New Homes by Joshua Homes

Steps to Building a House

One of the amazing things about American homes is that the huge majority of them are built using completely standardized building practices. One reason for this consistency is a set of uniform building codes that apply across the country. Another reason is cost -- the techniques used to build homes produce reliable housing quickly at a low cost (relatively speaking). If you ever watch any house being built, you will find that it goes through the following steps:

  • Preconstruction    
  • Foundation  
    • Grading and site preparation
    • Excavation
    • Foundation construction
  • Lumber Drop and Framing       
    • Framing
    • Installation of windows and doors
    • Roofing
  • Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical, and Security      
    • Rough mechanicals
    • Siding
    • Hookup to water main, or well drilling
    • Hookup to sewer or installation of a septic system
  • Drywall         
    • Insulation
    • Drywall
    • Floor Prep
  • Trim and Finish Details         
    • Interior Trim
    • Painting
    • Finish mechanicals
    • Bathroom and kitchen counters and cabinets
    • Carpet and flooring
  • Final Inspections
    • Municipality, FHA, VA inspections of site and mechanicals
  • Homeowner Orientation  
    • Punch list
  • Warranty Strategy  

Specialist-Independent/Contractors, also known as subcontractors, perform many of these steps. For example, the erection and framing or the structure is generally done by one subcontractor specializing in framing, while the roofing is done by another specializing in roofing. Each subcontractor is an independent business. All of the subcontractors are coordinated by a construction manager who oversees the job and is responsible for completing the house, to the high standard of Joshua Homes, on time and on budget.

 

Preconstruction

At the preconstruction meeting, you are invited to sit down with your sales person and construction manager for a final review of your dream home package. Together, you'll verify the placement of the house on the lot, review your customized blueprints, review your selection, and find out what to expect during the building process.

Inspection points:

  • Pre-construction checkpoint includes a thorough review of the homesite and the overall home assembly. Our goal is to review this prior to construction start.

Foundation

The first step to building a quality home is laying the foundation. Joshua Homes analyzes ground integrity, government requirements, and home size to ensure that a quality structural system is built for your home. Joshua Homes offers a unique 40-year Transferable Structural Warranty on all our foundations.

Inspection points:

  • A professionaly engineered survey details the layout and footprint of your home. This must be signed by the purchaser at the Pre-construction meeting.
  • Before construction begins, the foundation is checked for proper alignment and size. This helps avoid encroachments.
  • All change orders and extensions to the foundation are checked and defined at this critical moment.
  • ADD MORE POINTS HERE.

Lumber Drop and Framing

The internal structure of your home is often referred to as the frame. The framing stage usually takes one to four weeks, and consists of the following:

  • The first floor deck is built then the first floor walls start going up, as the first floor is constructed.
  • Once the first-floor walls are up, work starts on the second-floor deck (if applicable), using engineered floor joists (not in all plans), then the second floor walls are constructed.
  • Roof trusses arrive at the homesite just as work is finished on the second floor.
  • Once the roof trusses are in place, the roof sheathing is installed.

Inspection points:

  • During the framing stage, there are three separate checkpoints: the frame of the house is checked for correct sizing, checked for square, and overall quality workmanship.

Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical, and Security

During this one-to-three week phase, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical wiring, and security are installed.

  • Once the roof is installed, the exterior detail work begins, including trim, windows and doors.
  • HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) and plumbing systems are "roughed-in" as exterior trim is completed.
  • The electrical system is "roughed-in" during this time.
  • Exterior trim is painted as activity continues inside.
  • Roofing and the installation of phone, cable and other electrical and security systems occur simultaneously.

Inspection points:

  • All mechanical systems are inspected for quality of installation and proper functioning.
  • Accredited, licensed, municipal inspectors must sign off each mechanical inspection. Administratively, this often takes 2 days and often gives the appearance of inactivity.

Drywall

Once exterior finishes are completed, drywall is stocked in the home, gas meters and permanent power connections are installed. It frequently takes one to two weeks to hang interior drywall, but can take longer depending on the house. Next, drywall taping and finishing are scheduled to take around five days and blown insulation is installed. After the interior walls are touched up, the walls and ceilings are textured.

Inspection points:

  • Upon cleaning up any drywall debris, construction managers check all walls and ceilings for finish and consistency.

Trim and Finish Details

Now the fun really starts. All the browsing you did at the Joshua Homes Design Studio is starting to pay off. During this two-week phase, you will begin to recognize the home you designed and imagine the future you'll create.

  • Walls are prime-painted and prepared for final finish, while interior trim, cabinets, counters and sinks are installed.
  • Completion of electrical systems occurs as wire shelving, bath accessories and mirrors are installed.
  • Ceramic tile and any vinyl and/or wood flooring are installed.
  • Any necessary grading occurs outside (weather permitting) as hardware fixtures, shoe molding and carpeting are installed.
  • Final touches (gutters, mailboxes, garage door openers, etc.) are completed as the entire home is cleaned.

Inspection points:

  • Three quality checkpoints, trim, pre-carpeting, and pre-final are conducted during this phase:
    • Interior trim is examined for fit and quality of installation.
    • Mechical systems are finished as a pre-final quality check focuses on all completed areas of the home.
    • Pre-final quality review of entire home.

Final Inspection

Workers wait until this final week to install the finish elements. In the interest of protecting your finishes from boots, nails and dust, minor adjustments are made.

  • Appliances are installed.
  • Door and window screens are installed.
  • Carpeting is installed.
  • Various final inspections (title, bank, city, etc.), garage cleaning and paint touch-ups take place.

Inspection points:

  • Upon completion of the finals, one last quality check is conducted prior to scheduling the homeowner orientation.

Homeowner Orientation

After weeks of hard work and patience, it's time to do the final walk-through. You gather with the same team from the preconstruction and inspect the premises. At this point, you attend your scheduled appointment with the title company to sign the closing documents. Now it's time to celebrate ... as you slide that shiny new key onto your chain.

Warranty Strategy

Personal meeting with Eric Schottenstein, Founder of our company at closing. Set aside 1 to 2 hours.

 

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