In part 1 of the Breaking Down the New Construction Process from November 2021, I talked about the questions you should ask before building, and provided a checklist for building your custom home. In this article, I will discuss the most exciting portion of the construction process - once you have inked the contract with your builder and you actually see your home rise from the foundation.
As mentioned previously, the construction process is commonly encompassed in the six stages below.I will return to discuss the pre-construction and post-construction process in a later article.
Concept
Contracts and Bid Documents
Bidding by Contractors
Construction
Foundation
Framing
Shingles and Roofing
HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, and Insulation
Interior Trim and Doors
Kitchen, Cabinets, and Countertops
Carpets and Flooring
Paint
Construction Payments
Completion and Move-In
Foundation
This is the first stage where the homesite is prepared by setting foundation forms, installing any in-slab plumbing and when the concrete is poured and cured. This is the point when you will ask yourself if the home will be large enough for your family. Seeing the foundation without walls is very deceiving.
Framing
You'll be surprised how quickly the framing is completed. Literally, one day, there’s nothing but a basement foundation or slab and a few days later, the framework of the home is present, with exterior and interior walls, and the roof. This is when you get your first true sense of your home’s shape and size.
Shingles and Roofing
In Utah, you will see your home wrapped in a commercial homewrap material as well as the addition of flashing, shingles on the roof, decking and windows to finally make your home "weatherproof."
HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, and Insulation
The 4-way Inspection - this is when the roughed-in installation of the following take place:
1- All electrical wiring, outlets and breaker boxes are mounted.
2- Air conditioning and heating equipment are put into place.
3- Plumbing throughout the home is visible.
4- Framing of the interior walls are completed.
The city or county inspector is called in to review and sign off for the construction to progress any further. I recommend that you take pictures and video of the interior of the home at this point in the case you need to identify where electrical or plumbing is located for future reference.
Once the inspection is passed off, the insulation and sheetrock/drywall contractors are next up to the home. As they complete their work, you will fully realize the size of each room and be able to picture yourself living in your new home.
Interior Trim and Doors
After the drywall is complete and the texture has cured, the finish carpenters install the interior doors and molding, as well as any staircase railings and balusters.
Kitchen, Cabinets, and Countertops
Next, the kitchen and bathroom cabinets are installed, countertops are set in place and the interior walls are primed for painting.
The final stages of the home build will typically have multiple contractors working on the home at the same time, so the next steps can be a fluid process as completion nears.
Interior and Exterior Finishing and Paint
Last chance to make changes to the colors of your rooms is now – if you have any questions, stay neutral with whites and you can do the work to make any changes at a later date. This is also the time where your lighting fixtures will be installed.
Carpets and Flooring
After the paint dries, your plumbing and light fixtures are installed and your carpeting, tile and wood flooring (which may have been in your home for several weeks to climatize) makes this house your home.
Final Inspection
The last step in the construction process it to have the final inspection by the city or county inspector and to receive the Certificate of Occupancy. Once achieved, your construction loan can be turned into a long-term mortgage and you can receive keys to your new home.
The home building process is a full-time responsibility and can be very frustrating to handle on your own. Your Realtor should be an asset to you during the construction process. I would love to have the opportunity to help you to through the steps of building your dream home. Please contact me at brandonrwood19@gmail.com or 801-885-2558 to start your plan today.