Stages of Building a House
- After choosing a design and assembling a construction team, the building process begins with the foundation. The process begins with grading the construction site, outlining the foundation according to the drawing plans and installing some basic plumbing. The grading and plumbing must be completed to code because if they are done poorly, the foundation may be unstable. Once everything is in place and has gone through an inspection, the concrete for the foundation itself is poured.
- The framing process creates the "outline" of the house. Construction works put in the beams that form the basis for the walls, floors, stairs, roof and everything else in the house. After this stage is complete, you get a clearer idea of the layout of the finished house and can see the shape and size of the house and its rooms.
- Piping, heating and cooling, ducts and electrical wiring must be installed before the walls, floors and ceilings can be put up. Everything completed during this stage is inspected by qualified individuals, typically certified by the municipality, before moving on to the next stage, to ensure work is satisfactory. If a problem is found after the fact, it will be more expensive and time consuming to fix than if it is found during this stage.
- Insulation is put in place around the house's frame, and then the walls, floors, and ceilings--made out of either sheet rock or drywall--are put up. If you are involved in the building process, discuss beforehand with the crew the thickness of the walls, what they will be made out of and how they will fasten to the house frame as well as how you will paint or decorate them.
- By now, the house is fully inhabitable, and it's time to paint, lay carpeting or flooring, finish installing appliances, windows and lighting, and finally move you family's belongings into the house. The driveway and walkway are poured during this stage, and landscaping is completed. Before you can move in for good, however, the house must be inspected one final time.
