First-time home developers often invest significant time, effort, and energy into house construction, only to face disappointments along the way.

As the processes in the construction industry may not be completely simple. And the contractors and architects are in a hurry to complete projects and move on to the next projects. So here are the steps in house construction simplified.

House construction can be divided into 3 stages broadly.

• Design Development
• Pre-Construction
• Construction
• Design Development

We have covered stages of design development for residential development/house construction separately. There are many substages in design development and we as architectural consultancy provided specialised services in both in-person and online consultancy. Please this article for Architectural Design Process. Moreover, if are looking to calculate construction costs estimates or carpet area estimates we have specialized excel templates to help you with these. You download see our architectural resources section.

• Pre-Construction
  • Tendering

Tendering for house construction is an important step carried outpost design development from consulting architects and MEP engineering (Mechanical, Electrical and Public health engineering). The bill of quantities is floated based on the drawing prepared. The bill of quantities has the quantities specific to the project. Currently, there is much software that helps architects to pull out quantities directly from a 3d model interface.

• Appointment of contractors

There is bidding that takes place for the bill of quantities produced by the architect. Basis the bidding it is decided on a techno-commercial evaluation. And suitable contractors are appointed. The contracting strategy could be of an umbrella contractor providing all scope of works, or individual contractors providing specialised contracting for different trades of house construction.

• Shop drawings

These are drawings prepared by the contractor for house construction based on site conditions and understanding of the contractor. The shop drawings need not follow the consultant provided drawings completely. These could be different based on the market availability of materials, rates and site conditions mentioned earlier. It is important to note shop drawings are not prepared for civil works. It is prepared for finishing and service items. Such as plumbing works, electrical works, doors and windows etc.

• Construction
  • Excavation

Excavation is carried out based on foundation drawings prepared by the structural consultants. Usually, for an individual home, it is proposed as a strip footing or raft footing. The excavation depth is governed by the soil conditions. It is essential to have a soil investigation carried out. This helps to eliminate any settlement that may arise due to the soil conditions.

• Substructure

The substructure consists of the foundation, plinth beams and up to the plinth. Substructure requires careful planning in terms of waterproofing and anti-termite treatment. Plinth beams tie the entire structure and help keep the structure interconnected and transfer loads to the foundation, hence these are the foundations of house construction.

• Superstructure

Superstructure works consist of carrying out RCC works for all proposed floors. Additionally carrying out blockwork, brickwork and plasterwork is included in the superstructure works. There are various technologies that are employed in construction formwork for a building, these could range from conventional plywood-based constructions, aluminium formworks, precast technology. Various new developments have been taking place in the formwork technology space. Formwork technology is decided based on the need for speed, cost and quality.

• Finishing

These include carrying out painting, floorings, false ceiling, doors and window fittings etc. These trades are sequentially carried out. Usually, it is understood that flooring works are done, post which window works are done. Post which the doors and painting work can be done depending on the type of door technology.

• MEP Works

These include electrical works, plumbing works and mechanical works. Mechanical work consists of lifts, HVAC works etc. Whereas plumbing works consists of the water supply and drainage works for the development. Electrical works consist of connecting the flats or units to the main substation and all the connections and junctions that are within.

• Infra development

These consist of the development of drains and channels, water tanks, boundary wall, concrete roads etc. These include developments in plumbing, firefighting and electrical works. Stormwater drains are a key element in external infra development. If not done properly they have the potential to flood a site. Hence special attention to larger layout should be provided in infra development.

• Landscape

Landscape works bring life to a project. Landscape work can be divided into Hardscape works, Softscape works, Irrigation works and external lighting. Hardscape as the name suggests is for the paving, pathways, blocks, as well as for elements such as amphitheatres, seating, wall elements etc. Softscape consists of the development of plantations, lawns, grass along with the associated soil and surface preparation. Irrigation requires providing a supply of water to plantations, lawns and grass. External lighting consists of lighting for roads and lighting for landscape areas. Lighting for landscape areas consists

• Commissioning and Handover

Commissioning in the construction of a house or commercial development means kick-starting equipment such as fire supply, fire alarm, pumps, diesel generators and all such equipment’s and systems installed in a development. After commissioning the project can be handed over to the developer or the end-users depending on the type of project.

These are some of the key steps in house construction, laid out in sequential stages so that it may help you in building construction. Let us know your experiences in house construction so that it may help those who are yet to take up this task.

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