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The decision to start building our dream house is only one of the first stages of the whole process, which before it starts with the first shovel to dig the foundations, is preceded by the need to meet a number of formalities. It is such an important investment in the life of every family that it is worth preparing for it properly, so that nothing stops us from successfully realizing the dream of our own four walls. What should every investor who is wondering how to start building a house keep in mind? Below we invite you to read a practical guide that will explain it step by step.
If you already have a building plot on which you want to start building your future house, it is worth remembering to meet several formal requirements that will bring you closer to the effective implementation of the investment. Building a house involves appropriate procedural preparation, the main elements of which will be:
If the local authority has not objected to the construction application, construction can start after 30 days from the date of its submission. Such consent is valid for a period of three consecutive years.
Let’s assume that the above formalities have been successfully fulfilled and you want to move on to building a house – where to start? Before you dig the proverbial shovel into the ground, you still need to formally prepare for the work itself. It is necessary to hire a construction manager who takes over the responsibility for the construction work. Relevant statements are part of the construction documentation and do not need to be submitted to the office. The documentation also includes a construction diary (supervised by the site manager), which is an official confirmation of the course of construction works.
The commencement of the construction works themselves must be preceded by certain preparatory works, which include, for example:
Properly performed preparatory works allow to start the first leveling works and move on to the construction of the first stage of the building – the foundations.
When the possibility of laying foundations is already visible on the horizon – it is worth conducting a soil survey. This is an extremely important issue – the analysis of the excavated soil allows you to choose the right technology for building foundations and may show the need to replace the soil, which may entail additional costs. The results of soil testing allow you to get to know its properties on a given building plot. Load-bearing capacity, composition, moisture – these are the characteristics of the soil that are necessary to determine the optimal foundation technology. Thanks to a properly performed test, we can avoid later problems related to subsidence or cracking of foundations.
The house construction project is based on the local plan and the architect’s recommendations. The designer adapts the foundation design to the results of the soil tests . In addition, it is necessary to obtain various permits, such as an entry permit or a permit to cut down trees. The conditions for connecting utilities are particularly important – they affect access to water, sewage and gas. A gas connection requires an additional permit, which also covers the internal installation. In the case of installing a gas furnace, the presence of a chimney sweep and the preparation of a chimney sweep report are also important.
When preparing for construction – we cannot forget about the construction cost estimate. What are the benefits of preparing such a document? First of all, we increase control over expenses. Based on the cost estimate, we can also order building materials more efficiently. We will avoid unpleasant surprises related to exceeding the budget in the process of building a house and we will be more sure that the project will be implemented according to our expectations. It is worth taking care of every aspect of the formalities !
The first step on the construction site is to fence the plot and mark out the location of the building by a surveyor. Then the area is leveled, preparing it for the arrival of the construction team. The first week is a period of preliminary preparations, such as mowing the grass or fencing the area. It is important to follow the procedures and not to undertake earthworks without prior consent. At this stage, key works are carried out, such as:
As you know – foundations are the basis of the house, so their solid workmanship is extremely important. Based on the soil test, it should also be considered whether a foundation or a foundation slab will be better for our house.
It is extremely important to take into account all installations at this stage of building the house, including non-standard ones (it is best if they were included earlier, at the design stage). Early planning of installations such as sewage, water, electricity or lightning protection will avoid costly and unnecessary modifications at later stages.
In the case of sewage systems – pipes made of modern plastics are now becoming more and more common. They are distinguished by their lightness and do not corrode. It is worth paying attention to the proper insulation of sewer pipes, especially on sections more exposed to low temperatures.
Water pipes are laid underground at an appropriate depth so that they do not freeze. In the case of building a house with a basement – the installation of wires is carried out after the completion of the construction of walls and ceilings. It is also crucial to properly locate the valves and water meter in the future technical zone, which will facilitate their accessibility.
Electricity and telephone communication are supplied using casing pipes. They contain a remote control – a cable or a plastic rope, which allows you to route the correct wires later. Casing pipes should also be taken into account in the context of intercom installation, outdoor lighting or gate control systems.
The regulations do not always require a lightning protection system in single-family buildings – but it is worth undertaking this investment, especially in areas where storms occur with greater intensity and frequency. A lightning protection system consists of many elements: these are air ducts, discharge wires and earth electrodes. The foundation or ring earth electrode is of key importance – it is what enables the discharge of lightning.
Starting to build a house is a complicated process – anyone who faces this challenge must meet a number of regulations and requirements. However, we are sure that with the right approach, the end result will be worth it!
On our blog you will find a lot of practical information about building a house, m.in. how to organize a house construction site, how much construction electricity costs and how to secure the construction site for the winter. Welcome!