How House #Construction Works

Second in our series on the steps that go into making a new home. You’ve asked yourself some of these questions before. How is a house built? What holds up the ceilings and the walls? What keeps the rain out? What parts go into making a house? How many different people are involved when a house goes up?  Here we focus on site preparation so read on.

Grading and site preparation

Time to "break ground! The first step in the actual #construction of your new home is site preparation. Site preparation consists of clearing away the trees from your building site, doing whatever rough grading (smoothing out the holes, mounds and slopes) that is necessary, and staking the house location in preparation for installation of the footings and foundation.

Before staking, you will need to go over the things that will affect or be affected by the placement of your home on the lot with your contractor. These are;

Setbacks and Easements

Topography (slopes)

Views

Driveway

The Sun's Exposure

Trees you want to keep

Well and Septic Tank Location

Your Relationship to other houses in the area/neighborhood

Distances you'll have to run utility lines to hook up with municipal services

OK, if you already took all these things into consideration before you did your site plan, do yourself a favor, check them all again - before you begin your site preparation. It's much easier to make changes now . . . BEFORE the concrete if poured!

Clearing the Lot

This involves the removal of trees, roots, and other vegetation from the building site. 

Rough Staking the Home

Here is where to start laying out the home. 

Just be sure to check the new location against setbacks and easements and the required distance to your septic tank drain field. Also be sure to advise your building department and get their OK before going forth with your new location.

Excavation

If your home will have a basement, it'll need to be dug - excavated. Some builders like to pour the concrete for their driveway at the same time they pour their slab. This makes it a lot easier to build the home, since you can get out of the mud early.

. . . Since there is "Rough" grading, there must also be "Finish" grading! This will be done when the construction on the home is completed and you are ready to tackle the exterior stuff. It's the fine tuning of the drainage patterns around your home and the set up for your landscaping.

Erosion Control

"Erosion control" is really a bit of a misnomer. You won't really control erosion, but you may be required to take special precautions to prevent the runoff from your cleared land from carrying mud to adjacent roads and property. Check with your building department to see what may be required. There are a number of materials/systems used to minimize the problem. They allow water to pass through but screen out fine particles. They can be as simple as bales of hay. 

We’ll will walk through foundation and framing in our next blog so that you can understand what’s involved and start to see the outline of your house come alive. Stay tuned.

How House Construction Works

Have you ever wondered how a house is built? What holds up the ceilings and the walls? What keeps the rain out? What parts go into making a house? How many different people are involved when a house goes up? If you always wanted to know the answers to questions like these, or if you have simply been curious to know all the steps that go into making a new home, then read on. You'll learn how the houses we develop are actually built.

Setting the Stage

So let's start at the beginning. What is a house? According to Wikipedia, a house is "A building that functions as a home for humans or other creatures, including simple dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes and complex structures composed of many systems." I don’t know about the “other creatures” part but you probably have a very specific mental image of the "typical house." It is a structure on its own piece of land, generally with a lawn and plants outside. It has a pitched roof, walls covered in brick or siding, windows and doors. Inside there are rooms like the kitchen, the living room, bedrooms and bathrooms.

I can show you a hundred pictures of houses and they may all be completely different in their specifics, but they will all share those basic characteristics.

Steps to Building a House

One of the amazing things about American homes is that the huge majority of them are built using completely standardized building practices. One reason for this consistency is a set of uniform building codes that apply across the country. Another reason is cost -- the techniques used to build homes produce reliable housing quickly at a low cost (relatively speaking). If you ever watch any house being built, you will find that it goes through about twenty or so steps:

1. Grading and site preparation
2. Foundation construction
3. Framing
4. Installation of windows and doors
5. Roofing
6. Siding
7. Rough electrical
8. Rough plumbing
9. Rough HVAC
10. Insulation
11. Drywall
12. Underlayment
13. Trim
14. Painting
15. Finish electrical
16. Bathroom and kitchen counters and cabinets
17. Finish plumbing
18. Carpet and flooring
19. Finish HVAC
20. Hookup to water main, or well drilling
21. Hookup to sewer or installation of a septic system
22. Punch list

Many of these steps are performed by independent crews known as subcontractors. For example, the framing is generally done by one subcontractor specializing in framing, while the roofing is done by a completely different subcontractor specializing in roofing. Each subcontractor is an independent business. All of the subcontractors are coordinated by a contractor who oversees the job and is responsible for completing the house on time and on budget.

We will walk through some of these various stages in more detail in our upcoming blogs so that you will know what is involved, understand all the steps and learn about the different materials used in the construction process.

Update your Bathroom in a Single Weekend

Does your bathroom need a quick fix-up? Transform your dull, dated bathroom into a stylish, spa-like retreat with these Do-it-Yourself (DIY) projects that you can tackle in a weekend.

Recolor your scheme

Freshen up your color scheme by adding a fresh coat of paint or liven up the walls with a bold, striking wallpaper. Don’t forget the 60-30-10 color rule which says; roughly 60 percent of the given space in the room should be the dominant color. In interior design terms, this color is for walls. Neutrals are the good choice for painting walls. The next 30 percent should represent a secondary color and this color is for the trim. The remaining 10 percent of the color scheme is for accent color. Accent colors should be attractive. Warm vivid colors are good accent colors.

Contain the clutter

Add functional storage to help contain the bathroom mess that makes your space appear cramped and cluttered. A stackable mesh shelving unit above the commode can be an example of how you can store the guest towels and extra soap and shampoo that you’ll need when visitors stay over on the next holiday weekend. Use a covered basket or mini-chest to store magazines and other reading material that can often look messy.

Add texture and charm

A good way to create uniqueness and update material in your bathroom is to use a bead board painted in a neutral color to add texture and charm to your bathroom. You can also use objects like whisk brooms, combs, and sponges to create a textured look when repainting the walls. Wallpaper or textured wallpaper is another good option.

Fix your fixtures

Replace dated light fixtures with new, modern ones. If your style is more diverse, try contrasting your modern fixtures with a vintage chandelier. Change your incandescent bulbs to fluorescent ones. Fluorescent lighting not only distributes light more evenly, it produces brighter light which can make the room look bigger and brighter. Design styles have changed for the better with fluorescent bulbs so no need to worry that uncovered fluorescent bulbs will not be attractive.

Memorable Ways to Celebrate Thanksgiving

http://themodernestamford.com/

 
Thanksgiving is around the corner and there are so many ways to celebrate around Connecticut. Right here in Stamford, see one of the largest helium balloon parades in the country at Connecticut's annual Thanksgiving parade, UBS Parade Spectacular on November 24th! Or come by the day prior to watch the balloons inflate!

Looking for a more active Thanksgiving? Sign up for the annual Harbor Point Turkey Trot! It's a FREE, timed event, open to ALL - joggers and walkers are welcome! Located at the Coastal Gardens in Stamford, on November 28th. Click here for more information.

And for those who prefer a mini getaway for the holiday - CTVisit.com offers these great suggestions perfect for friends and family:

• Explore the charming town of Essex. Stay at the historic Griswold Inn, located on the banks of the Connecticut River. Your family will fall in love with this extraordinary inn and its delightful town filled with wonderful shops along Main Street. Plus, take advantage of the Inn’s Holiday Head Start deal, where you can stay in one of their guest rooms from Sun. – Thurs. for just $130!
• Does your ideal Thanksgiving include you not cooking this year? The Inn at Middletown’s Home Away from Home deal takes care of everything for you. In addition to overnight accommodations and breakfast in the morning, you’ll enjoy a Thanksgiving Dinner prepared by their award-winning chef in the Inn’s colonial-style Tavern at the Armory restaurant.
• Thanksgiving in Mystic! Celebrate Thanksgiving in Mystic, where your kids will fall in love with the aquatic creatures at Mystic Aquarium and can experience the days of seafaring yore at Mystic Seaport.Take advantage of the holiday special at Whaler’s Inn – located in the heart of historic downtown Mystic – and get a complimentary dinner if you stay one night (from Sunday through Friday) and $50 off if you stay two nights. And of course, while you’re in the area, don’t forget to visit Olde Mistick Village for a one-of-a-kind shopping and dining experience that the whole family can enjoy – Santa and Mrs. Claus are even in town on Nov. 29 – 30!

 Do you have suggestions for celebrating Thanksgiving in Connecticut? We'd love to hear from you on our Facebook page!

Spotlight On: The FITNESS CENTRE

http://themodernestamford.com/

 

Be fit and stay well by taking advantage of The Moderne's Fitness Centre. The benefit of having a gym right at your fingertips not only will keep you in great shape - but gives you another place to unwind after a day of work. Or, for our early birds - start your day with a good morning workout.

Highlights: 

Treadmill • Elliptical • Recumbent Bike • Full-body Trainer • Cybex Ab Trainer • Physio Exercise Balls

 

For leasing information and additional information, please contact us online or give us a call at: 203.348.8300. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook and stay up to date with The Moderne!  

The Moderne Stamford Featured in Westfair Online!

http://themodernestamford.com/

Excerpt from Westfair Online:

 The building is RMS’s third luxury apartment building to open in Stamford in the last three years. The company also built The BLVD and Parallel 41 in Stamford, plus other properties in Norwalk and two Hotel Zero Degrees.

“Downtown Stamford has become a great place to live,” said RMS owner Randall Salvatore. The company’s units mostly appeal to the young, upwardly mobile demographic that previously would likely have rented in Manhattan. 

“Now Stamford has everything they’re looking for,” Salvatore added. “That’s why we’re having so much success. There’s an influx of people moving into Stamford, whereas you used to have to go to Manhattan for the same downtown experience. Now you can go to Stamford.” 

Located a couple blocks north of the hustle and bustle of downtown, the building includes a total of 58 one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Stacked with amenities such as a gym, entertainment areas and a theater, rent starts about $2,000 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. Some 31 units had been leased even before the ribbon cutting.

For leasing information and additional information, please contact us online or give us a call at: 203.348.8300. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook and stay up to date with The Moderne!