Building ProcessConstruction

Determine which construction elements best suit your budget.

Exterior and Enclosure

• Floor
  The construction phase is where it all comes together, literally from the ground up. If your house has a basement foundation, the floor will be framed using pressure-treated lumber on top of the basement. Large sheets of plywood cover the frame to create the subfloor. If your house has a slab foundation, the foundation acts as the floor.
• Walls
  Once the floor is in place, the walls can go up. First, the home is framed using 2x4 lumber – forming the home's "skeleton." Often, the frames are assembled on the floor and then raised into place. Plywood is then added to the exterior of the frames, adding strength and forming a base for the exterior walls. Windows and doors are cut out of the plywood. After the home is framed and plywood added, it's covered in house wrap for durability and insulation.
• Roof
  Now it's time to raise the roof. Depending on your home's configuration, the roof may be put together with trusses (pre-made triangular frames) or custom-built frames. Trusses are less expensive and quick to install, but they can limit (or eliminate) attic space.
• Windows and Doors
  The windows and doors usually arrive in one shipment. Prior to installation, plastic stripping is stapled to the inside all of the window and door openings to ensure energy efficiency.
• Roofing
  After the windows are installed, a layer of tar paper is secured over the plywood roof. The shingles provide the finishing touch.
• Exterior
  The last step of the exterior construction process is to put the exterior materials on the sides of the home. There are many different options available – from traditional siding or brick to stucco or cedar shakes.

Interior

• Plumbing
  The pipes and other plumbing features, including water and sewer lines, are installed before the interior walls are constructed. Vents are installed at the same time, which helps relieve pressure in water lines and pipes so that they can function properly. If you've walked through other homes under construction, you'll notice that the bathtubs are usually installed very early in the interior construction process. Why? First, they are often quite large and can be difficult to install later in the construction process. Second, because bathtubs are so heavy when full, they expand and need time to settle in their frame. It's best to do this before the walls are in place so they don't crack.
• Electrical
  Electrical boxes are the first component of the electrical system to be installed. Then, wires are run through the walls between the different boxes. A lot of drilling takes place when an electrical system is installed to get the wires where they need to go, so it's important that this step also be completed prior to the interior walls going up.
• Insulation
  Insulation helps regulate the heating and air conditioning in a home, ensuring that it works effectively and no one room is too hot or too cold. First, foam channels are installed in the attic to help channel air. Next, the insulation is installed. A plastic barrier is placed on the outside of the insulation to prevent moisture from accumulating inside the walls.
• Drywall
  Drywall is one of the last steps in the home construction process. Sheets of drywall are installed, and then taped and spackled so that no seams show and nail holes are covered. This is the stage at which your house really starts looking like a home!