4. Expert evaluation is key Once the foundation is complete, it is always good to involve the services of an expert to evaluate the work done. The analysis should be done by an independent party with an excellent reputation. A weak foundation may not only lead to losses in material wealth but also lives. It is, therefore, crucial to ensure the foundation is vetted before the construction begins. Trying to save on cost at this point may lead to even greater costs in future.
Framing - The framing crew is the next group of people on the site. They start by building the floor (unless the house uses a slab foundation, in which case the slab is the floor). The framing crew next starts on the walls. Walls are assembled on the floor...
Installation of windows and doors - Installation of windows and doors
Roofing - Roofing
Siding - Siding
Rough electrical - Rough electrical
Rough plumbing - Rough plumbing
Rough HVAC - Rough HVAC
Insulation - Insulation
Drywall - Drywall
Underlayment - Underlayment
Trim - Trim
Painting - Painting
Finish electrical - Finish electrical
Bathroom and kitchen counters and cabinets - Bathroom and kitchen counters and cabinets
Finish plumbing - Finish plumbing
Carpet and flooring - Carpet and flooring
Finish HVAC - Finish HVAC
Hookup to water main, or well drilling - Hookup to water main, or well drilling
Hookup to sewer or installation of a septic system - Hookup to sewer or installation of a septic system
Punch list - Punch list