The Building Process

[Printable version of “The Building Process”. Adobe Reader required. ]

Now that you have selected your design and builder, the time has come to finalize your plans and start building your house. Many new homeowners become confused or are uncertain about the process from this point forward. The first thing to do is to put your mind at ease. If you have made quality decisions about your team members and your suppliers all you have to do is sit back and let them do their work. Most reputable builders will keep you informed about the progress and cost condition of your project and if you hired your architect to do on-site visits they will inform you of what they find and the condition of your new home. City and bank inspectors will also visit your construction site to verify that the work is going according to plan.

  • The first steps:
    •  1.)  Select a Lot - Make arrangements for financing lot
    •  2.)  Select architect
    •  3.)  Prepare plans and specifications
    •  4.)  Secure bids from builders & suppliers
    •  5.)  Select Builder
    •  6.)  Obtain Permanent and Construction Financing
  • The steps taken by the builder:
    •  7.)  Obtain permits - Prepare site - Pay tap fees
    •  8.)  Install temporary electrical pole
    •  9.)  Start forming up the foundation
    • 10.)  Install fill & primary plumbing lines
    • 11.)  Install reinforcing & beams per plan
    • 12.)  Pour concrete - Order framing material
    • 13.)  Install framing to ‘dry in’
    • 14.)  Install windows and exterior doors; Top out plumbing (drains & vents), tubs & showers
    • 15.)  Install roof vents and roofing
    • 16.)  Install heating & cooling units and ducts
    • 17.)  Install electrical wiring, telephone, & television cable
    • 18.)  Exterior finish (wood, brick, etc.) - Install Insulation
    • 19.)  Install fireplace - Prime exterior surfaces
    • 20.)  Hang dry wall; tape & float joints
    • 21.)  Install Tile - Install garage doors - Insulate attic
    • 22.)  Install trim work; crown molding, base boards, etc.
    • 23.)  Paint and stain interior surfaces
    • 24.)  Install counter tops
    • 25.)  Install sinks, dishwasher, & disposal
    • 26.)  Install hardware
    • 27.)  Hang wallpaper
    • 28.)  Hang mirrors, tub enclosures, and shower doors
    • 29.)  Install A/C - Install light fixtures and vent hood
    • 30.)  Install smooth surface floor coverings
    • 31.)  Install commodes and bath accessories
    • 32.)  Install carpeting, interior doors, weatherstripping
    • 33.)  Install appliances ( range, microwaves, ovens, etc.) Install A/C compressor - Clean house and windows
    • 34.)  Install landscaping
    • 35.)  Conduct all final inspections
    • 36.)  Connect to permanent electrical hookup
    • 37.)  Close into permanent mortgage
    • 38.)  Move into your new home

Of course this is a brief outline of the things that will be happening at your construction site. Behind the scenes there will many hours of phone calls and scheduling as well as inspection reports and materials selection. Rest assured that a quality builder working together with you and your architect can get through this process smoothly and efficiently.

Quality Products

[Printable version of “Quality Products”. Adobe Reader required. ]

One of the most important aspects of getting your new home tailored to fit your needs is the selection of the appropriate products and materials. We can help you narrow down the wide variety of selections to something more manageable by introducing you to suppliers who specialize in your areas of concern.

Windows, doors, lights, and paint are just a few of the many selections that you will be asked to review and select. Do not be intimidated by the vast number of items presented to you and feel free to ask questions about quality and price.

The number one mistake that people make when making their selections is buying strictly on price and ignoring the quality aspect. The quality of a product far exceeds the price when it comes to desirability. If you are planning on living in a house for over five years then it is imperative that the selections that you make today will not have to be remade in five or six years. The long-term cost will exceed the short-term cost many times over. Door hardware, light fixtures, and windows are the three main areas where people really hurt themselves with lesser quality materials.

Windows are very important to the overall quality and energy efficiency of the home. Most window suppliers carry three grades of windows; wooden, vinyl and aluminum. Wooden windows are the superior choice when looking at quality and they exceed the energy efficiency of most of their lesser quality competitors. Vinyl windows are a good choice for the budget minded home buyer. Their energy efficiency is good and their longevity without maintenance is superior. Aluminum windows should the last choice for the quality minded home buyer. That is not to say that there are not some good quality aluminum windows on the market, but by the time you spend the money on these products you could have purchased a good quality and energy efficient vinyl window. What most people do not realize is that you will recoup your cost on the more energy efficient products in just a few short years.

Door hardware and lighting fixtures are other areas where quality should be stressed. Door hardware is an area that most people overlook. Every house in America has a front door and on that door is the hardware that gets used and viewed daily. It is imperative that the hardware selected is durable and aesthetically pleasing or you will be reminded of the mistake for years to come. Light fixtures on the other hand do not take the abuse of the door hardware but they do tell a story about the style and flare of the people who selected them. Most people notice lights in a house and make judgments about the quality of the home by the type of lighting used in the home. Keep that in mind when making your selections.

Other products that you may want to consider for your new home have nothing to do with the house itself. Pools and recreational areas for your property may be in your budget and the thought and consideration given to them is very important. Most of the companies selling these products have design teams that can help you with the design of your amenities. Allowing their designers to work closely with you can only enhance the overall quality and functionality of the product.

The last area that most people consider for their new home is the landscaping. There are several companies that offer a wide variety of services for your landscaping needs. Use their expertise and let them help you put together a beautiful and environmentally sound landscape package. This will only add value to your home in the years to come.

J. Bryant Boyd has the experience to help you make the best choices of the products and services on the market today.

Environmental Factors

[Printable version of “Environmental Factors”. Adobe Reader required. ]

The problem of controlling his environment and creating conditions favorable to his needs and activities is as old as man himself. Through the ages men have sought, in the building of shelter, to fulfill two basic human needs--protection from the elements and achieving a climate favorable to daily endeavors. House design has reflected, throughout its history, the different solutions advanced by each period to the continuing problem of securing a small controlled environment within a large scale natural setting--too often affected by adverse forces of cold, heat, wind, water, and sun.

Each period seems to have had its own philosophy of house design; the past therefore provides us with the experience found in the dwellings of our ancestors. In recent years, however, architects and builders have been bombarded with new technologies, which have enabled them to ignore the rich history of climatic solutions left for them to use. Instead, they have concentrated on finding ways to shut off the natural world and create a totally self contained and conditioned environment. Air conditioning and central heating have certainly opened up possibilities never before realized in home design, but they have brought with them the everincreasing consumption of the earth’s natural resources. High-energy cost and pollution are the byproducts of this form of progress.

Realizing that the Earth and man cannot continue down this destructive path, J. Bryant Boyd is exploring ways to rekindle the more natural and economical ideas exercised in past eras. The use of natural elements in the landscape, proper site selection and design, the use of natural wind currents, development of regional building types, proper material selection, and solar control are all ancient ideas which can find a perfect fit into today’s technological environment.

It is the responsibility of everyone to find ways to insure the survival of our planet. We want to help their clients conserve natural resources through the design of environmentally sensitive houses and sites. Here at J. Bryant Boyd we are committed to the design of ‘green’ buildings and we can help you design a home which can not only save you money but can help save the earth as well.