New Home Construction: All the Steps of Building Your Home

The process of buying and building a new home is equally exciting and complex. We love to see our clients watch their home come together – from the first blueprints to the finishing design touches.

One thing we often hear from buyers is how hard it is to keep track of all of the parts of the process. To help you prepare for the process of building your new home, we have outlined the steps your contractor, designer, and specialists will take during construction. Of course, with the current reality of supply and demand, there is no cut and dry, hard and fast timeline. Let this blog be an overview of what you can expect over the process of building your new home.

Reach out for more — Let’s discuss your timeline!

The first step on the road to your new home! Before we bring in the big CAT, before any ground is broken, we have to sit down and plan. At a glance, this includes:

The Nitty-Gritty: Building cost analysis, personal financial planning, contracts, building permits, and of course, purchasing your lot! YAHOO!

Your Lot: Soil testing, foundation engineering, topographic mapping, and pre-construction clean-up.

Design: Interior and exterior home design, plumbing, electrical, and blueprints.

This is the most ambiguous time frame, which is why New Construction Market Experts provides concierge service and resources to ensure this process is as smooth and efficient as possible.

Identifying Lot Lines – Where does it start, and where does it end? Staking and “painting” your lot lines is the first step to ensure lot clearing does not encroach on another lot.

Lot Clearing – We want to start with a clean canvas. After consulting with the building department for any vegetation that must be removed and any permitted to remain—if you choose, your lot will be cleared of rocks, debris and unwanted vegetation.

Excavation – Every lot comes with unique characteristics that must be addressed before foundation is laid. Depending on your lot, the soil, and your personal needs, excavation contractors will perform cut & fill, trenching, and rock excavation.

Temporary Power – Your home construction project will require the use of power tools. Who knew? If your lot is not already supplied with a power source, a temporary power pole will be installed.

Layout – At this point, the contractor will review the blueprints and mark elements of your home throughout the build site, including septic systems, water lines, electrical systems, etc.

Based on your home design and the topography of your lot, your home will be built upon one of the following foundation types: concrete pour, basement foundation, crawlspace stem walls, wood foundation, or pier & beam foundation.

Plumbing Rough-In – At this stage, all water supply and drain pipes have been run through the studs and other framing members and all pipe connections have been made.

Frame Walls – Here come the two-by-fours! Washington State has specific criteria for wood wall framing that you can find here. However, this by no means limits the opportunity for customization and design!

Roof Trusses – All roof structures need to be engineered to the lumber dimensions and design of the truss. During the design phase, you will have framing options (traditional stick, timber, and engineered wood products), and options for truss systems to choose from (metal plate connected wood, and steel trusses).

Exterior Wall Bracings – Based on Washington State’s regulations, exterior walls must be braced with wood boards or structural plywood panel sheathing to specific minimal thickness, depending on the material.

Install Chimney – Gas fireplaces, furnaces, boilers, and even hot water heaters rely on a chimney for proper venting of the exhaust. Chimneys differ between masonry and metal, with three types of liners. For information on wood-burning regulations and environmental impact, check out this resource through the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Roofing – The process of constructing your roof will include a ventilation system, underlayment, and general installment.

Roof vent: Especially important for homes with attic spaces, roof vents regulate temperature and moisture of these spaces.

Underlayment: Washington State code requires 30-pound asphalt-based tar paper to be laid on top of roof sheathing and overlap with a minimum of 2-inches at the seams.

Roof Installment: You have endless options! However, the top roof types for SW Washington homes include: asphalt shingles, metal (best for water resistance), cedar shakes, slate, tile, and rubber. Composition shingles are gaining popularity in Washington as the eco-friendly alternative to asphalt shingles!

Windows – Soak up the natural sunlight and keep out the rain! Building a new home, you have the opportunity to invest in energy efficient windows, which have a surplus of financial and resale benefits. Energy efficient windows are categorized by gas-field, double/triple glazing, and low emissivity windows.

Electrical & Cable Rough-in – At this point electrical cables and wires are threaded through wall studs across the home.

Drywall & Insulation – Not only will the proper insulation keep your home temperature controlled and dry, but it could significantly improve your home’s energy efficiency. Prior to installation, your home will be evaluated for the type of necessary insulation, where it’s needed (exterior walls, attic, wall sheathing, foundation walls, and slab insulation), and to what degree.

Connect Utilities – It’s all coming together! Utility installation – including water, sewer, electricity, natural gas, and cable – is usually the last step before your home truly starts to look like a home.

Exterior Siding and Paint – Flashback to the design phase! At this stage, exterior siding will be installed, based on cost, durability, energy efficiency, and aesthetics. The most common options include brick, engineered wood, fiber cement, glass, metal, stone, stucco, and vinyl siding.

Come on in! – As contractors start working on the interior of the home, your design choices come more prominently into play. At this stage, contractors and designers work hand-in-hand to complete:

Final Walk-Through and Touch-Ups – At this point your contractor will run through the final punch list, ensuring everything from the window sills to the tile grout are pristine. All in all, throughout the home construction process, from pre-construction to the final walk through, New Construction Market Experts provides concierge service and resources to ensure this process is as smooth and efficient as possible!

Ready to get started? To learn more about available and upcoming new construction SW Washington, click here. New Construction Market Experts is your direct source for every new construction project in SW Washington and the resources you need to secure your dream home seamlessly. Get in touch with us here.