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Home building time

The construction stage of home building is when all your dreams and plans come together. It often is the most gratifying and most enjoyable part of the process. Successful execution of your plan requires a multiple effort by the builder, the subcontractors, the suppliers, the building department, the lenders and you.

Methods and materials used to build new homes vary from region to region, but the following items are typically completed for newly built homes:
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Site work
There's a good chance you'll need site work, (sometimes called "site-prep") which may include clearing brush and trees from the lot, cutting a rough driveway, placing stakes to mark how the house will sit on the lot. Other work includes setting up signs, barriers and hooking up temporary electricity service.
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Excavation
Excavation and foundation, which may include digging a hole for the foundation, setting steel and pouring the foundation, installing plumbing, drainage, ventilation pipes, pouring the concrete floor of the home, digging trenches for utility service, waterproofing walls and grading.
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Framing
Framing, which may include installing steel beams, constructing a wood structure and installing windows and exterior doors.
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Roofing
Roofing and exterior work, which may include applying roofing and installing siding, an outdoor deck, rain gutters and a garage door.
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Mechanical
Mechanical, which may include installing plumbing, electrical and heating/cooling systems, pre-wiring the home for a security system, running wiring for communications, media, intercom, sprinkler system and placing pipes for a central vacuum.
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Interior work
Interior finish work, which may include installing insulation, installing and finishing drywall, painting and staining, and installing cabinets, countertops, tile floor coverings, and built-in appliances.
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Trim
Trim, which may include hanging interior doors, attaching door stops, installing fireplaces and mantles, setting plumbing fixtures, mounting light switches and electrical outlets, hanging electrical fixtures, setting registers, thermostats and heating/cooling unit and installing faceplates for the central vacuum, intercom and communication outlets.
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Completion
Final work, which may include installing carpet padding and carpets, cleaning the exterior and interior of the home, finishing the driveway, landscaping and completing any miscellaneous punch-out items on the entire home.
Home construction varies dramatically from place to place. For example, in some parts of the country, homes have basements. In other places, basements are unheard of. In some parts of the country, homes are built to withstand all types of natural disasters. In other places, disasters are less of a factor in home construction. Your builder is a great source to help educate you about home construction requirements and practices in your region of the country.