Is it time to fulfill the dream of building a property your way? Have you thought about the details and can you visualize it ready and beautiful? Custom Home Builders with a house is a complex task and can seem a little daunting at first, but it can be done without any surprises.
For this, it is necessary to respect some fundamental steps. Each construction concept has its peculiarities and may require different planning, depending on the material used and the technique used.
Despite these differences, certain steps are inherent to any project. This justifies the importance of knowing them in general.
Want to find out what are the essential Custom home builders in Portland Oregon? Check out in this article everything you need to know, you will surely love it!
New house planning
So that the construction of the house does not become a big problem, it is necessary a good planning. With it, you can avoid wasting materials and keep your budget on schedule. In addition, he ensures that the completed work meets your initial expectations.
Often the anxiety of starting construction can accelerate this process, but this is a fundamental step that deserves your full attention. See what are the main points to observe in planning.
Define the characteristics of the residence
First, when we think about the house we would like to have, normally, the references usually come from the homes we visited and our experiences with the current home, whether positive or negative.
So the first thing to do is meet with the people involved—spouse and children—to understand what each one expects from the new home . The construction of the house needs to take into account the needs of all residents. This awareness will certainly help a lot when making the project.
Think about the following example: do you want a leisure area fully integrated with the intimate area or do you prefer these environments to be independent, in order to guarantee greater privacy? A family with teenagers may find that a suite facing the gourmet area or pool will be a little noisier.
Do you like to cook and receive friends ? Think of a large kitchen that can make your life easier and, at the same time, integrate the people who will be together.
It is possible to take good examples of what to incorporate, or not, in the construction of the house, from the experiences of other people. Be available to listen to suggestions at this first moment. Of course, the architect will guide you through this process, but having a general idea will help communication with the professional.
Stipulate the budget
The next step is to determine what budget is available for building the house and acquiring the land. Now that you have a clearer idea about the basic characteristics of the property, what size and construction standard, establish how much you want or can invest in the work.
Part of the budget will be for the purchase of the area and acquisition expenses. So, find out about the costs and duration of each stage, this will make it easier when it comes to raising the total value of the project. In addition to letting you know how much and when you will disburse.
Having a preview of the total cost of the work is essential to deal with any unforeseen events and facilitate the task of negotiating with suppliers and the company responsible for building the house.
In general, the costs of a work can be divided as follows:
- projects and fees 5% to 12%;
- land preparation 2% to 4%;
- foundations 3% to 7%;
- waterproofing 2% to 4%;
- structural part 14% to 22%;
- masonry and inputs 2% to 5%;
- roof 4% to 8%;
- hydraulic network 7% to 11%;
- electrical network 5% to 7%;
- 4% to 10% frames;
- finishes and coatings 15% to 32%;
- 1% to 3% glasses;
- paints 4% to 6%;
- Regularization and registration 1 to 2%.
Choose a neighbourhood
Subsequently, after defining the amount that will be used to purchase the land, it is time to choose a neighbourhood for the construction. Take the opportunity to put the family in the car and walk through the regions that most please.
Do you intend to live in a condominium with leisure infrastructure? Need schools nearby? Is access and displacement easy? Think about all this when choosing the neighbourhood.
At that moment there is a figure that is extremely important: the real estate Custom home builder in Portland. This specialized consultancy will eliminate several tiring steps and shorten the path to signing the deed.
Find a real estate consultant
A good real estate consultant certainly knows the market well and will help you find a land that meets your needs and is compatible with your budget. This professional is prepared to clarify your doubts and present alternatives.
The purchase of land is a delicate moment, as it is necessary to check documents and verify that everything is right with the project and the property. Real estate companies usually do all this bureaucratic work, but it is important to choose professionals who are reliable and have a tradition in the market.
New house construction
So, after these steps have been overcome, it’s time to put the plans into practice. With the purchase of the land you can start designing your dream on paper.
Plant preparation
First of all, it is the architectural professional who has the necessary technical skills to understand their needs and adapt the project to the topography of the land and current legislation. Each municipality, in fact, has building laws and guidelines that need to be respected.
Side and front setbacks, limitation of the number of floors and areas of light are some of the technical details that an architect takes into account. All this must be included in the plan and in the descriptive memorial of the construction of the house. He will also be responsible for the bureaucratic processes and collection of fees with the city hall.
In a first step, a preliminary project is made. At that moment, the house begins to take shape and its characteristics are outlined. Good communication with the professional will allow the necessary adjustments so that the project is in accordance with what you want and respects the legislation.
It is important to pay attention to some aspects at this time, such as:
- topography — land with large gaps makes the work a little more expensive, but usually has a lower acquisition cost;
- Incidence of the sun — take into account the position of the house in relation to the path of the sun. The north side — or north face of the house — has the highest incidence of light during the day, ideal for a service area, for example. The east face receives the morning sun, perfect for bedrooms, avoiding excessive afternoon heat;
- infrastructure — find out about access to the sewage system, the type of cabling used — overhead or underground — and whether there is piped gas.
Electrical and hydraulic projects
Although not mandatory, these projects are important to avoid future complications. The under sizing of the sewage network and water pipes can bring a lot of headache, in addition to waste.
Electrical cables of inappropriate thickness can overheat, causing loss of power or even a more serious incident. A well done and implemented project avoids problems of this nature. If you intend to use photovoltaic energy, you also need to foresee the cabling structure.
The information that the projects provide will also help with budget control. With them it is possible to dimension the amount of material that will be used and to prepare for the moment of purchase.
Water and light connection
Subsequently, with the projects ready and the formalities forwarded to the city hall, it is time to ask for the connection of water and light in Organs competent bodies. It is important to advance this process, as these two items will be necessary at all stages of the construction of the house .
To connect the electricity, it is necessary to install the standard pole, where the meter clock will be placed and where the power company wire will arrive. If the electrical cabling infrastructure is underground this is not necessary.
Hiring of labor
Hiring a construction company and specialized labor is crucial to avoid problems. If you don’t have the time or knowledge, it’s better to close with a company that will take care of everything.
Choose carefully to avoid delays and technical defects — often they don’t show up until months after the work is completed. The service provision contract must be very complete and indicate all obligations, guarantees and agreed terms.
It is a good idea to seek referrals from friends or acquaintances. If you don’t know anyone who can help with a referral, does an internet search? But remember to check if the company is reputable and ask to visit some works.
Ground preparation
It is now that the work really begins. The first thing to do is prepare the ground. Remember we talked about topography? So, if it is on an uphill or steep slope, the ideal is to reduce these differences.
The earthworks, that is, the adjustment of the surface of the land , is done so that it is suitable to receive the construction of the house. The professional responsible for the work must carry out the topographic survey and hire the service. Above all, it is also at this stage that retaining walls are built, if necessary.
Laying the foundation
The foundation is the foundation of the house’s construction and therefore needs a lot of attention and care. In lands where there is an embankment or the possibility of a surface water table, it is recommended to carry out a survey to assess the type of foundation that will be used.
In the case of the most common foundations, holes are made in the earth – which can vary from 3 to 10 meters, depending on the type of soil – and which are filled with concrete. It is then on these stakes that the columns of the house will be erected.
Subsequently, after the piles are completed, the baldrames are made, which will be the base of the walls. They are underground, so you need to pay close attention to waterproofing the foundation , so you won’t have problems with moisture in the future.
Here are the types of foundations that can be used:
- Shallow foundation: they are made in shallow trenches, with a depth of about 3 meters or they are directly on the ground, as long as it is firm. When a large slab is made on top they are called a raft;
- continuous foundation : the foundations are made in the alignment of the walls with solid bricks and concrete;
- Indirect foundations: they are usually much deeper — more than 3 meters — and are responsible for transmitting the weight of the construction directly to the ground through piles or pipes (this is the correct spelling).
See the materials that are most used at this stage:
- wires and rebars;
- stone;
- hardware;
- sand;
- cement;
- concrete;
- asphalt blanket or waterproofing;
- boards;
Masonry construction
It is at this stage of the construction of the house that the walls are raised and the slab is concreted. The work can be of conventional or structural masonry. The main characteristic of a work that uses the structural system is that the walls themselves support the weight of the roof of the house.
Pillars and beams are not used, so specialized labor is required when lifting them. Despite having a shorter execution time, compared to conventional construction, it limits the creativity of the project a little more.
The conventional method is the most used in United State, mainly in house construction. The combination of pillars, slabs and beams works as the “skeleton” of the work and the walls are used only to enclose and divide the environments.
It is widely used, as it allows greater freedom of execution, since there is no restriction in relation to the measures of the project. Although the construction time is longer, it facilitates possible future renovations.
In the masonry phase, reinforced concrete is usually used to fill beams, baldrames, columns, slabs and to lift the walls.
See the materials that are most used at this stage:
- hardware;
- sand;
- cement;
- concrete;
- waterproofing agents;
- props;
- prefabricated slabs
- boards;
- conduits;
- Electrical junction boxes.
- roof placement
After the masonry stage is completed, the work is covered – usually done with a roof – which may or may not be visible. Even projects with a more modern style often use built-in roof structures in order to avoid infiltration into the slab and improve the thermal comfort of the property.
The materials used to make the tiles are varied, but the most common are ceramic, cement and metal. The roof base structure can be made of wood or metal.
The function of the roof, first of all, is to protect the building from the elements of the weather, such as rain, sun and wind. After its installation, it is necessary to finish with gutters and flashings, responsible for draining rainwater and protecting the work from infiltrations and leaks.
See the materials that are most used at this stage:
- wood or metal;
- roof tiles;
- thermal blankets;
- nails and screws;
- gutters and flashings;
- water tank;
Hydraulic installation
In structural constructions, it is not allowed, as a rule, to make cuts in the blocks to embed the water and sewage pipes, unless hydraulic blocks are used – with a proper shape to accommodate the pipes.
Remember to provide for the hot water network too , in case you are going to use any type of heating other than the electric shower. This system needs specific piping to withstand high temperatures without risk of leakage.
In these cases, features that help to hide the pipes must be used. They can be plaster moldings, shafts and non-structural walls between rooms.
In cases where conventional masonry is used, after the walls are erected, “slits” are made to embed the water pipes and general registers for showers and hygienic showers. In the sewage network, the pipes and inspection boxes are passed before the floor is concreted.
See the materials that are most used at this stage:
- sewer pipes and connections;
- pipes and connections for cold water;
- pipes and connections for hot water;
- proper glues for each type of pipe;
- passing records;
- general records;
- Valves for flushing (if you do not use coupled box).
- electrical installation
The electrical installation is carried out in two stages. One of them happens next to the masonry, because it is at this moment that the boxes that will accommodate sockets and switches are placed.
Also leave everything necessary for the installation of air conditioning. Even if you have no intention of putting it on now, it will be easier if you change your mind in the future.
The conduits — corrugated plastic tubes for which the wires will be distributed — are also embedded in the walls and slab structure. The electrical project will show where these points are planned.
Only when the work is at the end of the finishing phase, will the wires be passed through the conduit and later installed the electrical materials themselves, such as sockets, switches and circuit breakers.
The electrical project must also follow the rules and guidelines of the energy company where the house will be built. It is necessary to inform the voltage that will be used and the type of input — single-phase, two-phase or three-phase — in the grid connection request.
See the materials that are most used at this stage:
- yarn;
- circuit breakers;
- copper tubes;
- air conditioning drain;
- power panel;
- socket sets;
- switch sets;
- spots;
- The finishing phase.
This can be the most fun step in the entire process , and the most costly as well. Much of the budget is concentrated here. This is the time to choose the finishes. Capriche in the floors and coverings, but don’t forget the sanitary ware and metals.
During this stage many processes usually occur simultaneously. There are several professionals working at the same time and there is a great demand for materials. Therefore, management must be very strict , so that you do not have surprises in the budget.
At this point, the external and internal plastering is done. Nowadays it is very common to use internal plaster only in wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchen and laundry. In other environments, a layer of plaster is applied and paint is applied on top.
You can now order the planned furniture, the boxes and the mirrors that will be placed in the bathrooms. But leave to install them only after post-work cleaning.
See the materials that are most used at this stage:
- floors and coverings;
- mortars;
- grout;
- spackling;
- thread seal;
- paints and sealers
Cleaning the house
After so many months of work and so many people walking around, it is clear that the house will need a heavy cleaning to look like a home . But for that, there are companies that specialize in this type of service.
Some residues can certainly damage floors, glass and paintwork if not removed correctly. The substances used are often toxic and need to be handled with safety equipment.
Even knowing that a good cleaning will be necessary at the end of the construction of the house, it is worth demanding from the builder a clean and tidy environment (as far as possible). First, because an organized work avoids waste, second, because the lack of care can irreparably damage an item.
Regularizing the construction of the house
Now that your new home is ready, you need to keep your paperwork up to date . This means that you will have to register the house on the land registration . In other words, inform the competent bodies that a building with certain characteristics was erected on that land.
Okay, now just change and enjoy the result of your efforts and dedication. Despite the difficulties that can occur when building a house, the feeling of seeing the work completed and the way you envisioned it is unique!
Finally, allow us to be part of the realization of this dream! Get in touch with Custom Home Builders Portland Oregon Vancouver WA!