Last Monday we shared with you the first part of this blog that takes you through the building process. Once we have gone through the pre-construction and design phases (if you missed it, read it here), you can move on to the fun part, your custom home construction process.
Site preparation and foundations
The first step to build your custom home will be to prepare your site. We start either with demolishing or moving the existing building and then clearing, excavating and levelling the site according to the architectural plans. Check the Five Facts about Green Building and House Removal to learn more about this green building initiative.
Following to this, the crew would lay out the footings and assemble the ICF foundation walls, and then pour the concrete onto it. If you want to learn a little more about ICF foundations, we recommend our articles Benefits of ICF Foundations and 5 Reasons Why Using ICF is a Better Option than Standard Cribbing.
Once the concrete is poured, and it has had time to cure, the crew will be ready for waterproofing and installing any plumbing that is needed on the first floor or basement. Once this is done, there will be an inspection. If everything has been installed correctly and according to the codes, your custom home builder can proceed to the next step.
Framing and mechanical systems
In this phase, your home will start looking like a home and less like a construction site. It entails major structural work, and as a result, the skeleton of your home will be completed as well as the walls, floor and roof systems. If your garage is attached to your home, it will usually be done during this stage. Conversely, if your garage is detached and you wish to use it for storage during construction, you can talk to your custom home builder and request to build it after demolition.
Once the framing is ready, the crew will proceed to work on siding and roofing. At the same time, all the mechanical systems are installed, which includes: heating and cooling units, plumbing lines and electrical systems. After the roofing is ready all the electrical work is completed including wiring for telephone, cable, tv and other systems. At this point, there will be inspections for rough framing, plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems.
Insulation, drywall, and Finishes
In this step, your custom home builder takes care of the insulation of your home, depending on your selections this could be made with a variety of materials. The most common types of insulation used in new homes are fiberglass, cellulose, and foam. ICF is the most environmentally friendly choice for building your home; it offers better insulation, will help you save energy, and is a resistant structure for your home.
Next in your custom home construction schedule is to complete the drywall, followed by applying a primer coat of paint. At this point, exterior finishes such as stucco, stone, and siding are installed. After this, other interior work is done, for example, all the flooring, interior doors, cabinets, and windows are installed.
Fixtures, appliances, and landscaping
At this point, your modern custom home is almost ready, and the faucets, countertops, light fixtures, plugs, and appliances are installed. Your bathroom fixtures, sinks, and toilet are put in place, as well as any mirrors, and shower doors. Once everything has been installed, a final clean-up of your new custom home is made. Finally, the last detail to include would be your exterior landscaping. Grass and trees are planted as well as any other landscaping desire you have will be completed.
Final check and homeowner walkthrough
At this point, a final inspection is made to your home to check if all the items have been installed and completed correctly. Finally, your custom home builder will invite you to a walkthrough to give you the opportunity to review any item that needs to be adjusted. Once this is done, your home is ready to welcome you!
Are you ready to build your new custom home? Contact Sunset Homes today; we are proud to be Calgary's bespoke home builder. We will gladly prepare a free quote and give you more information about our custom luxury homes and major renovations.
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Too Long Didn’t Read (TLDR)
Site preparation and foundations are the first steps of building your new custom home, then framing and installing the mechanical systems. Next will be the insulation, drywall, and finishes, and finally, installing fixtures, appliances and having your landscaping done. Don’t forget to discuss all the details of your construction process schedule with your custom home builder.
