You’ve finalized your contract with a builder, permits have been obtained, the ground’s thawed (or dried out), and you’re ready to officially begin construction on your new home.

The process that awaits you is truly special – an emotional sequence that is hard to put in words, but is undeniably a memory you’ll preserve for years to come. Watching your home take shape is such a unique transformation, especially as a first-time home buyer.

Use this article as an overview of what to expect as you embark on what is likely an unfamiliar process. You’ll find a succession of the major milestones, individual tasks within each phase, and what you’ll want to take note of as you visit your home during the full extent of construction.

Phase 1. Foundations

Tasks:

• Clearing – rocks, trees (where applicable), and debris are removed from the site
• Excavation – trenches and/or hole(s) dug for walls and footings
• Footings – base supports for perimeter and bearing walls are installed
• Utilities – rough-in connections for plumbing and electricity are marked
• Slab – floor is poured over level ground with holes for utility connections
• Formwork – wood/metal panel molds are fitted in place and lined with rebar skeleton
• Pouring – formwork is filled completely with concrete to create walls
• Curing – concrete hardens in place
• Waterproofing – formwork is removed from walls and membrane is applied to exposed concrete
• Backfill – holes surrounding perimeter of foundation are filled with dirt level to existing grade
  

What you should look for:

• Walk the perimeter of the house while formwork is in place and before concrete is poured – does the “footprint” match the basement/foundation plan?
• Does the height of the formwork match the ceiling height in the drawings?
• Can you identify where basement level plumbing fixtures and sump-pump are located?
• Are there ledges/shelves to support masonry where required?

Phase 2. Rough Framing

Tasks:

• Floor, Wall, and Roof Systems – wood joists, studs, rafters, and trusses are installed (typically in this order)
• Steel – metal columns and beams replace temporary supports and are set in place under heaviest framing loads
• Sheathing – plywood panels are nailed and screwed into place along the exterior side of the walls and roof
• Air & Moisture Protection – house wrap and tape is applied above sheathing to prevent exterior infiltration
• Openings – windows and doors are installed

What you should look for:

• Walk the house with the floor plans in hand and use them as a map – can you identify each room?
• Before they’re installed, are window and door openings framed in their proper sizes and locations?
• Is there additional wood framing (blocking) where you’ll be hanging heavy objects or mounting fixtures (like towel bars, handrails, and TVs) to the walls?
• Does the house wrap and tape overlap the edges of the window and door openings to create a tight seal?
• Are your eaves (underside of the roof edges) sloped or flat per your design?
• Are box/tray ceilings framed in the designated rooms?

Phase 3. Trades

Tasks:

• Plumbing – pipes to supply water, remove waste, and ventilate fixtures are installed
• HVAC – ductwork for heating and air conditioning is run through the floors, ceilings, and walls
• Electrical – receptacles for outlets, switches, and fixtures are located; then, wiring is run from the breaker panel to/between these items
  

What you should look for:

• Before wiring is installed, have you walked the house to confirm that switch and outlet locations work with your furniture and living preferences?
• Are light fixtures installed symmetrically within common rooms and spaces and in alignment with each other?
• Do dryer and fireplace vents terminate (exit the house) in low-visibility locations?
• Where ductwork can’t be hidden in the framing, can bulkheads (framing around the ductwork) be tied into ceiling treatments?
• Can you confirm that pipe rough-ins correctly correspond to your sink locations (especially in kitchen islands)?

Phase 4. Insulation

Tasks:

• Insulation: Batt sheets, blown cellulose (pictured), rigid boards, and/or liquid foam are installed along the exterior envelope – between wall studs, edge of attic or roof, underside of exposed floors, and along basement foundations

What you should look for:

• Is the insulation applied tight against the framing, limiting the number of “cracks” for heat to pass through?
• Is your ductwork in the attic properly insulated to reduce seasonal temperature impact and improve performance?

Phase 5. Exterior Finishes

Tasks:

• Masonry – brick, block, and stonearetypically installed first to account for grout curing/settling and reduce staging area required on site
• Trim – installed first when used with siding to create clean seams between materials
• Siding – vinyl, wood, or composite planks/shakes installed in vertical and/or horizontal orientation
• Roofing – shingles, metal panels, or membrane applied over weatherproofing barrier with coping/flashing at edges to prevent water infiltration
• Exterior Paint/Stain – applied to non-factory finished materials

What you should look for:

• Do your finish colors match the selections you’ve made with your builder?
• If the option is available – have you “tested” your trim/accent color(s) against the primary finish of the house? (A mock-up panel can be a great tool to visualize these beforehand)
• Is the trim installed in the correct orientation, with the proper overhangs/layering of pieces, and consistently around all similar openings?
• Do horizontal bands align with projections (bays, sills, and cantilevers)?
• Are soffit and ridge vents properly installed in your roof?
• Are standing seams on metal roofs oriented to allow water to flow where directed?
• Do your downspouts align with corners or other inconspicuous locations?

Phase 6. Drywall & Interior Trim

Tasks:

• Sheet hanging – drywall is applied to the framing with holes cut for fixtures, receptacles, and switches
• Taping – seams between drywall sheets are taped to create flat, continuous, and consistent surface
• Edging – vinyl or metal angles are installed at corners and edges of openings for straight lines
• Compound – “mud” is applied overtop of tape and screws/nails for smooth appearance
• Trim – interior doors, window/door casing, baseboards, crown molding, wainscoting, and stair balusters are installed
• Primer Coat – base layer of paint is applied, covering tape and compound

What you should look for:

• Are screws or nails used to fix the drywall sheets to the framing? (Tip: screws are much more resilient and resistant to “popping” out of the framing)
• Has compound also been applied to trim pieces to cover nail marks?
• Do door swing directions match your plans and/or make sense with circulation flows?

Phase 7. Flooring

Tasks:

• Underlayment – padding is placed below the finish material
• Setting – Floor boards and tile are positioned on the floor and fixed into place
• Grout – Spacers (pictured) are placed between tile intersections to create even seams, which are then filled with a binding compound
• Molding – “shoe” mold is applied between edge of hardwood flooring and baseboards to cover any uneven boards
• Carpet – installed last to prevent stains/deterioration from foot traffic

What you should look for:

• Are hardwood floors oriented in the preferred direction?
• Is the tile positioned to minimize partial pieces and align with cabinetry, fixtures, and wall edges?
• Are temporary coverings installed to preserve the quality of finished materials?
• Where material transitions occur, is there finished edging or trim between them? Does the color of this product correspond to your floor materials?

Phase 8. Cabinetry & Specialties

Tasks:

• Cabinets & vanities – kitchen and bathroom cabinetry are installed
• Shelving – field-fabricated built-ins and shelving systems for closets are installed
• Countertops – pre-fabricated counters are set into place with backsplash above
• Specialties – towel bars, mirrors, shower enclosures, outlet/switch covers, HVAC registers are installed
• Plumbing fixtures – toilets and sinks are set into positionand connected to supply/drain lines
• Finishes – final paint and wall surfaces are applied

What you should look for:

• Are countertop seams spaced evenly or located discreetly?
• If your cabinets do not sit directly below the ceiling, how are the tops treated? Do they have trim applied directly to the cabinet or is a bulkhead framed above?
• Are there filler panels installed between operable doors and walls to allow adequate dimension to swing open?

Phase 9. Grading & Landscaping

Tasks:

• Grading – ground is leveled and smoothed into final position by repositioning dirt/earth
• Driveways & lead walks – asphalt and concrete are laid into place
• Landscaping – plantings, topsoil, gravel, and sod are all installed

What you should look for:

• Does the ground slope away from the house around the entire footprint, so water drains properly?
• Have splash blocks or drain inlets been installed below downspouts?
• Do you have guardrails where the ground surface is more than 3’-0” below the edges of decks, porches, stoops, and patios?
• Are there wells provided where grade intersects with basement window openings?
• If you have steep grade alongside a driveway or lead walk, is it acknowledged with a barrier (such as stones or plantings) along the edge?
• Can you ensure driveways and lead walks have not been damaged by equipment or disturbed by construction?

Phase 10. Final Walkthrough

Tasks:

• Builder Orientation & Inspection: tour the home with your builder to review warranties, maintenance requirements, and operational explanations of the “inner-workings”
  

What you should look for:

• Can you identify any visible damages caused by construction, touch-ups required for blemishes in paint or floors, and fixtures not operating properly?
• Do you understand how your fixtures, utilities, and systems function?
• Have you set a schedule for a future walkthrough within the time limits of your warranty to address any repairs that materialize after you move in?

As the homeowner, you possess more responsibility for the duration of construction than you may think. In addition to having a familiarity of the sequence of events during the build, it will serve you well to have a solid comprehension of the design prior to breaking ground. It’s vital that you understand what you’re getting – the translation from drawing to reality can be abstract, so ask questions if you’re unsure what a specific annotation means or what a detail will look like when built. Minimizing changes in the field is the best way to avoid delays (as well as additional costs). Establish a communication system with your builder to get regularly scheduled status updates and walkthroughs together. By staying involved throughout the process, you’ll be in tune with latest progress and understand the implications of factors out of your direct control (i.e. inspections, weather, material deliveries, availability of contractors, etc.).

Adhering to these strategies will make your building experience smoother and even more fulfilling. You should enjoy the process just as you will enjoy your new home!

Article courtesy of Evan Stoddard, an architect wtih W.C. Ralston Architects in Virginia.