Step 93 - Final Punch List

Checklist For Builders

An Interior Punch List

With the house virtually complete, the paint crew returns to touch up any spots they missed or that became damaged during the construction process.  The paint crew will also repair any nail-pops that occur when the house expands and contracts from temperature changes.

 

The Utilities are turned on for the house, the water, electric, sewage and gas are connected and tested for leaks and problems. The air conditioning system is now charged and working, as well as the central heat.   Major appliances typically arrive last, after the initial punch-list so that they can be installed with little risk of damage from further construction activities. With the electricity on, the lights working and water running, the house is now livable, and you can easily envision yourself living in it.

 

A punch-list of issues is created after a thorough walkthrough of the house, looking for anything that is out of place, not installed correctly or missing from the final plan.  Things like missing grout on the tiles, crooked trim, misaligned wall-plates and even incorrect fittings are documented and workers return to make repairs. The house also receives a good cleaning, dusting and the sweeping.   

 

Once the punch-list is complete, the homeowner will make a walkthrough with the builder as a pre-sale inspection and settlement meeting.  This will be your opportunity to  ask questions about your new home, see it in a completed state and perform your own “double check” of the construction.

Things We Learned Along The Way

All The Steps of Building A New Home

Building a new home entails many stages that include various steps that should be followed. Depending on many variables, these stages and steps are changed or customized to fit the owner's liking. Some of the steps or even stages are coordinated with each other to have better results, while some have to be completed before others. Nevertheless, all new home construction at least follows basic stages that start on careful planning, this includes financing issues all the way up to the moving-in stages with full interior design.

Planning Stage

Before actually starting on the actual construction of one's home, careful planning of many things should be done. The greatest concern at this stage is the finances. Most homebuilders set their home construction plan based on the budget set by the owner. If the budget permits, the owner could get professional help on this stage already from a designer or architect, especially for the estimation of construction cost. This stage also allows the owner to weigh things out, they will know whether to get an additional financing through loans or mortgages. Depending on your location, securing permits and other legality issues in building a home differs, take care of all paperwork early on after the planning stage is nearing its end. Application to public utilities, like water and city gas, should also be considered to include their lines in the house planning. A careful lot selection must also be done early in the planning stage, since the cost and time of pre-construction, construction and finishing details may be greatly affected by lot issues. Applying for temporary water and electrical supply for the construction stage is also necessary for this stage.

Pre-construction Stage

This stage includes finalizing the work force needed for the construction to proceed. Getting quotes from different contractors may give the owner options to choose the right builder for their plans and budget. Low cost builders are not always the best option. The builder's reputation for quality work should be considered above price in some cases. You know the old saying "You get what you pay for".

The Construction Stage

This is where the actual building of the home takes place. While having the most steps in home construction, this stage can be easily done if the previous stages had been accomplished properly. The clearing of the lot usually takes the lead in this stage. Necessary excavations are done to place sewers, and utility pipes in place, as well as laying out the foundation of the house. After this, the footings and other wall foundations are also laid out, considering many issues like erosion, waterproofing and insulating these foundations. Framing is one of the most important stages in home construction. Floors, walls and the roof are framed in this step. This actually gives shape to the house being constructed. This also includes setting up of subdivisions within the home, which can be modified as seen fit during the process. Before completing this part, the wiring, plumbing and temperature control systems must be taken care of as well. The wire conjunctions, pipes and the ducts must be laid out during this step to avoid unnecessary tearing down of walls just to insert them. Wall insulations and kitchen and bathroom plumbing should be given high importance. Floors are usually last to be taken care of in finishing construction.

The Finishing Stage

Finishing stages include installing fixtures. Fixtures include switch plate covers, electrical outlet covers, lighting, ceiling fans, etc. This stage also requires painting, closet organizing installation, moldings, etc. Furniture selection and placement are done lastly, to suit the owner's satisfaction.

Navigation

The Land

 

Planning

 

Construction

 

Framing Phase

Rough-in Phase

Drywall Phase

Interior Carpentry

Flat-work Phase

Paint & Stain

Finishing Phase

Completion