Building A Home: What Steps Are Involved?

While building a new house is an exciting experience, it can be equally stressful. Sometimes you will need to make changes to the plan and then the construction takes longer than expected.

Indeed, the first step in building a house is buying a plot of land.

Getting all permissions

The next step is to submit your building plan and get it approved. If the lot doesn't have access to public water, the plan should include a well. It should also include a septic system if a sewer isn't already in place. Remember that there are fees attached to each one of these permits. In some states you might require permission to clear the lot.

Health inspectors will supervise the work on the septic system and the well. There will be yet another inspection after the well has been dug and the septic system has been installed.

Clearing the lot

You will probably have to cut down a few trees before building the house. This might require a permit.

Laying the foundation

You need to obtain all permits before you start building the foundation. Since the rest of the construction will be built on the foundation, it has to be strong. There may be 1 or 2 inspections during this phase. They are done to ensure that the contractor is building the foundation properly.

Framing

Once the contractor has built the foundation, they will start working on the framing. In some states, roof rafters are considered as part of the framing. However, in some other states, the building laws state that the owner has to hire an engineer to sketch the plans for rafters.

There will be some inspections during this phase too. Once the framing is ready, the contractor will put the sheathing on the roof and the exterior of the home. The windows and the doors will be installed afterwards.

Siding and roofing

The shell of the house should be ready before roofing and siding contractors can begin their work. When it comes to roofing and siding materials, you have got quite a few options. Be sure to hire contractors who specialize in the kind of materials you choose.

Plumbing and electrical work

The plumbing and electric work can start simultaneously. There will be 1 or 2 inspections during this phase.

Interior walls

The next step is to install the interior walls. Drywall (also known as sheet rock or plasterboard) is the most common material used to make interior walls and ceilings. Dry walls need to be hung. Since only a good drywall installer can hide the visible seams between the sheets, hiring an experienced person is imperative.

When the interior walls are in place, the work on the kitchen and the bathrooms can begin. Sinks, cabinets, countertops, and hookups are installed in the kitchen. Bathroom fittings can be expensive or inexpensive depending on the owner's preferences.

Painting and flooring work

Painting is usually done first just to make sure that the paint will not spill on the flooring. Several kinds of flooring are available. Depending on your budget and preferences, you can choose tile, wood, vinyl or carpet. Your home is almost ready now.

Landscaping

Some builders may also take care of landscaping. If they don’t, you will have to hire a landscaping company.