Did you know that custom home builders typically work on less than 10 homes per year? If you have been considering having a home built for you then you are in the right place. We are going to go over the details of building a custom home.
Keep reading to make this complicated process a little easier and help you understand the process and what a builder goes through when building a custom home.
Foundation and Construction Site
Once you know where the house is being built and you have your budget figured out the first step is to prepare the site and pour the foundation. Clearing the site will include removing any trees that are in the way, clearing rocks, debris, etc.
After the land is clear and ready for the foundation, the framing concrete is poured and left alone to cure. It is extremely important to allow the concrete to cure all the way to avoid any issues.
When the concrete is 100% cured a waterproofing membrane has to be applied to the foundation walls. Then the sewer, water taps, drains, and all other plumbing is installed.
Typically after the foundation is cured a city inspector will come to the site to make sure the foundation is properly installed and it is up to code. This inspection depends on the area your home is being built.
Framing
During this step, the shell of the house is put together. The floor systems, roof systems, and walls are all completed.
The exterior walls, windows, and roof get either plywood or oriental strand board sheathing applied. Once the sheathing is up it is covered with a house wrap to prevent liquid water from coming into the structure. The house wrap allows water vapor to escape at the same time to reduce mold and wood rot from forming.
Plumbing and HVAC
Siding and roofing can be installed once the shell of the home is done while the plumbing and electrical wires are run through the interior ceiling, floors, and walls. Everything is put in place before the insulation and drywall are put up.
All the HVAC ductwork is installed along with all the vent pipes. Once the roofing is placed on the house the electrician installs the lights, switches, and receptacles for the outlets.
Depending on the area you live there will more than likely be another inspection or two done after this phase. The framing and the electrical work will be inspected to make sure it is up to code.
Insulation
Next up is insulation to help keep mother nature outside. The better your insulation the lower your utility bills will be in the future. You want to choose insulation that will resist as much heat transfer as possible.
You have different options when it comes to types of insulation. The most common ones are fiberglass, cellulose, and foam. You will want to choose an insulation that is appropriate for the area where you live.
If you have extreme weather then you want to make sure that your insulation will be able to handle keeping either the extreme cold or the extremely hot weather outside.
Drywall and Interior
Next up on the list is hanging drywall and taping it together. Whoever is taking care of the drywall you want to make sure they are professionals and are not making the seams in between the boards visible.
Once the taping is complete the primary coat of paint is applied. The interior doors, the casings, window sills, fireplace, trim, etc are then put in place. After all of the interior pieces are put in place the walls get a finish coat of paint.
Floors and Countertops
The countertops and the flooring are up next. Once those are up you have to make sure that there is proper drainage going away from the home. The exterior finish grading is completed to make sure the drainage is correct.
Grand Finale
Before the final walkthrough all of the remaining bathroom fixtures have to go up, the rest of the light fixtures, the switches, outlets, toilets, sinks, and faucets are taken care of at this final stage of the build.
If there is any carpeting left to do this is where it is taken care of and then the final cleaning is done.
The landscaping is also completed during this final stage to tie everything together. The grass is planted, the shrubs and put in place and any trees and flowers.
Once everything is completed you will have a last inspection to make sure that everything is up to code and to make sure there are no defects. If everything goes well the inspector will issue a certificate of occupancy and you are ready to move in.
If the inspector finds anything that has to get fixed then they will set up a follow-up inspection to make sure that any issue or issues have been corrected.
Now You Are Equipped for Building a Custom Home
As you can see a lot goes into building a custom home. You can choose to help with certain parts of the building process if you have the knowledge or hire a professional if it’s easier. Once your home is all done, take time to enjoy it and all the hard work that went into it!
Did you find our article helpful today? Please check back often for all things home and to always stay in the know!
