Planning your build from start to finish saves you both time and money in the long run. Building your own home is the surest way to end up with the dream house that answers every one of your needs, in design and in lifestyle. The question is where and how to begin. From finding the right plot of land onwards, the sequence of construction steps ties directly into the contract with your builder, because each stage of work is paired with a payment instalment.
We have put together practical guidance that walks through the sequence of building a new home, so you understand what happens at every stage. Here are the 10 steps of house construction.
1. Preparing the Site for Construction
Once you have consulted an architect or designer and finalised detailed plans for the house — four main sets: architectural, structural engineering, electrical engineering and sanitary drawings — it is time to prepare the site. The first step is signing the contract with the builder. The contractor then moves onto site to prepare the area, mark out where everything goes, and bring in tools and equipment, as follows:
- The contractor clears the site.
- Tools and equipment are moved onto site.
- Temporary accommodation for the workers is built.
- Temporary water and electricity supplies are arranged for the works.
For anyone planning to install a home lift — talk to your architect so the lift is designed into the plans from the outset, which makes installation day go smoothly.
2. Setting Out the Building
With the site ready, it is time to set out the building lines, marking the pile positions against the house plans so that everyone involved shares the same understanding: the homeowner, the designer, the engineer, the main contractor and the piling contractor. Being able to read the drawings matters here, so you can check that the setting-out around the construction area matches the design, and confirm that the setback distances on every side of the building comply with the law.
3. Piling
Piles carry the weight of the house, either through the friction between the soil and the surface area around the pile, or by transferring the load directly down to a firm soil or rock stratum, so the house or building does not settle into the ground. Piling should be handled by a specialist piling contractor. The designer will have surveyed the site and already specified which type of pile suits each house. There are two types:
- Driven piles
- Bored piles
Piles must be load-tested to confirm they can carry the design load to standard.
4. Foundations and Ground-Floor Structure
Foundation work is the heart of the build. Once the pile heads have been cut, the main contractor starts on the foundation structure, which consists of:
- Foundations
- Ground beams
- Columns and beams
- Floor system
- Sanitary system
All of it has to follow the engineer’s calculations, and time must be allowed for the concrete to cure and for the formwork and props to be struck, so the structure gains the strength to carry the rest of the building. The runs for the various pipe services should be marked out in advance so they can be laid first. After that, beams are generally poured using ready-mixed concrete.
5. Second-Floor Structure
If the house has a second storey, a roof frame and a sanitary structure, the second-floor structure is built in the same way as the ground floor, and each part needs the same concrete curing time. Beyond that, work begins on:
- The upper or second-floor slab
- Columns and beams
- Wall plates
- Other finishing materials
- Roof structure
If your house is single-storey, you can go straight to setting the beams or starting the roof frame.
6. Roof Covering and Staircase Structure
Once the main structure is complete, the roof covering goes on. At this stage the reinforced-concrete staircase is cast, or the staircase is installed as specified in the drawings. Other parts of the structure may also be tidied up and finished off before wall building and surface finishes begin.
A roof structure can be split into two main parts:
- The roof frame
- The roof covering
7. Wall Construction
Now the walls go up. There are generally two types: masonry walls and lightweight partitions. At this stage the various services buried inside the walls have to be run, both electrical and plumbing, along with the fitting of timber door and window frames. For the strongest possible walls, the advice is to cast stiffener columns and lintels where they meet the edges of the windows and doors.
8. Plastering and Ceiling Installation
Now comes the plastering that gives the house a smooth, even finish. On masonry walls, screed dots and corner beads are set out, or chicken wire mesh is stretched over the surface, so the render goes on flat and even. Lightweight partitions need the joints between boards filled and skimmed smooth, ready for the finishing stage. The advice here is to have the tradesman or contractor plaster one sample panel first, to be sure the finish is smooth and correct.
9. Surface Finishes
Fittings are installed, doors and windows are hung, and built-in work is carried out. Each type of surface material has different properties, whether that is durability, scratch resistance or moisture protection.
9.1 Wall and Floor Finishes
There are many materials for finishing walls and floors, each with its own look, durability and maintenance requirements: paint, skim coat, ceramic tiles or wallpaper for walls; and for floors, terrazzo, ceramic tiles, parquet or laminate, for example.
9.2 Lighting
The advice at this stage is that if the house is large, the lighting should be split into separate circuits on separate switches. That way you can turn the lights on and off area by area. Lighting installation begins around this point. The electrician will also run the wiring to the switches and sockets, and install the air conditioning.
9.3 Hanging the Doors
Measure the openings on site first. This step is about fitting the door leaves, glass panels and windows into the timber frames installed earlier. Next, measure out the hinge positions so the door hangs securely, then simply drive the screws into the hinges on all three sides and the door is done.
9.4 Built-in Work
This means constructing or installing something directly into an existing space, and it is a popular way to customise or fit out the interior of a home or workplace. Common examples of built-in work include cabinets and shelving.
9.5 Installing Bathroom and Kitchen Fittings
This covers preparing the sanitary system, fitting the shut-off valves, and installing the toilet and the various fixtures and fittings. Once installed, they should be covered with plastic sheeting to protect them from dust, scratches and paint splashes during the finishing-off stage.
9.6 Garden and Paths Around the House
This can start now, or be left until the house is finished. For the most part the garden and paths come down to the preferences of the people living there, using concrete, or adding gravel as a decorative touch, for example.
10. Finishing Off and Snagging
This stage calls for real attention to detail. During and after the house inspection, note down every defect in full or photograph it, because you will need to compare against it again once the work has been put right. The tradesmen should then finish off the details, such as the paintwork, and check the building services. After that, cleaning begins.
In the end, you must always think about hiring a quality contractor, because a house is for the long term, and there are risks you need to watch for and weigh up carefully before deciding.
In the end, you must always think about hiring a quality contractor, because a house is for the long term, and there are risks you need to watch for and weigh up carefully before deciding.
