Constructing your dream house can be thrilling and gratifying as well as daunting and a financial burden. Yet, a new house that is designed to exactly fit your needs has an irresistible allure.
You might have the experience in building or remodeling your house in a lifetime. But, that does not make you an expert because you lack the experience to make it.
When you know where to start everything falls in place and makes the construction process easier. Get some inspiration from this guide that we prepared so that you and your family can enjoy the experience instead of worrying about it.
How do I Start My Own Home Construction?
House buyers have lots of real estates to choose from. You’re bound to find a home or two that will fit your needs to a T.
It can also happen that after some house visitations you cannot find the house you have in mind. That said, you need to build your own home from the ground up.
Building your own home is quite strenuous, time-consuming, costly, and expect lots of hiccups along the way. But, you’ll be rewarded with a dream house that is exactly designed according to your wishes.
What should a person do before starting to build a house?
At the onset, you’ll need to make a rundown of your objectives. Decide on the location of your house. Be definite about your design structures – what are the must-haves, which are optional, and is it covered by the budget? Isolate the necessities from wants and focus on the major details of your new home. This way, you’ll be clear about the features that you need and you’ll be ready to explain the requirements to your architect.
If you’re an excited homeowner, you’ll love watching the home take shape before your eyes from start to finish. Here are some typical steps that your contractor will take during your house construction.
Prepare construction site
Before physical construction begins, be sure that all permits are acquired.
- The site is cleared of debris at the ground level up to at least 25 feet around the perimeter of the house.
- A surveyor marks the lot based on the boundaries indicated on the original plan drawings.
- Secure portable toilets for the workers.
- Order temporary utilities from the power and water companies. Hire an electrician and a plumber to connect temporary utilities to the site.
- Rent a dumpster to discard debris along with a hauling company.
Pour foundation and concrete footings
Foundations and footings carry a big chunk of your house construction budget. The work is implemented by skilled footing contractors and foundation specialists.
- The contractor excavates trenches with sufficient depth for frost footings.
- The city Inspector checks the measurements of the footing trenches.
- Concrete is poured for footings.
- Footing drains are built to remove water from the footers and for the protection of the footers.
- Vertical foundation walls are constructed setting on the footers utilizing poured concrete or concrete cinder blocks.
- Foundation walls are waterproofed and holes are produced for the routing of water supply and drain lines.
Complete Rough Framing
Rough framing gives a structure shape and support. Wood is often used to frame houses. Opting for cheaper materials and skipping on important steps will adversely affect the sturdiness of the structure resulting in difficulty in attaching other features.
Use dry wood in 8-foot sections to build the outside frame. Space the 2-by-4-inch studs on 16-inch centers and skew-nailing each section to a steel plate. Solid support to panel ends can be achieved by separating joists, studs, and rafter 16 inches apart.
Insert a jack stud to support the trimmers and headers around the openings for doors and window frames.
Stand each 8-foot section of the fame and toenail the steel plate to the plywood subfloor. Place braces to support each section this should stay until the framing is complete. Place corner posts at each end of the house and fasten these posts to the 8-foot sections of the frame and the sub-floor.
If there is a second floor complete the first floor before proceeding to the second story following the same procedure.
What are the Legal Documents Required for the House Construction?
Building your dream house is your biggest investment. Before paying for various construction services and items it is advisable to have a written contract between you and the stakeholders; architect, contractor, and suppliers. This will bind the stakeholders to their roles and responsibilities for the successful completion of the construction project.
Construction Contract Agreement
A construction contract agreement is a record that lays the foundation of the scope and terms of work for a construction project. It is a pact between the construction contractor or builder and the house owner who recruits them to accomplish the work. The agreement should contain the following:
- The work to be done
- Start and completion of the construction project
- The parties involved in the construction process
- The cost of labor and materials
- Process for revising the extent of work and any other portion of the agreement
- Method of communication of the parties
- Process of resolving disputes
Do I need homeowners insurance during construction?
Yes, you should insure a home, even while it is under construction. But a standard homeowners insurance will not be enough to cover a new home construction, you’ll need a risk builder’s insurance. This will cover the risks involved in the project and the construction materials from start to end.
Go over your builder’s contract, if he has a builder’s risk insurance the coverage might be limited. Inquire if he has liability and workers’ compensation packages, fill the gaps with your insurance agent if these are not covered.
Construction Schedule
The construction schedule is a significant segment of the whole document and is next to the construction contract agreement. This segment gives the homeowner an idea on the completion date and if ever there are problems during the construction phase.
It also guides the builder on the progress of the project, whether work schedules are meeting target dates or are lagging behind. It can be also used as a basis for payment requests.
Drawings
Drawings should be included in contracts, whether it’s a blueprint or simple diagrams. These will give a detailed illustration of the extent and nature of the work to be performed by the contractor.