A Practical Guide to the Home Building Process

Choosing your new home is certainly one of the most important decision you’ll be making in the course of your life. However, it’s not an easy and quick decision to make, as you’ll want a home that is filled with character, matches your lifestyle and offers all the desirable amenities.

The whole idea becomes instantly more serious when you decide on building your home instead of buying a finished one. It can be a quite stressful and overwhelming process, so to make sure it all goes smoothly, you need to understand how it works.

Here are all the essential phases a typical builder will undertake in building your dream home.

Planning and professional help

While still in the planning stages, consult a professional, such as an architect and a project manager, as they will walk you through the design ideas and building phases. In this way, you’ll have the chance to address any safety concerns, costs, permits and various ways of turning your desires of a dream home into reality.

Building a home is not simple so without professional help of experienced project builders and designers, you’ll hardly be able to make any substantial progress. The construction market in Australia is growing rapidly and whether you’re looking for new apartments in Sydney or houses that will satisfy all your needs and grow with you, turn to the best property developers you can find to ensure the highest quality service, and attractive and innovative design.

Phase 1: preparation and foundation

With the exception of a wooded lot, one crew usually does all site preparation and foundation work. The work starts with clearing the lot of debris, rocks and trees, which is then levelled out, wooden forms are placed, holes are dug and the footing positioned. If the plans include a well and a basement, it will be done in this phase as well. Only after all that can the foundation be poured. After it cures for some time, foundation walls are built up, drains, sewer and plumbing are installed.

This is when you can expect the first visit from a city inspector who will ensure everything is properly installed and up to code.

Phase 2: the rough works

Phase two sees all walls, floors and roof systems completed. OSB sheathing or plywood is put up on exterior walls, doors and windows are built in, and the roof and walls are covered with house wrap, a protective layer that reduces risks of mold and wood rot.

After the siding and roof have been installed, electrical and plumbing work is done through the ceiling, floors and interior walls followed by HVAC system installation.

Phase 3: insulation

An essential element in creating a comfortable and cozy interior and improving the energy efficiency of your home is proper insulation. The most common types of insulation are fiberglass, foam, cellulose, mineral wool, concrete blocks and rigid boards that will insulate exterior walls, basement, attic and floors.

Phase 4: completion

At this point, construction works are coming to an end and usually include finishing drywall, interior textures and trims, flooring, cabinets, countertops and finally exterior landscaping, pathways and the driveway.

Phase 5: the final inspection

The last phase calls for the final inspection so you can get familiar with all the new features, future maintenance and warranty coverage. It’s also a valuable chance to spot any details or imperfections that need a touch-up or adjustment.

Regardless of how long and meticulous the home construction process is, it’s necessary to ensure your home is properly built, and safe for you to enjoy in the following years.

Guest Contributor, Amelia Atkins