Building a custom home from the ground up is an exciting experience. It’s your chance to construct your work of art from start to finish; the home that you’re going to live in for many years to come. Although it is an exciting time, it can also prove to be stressful as bumps in the road may occur and added costs may creep up on you. However, if you understand the home building process and how it works, you’ll be more prepared for the upcoming months of the journey. Think of this process as the building blocks of your family, where they will grow and evolve with you. Let us help you and your family understand how it all works.
Home Building Phase #1: Plans and Permitting
The first step is to develop a set of plans with an architect or licensed designer. Once the plans have been approved, they must be sealed by a licensed engineer. In order to apply for the building permit, a Florida energy form must be completed, which incorporates all of the critical energy features and calculates an energy value for the home that must be at certain minimum values. Next we need a full set of truss plans and cut sheets for each window and sliding glass door. All of these items are needed by the municipality before the builder can apply for the building permit.
Home Building Phase #2: The Site Work and Masonry Phase
The next step of the home building process begins with the site. A crew will need to clear the land and level it to be able to start construction. In many areas, additional fill is required to bring the house to a minimum flood elevation as mandated by the Federal Government. Then the footings are dug and poured. Afterwards a stem wall is laid and filled. All underground plumbing and electrical is laid in the stem wall, then the slab is poured. After the slab is poured, the exterior block wall is laid and then a lintel course is laid and poured, which secures the walls to the footings.
Home Building Phase #3: Framing
Next up, the roof trusses are installed and sheathed. Then the roof is dried-in with tar paper. All interior framing is installed.
Home Building Phase #4: Plumbing, Electric & More
Once the exterior of the structure is complete, other areas of the home can be tackled, including:
- Electrical
- Plumbing
- HVAC
- Wiring for telephones, electronics and security systems
After this is complete, another slew of inspections will need to occur in order to move on with the home building process.
Home Building Phase #5: Insulation, Drywall & Flooring
After the home passes the next set of inspections, the next item is insulation. Insulation helps to control the home’s climate and also helps with the home’s energy efficiency. Common types of insulation include fiberglass, foam and blanket insulation. Once the drywall is completed, other exterior finishes can be installed, such as stucco or siding. Cabinets and flooring follow, as well as bathroom finishes, like sinks, tubs and toilets.
Home Building Phase #6: Landscaping & Exterior Aspects
Now that most of the heavy equipment is gone, it’s time to work on driveways, walkways, pools and patios. Landscaping is one of the final steps of the home building process and will vary based on the area and your budget. The final inspection happens at this point and if all goes well, a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued. Your builder will then take you on a final walk-through of your home to ensure it meets your expectations.
Your Home Building Journey
As you can see, there is much that goes on during the home building process. Now that you know a little bit about how it all works, we hope that you will be more prepared to start your journey. Call the experts at Frey & Son Homes at (239) 495-8200 or visit www.freyandson.com to begin.
