It's Building Time
The construction phase of the home-building process
is when all your dreams and plans come to fruition. It often is the
easiest, most gratifying and most enjoyable part of the process.
Successful execution of your plan requires a joint effort by the
builder, the subcontractors, the suppliers, the building department
officials, the lenders and you.
The methods and materials used to build a home vary
from region to region, but the following basic tasks must be completed
for most newly built homes:
- Site Work
Site work, which may include clearing trees from the lot, cutting a rough
unfinished driveway, placing stakes to mark where the house will be situated
on the lot and hooking up temporary electricity service.
- Excavation
Excavation and foundation, which may include digging a hole for the foundation,
setting and pouring the foundation, installing plumbing pipes, pouring the
concrete floor of the home, digging trenches for utility lines, waterproofing
the basement walls and grading.
- Framing
Framing, which may include installing steel beams, erecting a wood structure
and installing windows and exterior doors.
- Roofing
Roofing and exterior work, which may include applying roofing materials and
installing siding, an outdoor deck, rain gutters and a garage door.
- Mechanicals
Mechanicals, which may include installing plumbing, electrical and heating/cooling
systems, pre-wiring the home for a security system, running wiring for telephones,
cable television and an intercom and placing pipes for a central vacuum.
- Interior Work
Interior finish work, which may include installing insulation, installing
and finishing drywall, painting and staining, and installing cabinets, countertops,
hard surface floor coverings, baseboards and built-in appliances.
- Trim
Trim, which may include hanging interior doors, attaching window trims, installing
fireplaces and mantles, setting plumbing fixtures, installing light switches
and electrical outlets, hanging electrical fixtures, setting heating registers,
thermostats and heating/cooling unit and installing faceplates for the central
vacuum, intercom, cable television and telephone outlets.
- Completion
Final work, which may include installing carpet padding and carpets, cleaning
the exterior and interior of the home, finishing the driveway and landscaping
and completing any miscellaneous fix-up work on the entire home.
It's important to understand that home construction
varies dramatically from place to place. For example, in some parts
of the country, homes have basements. In other places, basements
are unheard of. In some parts of the country, homes are built to
withstand hurricanes, earthquakes and other types of natural disasters.
In other places, disasters are less of a factor in home construction.
Ask the builder to educate you about home construction requirements
and practices in your region of the country.
Articles Courtesy of HomeBuilder.com
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