For the average 2,000-square-foot house, approximately 50 tradespeople work 3,700 combined hours, use 13,000 feet of lumber, 6,000 square feet of sheathing, and nearly 14 tons of concrete. Before a single brick is laid, the developer or contractor must spend days and months planning and developing. Here's a basic overview of the tasks that go into building a home.
Design and Approval
An architect first has to design the home. Depending on where the home will be located, the homeowner can choose from a set of standard production house plans with customizable options or have a home custom designed where drawings are created from scratch. Once the plans are finalized, they must be submitted to several local governmental departments including city or county building, zoning, health, public works, and environmental. Each department analyzes the blueprints and offers an approval or rejection.
Building the Infrastructure
While the plans are checked out by all those departments, the developer or contractor must make sure the neighborhood infrastructure is in place -- water and sewer pipes must be laid; streets paved and sidewalks are poured; utility lines are installed , and public spaces are planned. Once the house plans are approved, the builder receives a permit, and it's on to preparing the lot for the structure.
Clearing the Lot
Before any dirt is moved, surveyors check out the site to determine exactly where the home should be built. The site is then excavated to provide room for the house and access for equipment and crews. Builders attempt to save mature trees, but when that's not possible, new trees are planted. The site is carefully graded to accommodate home design as well as create proper slope for water drainage. Builders must keep up with several contractors for different trades.
Laying the Foundation
Once the site is ready, concrete footings are poured and checked by a building inspector. Footings anchor the home to ground, support the foundation, and distribute the weight of the house. The foundation is constructed of poured concrete or concrete block. Depending on site design and other factors, a home may use concrete slab, crawl space, or a basement foundation. The outside of foundation walls are treated with a substance to help resist water penetration.
Floors and Walls
A center-supporting beam is laid into a preformed pocket in the walls then pressure treated sill plates are bolted to the foundation to create a base for walls and flooring .
Floor joists are secured across the width of the home to support the sub flooring and walls. Walls are made of 2" x 4" or 2" x 6"lumber with horizontal supporting beams called headers positioned over windows or doors. Exterior walls are covered with sheathing material made of insulation or plywood. Walls are constructed on the deck of a home then tilted up and nailed into place.
Roofing, Windows, and Doors
The roofing structure begins with conventional rafters and joist designs or pre -built trusses. Trusses are attached to the walls then covered with sheathing, an underlayer of roofing felt, then shingles or other roof coverings. Windows and doors are added along with exterior finishing like siding, brick or stucco, wood trim or paint.
Indoor Rough-in and Close-in Inspection
Indoors, rough-in work begins including plumbing, electrical and gas, and mechanical systems like heating or cooling. Insulation in the interior walls is also installed . Next comes the crucial close-in inspection - this is where an inspector examines everything before all elements in the walls are closed in by drywall.
Finishing Touches and Walk-through
After completion of the close-in inspection, drywall is put up, then paint and other interior finishes are applied. At the same time, floor covering, electrical , plumbing, and other fixtures and appliances are put into place. Finish carpenters install cabinets and interior trim and other woodwork. Outdoors, exterior work is completed, and utility workers complete final hookup and testing of the home's systems . Next is the final walk through with the home buyer to make sure everything is in order.
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