Building a custom home is an exciting journey, but it requires careful planning and decision-making right from the start! Ideally, most decisions would be made during the planning phase; however, that is often not the case. Some choices need to be made early in the construction process to ensure everything runs smoothly, meets your vision, and avoids costly delays and change orders! Here are some key decisions and selections you should focus on early in your custom home building journey:
Floor Mounted Outlets and Plumbing Fixtures in a Slab (before concrete is poured)
It’s crucial to determine the locations of floor-mounted outlets and plumbing fixtures in a slab early on. This is necessary both by choice and by code, especially if there are floor-to-ceiling windows. Knowing the exact locations of these fixtures is particularly important when dealing with slabs because once the conduit and pipes are installed and the concrete is poured, changing their locations becomes very costly and requires digging up the concrete.
Plumbing Fixtures (before framing starts)
Any plumbing fixtures that need a valve in a wall, ceiling, or floor must be picked out in advance so the valve can be installed correctly within the enclosure. This is crucial because these areas will be covered up with drywall, tile, flooring, etc. later on, making it difficult to access or modify the valves afterward.
Appliances (before framing starts)
Selecting your appliances in advance is crucial to ensure proper sizing and utility hookups. This includes your kitchen appliances, laundry machines, and any specialty appliances you might want, such as a wine fridge or built-in coffee maker. We need to know the size of each appliance to create the cabinet layout and determine where the power, gas, water supply and/or drain will be during the rough-in phase (the stage of construction when mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems are installed before the walls are closed up).
Cabinet Layout (before framing starts)
The cabinet layout needs to be handled early because the cabinets can have a significant lead time, generally 8+ weeks. Additionally, the layout affects the rough-in for power, gas, water, and other utilities, ensuring that all hookups are correctly positioned and ready when the cabinets arrive. Some framing changes may also need to be made, such as shifting a wall slightly to accommodate more space or framing down a soffit to close the gap between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling. As framing is completed, it is important to take field measurements to ensure the measurements on the cabinet design are correct. Make sure to account for the width of any casing around doors and windows in the cabinet design, and be sure to add ½” to the field measurements for drywall.
Ceiling Details (before framing starts)
Ceiling details need to be decided early because they are often wrapped with cedar, MDF, or other finish materials and are integrated into the framing. These decisions must be made before framing to ensure that the structure can accommodate the desired ceiling design. Ceiling details include drop ceilings, coffer ceilings, tray ceilings, cove ceilings, arch ceilings, T&G ceilings, shiplap ceilings, etc. Additionally, if your ceiling detail includes specialty lighting, you need to know where to position wires and outlets to power the transformer for the low voltage LED lighting.
Type of Flooring on a Balcony (before framing starts)
The weight of the flooring on a balcony can significantly change the structural requirements. For example, concrete is heavier than deck boards or tile, so the structural supports need to be designed accordingly. These requirements must be in place before the framing phase is completed to ensure the balcony’s safety and integrity. Additionally, the thickness of the flooring material needs to be known so the door can operate correctly and the proper slope can be provided to drain any water.
Fireplaces (before framing starts)
Fireplaces need to be decided on early because the specifications determine the framing size for the insert. Additionally, knowing whether the fireplace will be powered by gas or electricity is crucial for planning the necessary utility connections. It’s also important to know if the fireplace is vented or ventless. Vented fireplaces require a chimney or vent to expel fumes outside, impacting the structural design, while ventless fireplaces are designed to burn more cleanly and can be installed without external vents.
Windows (before framing starts)
Windows need to be selected early in the process because the rough opening for each window must be determined during the framing stage. Additionally, windows have a long lead time, typically between 4 and 16 weeks depending on the manufacturer. Early selection ensures that the framing is accurate and that the windows arrive on time for installation. It’s also crucial to ensure that egress requirements (safety requirements for emergency exits) are met during the framing inspection, which impacts safety and code compliance.
Doors (before framing starts)
Doors need to be selected early because the rough opening for each door must be determined during the framing stage. Additionally, doors have a lead time that can affect the construction schedule. Early selection ensures that the framing is accurate and that the doors arrive on time for installation, avoiding potential delays. You also need to determine if you want a flush sill, which may require dropping the framing to accommodate this design feature.
Interior Door Profile (during framing)
Deciding on the profile of your interior doors early is necessary due to lead times on the doors. Typically, the interior door profile is used for the fire-rated door coming from the garage, ensuring consistency throughout the home. Early installation of all exterior doors is beneficial for securing the house and preventing theft or vandalism, as it allows you to lock up the home sooner in the construction process.
Flooring Thickness and Transitions (during framing)
Knowing the thickness of your flooring and planning transitions early is helpful for several reasons. It helps determine the height from the finished floor for various rough-in phase questions. Additionally, it’s important to ensure that doors will open and close properly where flooring transitions occur. Floating the floor in certain areas can lead to change orders, so it’s beneficial to identify these needs upfront to inform the customer of any unexpected expenses.
Gas Lamps or Outdoor Appliances (during framing)
It’s important to decide on the locations of gas lamps, gas grills, hose bibs, exterior receptacles, security cameras, flood lights, exterior coach lights, speakers, generators, HVAC condensers, cable company connections, and any other outdoor appliances early in the process. This allows the necessary wires and pipes to be roughed in during the rough-in phase, ensuring that all utilities are correctly positioned and ready for installation later on.
Blocking for Heavy Electric Fixtures, Floating Vanities, Wall Sconces, Wall-Mounted Toilets, Bath Hardware, Televisions, etc. (during framing)
Proper blocking is essential for the installation of heavy fixtures like chandeliers, floating vanities, wall sconces, and bath hardware. Blocking involves adding extra support within the walls to securely hold the weight of these items. Without adequate blocking, these fixtures could become unstable or cause damage to the walls over time. Ensuring proper blocking is in place during the framing stage guarantees that these fixtures are safely and securely mounted.
By making these decisions early, you can ensure a smoother construction process and avoid costly changes or delays. Working closely with your builder and planning ahead will help bring your dream home to life efficiently and effectively.