| Understanding New House Building Stages for | | | | will be installed after the window and exterior door |
| Construction of a New House | | | | installation. |
| 1 Choose Your New House Building Site | | | | 17 Siding Installation |
| When prospecting for a building site to build your | | | | The builder or siding contractor now applies the siding |
| new house choose the site with the assistance of a | | | | for your new home. Popular options include vinyl, |
| general contractor, real estate agent, architect, or | | | | aluminum, and cedar siding. When incorporating vinyl |
| engineer. | | | | and cedar siding adding a decorative shake style |
| 2 Have Your Designer Design Your House Plans | | | | siding for the gables is becoming increasingly popular. |
| The architectural team will draw up your home plans | | | | 18 HVAC Work |
| to meet state and local regulations. | | | | HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) is |
| 3 Review the House Plans | | | | now installed. In some areas the HVAC contractor |
| The architect reviews the home building plans and | | | | may be the same as the plumbing contractor. |
| schedules with the clients. | | | | 19 Plumbing Installation |
| 4 Obtain Permits | | | | At this point in the construction process the plumber |
| The architect or home builder applies for the | | | | installs the rough plumbing. |
| necessary building permits | | | | 20 Electrical |
| 5 Land Clearing | | | | The electrical contractor now installs the rough |
| The excavator uses heavy equipment to clear the | | | | electrical work including the breaker panel, wiring and |
| land of trees, shrubbery, and brush and a driveway | | | | boxes. |
| access is created to your home building site. | | | | 21 Insulation |
| 6 House Layout | | | | The insulation contractor or the general contractor |
| A general contractor or engineer layouts out the | | | | insulates the walls. The ceiling is also insulated in |
| home location. | | | | vaulted areas if there is no attic access to this area. |
| 7 Installation of Septic, Well and other Utilities Begins | | | | The ceiling is more commonly insulated after the |
| Utility installation often begins now although your | | | | drywall stage with blown in insulation. |
| project coordinator may leave these items toward | | | | 22 Drywall Installation |
| the end of the home construction. | | | | A drywall contractor which may be your general |
| 8 Excavation | | | | contractor now installs your drywall. Drywall is also |
| Excavators and heavy equipment begin the | | | | commonly referred to as Sheetrock or gypsum wall |
| excavation preparing the land for the footings. | | | | board. |
| 9 House Footings | | | | 23 Drywall Finishing |
| The general contractor or the mason contractor | | | | The drywallers tape the joints with drywall compound |
| pours the footings. In heavy populated areas your | | | | after the drywall is installed. They then apply up to 2 |
| footing contractor may be a subcontractor for the | | | | additional coats of drywall compound over the tape |
| foundation wall contractor. | | | | and corner beads. |
| 9 Foundation Walls | | | | 24 Painting |
| Two common foundation wall types are block | | | | Wall painting may be accomplished at this stage, or |
| foundation and poured concrete foundation walls. | | | | be completed after the finish trim installation. |
| Your concrete floor is commonly poured after the | | | | 25 Cabinet and Finish Trim Installation |
| forms are stripped for the foundation walls. | | | | The finish carpenter now installs the cabinets and trim |
| 10 Back-fill | | | | boards including the baseboard and window casing. |
| The excavator back-fills after the foundation walls | | | | Decorative crown moldings remain popular in kitchen |
| are poured. Some contractors prefer to have the | | | | and dining rooms. |
| floor joists set prior to this back-fill to tie the walls | | | | 26 Flooring Installation |
| together. | | | | There are many popular flooring styles to choose |
| 11 House Floor Framing | | | | from. Having a variety of finished floor styles is very |
| Carpenters or a framing crew frame the floor joists | | | | common with the flooring styles including laminate, |
| and apply decking material to the floor joists. | | | | vinyl, hardwood, and tile flooring. |
| 12 Wall Framing | | | | 27 Finish Plumbing |
| Carpenters or framers build exterior walls. Interior | | | | The finish plumbing includes setting the sink, bath |
| walls are often constructed at this stage although | | | | fixtures, showers, tubs, and toilets. |
| the interior partition walls may also be built after the | | | | 28 Finish Electrical |
| roof is framed. | | | | The electrician completes the finish electrical work at |
| 13 Roof Framing | | | | this time including installing the outlets, switches, and |
| The carpenter now frames the roof complete with | | | | light fixtures. |
| sheathing. The walls may also be sheathed at this | | | | 29 Finish HVAC |
| point if they were not sheathed during the wall | | | | The cover plates are now installed over the registers |
| framing stage. Decorative rakes and fascia boards | | | | and air returns for the HVAC system. If a fireplace is |
| may be added at this stage if adding a little extra | | | | desired in your home your HVAC contractor often |
| style to your home is desired. | | | | installs fireplaces with the quote for the HVAC work. |
| 14 Framing Inspection | | | | 30 Final Concrete Work |
| Your building inspector inspects all phrases of | | | | The driveway and final concrete work include the |
| construction at this point. Be sure to review the | | | | sidewalks, optional concrete front porch, garage floor, |
| inspection schedule with your local building inspector | | | | and pads for hot tubs. |
| as there may be many additional inspections required | | | | 31 Deck |
| prior to this. | | | | Deck construction now takes place by the general |
| 15 Roofing | | | | contractor. Hot tubs are often incorporated into deck |
| When the home is ready for the roofing, the general | | | | designs. Be sure to discuss the potential placement of |
| contractor or the roofing contractor apply the | | | | a hot tub onto your deck with your contractor as |
| shingles. Asphalt, fiberglass, cedar, and slate shingles | | | | the immense weight requires additional framing |
| are options with metal shingles and metal panels | | | | stipulations. |
| becoming increasingly popular. | | | | 32 Landscaping |
| 16 Window and Exterior Door Installation | | | | The landscapers plant shrubs and trees with the |
| Carpenters now install your windows and exterior | | | | grass or sod for your new lawn to add a finishing |
| doors. If you choose to go with an exterior (rigid) | | | | touch. |
| insulation to increase the R-value of your home this | | | | |