The New Home Construction Process – Detailed Interior and Exterior Work

Careful planning and selection of contractor helps avoid construction horrors

This month’s blog is the fifth installment of our series on new home construction from beginning to end.  In last month’s blog, we covered the steps leading up to drywall, along with the drywall process.

If you have gotten this far with your home’s construction, congratulations!  Your home is well on its way to completion – now the detailed interior and exterior work begins.  In this month’s blog post, we discuss the broader aspects of the interior and exterior work that will be the focus once the drywall is final and the home is secured from the outside elements.

Home Exterior

Some of your exterior work may have been completed prior to drywall, but the outside will continue to evolve as the interior work is underway.  Important exterior work that you will see includes:

  • Siding or other finishes, including weatherproofing material
  • Painting on the exterior walls, trim work, and other exterior components of the home
  • Sidewalk, driveway, and/or patio installation
  • Gutters and drainage work
  • Adding decorative features like shutters, columns, etc.
  • Landscaping and exterior lighting

Home Interior

Walls, Ceilings and Doors

As the detailed work begins inside the home, there may be a logical order for some of the work.  For example, you should see textured finishes added to walls and ceilings and possibly the millwork (such as door frames) before painting is started.  At the same time, your interior doors for closets and rooms may be hung on the frames and painted prior to being placed.

Bathrooms

Bathroom work usually begins with finishing out any tub or shower space.  This means adding shower pans, framing out shower niches, applying waterproofing compounds, and tiling the shower enclosure. Tubs are usually placed as well.

Next, your tile will be laid on the floor in the bathroom.  Sometimes, your vanities and sinks may be installed if they are available, and the tile work comes after.  The order of this work depends on the availability of construction trades, and materials.  Any electrical work such as lighting and vents will be completed as well as adding bathroom fixtures to sinks and tub/shower.

Flooring

Depending on the type of flooring, some of this work may begin after the texturizing and painting.  Typically, carpeting is not installed until closer to the completion of the interior.  But other flooring may be scheduled to begin as other areas are being worked on throughout the home.  Additional millwork may continue as well, such as baseboards once the flooring is installed.

Kitchen

Interior work in your kitchen is complex because it involves a wide variety of trades including plumbing, electrical, flooring, cabinetry, countertops, and finally appliances.  This work will take place as the trades are available, so it’s a good idea to stay in close contact with your Prominent construction consultant.  He or she will make sure that the right contractors are on site and that attention is given to protect any items that are already installed before heavy work is complete.  For example, sometimes your cabinets may be installed before the flooring is complete.  Every effort will be made to protect your cabinets from damage that may come from other trades.

Electrical and/or Gas

During this process, your electrical is being completed which may include switch plates and outlet covers.  You will also see any recessed or installed lighting added to the areas that were “roughed in” prior to drywall.  This could include ceiling fans and other custom electrical features in the home.

If you have gas in your home to power the HVAC, cooking or laundry appliances, this work will be completed during this time as well.  Most likely this is when you will also see your HVAC units installed in the home when the electrical work is complete.

Patience is a Virtue

There are many other large and small tasks that will be completed during this phase of the construction.  The most important thing for you as the future homeowner is to be patient.  You may see some areas worked on more than others, but keep in mind that all the work will culminate in a finished home.  Try to keep your stress level down by staying in frequent communication with your construction consultant and asking questions about the process.

In next month’s blog, we conclude this series on new home construction by reviewing the final stage before closing – the final walkthrough.  We will share tips and ideas on what to look for at this stage of the process prior to closing so that you can close with confidence on your new home. If you are ready to get started on a new home construction or you would like to renovate your home, give the professionals at Prominent Builders and Design a call today.


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