Residential Construction: What You Need to Know
Residential construction begins when the property owner decides that it is time to build. Generally the first step that they have to take is hiring an architect to design the new home to be built. The architect will work with the owner to flesh out their ideas and come up with a master blueprint of the finished design.
The owner will then take the blueprint to a general contractor. The general contractor will bid on the entire residential construction job and if he is hired will then take care of most of the remaining details of construction. This includes any inspections that are required during the entire process.
The contractor’s first job will be to get permits from the local government offices for the work that needs to be done. After this he will send in an excavation crew to prepare the site for residential construction. The excavators will remove trees and other plants from the area. They will then dig a hole for either the basement or a crawlspace, depending on the blueprints.
Following them will be the concrete and masonry team. They will dig footings around the perimeter of the future residential construction and lay a concrete foundation. On top of this they will either lay a level slab for a basement or build the low block wall for a crawlspace. If a basement is being put in the block layers will come in after the original slab is poured to build the basement walls. When all of these foundations are in place and given a chance to cure the excavators will return to fill in around the foundation.
Finally it is time for the framing carpenters to arrive. They will begin by building a floor on the newly made foundation. Atop this they will begin building the framework of the residential construction. They will construct all of the exterior walls first, followed by any interior load bearing walls that are needed. On top of these framed in walls they will place the roof trusses and cover all of the exterior surfaces with wood sheeting. The framers will then complete their part of the residential construction by framing in any remaining interior walls that are needed.
After the framers leave multiple crews will begin working at the same time. Electricians, plumbers, HVAC installers and roofers will be climbing over and through the framework of the new residential construction installing and starting their parts of the projects. The roofers and HVAC installers will be finished first, while the plumbers and electricians will need to return to finish their part.
Insulators, drywallers and painters will follow each other through the various rooms covering up the bare framework, wires and pipes. They in turn will be followed by the finish carpenters, tile installers, carpet installers and cabinet installers that will put the finishing touches on the home. Mixed in with these groups will be the returning electricians and plumbers to install their fixtures on top of the finished walls, floors and ceilings.
The residential construction project is now complete and ready to be moved into. All that remains for the owner to do is hire a landscaper!
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