The full process of completing your home built by ROEM begins long before the first construction workers pour the foundation. The home building process begins with a vision to create a space in which an individual or family can reside comfortably. This vision filters into the many design and layout considerations given to current market conditions which influence the final look and feel of every home. Despite the extensive effort and time spent to create a set of building instructions, it is the construction and building process that makes this vision a reality, ensures a strict level of quality is met, and allows you to move in as soon as possible.
Though just a sample of the complexly coordinated process of building a new home, every homebuyer should be familiar with the stages and efforts below:
Site Preparation
Before any construction begins, the site must be cleared, cleaned, and graded to receive the structure. This includes surveying the property to delineate locations for proposed buildings and the utility infrastructure which will support them. Often in areas previously developed, this will include the demolition and remediation of previous uses.
Site Work
Once the site is prepared, work begins to install wet and dry utilities in underground trenches to accommodate the needs of a modern building. Utility coordination is an important step in linking your home to the greater utility and service grids feeding your neighborhood. Following the installation of underground utilities, any roads, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and areas of pavement can be completed to provide safe and permanent site access.
Foundation
Over a graded site with utility tie-ins carefully placed, concrete building foundations are framed, poured, and tested for adequate strength. Utility sleeves and structural imbeds in the foundation allow for all future construction to tie securely to your home's most substantial structural component.
Framing
When the foundation is complete, the walls, floors, ceilings, stairs and roof are constructed. As a home's structural skeleton, the frame ultimately shapes the interior and exterior design experience. Within this framing, much of the infrastructure needed to run your house will be concealed. Windows and doors are also set to shield your home from the exterior elements during the conventional wood framing portion of the process.
Roofing
Along with the many weather-shielding assemblies which accompany it, the roofing effort is an integral and important step in building a home. As your first defense against outside elements, roofing is installed in multiple layers of protection for maximum efficiency. First, the framed roofs must be loaded with all roofing materials to be used for a period of acclamation to the added weight on the structural framing. Then, roof penetrations and terminations are flashed for continuity with roofing membranes. Finally, the finished roofing tiles or materials are installed to provide a completed assembly.
Infrastructure
As the interior of the house becomes properly protected from the elements through the framing and roofing efforts, the plumbing, fire protection, electrical, low voltage wiring such as telephone and cable, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning ( HVAC) systems are installed. These components contained within the structural and architectural framing link the site utility work with the interior finishes and future use of conveniences such as lights, appliances, the bathroom shower and your personal computer.
Exterior Finishes
The completion of exterior finishes will allow you to see your home in its near-final form. This can include stucco, trim, railings, lights, accessories, paint, and hardware. These assemblies combine to further protect you from the outside elements while adding visual personality to your home.
Interior Finishes
With framing and infrastructure complete, interior walls are ready to be closed-in and all surfaces to be finished. The installation of cabinetry and general finish carpentry will give the home a completed look. As with exterior finishes, the interior surface finish selections contribute greatly to the feel and personality of your home. With mirrors, switches, controls, fixtures, and trim installed, the home is ready to receive its final quality inspections and be occupied.
Landscaping
Landscaping can be thought of as the finish site work for your individual home and the community as a whole. This effort is commonly completed following exterior finishes and will incorporate exterior access with planting, lighting, and site furniture. This can be a lengthy process depending on the design scope.
Testing and Inspection
Despite being substantially complete with exterior, interior, and site improvements, no home built by ROEM is complete without a comprehensive testing and inspection process to ensure structures meet all code and ROEM quality requirements. When buying a home from ROEM, you too will be involved in this process through the homeowner orientation where you will assist a customer service and construction representative in certifying your home for occupancy.
While the above efforts vary according to whether you live in a detached custom home, townhome, flat, or loft, the home building process of ensuring quality, safety, timeliness, and affordability remains constant.