If you're in the process of building a home, you know there are a lot of things you need to take into consideration and be aware of. At the top of that list should be ensuring that your home will be as safe and durable as possible. It's easiest to make your home safe and durable if you build that into your home during the construction process. So what are some things you should do to make that happen?
Unless you're a professional in the homebuilding industry yourself, building your own home isn't something you want to do yourself, especially if you want a top quality finished product. You need to work with experienced home builders who can build a home that will meet your standards and needs for safety and durability. If you hire a general contractor, look into what others have to say about the work they've done. Talk to them about how they subcontract the work and their vetting process for choosing subcontractors. You'll also want to bring in an experienced electrician to do your electrical work, as well as carpenters, roofers, architects, and planners.
Speaking of planners, if you want to have a safe and durable home, you need to get off on the right foot by having a plan for it. Your plan for your home will be what guides you and your contractors through the process of building your home. You can design it to be sturdy and stable from the start. If you aren't familiar with the ins and outs of creating a plan for a home, consult or hire a professional. They'll be able to identify potential weak points and places that may need more support. They'll also be able to help you design a layout that flows well , which will be important to your overall enjoyment of the home.
Of course, the materials you use matter. You can have the best plan and the best contractors, but if the materials you use aren't good quality and durable, the end result won't be as good as it should be. Different materials will lend themselves well to different areas of your home. Concrete is pretty standard when it comes to foundations, and wood is commonly used for walls and supports. Steel is often used to join and support other construction elements. By selecting and using durable materials for each portion of your house, you help ensure that the final product itself will also be durable.
Your roof is not the area of your home you want to skimp out on. It protects your whole house, so you need to make sure it's durable right from the start. Consult a truss engineer who can design trusses for your roof that will be stable in design and strong enough to support the roof you're installing. When choosing your materials, take the climate of where you live into consideration, as well as the load your house will be bearing. Stone-coated metal roofs have advantages over asphalt roofing. They tend to be on the more expensive side, but they are incredibly durable and long lasting. They don't need much in the way of maintenance either. Considering the advantages, a stone-coated metal roof may be worth the investment if you have the funds for it.
On the flip side of your house, it's also imperative that you set your house up for stability from the ground up. Literally. Before you even lay the foundation you have to prepare the ground. This helps make sure that when settling happens it's not more than the house can handle. Start by identifying the type of soil you have. If the soil isn't strong enough on its own to support the foundation and your house, you'll have to remove and replace it or mix it with other compounds to strengthen it. Then you'll need to compact it. This increases the soil density and makes it better able to support a structure.
Once the soil has been prepared you can lay the foundation. A well-laid foundation is a significant part of what makes your home stable. Concrete foundations are often reinforced with rebar. To prevent the rebar from rusting, it should be inserted without penetrating the cement and contacting the soil. It's also important to allow it to cure and all the water to evaporate. Allowing construction to continue before the foundation has dried all the way will trap water and result in a weaker foundation. When it's finished, consider waterproofing or damp proofing your foundation to continue to protect it.
Between the foundation and roof is the framework. Typically the framework is made from wood, though sometimes metal is used. This often depends on what local building codes require. Braces are added to the frame to give it extra strength and stability. There are different types of braces , which can be made using different materials. Which material you end up using may also be dictated by building codes. Corner sheaths can be used to help brace walls as well. Triangles are the strongest shape, which is what you're trying to do when you add braces. The more triangles you have, the more stable your walls will be.
Once you've finished construction, you need to have your home inspected before you move in. You should be having your house inspected throughout the construction process to ensure it is in line with building codes and regulations, and then one final inspection to certify that it's approved for occupancy. By passing inspection you can rest assured that your house will be safe and stable enough to live in.
It's important to make sure that your home is built in such a way that it will be safe and durable. Build a safe and durable house by using the right people, the right materials, and the right process. Once you have the house put together, make sure you get it inspected to ensure that it's safe for occupancy. By taking steps to ensure the safety and durability of your house, you'll help protect yourself and your family while you live in it.
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