After the planning and design process, home construction consists of 5 essential phases. Knowing what these steps entail helps you, as the buyer, stay aware of the progress and benchmarks along the way. Payment schedules are typically tied to completion of these steps, so these benchmarks are meaningful and specific.
As you’ll see, the distinct steps of home construction involve some very different kinds of labor and skills. This is why working with a great contractor and project management team is so important.
Home Construction Facts
#1. Site prep and foundation
First we lay the foundation — a wood framework with poured concrete. Beforehand, the site needs to be cleared and prepared. This depends on the condition of the lot, ranging from brush removal to tear-downs of existing structures.
In California, of course, home construction must adhere to seismic safety standards. Foundation bolting and other protections are strongly recommended.
#2. Framing
A complete frame (in residential home construction, it is almost always a wood frame) sets the structure of the house from the foundation up to the roof. This is an exciting step for the homeowner, since you can get a visual and tangible feeling of the room sizes and layout.
Framing may seem very straightforward, but it is a crucial step for the long-term stability of the home. Better frames prevent floor, wall, and ceiling damage over time.
#3. Exterior and Infrastructure
Electrical systems, plumbing, insulation, and everything else “behind the scenes” starts to arrive and fill out the house. Meanwhile, the exterior gets finished to a point where doors and windows can be locked. At the end of this round of home construction, you will basically have a functioning house that only needs the interior finished.
#4. Interior Build-Out
As we move toward the finish line, we add drywall, flooring, and built-in structures like cabinets and shelving. Some final finishes will wait until the end — you don’t want bathroom tile or cabinet knobs getting damaged while home construction is still going on. But soon, the new home will start to look and feel complete.
#5. Finishing Touches
Many people become more involved in the home construction process at this final stage, making sure that paint colors and other details look the way they should. From crown molding to the kitchen sink, there are many final touches to complete the home. On the exterior, we finish the surfaces with stone or stucco and add architectural accents.
Some details get added by the homeowner after move-in, like a paper towel rack in the kitchen or a ceiling fan in a guest bedroom. But your contractor may provide post-construction services to ease this transition. On the whole, your new home is now complete — ready for you to move in and begin decorating.
Contact McNeil Construction for all your building needs. We will discuss with you on how completion will be defined, so you can schedule moving and payment to complete the home construction process. And of course, a final inspection will confirm that everything is ready for you.