Seeing your home in its final stages is exciting, but knowing all that went into it is also important in fully appreciating the finished product. After approving your blueprints and finalizing decorating selections, our team will begin pulling permits and preparing the paperwork necessary to break ground on your new home. These are the eight basic steps of the new home construction process after breaking ground.
The construction of every new home begins with an empty lot. Practiced employees walk the land and determine the topography. A transit level is then set up to narrow it down to precise measurements. Using a laser, it figures out how much leveling is required for the foundation.
Then the bulldozers come in to bench the lot! (Benching simply means to make the construction pad perfectly level.) The empty lot is cleared and leveled. Sometimes trees need to be cleared and excess dirt is moved. Once the plot plan is approved, planners pin or stake the ground to mark out the outline of the house. This will identify to the construction crew where the foundation will be dug out and trenching begins. The footers are dug for the basement or slab and then filled with concrete.
The rough mechanical stage takes place after the slab is trenched. This stage includes all the groundwork mechanicals, plumbing, and electrical that is installed in preparation for pouring the slab. Inspections are completed, and then concrete is poured for the house and garage.
If your home's foundation will be a full or partial basement, extra steps will take place before framing. Once your basement is dug, footers are set in place to help form the basement walls. The walls will then be formed and poured on top of the footers. The basement walls will be damp-proofed, the floor will be poured and finished.
Once the foundations has had some time to dry, framing and decking will begin. This is an exciting stage where you can actually begin to visualize your house! Walking through the framework gives you a good idea of the space available and the outline of the rooms.
Wall framing is completed, and the roof framing can begin. Sheathing and a water barrier are installed on the exterior walls. Roofing underlayment is installed before the roof shingles go on the home. The windows, front door, and garage door are also installed in this phase.
Once the framing is complete rough mechanicals will start which will include HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning), plumbing, electrical, and A/V (Audio/Video).
During this stage, the plumbers will install gas lines and air ducts in the walls and ceiling. The electricians will install the electrical items including wire, switches, and outlets.
This stage is where everything begins to speed up, and the vision of the house actually becomes a reality. Insulation is placed between the framing studs, and drywall is cut and fitted over it. Installers will come back to mud and tape seams and nails, creating a smooth finish. Workers will sand between each coat of drywall mud and then lace the ceiling, which is the term for texturing the ceiling before it is primed and painted. After that, the walls primed, the trim is planted, and it is time to paint!
Once all mechanical inspections are complete and signed off by the building department, siding can be hung. Exterior stone and brick are completed in this stage, and the outside trim is painted (weather permitting). This is an exciting phase in which you can begin to see the exterior finishes and colors you selected come together.
The trim will be installed before the walls are painted. The painting process is a fun step in which the character of the home and your color selections begin to take shape. The painter will prime the walls, paint the ceiling, and trim work, followed by a final coat on the walls. All of the flooring is also installed int his stage. This includes the hard surface flooring, vinyl, and carpet which is glued and tacked down. Cabinets are installed throughout the home including the kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and other custom built-ins. Laminate countertops are installed at this time, or the cabinets are measured for ordering granite and quartz countertops which will be installed later.
It’s the home stretch! This final two to three-week stage accomplishes so much. During this stage, the solid-surface countertops are put in, along with backsplash in the kitchen. Tile work is also completed in other areas of the home including the bathroom. Plumbing fixtures including faucets, shower heads, mirrors, and bath accessories are installed. Other items such as doors, door knobs, and lighting fixtures are also installed throughout the home at this time.
Next comes the final trim and touchup paint, and final inspections. If all lights are green, the house is cleaned and a new orientation is scheduled with the homeowners. Once the certificate of occupancy is received the closing is scheduled. After closing, the homeowners can move in and start enjoying their brand new home!
Watch this episode of "Between the Studs" to learn more about the new home construction process. While the building process can sometimes seem intimidating to new homeowners this video breaks down new home construction into 8 easy steps. We will help guide you though our building process so you are comfortable and know what to expect at each stage.