in 6 Comprehensive Steps

Chip Pershino, Senior Vice President of Construction at Edward Andrews Homes, says: It’s understandable that buyers are excited to see their new home being built from start to finish.

. Have you ever wondered how a new house or building is constructed? To learn about the steps involved in this process, join us in this article on csebrick.com

Three Steps Before Construction

Before starting construction, like many projects, a preliminary strategic plan provides a visual map for all activities that will occur. The pre-construction stage involves many activities, and here are a few notable ones:

1. Finding the Location
2. Obtaining Necessary Permits for Construction
3. Hiring Contractors

In addition to the above three items, construction projects require many resources. Construction without proper initial planning can become a daunting task. Before starting construction, preparing a checklist separate from the overall strategic plan is entirely logical. This way, each specific task in this stage can be checked off once completed.

?How is the Process of Building a House from Start to Finish

There are many aspects involved in constructing a structure. Planning the construction can be a daunting task, and it may seem like the steps of building a house will never end. Choosing the location, obtaining prices, and deciding on the interior design are just some of these steps. However, rest assured that there is a logical sequence to this process, and the end result is worth the wait. Below is an overview of the steps involved in building a new house and what you can expect at each stage. After the overview, we will explain some specific steps in more detail.

Step 1: Excavation and Site Preparation

The first step in this stage is removing all debris, rocks, trees, and other natural obstacles to create a suitable space for construction. Often, they turn to an excavation contractor to complete this stage. At this stage, the contractor will use architectural plans according to the property specifications. Once the site is ready for excavation, an excavator levels the area and digs a hole for pouring the foundation.

Typically, it takes about a week to complete the excavation and site preparation stage. Keep in mind that all estimated times depend on various factors, including the size of the building; our estimates focus on a residential house of average size.

Step 2: Column Foundations and Footings

Every successful construction project starts with a solid foundation. Once the construction site is prepared, the next step involves three stages: laying the foundation, setting the footings, and then framing the house.
Here’s a brief overview of the important steps in this stage of building construction:

Foundations and Footings

The foundation is what the footings of your structure will sit on, traditionally made of reinforced concrete and rebar. Placing and inspecting the foundation is of utmost importance as it bears the entire weight of the structure.
During construction, after setting the footings and conducting inspections, a contractor will pour concrete into the overall foundation of the house. The foundation is the backbone of any structure, fundamentally supporting the building.
Traditionally, it takes about two weeks to complete this stage, although weather conditions may alter the timeline. The concrete needs sufficient time to dry and harden before wall construction and roof covering can proceed.

Wall Construction and Roof Covering

It’s not just your hands and eyes that need protection; your home does too! Once the foundation is in place and completely dry, it’s time for the contractors to start building the walls and covering the roof. They construct the structural framework of the house, often referred to as studs. First, the exterior walls are built, then the floor systems and roof beams are placed. Finally, the sheathing is applied to cover the walls and create a protective barrier.

House Framing

This stage of construction is often the most exciting part of the process, as the building plans finally take shape, and you can walk through the space of your future home. The framing usually takes one to two months.

Step 3: You’re Making Progress!

In this stage, builders begin working on the internal installations of the house. This is the phase where all the utility elements, including heating, air conditioning, electrical, and plumbing systems, come into play.

Here’s a brief overview of the important actions in this stage:

Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC Installation

Before insulation begins, the internal components must be installed. This stage of construction is often referred to as the rough-in stage, which involves installing the internal utilities of the house. Examples include wiring for outlets, plumbing for water lines, and ductwork for heating and air conditioning units.
Completing this stage typically takes about two to four weeks. Once completed, the utility systems are usually inspected, and after passing the inspection, the installation of insulation can begin.
Insulation is placed between the framed studs. When temperatures start to drop during the cold winter months, the added insulation ensures that the house maintains the optimal indoor temperature required by the residents.
Additionally, this stage of building construction helps control energy costs and minimizes noise from internal sources like loud televisions and external sounds like traffic.

Interior Walls / Drywall Installation

The good news is that at this stage, the project is almost halfway through. After the inspection of mechanical systems and the installation of insulation, the drywall is ready to go up. Drywall, sometimes referred to as sheets, is installed on the studs to create the walls and ceilings that define each room.

Installing insulation and drywall typically takes about one to two months.

Quality Control / An Ongoing Step

Every stage of new construction or renovation needs to be reviewed for quality. These inspections can seem like an endless process, but they are essential for safety reasons. This stage also ensures that the strengthening the building. is done according to the initial guidelines.

Step 4: Cabinets, Flooring, and Other Interior Finishes

As the exterior of the structure resembles the initial envisioned picture, it’s now time to match the interior of the building to it.

In this stage, builders install cabinets, flooring, and trim. It’s also the stage where contractors prime and later paint the interior walls and cabinets. Plumbing fixtures such as faucets, bathtubs, toilets, sinks, and showers are also installed. This step typically takes about one to two months to complete.

Installing Cabinets

At this stage, the interior of the house may look quite messy, but a lot of progress has been made. It’s now time to start installing the countertops and kitchen cabinets.

Installing cabinets and countertops usually takes about two weeks.

Completing Interior Decoration and Finishes

Finishing the interior decoration of the home is an exciting stage as the finer details emerge. Most homes feature interior decorations like baseboards and window casings that protect corners and hide joints. At this stage of the process, the house is ready for the installation of all interior finishes.

Pre-Painting and Painting

During the pre-painting stage, the surfaces of cabinets are prepared. This involves sanding and priming to ensure a smooth base for the paint. Then, various parts of the house, including the walls, are primed and painted.

Flooring

Whether it’s vinyl, ceramic tile, or hardwood, it’s time to install the flooring. This stage is actually one of the final steps in completing the house. All other stages should be completed before flooring installation.
Installing the flooring at the last stage can prevent potential damage that might occur from other activities like painting. Additionally, the flooring won’t get scratched during the movement of equipment.

Step 5: The House is Almost Complete

You’re almost there! At this stage, all the installations are finished, and the fixtures are in place. Once your interior looks seamless, the builders turn their attention to the exterior and landscaping of the house.

Exterior Completion

During this stage, fixtures are connected to the initial installations that were previously installed. For example, sinks, toilets, and faucets are connected to the plumbing system. Similarly, light fixtures, outlets, and switches are connected to the electrical wiring system that was installed in Step 3.

Installation of Equipment

You’re almost there! At this stage, all the installations are finished, and the fixtures are in place. Once your interior looks seamless, the builders turn their attention to the exterior and landscaping of the house.

Leveling Walkways and Sidewalks

At this stage, concrete is poured on the surface of the walkways and sidewalks in front of the building to level the entrance area. Concrete is preferred in this phase because it creates completely flat surfaces. Completing this leveling stage will take about a week.

Landscaping

This stage involves placing lawns, plants, and shrubs. Landscaping is an effort that distinguishes the house and adds to the overall value of the property. Additionally, well-designed landscaping prevents flooding around the new structure. The landscaping stage typically takes about a week to complete. 

Step 6: Time to Get Ready to Move In!

Now it’s time to take the final steps to get ready to move into your new home. Construction workers will clean up all dust and debris from the site before your arrival. After a final inspection, you can receive the keys to your home and move in.

Final Inspection

As mentioned earlier in the quality control section, a final inspection is conducted during this stage. Everything is thoroughly checked to ensure that the construction is up to standards. This final walk-through is the last opportunity to call contractors back to redo or complete any parts of the previous stages that might have issues or were left unfinished.

Post-Completion Stage

In this stage, final documents are created by the architect and submitted to the local municipality, indicating that the building has been inspected and completed.

As mentioned above, the construction process for all buildings, including commercial buildings, follows a similar timeline and progression. In a commercial project, larger foundations, steel structures, and taller walls might be needed, but the construction of any structure usually follows the same process. If you have any questions related to building construction, feel free to share them with us.