Building a house in 10 steps

Any construction begins with site selection and project selection. If you have not purchased your plan yet, then look in our house plans catalog.

Building your home is fun, especially when you know how the process goes. The following review will describe the main steps that builders take to build a house and help to keep abreast of each key stage.

Keep in mind that the process of building a house has differences in different areas and in different teams, especially if you want to build an unusual house. If it will be built by a construction company, be sure to ask about their customer service policy.

1. Prepare the construction site and build the foundation

Very often, the preparation of the site and the construction of the foundation is carried out by the same team of builders. But sometimes you need to use heavy equipment to clean the area of ​​stumps and rhizomes, or the remains of buildings and all kinds of garbage. Workers will even out the building spot, install wooden pegs for marking the foundation, dig a pit and trenches. Then the formwork will be installed for the foundation. If the house is built with a basement or underground, then the sole will be flooded, and then the formwork for the walls will be mounted and poured with concrete. If a strip foundation with floors on the ground will be built, a trench will be excavated, formwork will be made and filled with concrete; the space between the tape will be leveled, all the necessary communication lines (sewer and water pipes, electric cables, etc.) will be installed; only then will the concrete slab be poured.

After laying concrete in the formwork or in the trenches, he will need time to get stronger. During this period, no work will be carried out on the construction site.

After reinforcing concrete, builders will waterproof the foundation; install drainage pipes around the foundation, conduct sewer and water pipes that must pass in the basement or underground, and then backfill the soil around the foundation.

Floors

Depending on the type of construction of the house, it may take from two days to three weeks to strengthen the foundation and it was possible to begin the construction of the ceiling of the first floor. In the frame house, you can start building the ceiling on the third day, in houses from other building materials much later. When the ceiling is ready, the construction of the walls will begin.

2. Completion of the building box

When the ceilings, walls and the rafter system are built, plywood, OSB or other suitable cladding will be nailed to the walls and roof outside, and insulation will be attached to the walls of aerated concrete blocks, windows and external doors will be installed. Then the casing is covered with a vapor-conducting waterproofing film that protects the house from moisture from the outside and allows it to evaporate if it gets into the walls, reducing the possible risk of mold or mildew.

3. Complete installation of communications

When the box and the roof are completed, you can sheathe the house with siding, plaster and lay the tiles on the roof. At the same time, plumbers begin to pull pipes, and electricians cables through internal walls, ceilings, and floors. Sewer and ventilation lines, as well as water pipes, are supplied to each installation point of the devices. Bathtubs and non-separable showers are best installed at this stage, while there is still room for maneuvering large and heavy objects.

There are channels for ventilation, air conditioning and sometimes heating, possibly fireplaces. Ventilation ducts are led out through the roof, and insulation is laid in the floors, walls, and ceilings.

After covering the roof, the house begins to “dry out”. Then electricians install sockets, switches and lamp holders, from the shield, conducting cables or wires to them in pipes or ducts. Telephone, television and internet cables are included in this work.

Note that all pipes are usually installed before electrical cables since it is much easier to drag wires around the pipes, and not vice versa.

Building Inspection

Usually, at this stage, it is recommended to invite a specialist to inspect the structural, plumbing and electricians for compliance with building codes. If you don’t know whether to invite a building inspector, read this article.

At this time, facing materials are delivered: drywall, wall paneling and the like.

4. Insulation

The nsulation plays a key role in creating a more comfortable, constant internal microclimate and, at the same time, significantly improves the energy efficiency of the house. One of the most important qualities of a heater is its resistance to heat transfer or the R-factor, which shows how well the material retains heat. Zealous owners insulate the outer walls, attics and the floor located above the cold basement, underground or piles.

The most common types of insulation in new homes are mineral wool, eco wool or expanded polystyrene. Depending on the region and climate, your builders may also use expanded clay concrete blocks; fixed formwork made of expanded polystyrene for monolithic concrete houses; structural insulated panels (SIP).

In new homes, insulation materials are most often used in mats or rolls. There is also blown cellulose particle insulation, better known as eco wool. Another option is thermal insulation liquid foam, which is sprayed on the spot. Despite the fact that it is more expensive than traditional heaters, its R-factor is twice as high and fills the smallest slots, creating an effective air barrier.