House Construction Process

Construction new home is one of the biggest investments one can ever made because it entails a big amount of money as well as effort and time. One should know or at least familiarize himself on the house construction process so that the owner will understand if the house is properly constructed.

Building your dream is always exciting most especially when you understand the construction process. Here are some basic house construction process:

1. Preparing for the site
It include the clearing the area such as removing trees and other obstacles and cleaning the area. Also, making barracks for the construction workers as well the storage of materials such as cement and the like.

2. Excavation and layout
Once the clearing of the area is done, excavation and lay outing will be the next step. The excavation and layout process will begin by positioning a surveying instrument directly over the work points that was located seen in the house plan.

3. Foundation
Foundation process includes creating footings, slab, sub slab, foundation drainage system, foundation walls, anchor bolts and beam rockets, water proofing, slab and backfill soil. It involves the pouring of cement.

4. Framing
Framing is the process of fitting together a pieces to give structure a support and shape.

5. Roofing
Roofing activities includes making trusses and installation of roof on the house

6. Door and window installation
The door and windows will be installed to your house. The door can be made of wood while the windows can be sliding windows or jalousie windows depending on the house plan.

7. Electrical
Electrical process includes temporary electric and underground conduit, the rough in, more temporary needs, modification and warranty.

8. Plumbing
Plumbing is the installation of pipes, tanks, fittings, and other materials that will be used for water supply, heating and sanitation. It also includes the installation of kitchen and bathroom faucet, showers, toilets, jetmatic and the like.

9. Plastering
Plastering is used as coating for external and internal surface of the wall. Cement plaster is usually applied to the wall.

10. Ceiling
A ceiling is the overhead interior surface that covers the upper space. Ceiling can be metal furring or flywood.

11. Septic Tank
A septic tank is a component of septic system. A septic system is a self-contained underground in which sewage is collected and allowed to decompose through bacterial activity before draining be means of leaching field.

12. Flooring
Flooring is the installation of tiles or granite on the floor.

13. Cabinet
Setting up kitchen cabinet and built in cabinet.

14. Painting
Painting is the process of applying paint on walls, ceiling, and other parts of the house.

How to Contract your Own Home

Are you dreaming to have your own home but don’t want to have a contractor and as far as you know you are capable of doing the job of the contractor. So here are some steps to contract your own house?

1.    Do a Financial Plan

Ideally, you have to do a budget before thinking of having your own house. You should follow the allotted budget for the lot purchase to balance between land cost and construction cost and to make sure that you are develop within your means.

2.    Finding a lot for your home

Of course, before planning to construct your dream home, you should have lot or a piece of land where you can build your home. You should choose a lot that is suited to your budget. Investigate first before buying a lot to know if the area is safe to live and has amenities as well if the place is accessible to your work, school, church, market, etc.

3.    Prepare for house plan

Decide whether you construct a bungalow or two-storey house.  You can get the help of a draftsman or an architect in order to do a house plan which shows how the house will be built as well as the plans and specification of materials. House plan will determine what the home will look like and how big it is as well as the materials to be used.  It includes the foundation plan, floor plan, site plan, elevation, and other construction details.

4.    Do estimates

One should prepare an estimate for house construction in order to know how much money needed for your house construction.  Cost estimates include the materials to be used in your house construction and the labor cost such as subcontractor cost. You can be dealing with different subcontractors in order to choose the best price with quality works. Also, you can go to different supplier (hardware) for the estimates of materials.  Also, includes the cost of required documents for your house construction.

5.    Make house construction schedule

It consists of detailed schedule showing the sequence of construction procedures.  It only shows how activities overlap for instance two or more activities going on at the same time. Also, it includes the duration of each activity.

6.    Prepare for financial budget

Prepare your financial budget for your house to avoid delays of your house construction.  If you decide to lend some money from bank or other lending institution, make sure that you have stable job so that you can pay your loan on time.

7.    Secure building and construction permits

Make sure that you have all the necessary permits and documents before proceeding to house construction.

8.    House construction process

As contractor of your house, you will be in-charge of all the duties and responsibilities including hiring a person who will construction your house such as mason, labors, foreman, etc., dealing with subcontractors, computing payrolls, paying for the bills, purchasing of materials, etc. It is also a good idea to hire someone knowledgeable about house construction processes; it could be an engineer or architect to check for quality of works.

9.    Supervise and monitor house construction

It is important that you monitor the works of your people to avoid modification of work.

10.    Move in

After house construction, you and your family can now move in to your dream home.