Southern Indiana Home Builder
Your New Home Building Process
So, you're thinking about building a new Southern Indiana Home! This is one of the most exciting ventures of a lifetime. We've put together this step-by-step home building guide to help you understand the different building phases and how it all comes together. You'll see the whole process in one snapshot to guide you through selecting your dream house plan all the way to the finishing stages.
1 CHOOSING A PLAN: Choosing the right house plan can be an exciting experience if you know what to look for and prioritize your needs. As you begin your search, be sure to look for features that fit your lifestyle, lot and budget. You'll want to carefully check the design and size of each room, especially the kitchen, master suite and great room — since these are the most lived in areas of a home. The trend is towards a more casual, open floor plan, which allows you to easily customize your dream home.
2 FOUNDATION: The foundation is a critical element of the building process, and it must be done correctly to prevent problems further down the road. Your lot needs to be cleared and adjusted (i.e. fill dirt brought in, leveling, etc.) to prepare the space for your new home. Next, form boards will be put up which serve as a mold for the foundation. After plumbing lines are put in place, the foundation is poured and you'll be able to see your home's footprint.
3 FRAMING: After the foundation has been poured and has set up, the form boards are removed and framing of the house begins. Much as our skeleton serves as the structure for our bodies, the frame of a house is the underlying structure of the home. As the framing progresses, you will see the layout of your home unfold, and you'll be able to identify different rooms, doorways, and windows. If your home seems smaller than you imagined at this point, don't panic. It is simply an illusion!
4 INSPECTIONS: Inspections are a very important part of the home construction process, for it ensures that every element of the building is done correctly. After the foundation is poured and the framing is completed, your town or city will send an inspector out to view the progress. He or she will check the framing and the mechanical components of the home, making sure they are up to code and installed properly.
5 HOUSE WRAP: Certain climates offer a higher risk of moisture, mold and wood rot occurring in the home. Therefore, a protective barrier known as a house wrap is installed to prevent the structure of your home and its interior from getting wet. The house wrap ensures that all moisture will remain outside the home.
6 ENCLOSING YOUR HOME: Once the framing has undergone inspection, your builder will begin enclosing your home. At this point in the construction process your builder will install exterior sheathing, the roofing system, windows and doors. Since windows and doors are one of the most visible features of your home from both the inside and out, you'll want to carefully select the perfect doors and windows for your new home. Make sure your windows have the performance, durabilty and energy efficiency that your particular geographical location warrants.
7 MECHANICAL INSTALLATION: This stage is very critical and occurs before the installation of the sheet rock. It is at this point that all mechanical components and wiring is installed. It is incredibly important that everything be installed correctly, since it will soon be covered by sheetrock and will be much less accessible. At this point, you may want to consider having a home entertainment system installed. During this stage, plumbing and mechanical components will be roughed in. Venting, ductwork, a water heater, and the HVAC system will be installed. Any exterior finishes, such as masonry, stone, vynl or wood will be installed at this point, as well.
8 INSULATION: Insulation is a critical factor in determining your home's energy and cost efficiency! When installed adequately and properly in your home's floors, walls, and ceilings, this product can save you large amounts of money throughout the life of your home, simply by preventing heat from escaping your home. Best of all, this product is maintenance free! Be sure to ask us about the option of HIGH EFFICIENCY SPRAY FOAM INSULATION!
9 SHEETROCK: Once your home is framed and wrapped, and all the mechanicals have been installed, the sheetrock is put in place to form the walls. Interior doors and trim are installed and paint is then applied.
10 INTERIOR WORK: Once all of the major structural components have been installed, it is time to move to the more decorative details of the home. This includes cabinets and countertops, light fixtures, flooring, fireplaces, Plumbing fixtures, etc. This phase basically includes choosing and installing every element that transforms your house from a structure into a home!
11 FINISHING STAGES: As you approach the final stages of the home building process, you are probably experiencing excitement, anticipation, and maybe even a little anxiety. All of these emotions are understandable, because by now, you are seeing all of the hard work that has gone into the process take shape, and the final product, your dream home, is finally within reach! It is at this point that your home develops its personality through your choices of lighting fixtures, bathroom accessories and fixtures, window treatments and more. It is only a short time from now that you can unload the moving truck and settle into your new home! While landscaping is being completed, Steve Thieneman Builders continuously performs quality inspections on your new home. A punch list is perpared including any items that need attention, and all repairs are made prior to your New Home Orientation Walk through. After repairs are made and inspected, your home is cleaned and made ready for you New Home Orientation Meeting.
12 YOUR CLOSING: Prior to closing Steve Thieneman Builders will host a New Home Orientation Meeting. Here, your project manager will explain the mechanicals and features of your new home. You may ask questions as well as make notes of any items needing attention (such as paint touch-ups etc.) Within days of this meeting you will sign closing papers, officially transferring ownership of your new Steve Thieneman Builders home into your name.
13 WARRANTY PERIOD: Your Steve Thieneman Builders home is protected by a 3rd party RWC 2-10 home warranty. 2-year workmanship and defective material warranty, a 4 year faulty workmanship or defective material warranty for your roof systems and a 10 year structural warranty. For your peace of mind.
