Building your own house is achievable if you have quality materials, a professional team, and proceed step by step. This way, everyone will be satisfied with the process and the result. Beginners would benefit from understanding the steps involved in construction, so they don’t miss anything later. The information outlined below will help visualize the exact and recommended sequence of actions, understand the scope of the future work, and roughly estimate how much money will be spent.
It all starts with analyzing the land and creating a unique project, preparing a budget, and handling official documentation. If you lack experience, licenses, and knowledge, it’s best to entrust these stages to specialists who will handle everything according to the law and general standards, preventing any problems down the line, such as if an inspection commission asks for certificates.
Foundation Pouring
Before creating the walls and roof, the foundation must be developed. But there are several preparatory works to be done first. For example, the entire site should be cleared of debris, even if it theoretically could be processed by itself. Everything that may hinder the formation of a solid base must be removed. If there are old structures nearby, it’s recommended to demolish them, as they could potentially harm the building structure later. In addition to debris, the land should be leveled properly, and bushes and trees that may interfere with the construction should be removed.
The foundation of the house can vary, and its type depends not only on cost but also on such factors as the area, characteristics of the future building, maximum load, and soil properties. Don’t forget to include layout for utilities in the engineering drawings. Only after the project is approved can the excavation begin, which should be specifically designed for the chosen foundation.
The following types of foundations can be used:
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- Column-based
- Shallow foundation
- Monolithic strip foundation
For stone houses, experts often choose the strip foundation, as it can handle the load and is suitable even for relatively weak soils. Increased moisture or minimal temperatures do not pose a problem.
When executing the foundation, always keep in mind that any concrete will shrink. This happens because moisture is lost during drying. Therefore, it is important to wait until the foundation fully hardens before proceeding. Then, it’s advisable to check its compliance with the required standards and other norms. Otherwise, the base may turn out to be of poor quality, leading to problems in its use. Skipping this stage could lead to wasting more money and time on future corrections.
Building walls and floor slabs
Walls and floor slabs can only be constructed after the foundation has fully settled and dried. Various materials can be used for this, such as aerated concrete, brick, or gas blocks.
It’s essential that the finished structure be:
- Reliable
- Frost-resistant
- Durable
Vapor, sound, and thermal insulation are the key parameters to consider. With these, the owner will achieve maximum comfort when staying in the house. The choice of construction technology typically depends on the materials being used. Therefore, each of them should be examined in more detail.
- Brick is favored by experts for its environmentally friendly composition, pleasant appearance, and durability. It is allowed for constructing internal partitions or load-bearing walls. However, it is quite heavy, so a highly wear-resistant foundation must be prepared beforehand. Additionally, there is a risk of mold formation in the joints, so they should be pre-treated with sealant or insulation to avoid this. Construction speed may be slower due to its specifics, but the market offers a wide variety of colors, textures, and quality characteristics.
- Aerated concrete and foam blocks are cheaper and lighter, which allows savings even on the foundation, which is a significant advantage. Moreover, these materials offer excellent vapor and thermal insulation. The precise dimensions and ideal shape are guaranteed, as manufacturers always adhere to the same standards. This greatly simplifies the laying process and speeds up the construction. The blocks can also be sawed if necessary, allowing them to be “adjusted” to the required size.
Roofing Works
Roofing works are another crucial process and require a serious approach. The quality of the final result, the aesthetics, and practicality of the house will depend on this.
Common roof types include:
- Gable
- Tent
- Flat
The first type is a four-pitched roof. Two slopes are typically trapezoidal, while the other two resemble triangles. Wind resistance is minimal, but the structure retains its shape and looks attractive.
Tent roofs are also four-pitched, but they are completely symmetrical, which is why they are often referred to as pyramid-shaped.
Flat roofs are fast to install, inexpensive, and practical. However, snow and water can accumulate on them, which could negatively impact the house overall.
In addition to choosing the type of roof, the surface finishing should also be considered. It is recommended to use sheet or artificial materials instead of stone. Typically, metal roofing is used, but other options like corrugated board, onduline, or standing seam roofing are also viable. All these options are fast, simple, durable, and cause minimal discomfort, even in heavy rain. In general, the owner won’t notice much of the precipitation, which is a plus. It is important to calculate the materials carefully to avoid either excess or shortage.