Building a House Step by Step: A Guide from Start to Finish

If you are planning on building a house from scratch, it is important to know the process step by step. Whether you are project managing or just a bystander, knowing what to expect at each stage of the new build will make you feel more confident and able to converse with the various trades along the way. Knowing the order of when things happen and the important stages, means that you will be able to contact the trades at the correct time and also make sure the various materials are ordered in time.

Step 1: Site Preparation for Building A House

The first thing to do when building a house is to make sure the site is prepared, the ground needs to be cleared. At this point, facilities are usually set up for the contractors on site. Once this is done there are multiple other tasks that need to be carried out.

• The groundworkers create site access and clear the grounds, and may also carry out a ground survey to check the content and condition of the ground.
• The site hut is set up  and equipped with drawings and safety equipment
• The water board bring a water supply to the site
• A plumber connects up a water standpipe for water access
• The toilet is set up
• A secure lock-up is brought in
• A mixer station is set up for mixing concrete, storing cement and a sand heap. Bricks and blocks are brought in for future use and stacked away from the construction areas.

Step 2: Laying The Foundations for Building A House

Everything is set up and ready to go, the very first thing that is done is laying the foundations. The cost of this can vary greatly. This first step is very important. The foundations support your whole building, they need to be laid properly by professionals.

• Trenches are built in the ground where the house will be constructed, and material or slip membranes are added to the trenches
• Ducts are laid for services to enter through the foundations.
• Pour concrete footings are poured and tamped to level

At this point approval from a building, the inspector is required before you can proceed.

• Obtain approval from building/warranty inspectors to proceed
• Bricklayers build up foundation blockwork to damp-proof the course
• Install cranked air vents are installed, and drainage exit lintels are installed. Cavities are filled with lean mix concrete and levelled to the external ground level.
• Damp-proof courses are laid and bedded and linked with any radon membranes or barriers

Step 3: Building A House’s Superstructure

Getting started with the superstructure is an exciting part of the building-a-house process. Make sure you are aware of which stages need to be signed off by a building inspector before you can continue.

• The groundworkers at this stage dig service trenches for the various pipes that will need to be installed. The groundworkers lay the pipes at the proposed stopwatch and meter positions.
• Concrete floor beams are laid in each bay and position.
• Drainage and vent pipes are installed.
• Floor beams are infilled with blocks.
• coursing bricks are laid and ventilator grills are put in position.

At this point, another building inspection is needed. Once the work has been approved, the superstructure will be continued to be built. The first left of scaffolding is now required.

• Templates for future windows and doors are installed
• The bricklayers continue with superstructure brickwork and blockwork and make any chimneys and perform tuckpointing. When the chimney is ready flue liners are installed.
• Stonemasons install stoneworks, bed lintel and fireplace lintels,
• Meter boxes for gas and electricity are installed.
• The service suppliers bring their supplies to the boundary of the areas.
• The electrician installs a temporary consumer unit in the meter. 
• Plumbers reroute water to the stopcock position
• Electricity providers connect the electricity
• A scaffolding lift is required
• First-floor beams are lifted via a crane into each bayan position batten clips are positioned.
• The infill blocks are laid.
• Wallplate to be scarfed, bedded and tied down with proprietary wall plate straps.

A Warranty inspection is sometimes required at this point

• Carpenters build end trusses as templates.
• The Plumbers fit lead flashings, trays and skirts to the chimney, they install vent pipes and flashing skirts.
• The bricklayers top out and fit the chimney pot and point to the chimney flashings.

Step 4: Building A House’s Roof

You’ve got to the part where the roof is ready to be added. The superstructure is almost completed and the construction is looking like a house.

• Carpenters sling roof trusses and fix them down to the wall plate.
• All binders and bracing are fixed at node points.
• Lay boards to be fixed to valleys.
• Dormers are constructed. 
• Fascia and soffit are fixed together with ventilation grilles or strips.

A warranty inspection is sometimes required at this point

• Any roof tanks are installed. 
• The roofers add the roof covering, firstly they cut and lay under cloaking, they felt and batten and the tiles or slates can be laid.
• The ridge and hip tiles are laid, as well as the valley tiles.
• The plumbers will dress down the flashings and skirtings.
• Decorators to paint/stain fascias, soffits and barges.

Step 5: Exterior and Interior Fittings Tasks When Building A House

Once the superstructure is finished, it’s time to pay attention to various external and internal jobs.

• Plumbers fix guttering downpipes and connect them up to the drainage system
• Window suppliers fit external joinery
• Plasterers carry out any external rendering
• Carpenters first by fitting door linings, building any studwork partitioning and fixing window boards. They also, fix plasterboard noggins and box-in vent pipes and the loft trap.

Step 6: First Fix Stage of Building A House

Now you are ready for all the electrical wiring and plumbing to be installed.

• The plumbers will lay the flooring membrane and insulation, taping all joints and sealing up to the damp-proof course. Underfloor heating (UFH) loops are laid and fixed. All first-fix plumbing for hot and cold and waste within floor zones are laid. The Internal gas pipework is installed.
• UFH pipework is brought to manifolds and outlet positions.
• The company is supplied and fixed to the pump.
• The screed is levelled and left for 3 days to set.
• Protective hardboard/ cardboard to be laid on the screed.
• The electricians will fix carcass wiring for lighting and power circuits together with all backplates. The Consumer units are positioned.
• Wiring is taken to external lighting points. TV aerial/satellite cables are installed in the required positions. Internal telephone wiring is installed in the required positions. 

Step 7: Drainage and External Works

Now it’s time to take care of the drainage.

• The groundworkers will dig trenches for drainage runs and backfill them with 150mm of pea shingle. After they are done with the trenches they will begin on the driveways and pathways.
• Drains are laid to required falls
• Brick/concrete section manholes are constructed, or purpose-made manholes and the rodding eyes and gullies are set in runs

The building inspector has to approve the laid drains at this point.

• The main line is to be connected to the main sewer in the road. This has to be carried out by approved contractors.
• The carpenters finish boxings and noggins ready for the plasterer.
• The Bricklayer builds any fireplaces and hearths required.
• The gas meter is installed and connected.
• Plumbers and electricians liaise on all cross-bonding and earthing

Step 8: Preparing Ceilings/ Drylining

Now it’s time to pay attention to the interior.

• The carpenter fits the main staircase.  All joinery is sealed internally and externally with mastic.
• The plasterers will tack ceilings and skim-coat all walls and ceilings.
• All external and blockwork walls will be lined with plasterboard on dots and dabs. All stud work walls and pipe boxings will be tacked with plasterboard.  All joints and angles will be filled and scrim taped. All abutments of differential materials will be joined with mesh.
• All roofing insulation is installed.
• The decorators will paint/treat the backs of all skirting and architraves.

Step 9: Second Fix Carpentry

It’s time in the schedule for the finishing details to be added, such as architraves, skirting and flooring.

• The carpenters hang internal doors and fit the skirting and architrave. The bottom tread of the staircase is fitted and the handrails and balustrade are also.. The linen cupboard is fitted with shelves. The loft door and ladder are fitted. Any timber floors are fitted. If fitted furniture is required in the bedrooms and bathrooms, this is made and installed now. Kitchen units are also fitted now.
• The plumbers lay the floor tiles if required.

Step 10: Second Fix Stage Electrics and Plumbing

You’re at the end of the physical construction work now and all the smaller jobs need to be carried out. The second fix stage sees everything wired up and connected.

• The electricians will make sure all wiring is connected to the consumer unit and check the cross-bonding and earthing to all sanitary ware, sinks, radiators, etc. The boiler is wired in; the  control systems and the room thermostats are also wired in
• The plumber will plumb in the boiler. The sink units are earthed and cross-bonded. All sanitaryware is fitted and plumbed in, and radiators and towel rails are installed. 
• The plumber and electrician will fire up and see to the commissioning of the boiler. Pipework and connections are flushed through and pressure tested. The central heating is tested.

Step 11: Decorating

We are at the final stages, all the decorating and last-minute fix-ups can be done by DIY if you have gone over budget and need to save some money.

• Worktops are fitted into the kitchen.  The house is cleaned and  all debris and dust removed 
• The decorators fix up any holes, blemishes or rough patches on walls, and paint all walls and ceilings. 
• The internal timber is sanded smooth or rubbed down with wire wool, it is then painted, primed, undercoated and top-coat glazed, or, two-coat stained.
• Specialist tilers fix ceramic wall tiles in the kitchen and utility rooms and bathrooms. 
• The water meter is installed

Step 12: Landscaping

You’re at the final stage, the house is finished and any further work to be done is now outside of the house, including the gardens, patio and driveway.

• The groundworkers or specialist landscape gardeners level the ground and replace the topsoil that was removed before the construction commenced. They then complete the driveway and lay the patio slabs
• The Site hut is  removed or re-sited if intended for use as a garden shed
• The secure site storage is removed,
• Bricklayers build any walling needed for the garden
• The landscapers level the ground ready for turfing or seeding

Finally, the building and grounds are finished and everything is looking good. However, before anyone can move in there have to be some last checks and inspections to name the building as safe and ready for habitation. The Energy Performance Certificate is to be prepared and sent to building control.

• Building control final inspection and issuing of the Completion Certificate
• Warranty inspector’s final inspection and the issuing of the warranty

Also read: A New House Construction Electrical Checklist You Should Know