Embarking on building a home can be an exhilarating and fulfilling experience. Let’s ensure that the grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct. You get to see your vision transformed into a reality! However, the process can be daunting if you don’t understand all the steps involved.
This article will help you to understand the process of constructing your home from start to finish. Here are the main steps:
Designing
One of the best tools for home design is Pinterest, a visual platform where users create and share content. Search for ideas that express designs you want to see in your home and add them to boards. This allows you to get your ideas down on paper (or digitally) and share them with your architect or others involved in your build. This helps ensure everyone is aligned and prevents costly changes.
Having a plan will allow you to translate your ideas into tangible drawings and layouts that will serve as the blueprint for construction. It is essential to balance creativity with practicality, taking into account your lifestyle and any plans you have for the home. Whether doing a Spec Home or going the Custom route, bringing in a Designer to do Renderings and work through selections before asking your Builder for a quote is recommended.
Permits
Filing and obtaining building permits is one of the most time-consuming segments of home construction. Whether adding a bathroom, kitchen, or sunroom, moving plumbing, electrical, or even adding or removing walls, getting the necessary permits before starting New Construction Wichita is essential; getting caught without a permit could result in a fine or shutting your project down, which will undoubtedly add to the project’s overall cost.
The worst scenario is discovering unpermitted work when preparing to sell the house, which can significantly affect value and even void homeowner’s insurance. Thankfully, many inspectors offer courtesy inspections for homeowners concerned about their homes having unpermitted work. This allows them to look at the property and identify what needs to be changed to secure the necessary permits. It is much easier to make changes on paper than after the fact! Also, it is much cheaper to do so before construction begins.
Site Preparation
Site preparation is a multistep process that involves clearing the land, grading and leveling, earthmoving, demolition, and more. A professional crew must carry out these steps correctly to ensure the project goes off without a hitch.
A survey comes first, identifying the topographical features of the construction site and pinpointing property lines. It’s also possible that a contractor will need to lay underground sewer or electrical lines at this stage. If so, you must contact the local utility company before work begins.
Once the site has been cleared, it can be graded to allow water to drain away from the building footprint. This is especially important in frost-prone areas to reduce flooding problems during heavy rainfall. Leaving the finished building grade higher than the surrounding land is also a good idea. This allows for easier access to the building and helps prevent soil, water, and debris from entering the surrounding environment during construction.
Construction
Once you have your design and permits finalized, construction of your home begins. This step involves installing walls, windows, and doors and installing the floor and roof systems. Once everything is complete, a protective wrap known as house wrap will be put over the structure to keep moisture and mold from affecting your new home.
A solid understanding of the home-building process can make the entire experience much smoother for you and your family. Having a clear understanding of when to hire trades, when you need to be available for selections, timeframes, and the overall steps involved will help guide you through the process more effectively. It will also prevent you from making mistakes that could cost you much money in the long run.
