by Lamonte Grulke, @GrulkeLamonte
Jan 31 • 2 tweets • 5 min read • Read on X
Here is a FREE step by step guide on how to build a home! JUST 40 STEPS!
Disclaimer* This is a simple guide that will show the process I follow to build homes here in Arkansas. IF you need further help, or are seriously considering building a home, consider consultation support from me or another LICENSED builder.
Lamonte Grulke
Let’s assume you are building on an infill lot, with utilities accessible.
1. Buy the LOT! Please get with a good real estate agent who can do research on the lot for you, to save you time and assist with the process.
2. SURVEY the property.
3. BUY or get with a drafter to get some plans that will fit within your lot. I personally buy plans from advancedhouseplans.com or houseplans.com all the time! They typically exceed the minimum guidelines needed for most states! Also many use FIVERR.
4. PLOT PLAN – email your house plans to a surveyor in your area, and have them do a plot plan, this is required for you to pull a permit!
5. APPLY FOR PERMIT – Our city has a website this is all done on. Usually you will need to upload, Plot Plan, House Plan, State License, Business License. Many States will let you build your own home as well.
6. BUY WINDOWS! As SOON as you get your permit, buy the things that take the longest, in my area, that’s windows. Sometimes I buy them even before I get permit, but that’s risky.
7. UTILITIES – Have electrician set temp pole, he will call for inspection, once passed, Call electric company to get meter connected. Now call Water company, get meter on property if it does not have one, you can pay water company as well to set up a temporary spigot, or have plumber setup one. Don’t skip this step, they are needed for construction!
8. ORDER – Porta Potty! The crews will NEED this! Also often it’s required!
9. LAY DOWN THE HOUSE – your foundation guy will take the measurements of everything and mark everything out to start digging footers! When footers are done, CALL for inspection.
10. Monolithic Pour VS Stem Wall – Short answer, mono is cheapest, but lot needs to be flat.
11. PLUMBING layout – Most expensive guy on the job, just make sure he measures everything as perfectly as he can. In our area he will need to get a pressure test done before you can fill with concrete. Make sure you run conduit to your islands!
12. CONCRETE TIME – BEFORE you pour, YOU MUST GET TERMITE SPRAYING DONE. This is a small window. After that is done, you are free to pour. I personally use 4000psi, primarily to mitigate cracks, as I like to do concrete floors for finish. Its cheaper.
13. WAIT at least 2 weeks before you frame, or whatever specs your foundation guy gives you. Spray water over slab frequently especially in summer time.
14. FRAMING TIME – at this point, you have received all yours bids back from lumber yard. So you’ll get that delivered, let them framers do their job. Just make sure they are framing everything the right height and setting windows the right height. Have them install exterior doors as well if available.
15. SHINGLES – once they have sheathing and decking done, have roofers install shingles. Ideally have that delivered the day after framing.
16. ROUGH INS – Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC. I Prefer to have plumbing done first, then HVAC, then Electrical, sometimes I swap the HVAC and Electrical, but depends on plan.
17. AFTER – all inspections are done for the rough ins, and shingles are done, Now you can call for a Framing Inspection.
18. PASS – once you pass, go ahead and order all cabinets, lights, interior doors, etc. Reason being is that you will likely be a couple weeks away from delivery.
19. INSULATION – Hire a reputable insulator, ideally the one other builders are using. No you don’t need expensive spray foam, but it is nice to have if within the budget. In this order is the cheapest – BATTS/BIB/CELLULOSE/OPENCELL FOAM/CLOSED CELL FOAM.
20. DRYWALL – Schedule drywall delivery the day after insulation is done. Installers will typically take 2 days, Finishers will take a week.
21. SIDING – Simultaneously I will have siding delivered, and have that being installed at the same time. It Could take 2 weeks or so for completion. I use a lot of James Hardie board personally, even for soffits.
22. SERVICE LINES – If your plumber hasn’t already, go a head and get the supply line ran and sewer line as well. If you are doing underground service for power, please note, you will likely have to do that yourself, as electrician will not. Call for inspection.
23. PRIMER – While all your floor covering is down from finishers, go ahead and add 1 coat of primer on all walls.
24. CONCRETE FLOORS – IF you are doing concrete floors, now would be a good time to do a single coat, cover floors after. DO the second coat way later sometime near the end of the project. Skip this step if you are not doing concrete floors
25. INTERIOR – Install trim, doors, cabinets, garage door, built-ins, closets.
26. PAINT INTERIOR – Grab your wife who is now a designer suddenly, to pick out all the colors, and get it all painted!
27. COUNTERTOPS – Get them installed and go ahead and order vanities/mirrors if you haven’t.
28. TILING – Start tiling in bathrooms, make sure your designer wife approves first! Also Tile kitchen if you aren’t using floating shelves.
29. FLOORING – Optional – This could be a good time to start laying an LVP, Hardwoods, etc. You can do this sooner of course, but the longer you wait, less possible damage.
30. PLUMBING FIXTURES – Get shower handles on, toilets in, pot filler, etc.
31. GRADING – go a head and call that foundation guy back to start exterior grading.
32. POUR – Pour concrete driveways, sidewalks, pads for HVAC
33. HVAC – Install all grills, set units, get the system on and running!
34. ELECTRICAL TRIM – Electrician installs lights, appliances, outlets, etc.
35. INSPECTIONS – make sure Electrician, plumber, hvac all got there final inspections passed.
36. LANDSCAPE – While waiting for those inspections, start getting SOD delivered and installed, Water it daily for a week or so.
37. FLOORING – Installing floors now will result is the least possible damage!
38. TRIM – Install your final baseboards, quarter round, etc.
39. TOUCHUPS – Have painter come and paint baseboards, and touch up everything! Cabinets, Walls, Doors, etc.
40. FINALLY – CALL for your final inspection to get your Certificate of Occupancy! Congrats you have built your first HOME!!
Thanks for reading! I’m a Licensed Builder here in Arkansas and would greatly appreciate a like and FOLLOW! Also don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you would like consultation support in building your home!
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