How to Build A Custom Home: A Step-by-Step Guide to Custom Home Building Process
Building your new custom home is exciting but it can be difficult if you don’t understand the process. Also, the home building process varies depending on the kind of home, builder, and region.
To help you understand your home’s construction and prepare for it, we’ve put together everything you need to know.
We have explained all the important steps you need to go through to build your custom home in this article. Keep reading to know more.
The Pre-Construction Stage
The Pre Construction Stage is an important part of building your custom home. It is during this stage that you will be able to tell how to go all the way from beginning to finish. As you go along, you’ll be able to better understand what each step of your construction phase will entail. and You’ll know what you can do to make the most out of the home-building process.
The Research Stage
The first part of the preconstruction phase is the preliminary research stage. In this stage, you’ll learn as much as possible about your custom home-building project. You should take the women to get familiarized with the standard custom home building process and you’ll be more prepared.
At this stage, you should be able to know the following:
- The construction budget of your home
- The type of building materials and decorations you would like
- How to predict the construction timeline
- Your project timeframe
- The type of site you will use for construction and the restrictions involved if there are any
- The building codes you will have to follow
- The square feet of space you will need.
You’ll also need to consider if you want to work from home, how many people will live in the home, and if you would regularly entertain guests.
You may not be able to answer all these questions at once, but you don’t have to worry if you are working with professionals. They’ll certainly put you through and enlighten you on all the aspects you should know.
Find a Professional Builder or Construction Company
After making your preliminary research and deciding on how you want your custom home to turn out, put together a team that can bring it to life.
It’s important to partner with professional builders. It will help you streamline the entire construction process. It is because every step from concept to finish is essential for a custom home.
The builders will lead all the aspects of your new custom home build process, so it’s important to get professionals.
Most professional builders already have an established relationship with architects. Some even have architects working in their building company, so you don’t have to worry about finding a separate architect.
As the project progresses, you can rest knowing that every aspect of the project is being handled. You can then focus on other important areas such as your work.
Find a Suitable Construction Area
Now that you’ve found the right professional builders, you need to enter into the main aspect of the preconstruction phase. This is finding a suitable construction site. If necessary, your team of professionals can work with you over time so that you can evaluate multiple options. You can then weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the sites that you see.
It will be helpful to have the input of a custom build design team. It is important when you need to consider the sustainability of the land and access to public utilities. The design-build team will also help you ensure that you follow all zoning laws, building codes. It includes potential agreements with the buildings in that area or region.
Custom Home Blueprint and Specifications
At this point, the design-build team working with you will start to work on creating precise blueprints and specifications for your custom home project.
You can come up with ideas and the design-builders will go over them with you, securing all loopholes. As professionals, they’ll be able to lend their expertise letting you know what’s attainable and how you can incorporate your ideas in a manner that is both realistic and functional. You can unleash your creativity guided by skilled architects and builders
Other professionals, for example, structural engineers might also come in to help provide extra input and give more value to this stage of the preconstruction phase.
Choosing the Right Materials
Here is the point where you create your ideal retreat to match your preferences. There might be a little bit of overlap in the whole process, for instance, you might decide on your blueprint before finding a location. Understand that building a custom home requires a high degree of flexibility and so you might need to tweak some of your ideas to accommodate what is realistic.
Nonetheless, you can be confident to know the exact materials you want to use once you have found a suitable location. You need to know the materials that will work well and the ones that won’t which is why picking a good builder is a crucial factor.
Several items will go into the construction of your home and they require approval by a professional before the builders can use them. As a result, if you’re specific about certain materials, let your builders know.
If you want a certain kind of material for your kitchen or living room floor, be as clear as possible about them so that the design-build team can incorporate them during construction.
Understand that the items you choose might be proper or not and your design team will help you choose the best, but everything still depends on what you want.
How to Avoid the Most Common Issues and Speed Up Your Project
The length of time you need to complete a construction project depends on:
- The size of the project
- The complexity of the project
- The capacity of the contractor
Several other factors are also involved. However, issues can arise and affect the time frame of a building project. It can both be annoying and frustrating.
You don’t have to go through this when building your custom home. Here are the steps on how to avoid the common issues that can arise when building your custom home.
Consider the Areas Around the Construction Site
One of the mistakes you can make is not considering preparation work properly before beginning construction.
To avoid any common issue arising, you need to focus on the preparation of the construction site. Remove all boulders before construction because they can increase the overall expense.
Also, you should know all the issues that will likely arise every step of the way and how you plan to address them. It gives you a greater degree of control over the custom home building project from beginning to finish.
Understand the Whole Process
Not understanding the whole process will affect the speed of construction. It is why you should ask all the important questions in the preconstruction phase. Sometimes, your building plan may not work.
Trying to draw a building plan or downloading a free one and handing it over to the builder can often lead to dissatisfaction during construction. Instead of expecting the builder to read your mind and tell you what you like, be active in the planning stage and ensure everything is according to how you want it.
Hiring a Cheap Contractor or Builder
You get what you pay for, and it applies to your custom home construction process too. When looking at builders, trying to factor in the price alone without checking the level of the quality job they perform can lead to the low-quality output.
Consider multiple builders instead. As you go through the process of looking for a professional, ask to see their price points and examples of the world they’ve executed. Also remember that all the builder does is finish the custom home, you’ll be living in it, so the way you want it to turn out matters.
Ensure Your Builder Inspects the Property
If you don’t hire a good builder, then there might be no proper construction inspections which might mean a lot of substandard work.
There can also be a lot of mistakes, the use of incorrect materials, and inability to meet construction standards.
The best way to go about this is to understand and agree on who will be doing the actual work when you start the projects. You might need to hire a different professional that will be in charge of inspection depending on the agreement.
Open Ended Contract
Avoid open-ended contracts because they have no exact time frame or duration and can make contractors take as much time as they want on the project.
Also, when signing the contract, avoid timelines that are too short. They may lead to a job that is incorrectly completed or below the standard construction output.
Also, when drawing contracts, the owner of the work and the way the contractor will state how to handle errors if any arises, out in the contract. Otherwise, your builder might refuse to be responsible for a wrong output.
The best way to go about this is to get a professional builder because they always put in their best so you can have assurance of the best jobs.
Don’t Try to Go About The Construction Yourself
You might have a wonderful idea of how the features in your home will look and how you want your dream project to go. It’s not enough, you should get a builder to take you through the whole process step by step.
It is important because builders have more construction expertise and can address all the design problems that may arise. Also, property concerns and supplies are important before you start the real work.
Have a Blueprint
Never start the construction phase without having a blueprint for your custom house. You and the builder should draw up a prototype at the design stage. The prototype should ensure that:
- The architect places all doors in the right areas and there is enough room to open and close them.
- Venting and heating systems have undergone proper upgrades.
- There is correct placement of roof, drainage, and foundation systems are to prevent any damage issues.
What Contractors Do to Meet Customers’ Individual Tastes and Expectations
Here is a list of what contractors do to meet customers’ tastes and expectations:
Understanding the Customer
The first step contractors take to meet customers’ tastes and expectations is to know and understand the client. They have to understand the client’s preferences when it comes to materials, tools, and equipment.
Some clients always want the best materials no matter how costly it is, while some other clients have not even done enough research to know what it is that they want. Some clients also like to negotiate and find alternatives. As a result, contractors often take time to understand the client and know the kind of person that they are dealing with.
Contractors need to be as transparent as they can be during the entire planning phase. It will help customers bare their minds and be free with you. Contractors also prepare a set of plans that a customer can choose from. They’ll go to several lengths to get the customer’s insights and meet their expectations.
They Take Time to Study the Project.
Before you can deliver a good plan to clients, a contractor will need to thoroughly review the whole plan. Based on the objective of the customer, the contractor will then set project goals and develop the plan from there.
When drafting the plan, the contractor should try to bear in mind that a project must be safe, scheduled, budgeted, and have the quality to be successful. If any of these four is missing, they might be unable to satisfy the client.
The consequence of a delayed project is extra costs, so they’ll try not to underprice the project.
Most contractors will try to review the documents of past projects that they’ve done. They’ll look at their project management software and see how to solve the issues they might encounter along the building process. It will help them make better decisions for building the customer’s custom home.
It’s also important that they brainstorm with their project team and get the opinions of engineers, suppliers, and other people on the team. They can sometimes reach out to industry experts who have worked on similar projects and get valuable opinions.
A contractor must plan for mitigation and contingency. Then they’ll know how to delegate roles.
Contractors Quantify Client’s Expectations
Contractors tend to identify the top priority of clients. Some clients are wary about their budget, and some reel over aesthetics. They must know what the client wants more. Usually, they find out by asking or from a series of conversations with the client.
Clients will often say what they wish to achieve the most because it is difficult to prioritize everything during construction.
For instance, if a customer focuses on budget, then the contractor will have to be strict with spending. If safety is a priority for a customer, the contractor will most likely focus on safety accessories and PPEs on site.
After quantifying the expectation of the client, the contractor plans and schedules all the resources accordingly. From tools, materials, and equipment to workers, contractors see to it that everything is smartly planned out so that they meet the expectation of the client and the priority of the project.
The Contractor Drafts an Irresistible Plan
After reviewing the project to draw an initial plan and identify the top priorities of a customer, the contractor will now write the original plan.
The plan will usually include the overview, which is the procedure of construction and the result to expect. The plan will also include the equipment, tools, materials, and other resources that the contractor needs to finish the project.
Sometimes, the contractor can include the methods and processes they’ll use and how to go about the project management to ensure trust between them and the customer.
If a customer is very interested in the workflow, the contractor will break down the project into milestones so the customer can understand better.
Then, they’ll wait for feedback from the client and make revisions if the need arises.
Plan Review with Client
Once the plan is ready, the contractor reviews the plan with the client. During the review, the contractor will request more information from the client. It will be about what the customer expects from the project team and what they want to see as the outcome of the project. They’ll usually let the customer know if the request they make is unattainable.
The main project team will usually be part of the entire review. The contractor will ensure they discuss all concerns and that the customer is on the same page with the project team before they proceed to write the final plan.
Final Plan Preparation
The contractor will see to the final plan once they’ve deliberated on expectations and priorities. If the contractor has a professional relationship with the architect, this will be easy. Once the plan is ready, the contractor will send copies of the plan to the customers, other shareholders, and the whole project team.
They’ll also have a separate meeting with their project team to discuss strategies before they finally take off on the project.
Track Progress
Once the contractor starts working on the main construction, they’ll make sure that every team member is working to meet the expectation of the customer. The project manager will track progress.
The contractor will check on daily accomplishments and ensure that they are in alignment with the daily schedule. Doing so will help the contractor measure productivity. They’ll also be able to estimate the time frame of the entire project.
Post-project Evaluation
To ensure that a client is very satisfied, the contractor does a post-project debriefing. They’ll go over the project to ensure that all project aspects are correct and that they were able to implement solutions to every issue encountered.
They’ll evaluate the methods they employed and check if they were standard enough to meet the expectations of the customer.
Construction Flexibility
Flexibility in construction is important. It allows the building to evolve with as much change as the owner or user needs.
The flexibility of a building and the elements of its design can allow for efficient use irrespective of the changes that occur. Whereas, a building that is not flexible might just become obsolete.
Flexibility can sometimes include the provision of features that a homeowner can alter. For instance, multi-use spaced, wide floor-to-ceiling heights, open plan spaces, and service voids with high capacity. A builder can also include moveable partitions to allow for flexibility.
Building flexibility can involve wider characteristics such as de-constructability, or the ability to use different energy sources. They can also consider fundamental design options, for instance, the ability to make a building smaller by removing a room in such a way that it doesn’t affect the integrity of the design.
Types of Design Flexibility
Building flexibility falls under three broad types:
- Adaptability
- Transformability
- Convertibility
It depends on the extent, degree, and permanence of change done to the building.
Adaptability
Adaptability is when a building can support several functions without affecting the architecture. It means that the function of the building changes but the building doesn’t change. For instance, the homeowner can reposition furniture, there can be multifunctional spaces and others. There is no permanent change to the space.
Transformability
Changes in transformability kind of flexibility can be temporary or permanent. For instance, a builder can reposition movable structures around the building without altering the building in any major way.
Transformability kind of flexibility can also be resource intensive. For example, the inclusion of side huts and movable toilets.
Convertibility
Convertibility involves altering the structure of a building. It requires some level of construction work. If a builder plans for convertibility while designing, the homeowner can assess future needs. It means that if need be for convertibility in the future, there’ll be fewer expenses.
For instance, the builder can allow enough space for other buildings, provide the foundation for future expansion, or build an oversized custom house so a customer can fit more rooms in the future.
Project Timeline
A project timeline allows a contractor to track the progress of construction. The contractor can either present the timeline as a table or a spreadsheet. Some contractors use a bar chart that displays the level of work done over time.
The project manager or general contractor overseeing a construction project usually creates the timeline. Some contractors will, however, create separate and more specific construction timelines for each subcontractor team.
The timeline of a building project will need to correlate with the building plans that the architect has drawn up for the project. The project timeline must match the building plans of the custom house to avoid any problems.
Factors That Affect The Length of Time It Takes to Finish Your Custom Home
There are several factors involved in custom home timelines. They include:
Project Size and Overall Difficulty
The average time to build a custom home can range from ten months to two years. However, smaller construction projects will take a shorter period to complete than larger projects. It is also important to note that if a project is too complex, the timeline can become longer.
A custom-built home that has detailed finishing, imported flooring, and ornate trim will take a longer period to finish than a custom home with simple, basic features.
Season
Poor or bad weather conditions can create delays. It is because the construction materials will become exposed to harsh weather elements. As a result, it is important to arrange the timelines of a construction project in such a way that the builder does all the exterior parts of the project during dry and sunny times of the year. It is better to focus on interior work during the rainy or cold season.
Availability of Materials and Construction Crews
The various subcontractors hired for a custom home build project will not be able to work all at once at the same time. It is why it is important to ensure that all the subcontractors involved are available per time.
If possible, larger crew size is best. They’ll get work done faster and complete the job in quick time frames. All custom and specialized materials that need importation should also be done ahead of building time.
Building Inspections, Approvals, and Permits.
If you do the right thing, getting building approval should not be a problem. But sometimes, things won’t go as smoothly as you expect. It can be a result of bad contractor-to-customer communication. Inspections must occur at different stages throughout the custom-build project, so it’s important all parties involved in the construction get ready for it. If any issue arises during the inspection, delays will be inevitable which can require important changes.
Changes to a Building Plan
If a subcontractor or a customer requests a change to any aspect of the building plan, a delay might occur and affect the time frame.
If the change is crucial, the architect may have to draw a new building and submit it to the team and the client. It is important to understand all the details before the commencement of construction so there’s little or no requirement for alteration during construction.
Type of Construction
When building a home, you can use a predesigned plan. However, if there is none, the preconstruction phase may take longer. Usually, a pre-construction phase lasts between 2 weeks and 12 weeks. But it might take longer depending on the customer and contractor.
The customer must have a say in every facet of the design. These projects can take longer to complete when compared to pre-designed plans.
Construction Phase
The following are the steps involved in a construction phase:
Site Preparation
Builders must carry out site preparations accordingly for other construction activities to begin. The preparation of a site determines to a great extent how well the builders will perform construction on the site. Also, it is important to deploy a construction schedule as it helps the process go seamlessly.
Site Preparation involves:
Site Clearing
Clearing the site is the first thing in site preparation. The construction crew must clear and grade the entire site. It involves the demolishing of already existing buildings, if any, the removal of trees and stumps, and the elimination of any underground infrastructure present on site.
Obstacles like these must not be present because they hinder and slow down the building process. Completing the project will also be risky because of accidents, so it’s important to prioritize site clearing.
Surveying the Site
You might need the help of a surveyor on the site to be sure that you’re building on the right block especially if survey pegs do not determine the building block.
A surveyor will survey the site and line out the exact area where the builders will erect the structure. The process of land surveying is also important for zoning laws and building codes. Also, surveying is the contractor’s set of plans that represents the project site.
Testing the Soil
Testing the soil is important before procuring the site. The main composition of the soil must be determined to test the ability of the soil to absorb water and withstand the project structure. The site engineer must perform all the necessary procedures for soil testing before starting any actual structural work.
If the soil on the site is not good enough for construction, the customer might have to look for another site or spend more money to upgrade the soil.
Design of Site Plan
After testing the Soil, the construction crew should install all necessary drainage and septic tanks. The next step will be indicating where to place the fixtures and septic tanks. There should also be a permanent record of the areas allocated underground.
A construction site can change from time to time. Often, these changes are a result of underground rock formations.
The site plan should also show all the newly developed access roads for temporary construction vehicles and storage areas. The site plan also shows where the builders will construct the building. Unlike the other processes of site preparation, the team does site plan revisions in the office, and updates the preparations in the field.
Site Investigation
Site investigation is necessary to check the groundwater, rock, and soil condition of the construction site. The contractor assesses the conditions of the site and collects necessary data to construct and define the structure of the foundation.
A well-planned management strategy for site investigation is important for acquiring the right information. The data is also important to get the right estimates.
Building the Foundation
The housing foundation is another crucial step in construction as this is the point where the house starts to take shape. It is the process of building a custom house foundation;
Prepare the Layout of the Foundation
The structural engineer prepares the drawing of the foundation layout and is prepared and the architect approves it. The contractor follows the layout of this plan and the builders carry out the foundation marking accordingly, onsite. Then the architect looks over the dimensions of the foundation to make sure there are no errors.
Excavation
After the architect has approved the layout marking of the foundation, the constructors can proceed with the excavation process.
The process of excavation depends on the method of construction that the customer chooses. Either the column beam frame structure or the load-bearing wall system.
If you decide on the load-bearing wall system, there will be excavation of trenches along the wall. If it is a framed structure, the excavation will be up to the footing base under every column.
All excavation work must be according to the drawings of the foundation layout that the architect and structural designer approves.
Anti-Termite Treatment
After excavation has been done, all the trenches and excavated areas are given anti-termite treatments.
The site of construction needs treatment up to the plinth level with the right chemicals to protect your house against pests and termites from underground in the future.
Foundation Construction
Once the builders finish the anti-termite treatment, the next step is the foundation construction. The process will vary depending on the type of foundation.
If it is a load-bearing structure foundation, the builders will lay a bed of concrete also known as PCC at the base of the trenches. They will then build the stone masonry or brick over it according to the details that the structural designer and architect provide.
If it is a column beam frame structure system, construction of column footing will be in the trench. Once the structural designer has drawn and the architect has approved the details of the steel and the quality of the work, the builders can pour the concrete into the formwork.
You can choose a ready-to-mix concrete or prepare the concrete on site. It depends on the size of the footings and the requirement of concrete. After building the column up to the level of the plinth beam, the builders will erect the plinth beam so the walls of the house can rest on it.
Curing
Foundation curing should always start the day after pouring the concrete. The builders must repeat it about twice or thrice a day. It is necessary to cure concrete immediately so that cracks will not appear and the strength of the foundation is not affected. Curing ensures that there is enough water for chemical reactions that give the concrete strength to occur.
Start Rough Carpentry
Rough carpentry works on the framing of a custom home building. It pays attention to building wood and metal support where the builders and carpenters will erect the building structure. The roof, walls, and floor are a few of the areas that fall under this category.
The formation of the rest of the building depends on rough carpentry. The goal is to meet all design and building codes. It is also vital to make sure that the contractor enforces basic engineering.
Complete Floors and Walls
After finishing the rough carpentry, it is time to cover the surfaces throughout the house. Covering options for the floor include ceramic tiles, vinyl, wood, and carpets.
Also, erect the walls. Sometimes, the contractor award this to another subcontractor, but a customer on a budget might find their way around it.
Install the HVAC
The technicians should install ductwork for the HVAC system. If possible, include the furnace too. HVAC pipes are installed through the roof and usually before wiring. It is because installing wires after HVAC pipes is easier than vice versa.
Electrical Installation
The electrical contractors start to run wires through the floors, ceiling, and interior walls. They’ll also install receptacles for lights, switches, and outlets. The electrical contractor is responsible for running wires from the panel of the breaker to each receptacle. Cable TV, wiring for telephones, and music systems are also included in this process.
Plumbing Installation
The plumbing contractor can also start running pipes. Sometimes, they do this simultaneously with the electrical contractors. The plumbing contractor installs vents and sewer lines, including supply lines for every fixture. They also fix one-piece shower units and bathtubs at this point because there is enough room to move heavy objects around.
Install Doors
The project manager should ensure installation of doors at this point. It is important to install doors after the plumbing and insulation so that they can be less damaged and clean. If you fix doors before insulation and plumbing, trying to move objects can affect the doors.
Install Windows
The customer must have chosen the type of windows they want, so window installation should happen at this point. Installation of windows depends on:
- Maximum energy savings
- How much maximum light the customer needs during the daytime
- Style
Sometimes, it depends on a combination of all three.
Exterior Finishes, Insulation, and Drywall
Exterior finishers install exterior finishes at this point. They can use finishes such as stucco, siding, brick, and stone.
Insulation follows next. Insulation is necessary for creating a consistent indoor climate. One of the most important aspects of insulation is its thermal performance which shows how well the material transfers heat. Some custom homes have their walls, attics, crawlspaces, and basement insulated.
Drywall is then hung on the areas of the interior wall. It is important to tape the drywall so that the seams between the boards are not so visible and the texturing, where necessary, is complete. The exterior finisher can also apply a primer coat of paint at this point.
Caulking
Caulk is a waterproof sealant that builders use. Caulking helps to seal air leaks that happen as a result of gaps, cracks, and joints. It is mostly used for moveable components like openable windows and doors.
Painting the Exterior and Interior
The painting of exterior and interior parts of the building occurs last. Colors depend on the preference of the customer.
You should understand that most of these processes can happen simultaneously. For instance exterior and interior painting.
Projects Efficiency
Project efficiency is the ability of contractors to be as cost-effective as possible while maintaining the quality and productivity of work. There are several factors responsible here. For instance:
- The timeline of the custom construction is under the control of the homeowner.
- Building a home on a budget requires high efficiency so as not to increase the cost.
The custom home builder is also responsible for:
- Construction management software
- Measuring the performance of key indicators
- Excellent communication with staff.
Communication
Effective communication is important during any type of construction work. It can accelerate team progress and collaboration. Building a house on a project requires back-and-forth communication with the designated team so that they can meet the wishes and requirements of the client.
The builder is responsible for:
- Establishing excellent communication with employees
- Identifying potential issues
- Addressing these issues at the early stages of construction.
Basic Construction Process
The process of building a house consists of many steps starting from the initial conceptual design to execution. They include:
Construct Elements
The key elements of a custom home include:
- Walls
- Doors
- Windows
- Foundation
- Roof
- Plumbing
- HVAC system
- Wiring
- Insulation
It is important to identify all potential flaws and prevent costly mistakes during these processes. The contractor will require your feedback as a customer every time, so prepare to participate in every step of the construction process.
Design
The design phase is also important for custom home construction. One of the most important aspects of a custom home building is the interior.
The critical aspects of the home design include space, line, form, light, color, texture, and pattern.
It might be stressful for you, but if you work with the right professional team, it will be easier. You can also hire a design service to see the process through.
The major task involved in the design service phase is ensuring that the clients can list what they want specifically. Design services are a team effort.
Housing Exterior
For housing exterior, weather-resistant covering like stucco, wood siding, vinyl siding, and concrete siding is important for your house exteriors. You need to determine the desired aesthetics of the customer and make it part of the building process. The house exterior should also Improve the appearance of the house.
Housing Interior
The housing interior is also important. Focus on the kitchen design, and ensure that it is spacious enough, depending on the taste of the customer. The bathroom design should also be accommodating. Allow natural lighting in the living room. You might need to include bigger windows or floor-to-ceiling windows.
You need to find out the homeowner’s specific wishes and preferences as a builder. The designer can also help you define your concepts and ideas as a homeowner.
Storage
You will need to include storage areas in your custom home. The design of the house contributes to the functionality of the space. Ensure you work closely with your architect to express your ideas. If you have come across any images you like, feel free to show the design team your ideas.
Custom Home Building
Understanding the building process of your custom home is the first step to creating a wonderful experience. What the contractors will consider, or what will determine the process include:
- Several stories: A five-story building will take a longer process than a two-story.
- Number of rooms: If you want more rooms, the building process may take longer to complete
- Square footage
- Desired style and mood
- Storage areas are important as well.
- Spacious basement
- You can also use a pantry as a storage area.
Site Planning
Good site planning is important. It helps the contractor assess the site and get a comprehensive analysis of the site both within immediate and future context.
Advantages of site planning
- It will help you meet your requirements and budget
- The contractor will know the right resources to use
The builders will better understand how climatic conditions may affect the site and the building. For instance, they’ll know how to position the windows and due to sunset and sunrise, sun position, and how to get natural sunlight into the house.
Disadvantages
Time-consuming
Site planning requires a lot of work, so it consumes time and can slow down the construction process.
False sense of security
Contractors often assume that they’re doing the right thing once they work according to plan. It can sometimes be wrong and affect the building process.
Expensive
Site planning is expensive. If the customer is on a budget, it can become strenuous for them.
Access to Utilities
You’ll also need to consider access to utilities before building your custom home. If you plan to be on-grid, consider the water lines, electricity, gas, and sewer lines.
Life Comfort
You need to consider how comfortable the area and neighborhood are. It might be peaceful, but what is the proximity between the site and shops? Is the school close by? Is transport to and fro work more complicated?
You must answer these questions and know how to tackle the issues when they arise.
Forest Conservation Areas
Building in a forest conservation area or close to one is beneficial. You get to explore nature’s beauty and exquisite views such as waterfronts located near the forest conservation area.
If this interests you, you need to consider lots that have unique locations such as this.
Site Consideration
You need to consider the site before the building process begins. If the structure of the soil is unstable, don’t build on it to avoid building collapse. Professionals will often determine that the soil has a suitable foundation. If not, the builders will need to do extra work before they can establish a solid foundation.
Budgeting
Budgeting is important for the building process both before, during, and after. The contractor will predict the budget for the site preparation and professionals will assess the site’s suitability. Unexpected costs can arise but they will usually not go overboard.
Before You Build
Before you build your custom home, you must meet the construction team for a detailed consultation. Ensure that you share your exclusive requirements with the team. It includes:
- Style
- Home size
- Layout
- Budget
Design the House Plans
The design of house plans involves getting a rough estimate of the custom home construction timeline. You’ll sign an agreement for the design and pay a deposit before you get started.
During the design, the architect will craft the:
- House plans
- Floor plans
- Site plans
Customer Approval
The team needs your approval before they can continue with the process. You’ll need to define the finishes and decide on other project details. If the pricing is ready for review, you can make a review with the team. It’s the job of the team to make you as the customer aware of the scope creep after which you can sign the contract.
Professionals
The major professionals you will need include structural engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, and plumbing professionals. At this stage, you’ll need to submit plans so that you can get construction permits.
During Building
The contractor will assign the project team and guide the whole process during the building. There will be a pre-construction meeting with the construction team where you’ll further state what you expect.
Define All the Little Details
You’ll need to define the floor and wall finishes. You’ll also state it if you want special features such as accent walls, specific light switches, and a power outlet placement.
Building Inspections
Custom home building inspections are a standard requirement by authorities at every step of the way. The inspector will check the:
- Elevation
- Grading
- Foundation forms and bracing structure
- Beam sizes and structural cable systems
- The roof
- The drainage, soil, and trenches
- Water lines, plumbing, and pipes
- Drainage, waste, and vest lines
The inspector will also check the placement of plastic vapor barriers, electrical cables, and power outlets.
Your custom house must meet construction code standards. Ensure that you follow the directions of local authorities and implement all the required finishes. After this, you can move into your dream house.
After Building
You can move into your new home after building. Most builders and contractors will offer:
- You have a one-year warranty for repairs
- A ten-year warranty for the structure
- Photo session to capture the beauty of your new home
How Long Does It Take to Build a Custom Home?
The construction timeline for a house depends on several factors including the size of the home and the design.
Also working closely with an architect and the availability of the contractor during the Preconstruction phase is important as well.
A builder is responsible for managing the construction process. The builder must:
- Have excellent leadership and problem-solving skills
- Be a skilled and experienced builder
- Be able to contribute to efficient execution
- Not postpone the home construction process timeline
The construction process will take about 10 months to two years. The duration does not include the pre-construction phase and designing. Timeline for Pre Construction activities will usually take between 2 weeks and 12 weeks. You should understand that the builder cannot control the external factors that might affect the home. For instance, weather conditions.
Factors that Can Increase the Time to Move-In
Weather
The weather can affect the time it takes to finish a home which will affect the move-in time. Builders should be able to count the weather precipitations and know when there is a need to change direction. Usually, this is Incase of heavy rain or other extreme weather temperatures. Repercussions of extreme temperatures can be disadvantageous.
Having Permits
If the needed paperwork is not completed, you might not be able to purchase the elements for construction. It can affect the time it takes to complete the home which can mean more cost. All these can also affect the move-in time.
What Can Homeowners Do to Help a Project Move Faster
Work with a reputable builder
Working with a reputable builder as a homeowner will help the project move faster. Experienced builders have excellent organization and management skills which can help to meet the deadline.
Work with an interior designer
You should choose paint, furnishings, and details according to your preferred style and let the interior designer carry out the process. It will speed up the work. Also, make instant decisions during the essential phases of the design so that the designers can do their work fast.
Clear Budget Confusion
You can come across some unexpected issues during the construction of your custom home building project. The customer scope creep can also change the original budget.
The best thing to do is to declare your budget and ensure you stick to it. It will help clear the budget confusion.
Material Processing Time
Material processing can take a long time. Sometimes, it can take weeks for the ordered material to arrive if the contractor doesn’t order the materials on time. Also, buying in bulk can affect the period it takes for the materials to arrive. The best thing to do is make fast decisions for ordering materials.
Regular site visit with the builder
Regular site visits will help you keep track of the project. You can request changes on time if the need arises. If there’s none, you’ll ensure the contractors stick to the original design.
Avoid construction changes
Construction changes during the building process can take time and bring about extra expenses.
It is best to avoid changes during the construction process because it can be timely and consuming.
Final Thoughts
The custom home building process can be hectic but it doesn’t have to be for you. We’ve explained everything you need to know about the building process of your custom home.
The project duration of a custom home will take 6 months to 2 years depending on the many factors discussed above.
Need Experienced Builders?
We are custom home builders. We are professionals with experience and we deliver on time. Call us immediately if you need custom home builders. We respond fast, offer a fair price, and will ensure an amazing project from start to finish.
You can also count on us for fast timelines.