House Construction – A Comprehensive and Step-by-Step Guide
House construction is quite difficult, especially in a country like Pakistan, where economic uncertainty is at its peak. But overall, it would be a great fortune for you if you were to construct a house. Building a home is a complete project that involves various stages. You must prepare for every stage and properly plan to complete the project successfully.
We have categorised the project into four parts: the Pre-Construction phase, Design and blueprints, Site Preparation, Construction Phase, and Interior Finishing. In these crucial stages, you must meet certain project requirements to make the final product impressive and aesthetically beautiful. If you are constructing a home shortly, this blog post could greatly help you.
Pre-Construction Phase
1). Research and Planning
The first and foremost point is to understand all your requirements, and based on them, you need to make a list. For example, if you are constructing a 5 marla house or a 10 marla house, you must know how many rooms you need, the number of washrooms, the floors, and other points. Also, you must know the budget for which you can use any construction cost calculator.
2). Legal and Regulatory Requirements
Nowadays, almost all areas, especially cities like Lahore, have their requirements. If you will construct a house in DHA Lahore or Bahria Lahore, you must know the legal and regulatory requirements. For this purpose, you can either go to the LDA office or meet the housing society authorities, where you will start house construction.
3). Hiring the Right Professionals
Another very important step is to ensure you have hired the right professionals before starting the house construction. There are many stages involved in the construction process, and you must be ready for all of them. Grey structure, finishing, interior designing, painting, etc., are important construction stages. Moreover, you can choose a construction management service to improve the quality of your house’s construction.
Design and Blueprints in House Construction
1). Conceptual Design
When starting a house construction project, everyone knows what kind of design they like. Maybe they have also seen the same house designed in their nearby area. Therefore, give a detailed idea of what you like the most. Multiple ideas exist, like Spanish house designs, old architecture, etc. You must discuss the best house design with your architect to refine it.
2). Design Development
Once you have finalized a design for your house construction, you should start making a broader picture. You want to finalise many things, like the number of rooms, the number of floors, the elevation designs, the size of the garage, the floor and ceiling design, and many more. This is how you will make a clear picture, and your architecture will be able to make a proper map of your house.
3). Finalising Blueprints
After making a clear picture of the design of your house, you must incorporate all the civil, mechanical and electrical details into your blueprints. You may have to get approval from the relevant authorities for this step. Usually, this step is accomplished by architects as they are experts in it.
Site Preparation
1). Soil Analysis & Excavation
Before starting the house construction, it is extremely necessary to do the soil analysis. If the soil under your plot is soft, you should do more excavation than normal to lay the foundation. If the soil is hard, you will need heavy machinery to make enough space for the foundation. Based on the soil type, you can start the excavation process of your plot.
2). Foundation Construction
The foundation is considered the base of the house. Never compromise on this step, as it will decide the strength of the structure. After going through the excavation, your contractor will start filling the required areas with concrete and steel. This will serve as the main map and base of the building. Always use high-quality material here. Pakistan is a country with earthquake tendencies, so make your foundation solid.
3). Utility Installation
As soon as you have started working on the grey structure, another important step comes in the step-by-step guide of the house construction. It is a utility installation for water, sewer, electrical, and gas pipelines. You must always clearly communicate your requirements to the contractor, ensuring no gap is left during the grey structure construction.
Construction Phase
1). Framing
Framing is that step in your house construction where you will witness the rise of the house from the foundation to its overall desired look. Depending on the design and house map, the contractor will raise the walls from the foundation. Quality assurance services during this phase are always recommended to achieve the required strength and durability.
2). Exterior Finishing
An exterior protects your house from different elements. It includes roof design, siding, and windows, and you have to make sure to incorporate all these important factors into the building. The exterior will serve the purpose of protection and add aesthetics to the structure.
3). Interior Rough-In
To ensure a comfortable living environment in your house, you must plan this important step of interior rough-in. It involves installing HVAC equipment, plumbing, electrical equipment, and other important utilities. You must hire multiple professionals and coordinate with house contractors to complete this step.
Interior Finishing
1). Drywall Installation
All your paint, decoration, and other wall designs cannot be effectively completed without drywall. So, hire the right professional for drywall preparation, after which you can select the best paint colour. You should also hire an interior designer to ensure specific designs on the walls and ceilings.
2). Flooring Installation
The floor is another important step in house construction that gives the building real shape and grace. Many options are available on the internet, which you can select and discuss with the designer before installing the tiles on your house’s floor.
3). Cabinetry and Fixtures
Cabinets and fixtures are another important step in the house construction that will give your home a proper look. Select the designs suited to your taste and hire a professional to get all these things installed.
Inspection and Quality Assurance
Once you have completed all the important construction steps mentioned above, you should now go through the process with a quality inspector. This will give you an overall idea of any remaining deficiencies. This way, you can address any remaining flaws before settling in.
You can also get a clearance certificate, especially if you have constructed the house in an elite society like DHA, Bahria Town, Lake View, etc.
Final Remarks
To sum up, it would be right to say that house construction is a critical process. In countries like Pakistan, people often spend all their hard-earned money to build a house, a one-time investment for many people. Therefore, it is essential not to compromise over the quality to get the right final product.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which grade steel is best for house construction?
Various factors, such as durability, strength, type of area, and geographical location, actually decide the grade of steel to be used. You must consult a professional to get the right idea for your house.
How to make a house map for construction?
There are a lot of architects available in Lahore that can help you make the map. You can convey any design option in your mind to the professional who will put this on the paper, ensuring all the requirements of the area.
How do you calculate house construction costs?
You can either check through a house construction cost calculator, like the 5 Marla house construction cost calculator in Pakistan 2023, check the rates of all the materials, and then make an idea.