Building Your Home from Square One Part 3: Shaping up the Structure
Nothing is more rewarding than seeing your dreams and plans materialize. But no matter how exquisite the final design is, your house’s caliber will still largely depend on how it’d be built. And a lot of instances, construction could be the most grueling phase. So in the final part of this series, we’ll introduce you to the construction process and offer tips to avoid the common pitfalls.
However, if you don’t have a design yet, you might want to know the hallmarks of an effective design process. Check out the previous segment here!
Now that you have plans and permits and a general contractor, it’s time to initiate the construction. Usually, in grander projects, clients hold a groundbreaking ceremony to mark and celebrate its beginning. After this little shindig, workers may then start to mobilize.
The builders will logically prioritize the base structure. This way, the interiors’ integrity would be protected from harsh weather conditions during the remainder of construction. You must then purchase materials first that constitute this such as doors, windows, and roofing materials. To avoid possible delays, you must also consider that some materials have a longer production time. For instance, windows usually have a lead time of 6 months before awarding – compared to tiles that could be readily in stock.
After this, exterior and interior finishes will be mounted to your approval. The supplier will provide samples and your designers can help select which ones fit your budget and the design best. That’s why it’s valuable to get your interiors designed pre-construction. Not only does it guarantee a cohesive style, but it offers an early gauge of the budget, you should allot. Don’t have an idea about where to get suppliers? Hurray Design can help you coordinate with suppliers suited to your liking! We can even guide you in scheduling these installations for a more efficient workflow.
Checking every aspect of this entire undertaking would be almost impossible for you. Take this load off your hands by hiring a professional well-versed with the building process – a project manager. Their role is to work hand in hand with your designers to establish the timeframe and costs. They will then supervise every phase of the construction, making sure everything’s on schedule and within the budget.
Once construction is completed, you’ll have to do a final inspection along with the contractor and your consultants. You will personally assess if the final output meets your standards. This is traditionally guided by a list of deliverables called a construction punch list. Be keen-eyed to spot issues and flaws right away!
One thing you must remember is to be decisive. It’s better to have every minute detail planned to save time and avoid change orders. The latter can make you cash out more than intended. But also take note that not everything can go as smoothly as you planned. Unforeseen lapses could happen. And building a good rapport with your team will help address such issues. In the same manner, know what you deserve and assert it when faced with questionable practices.
And when everything’s settled, all there’s left to do is enjoy your home. Hurray! You can lounge on your loveseat after a long day at work and whip up your favorite snack in your kitchen. Savor every corner of this happy place you call home because you deserve it.
All set for this experience? Turn your dream house into reality with us here!