Home Construction DIY: Build Yourself a Safe Haven

Owning a home is a dream for every individual. We all want a home that offers warmth and coziness every time we return. But it is an achievement that requires serious work and sincere effort. While renting is the culture these days, owning a home is certainly more beneficial. And this process gets even better when you build your home from scratch. Though people call it a hassle, still constructing a new home is both emotionally and financially rewarding. In this journey, you make the house of your dreams and work as your equity nest egg. That said, without proper planning, the project can become overwhelming even for an experienced DIYer. To ease the matter, we have compiled a guide to help you build yourself a haven. Let’s have a look:

1. CHOOSE AND PREPARE THE SITE

The first and the most obvious task is to choose a desirable location for your home. To do so, you need to keep things like climate, ground stability, and accessibility in mind. Since you will be living there for the long-term, look for a place with suitable climatic conditions and good stability. Other than that, the site should also have utilities like water and electricity and transportation access.

Once you have finalized the location, get your design approved by the local government and obtain the necessary permits. Now prepare the site for construction. Remove the brush and other debris and level the area.

2. LAY THE FOUNDATION

Get an excavator and excavate the site. Dig deep trenches to lay the foundation and install a rigid structure of reinforcing bars for creating footings. Since the task is difficult, you can hire service providers of welding in Bozeman MT, for doing the ironwork. Now put up wooden formwork to serve as a template for the foundation. After that, mix and pour the concrete into the holes and trenches and cure it for a few weeks. Once the foundation sets, you can remove the formwork. Lastly, apply a waterproofing membrane up to the finished grade level.

3. INSTALL PLUMBING LINES AND ELECTRICAL WIRES

Plumbing is a problem you have to resolve before pouring the concrete for the floor. To do this, install the plumbing lines and electrical conduits. Make sure to place them accurately as you cannot adjust them once the floor sets. If you are confused, refer to your design and install the rough-ins accordingly.

4. LAY DOWN THE FLOOR

After you take care of plumbing, the next step is to lay the foundation. Start by installing a foam board for insulation. Next, prepare a gravel base for the concrete. Remember, you have to keep it at least four inches thick. Now, lay down the vapor and mesh reinforcement by carefully positioning the mesh to lie slightly above grade. This way, it rests in the center of the concrete for better strength and support. In the last step, pour large quantities of concrete, level it, and leave to solidify.

5. SET UP THE FRAME

Once the floor sets, you have to layout the wall lines. First, lay the bottom plate, also called the rat sill, to secure the anchor bolts. Work your way from one corner marking the doors and windows along the way. After the doors and windows, do the floor and roof too. With this step, your house will start to take shape. For better protection, use the special metal fasteners that help protect against storms and earthquakes.

6. BUILD THE WALLS

After you have erected the shell, all you need to is work on raising the walls. For that, Sheath the frame of the house and do the electrical and plumbing fittings. Once done with the connections, you can install the doors and windows afterward. At this stage, you can leave the house as-is, but you can also insulate it against seasonal change if you want. After this optional step, all you need is to install the exterior walls’ final siding surface, and your home structure will complete.

7. ROOF THE HOUSE

Once you have raised walls, you will need to roof them. It is a great idea to install a moisture barrier on the roof way before its completion. This way, the environmental elements won’t hold you back as you work on the house walls. Depending upon your preference, you can choose a roofing material to work as the final roof.

8. INSTALL WALLBOARDS AND TRIM

After the structure of the house, you should start working on its interior. Begin with choosing a suitableinterior wall material and install it on the walls. Jack them 1cm above the floor to avoid regular mopping and spills from ruining them. Tape and skim all joints for a polished look. Put up the trims over the baseboards and corners. If you are using crown moldings, install them now as well.

9. PAINT THE WALLS

Whether you plan to paint the walls or cover them with wallpaper, now is the time to do so. Prime the wallboard and use a paint roller to paint the walls around the house. Be sure to cut-in the edges with a brush for a neat appearance. Apply wallpaper where needed. This step is where you can show your creativity, so do whatever you like and decorate however you want.

10. COMPLETE WOODWORK

Any house needs some basic cabinetry for the kitchen and bathroom. Set up the kitchen by installing upper and lower storage cabinets and some drawers for keeping utensils. Install the vanity cabinet for the sink in the bathrooms. Also, install other cabinets around the house like a bar or TV unit. Since your construction is almost complete, you can install all the interior doors now as well.

11. SET UP THE BATHROOMS

After the kitchen and woodwork, all that remains is bathrooms. And for that, get your faucets, sinks, and toilets and secure them into position. Remember to activate the water to ensure everything is working correctly. After the essential fittings, you can install the shower door, mirrors, and light fixtures to complete your bathrooms.

12. INSTALL THE LIGHTING FIXTURES

The last step of home construction is lighting fixtures. You can get rid of the temporary construction lighting and install your actual lights in this step. They come in last because the fixtures manufactured nowadays are very delicate and fragile. You cannot expect these to survive the chaos of the construction. When your home is ready to welcome you, do the final touches by fixing the lightning.

13. FINAL WALKTHROUGH

Before you move into your new home, you will clean and spot any mistakes. Clear the house of leftover supplies and debris. Now take a walk throughout the house and examine closely. Rectify any items that need adjustment. Afterward, arrange a final inspection with the permitting agencies for approval

CONCLUSION

Home construction is a long and tedious task. But if you are a seasoned DIYer, you will surely enjoy taking up the challenge. Building your own house has an undeniable allure. You can construct it according to your needs and with the materials you like. Indeed, it is an advantage that most existing houses lack.