Build Your Own Home

Building Your Own Home

So you have decided that you are interested in building your own home? This is a great journey to embark yourself upon and can be very rewarding for your family, both in terms of financial reward as well as the feel-good of having built your own beautiful dream home. The content of this website is designed to give you access to excellent and free resources to allow you to build your own home.

If you want to build your own home, then you need to get a firm concept of the steps involved in the construction process, and then move on to learn in detail about each step which you will encounter while building your own home. You can do this prior to construction (which is recommended) or you can also learn as you go – all though it should be very important to still stay a few steps ahead in your learning curve. On this page you can find an outline of the steps necessary to build your own home, that way you can get a firm foundation of what you will encounter as you move forward and being to build your own home.

Steps to Build Your Own Home

Stage One (Site Preparation)

The first stage of building your own home is all about getting your documentation together, finalizing your blueprints, obtaining permits, getting the building site ready, and establishing a solid foundation for which you can move forward into the construction of your home confidently. Stage one when you build your own home includes, but is not necessary limited to, ensuring all paperwork is in place and complete, clearing the trees off of the building site and benching the lot, establishing preliminary site drainage away from the proposed homesite, installing the plumbing ground phase of plumbing (where your homes plumbing stubs up in the slab and connects to the city sewer line), and setting up the foundation forms). After you complete phase one in building your own home, you can then proceed to stage 2.

Stage Two (Foundation and Flatwork)

When you build your own home, stage two is the stage where you install the post-tension foundation cables, do the form float (install brick ledges and door details in foundation), pour the concrete foundation of your home, set-up and pour the concrete driveway and sidewalk sections, do a lot grade and re-establish drainage, and prepare to get started with the framing stage of construction.

Stage Three (Framing and Roofing)

The third stage of building your own home is the stage where you frame and dry-in the house. You start by framing the walls of the house, you will then learn here about stud spacing, building codes, wind bracing, stair framing and building codes, ceiling joists, and more. Also at this stage you will start to place the orders for the exterior doors, the windows, you will also want to order the cabinets and other long lead items. Also in this stage of building your house you are going to do the exterior sheathing and cornice, the siding, the roof decking and shingles, as well as the flashing and other waterproofing necessities.

Stage Four (Mechanical Rough)

Stage four of building your own home will consist of the mechanical rough-in stages. This is when you will install the preliminary equipment needed for the HVAC (heating, venting, and air conditioning) system, the electrical rough-in for plugs, switches, etc; and also the plumbing top-out phase. Also, during this stage – and after the mechanical rough-in stages, you will do the polycel insulation and get ready for the wall insulation which will come in the next stage.

Stage Five (Insulation and Sheetrock)

The fifth stage of construction, and usually a huge milestone for the do-it-yourself home building individuals, you will achieve the framing inspections, install wall insulation, finalize insulation inspections, and begin and finish the drywall stages of your homes construction. This is a huge milestone when you want to build your own home. This is when you can truly start to see the house take shape and get an appreciation for all of the hard work that you have accomplished so far.

Stage Six (Finish Carpentry)

The sixth stage you will encounter when you build your own home, is the phase of construction where finish carpentry will come into play. Often times if you are installing “nail down” hardwood floors, this is the stage of construction which this will occur in. It is then followed by the installation of doors, window ledges, door casings, baseboards, and even stair treads and skirts, and other wood finishes which might be apart of your homes finish. This can also include the installation of paint grade cabinets which you intend to paint to match the baseboards. Often times these cabinets can be found in secondary bathrooms and utility rooms. You will also install closet and pantry shelving during this stage of building your own home.

build your own home

Stage Seven (Brick, Mechanical Trims, and Paint)

As you move along with construction and reach stage seven of the building process; you are truly going to start seeing the beauty of the home you are creating. This is a rewarding stage of construction. So close to moving in, but still so many final touches that are cherished when you build your own home. This is the stage of building your own home which you will be working on the brick, stucco, and other stone surfaces that may grace the outside of your beautiful home. It is also the stage of building your own home where you will install the mechanical trims; which includes the lighting, the air system grills, and the plumbing trims (shower heads and valves). Also during this stage you will be performing some of the main painting of the home. Even though during stage six when you build your own home you start painting (priming) the baseboards – the true paint will come during this stage.

Stage Eight (Irrigation, Landscaping, Sod)

During stage eight of home building, you will be finishing up the exterior of your home and performing all of the necessary punchout and clean up stages. This includes installing your irrigation (if necessary); installing your homes landscaping; and laying the sod (grass) so your home looks visually complete from the exterior. However, this does not mean that it is done. When you build your own home, you need to thoroughly go through some of the punch lists that are available on this site. Doing so will result in a much better product, and a more quality built home.