The 7 Main Phases of the Custom Home Building Process

Are you considering building your own home? Or maybe you’ve just started the process and want to know more about what to expect in the next coming months. Both exhilarating and a stressful, building your own custom home is one experience that will truly be worth its reward as you are crafting the home you’ve always wanted from start to finish. Understanding the building process and how it works will prepare you for the journey ahead and at the end is the haven you and your family will get to grow into and enjoy for decades to come.

Home Building Phase #1: Plans, Permitting, and Selections

When you partner with a trusted building like 5^th Avenue Construction, developing plans becomes a lot easier. 5^th Avenue Construction has a set of plans where you can choose which suits you and your family’s needs the best. From two-story single family homes, roomy ranch plans, or cozy townhomes, they’ll have a plan that you’ll love on first sight. From there you’ll be able to customize the plan to better fit your exact specifications. Or you can even start from scratch with an in-house architect and designer.

After the plans have been developed, they will be submitted to the town’s municipality to get approval for the building permit. Once the permit has been approved, the selections process can begin. During the selections process, the home buyer will meet with the in-house designer, and they will go through every aspect of the home choosing their preferred selections. Some selections examples are paint colors, flooring type, lighting, finishes, appliances, cabinets, and more.

Home Building Phase #2: Site Prep and Foundation Work

Phase two of the home building process starts with the lot itself. Depending on if the lot is empty or if there is an older home on it will change the time. If there is an older home that needs to be demolished first, the crew will work on taking down the home first before they are able to move forward. 

Next, the crew will clear the lot and then level it in order to start construction. Sometimes some additional fill is needed to bring the house to the minimum flood elevation that is required by the federal government.

Next, the footing, or the bottom portion of the foundation of the home is dug and poured, this allows for a solid base for the home’s foundation. If the home has a full basement this is when the hole is dug for the area and prepped. Afterwards, a stem all is laid and filled, a stem all is a structure that is used to connect the foundation to its walls. 

At this point, all the underground plumbing and electrical is also laid in the stem wall, then the slab is poured, a slab is a single concrete base of the home. The exterior block wall is then laid and the lintel course, which are structural beams that carry loads over an opening, are then added. All of these units work together in order to anchor the house over the slab. 

Home Building Phase #3: Framing & House Wrap

After the site prep and foundation work is completed, rough framing of the home can begin. The floor, wall, and roof framing will be added, this is the skeleton of the house. Next, oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood sheathing is applied to the exterior walls. After this step, the roof, windows, and exteriors doors are installed.

This sheathing will then be covered with a protective barrier called house wrap; this material prevents water from infiltrating the frame of the house while also allowing water vapor to evaporate. House wrap reduces the likelihood of mold and wood rot in the future.

Home Building Phase #4: Plumbing, Electric, & HVAC Systems

Once the framing of the home has been completed, the siding and roofing can be installed. While these are being installed, plumbing and electrical contracts will start running pipes and wires through the interior of the walls, floors, and ceilings. Vents, sewer lines, and water supply lines will be added as well. At this time, shower/tub units and bathtubs will also be added because this is at the point of the building process where large and heavy objects are easier to maneuver in the house.

Afterwards, ductwork will be installed for the HVAC system of the home, the HVAC is the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, this step can also include the furnace. HVAC vent pipes will be installed through the roof and insulation will be added into the walls, floors, and ceilings.

After the roof has been installed, an electrician will then install receptacles for outlets, lights, and switches. The electrician will then run wires from the breaker panel to each receptacle. The wiring for phones, cable TV, and music systems are also part of this step.

Home Building Phase #5: Insulation & Drywall

Insulation plays a major role in creating a comfortable and energy efficient home. Most homes are insulated in all of its exterior walls, the attic, and any floors that are located above a crawl space or unfinished basement. The most common types of insulation that are used in homes are cellulose, fiberglass, and foam. 

Dependent on the climate or the region the home is built in, the builder may also use mineral wool, concrete blocks, rigid foam, sprayed foam, insulating concrete forms, or structural insulated panels. Blanket insulation is typical for use in new home builds, along with blown-in insulation, or loose-fill insulation; these are made from fiberglass, cellulose, or mineral wool particles. 

After insulation has been installed, drywall will then be hung and taped so that the seams between the boards aren’t visible. A primer coat of paint will be applied after the taping is complete. Next the contractor can then begin installing interior finishes, along with exterior finishes like brick, stone, and siding.

Home Building Phase #6: Interior Trim & Flooring

After insulation and drywall has been completed, the builder can now install the interior doors, baseboards, window sills, molding, door casings, stairs, and other decorative trim. Cabinets, vanities, fireplace mantels and surrounds will also be added at this time. The walls will also get a finished coat of paint, wainscoting, or wall paper where applicable.

Wood flooring, vinyl flooring, ceramic tile, and countertops will also be installed during this step. Exterior finish grading will be completed during this time to ensure that drainage leads away from the home and in order to prep the yard for landscaping.

Home Building Phase #7: Mechanical Trims, Bathroom Finishes, & Landscaping 

In the final phase of custom home building, all the mechanical trims and bathroom fixtures will be added. This includes the light fixtures, outlets, switches, and the electrical panel. In the bathrooms, toilets, sinks, faucets, mirrors, and shower doors will be installed. At this point, carpeting will also be installed and a final clean up takes place.

Simultaneously, while the interior is being finished, landscaping is being completed for the home. This is when the shrubs, grass, and trees are planted along with other portions of landscaping that has been requested by the home buyer.

 The final inspection of the home will happen at this point and if all is ready to go, a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued. The builder will then take you on a final walk-through of the home to ensure that it meets all of your expectations.

Custom Build Your Home with 5^th Avenue Construction

Ready to plan and build your custom dream home? With a trusted and professional builder like 5^th Avenue Construction you can be rest assured that every step of the way will be as smooth and stress-free as possible thanks to their decades long experience in the business. Contact the experts at 5^th Avenue Construction at (331) 255-7500 or at info@5thavemgmt.com and begin your home building journey today.