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New Construction


So You Are Buying a New Construction
You may be buying a new construction because you want a home built your way, or maybe a home that has never been lived in. You should use care and follow some basic advice when buying new construction and this will eliminate many problems and costs before they even start. The first tip is to always have your own agent if you are buying from a developer. Many people go to the development or contractor and take on the first agent they see, and this can be a big mistake...continue reading
 

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New Homes Have Their Fair Share of Problems Too
The proper amount of fill and backfill should be between six to eight inches deep, and it should be tamped down completely so that the dirt is completely compacted so there are no gaps or air pockets in the bottom layers of the dirt. Another problem near the foundation that can happen in new construction is that the grading is not sloping away from the foundation. This is important, because without this grading slope water, including rain and snow...continue reading
 

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Replacing a Concrete Walkway
Closely inspect the concrete walkway, and look for issues such as cracks, crumbling concrete, an uneven surface or one that is no longer level because of settling, and even staining. Determine if any of these factors are present, because if your concrete walkway is not level and in good condition and repair, it may need to be replaced. Replacing a concrete driveway involves five basic steps: the demolition phase, the grading phase, the forming phase, the placing phase...continue reading
 

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Installing New Patio Pavers
The first step to installing new pavers is to make a design plan, and plan out exactly where the project will be located, what size area will be paved, any drainage for the area, the correct slope to ensure water runs off the pavers, colors and designs required in the paving stones, and any other aspects of the project. Draw up the design using graph paper, making changes as needed through the design process...continue reading
 

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Types of  Pavers
Pavers can be found in many types, but there are three main basic types that any home owner and do it yourselfer should get to know. Pavers are brick, concrete, and natural stone, and each type has specific benefits and disadvantages associated. The most common method used to choose pavers is the look and the function the paver will have. Even though there are only three basic paver types, there are hundreds of styles...continue reading
 

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Big Focus on Radon
Radon is a tasteless, odorless, colorless gas that occurs naturally everywhere in the environment, all over the world. It is a radioactive gas that is produced when radium decays.  While there are some areas of the globe that naturally experience higher concentrations of the gas, in most outdoor locations there is a sufficient amount of ventilation so as to minimize any effects that the gas would cause. The situation indoors however, is another story...continue reading
 

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Will I Need An Architect
Many new homes are custom designed, and this is done by an architect, so if you want a unique custom home unlike any other you will need to have an architect for the project. If your home does not have to be one of a kind, it is possible to use another method instead, which can save you both time and money in the process. For a traditional home, your options include using an architect...continue reading
 

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Considering Building A New Construction
Tim Carter, writer of the "Ask the Builder" website gives a thorough New Home Construction List that should not be ignored. With each item on the list, he goes into detail about what you should be checking and then double checking so that you don't run into costly and heartbreaking problems later on. For instance, his checklist mentions, "Foundation Drain Line - Does the foundation have a 4 inch perforated drain line? Is the line covered with two...continue reading
 

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Design Your Plan
Design Workshop. "The complete freeware Design Workshop Lite software package provides all you need to build your own 3D models for home design and visualization of architecture, landscapes, exhibits, or any kind of spatial design." The makers of Design Workshop also offer free tutorials and user guide...continue reading
 

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A Few Things About Concrete Walls
One of the first things that you might want to keep in mind is that concrete is very strong when compressed. However, this does not mean that it will always support weight without cracking. Even though it is a very hard material, it is also quite brittle. When the soil shifts, concrete is in danger of cracking and for this reason it should always be reinforced when it is being used in the construction...continue reading
 

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Types of Foundations
The first type of foundation is the shallow foundation. Shallow foundations transfer the weight of the structure to the layer of earth very near the surface. Common types of shallow foundations include spread footing foundations, mat slab foundations and slab on grade foundations. Spread footing  consists of pads of concrete which transfer weight from the columns and walls to the earth. Mat slab foundations transfer the weight from the columns and walls across...continue reading
 

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The Green Foundation
Some of the more traditional methods that are used to build foundations are not the most energy efficient, and when you're considering building a home that is environmentally friendly, you should look into the more green options for the foundation as well. The more traditional slab on grade foundations are known to leak substantial amounts of energy and they are therefore not the first choice of the environmentally conscious builder...continue reading
 

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Mud Techniques Cob Construction
This type of construction is catching on in North America and to that end there are more and more of these type of homes that are springing up. A stronger mix has found it's way into the process and to that end there is a more controlled formulation process than anything that's been seen before. This is called Cob construction and it has been undergoing several basic transformations lately...continue reading
 

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Interior Construction of Walls and Ceilings
Like everything else, when it comes to a new construction there is a sequence that needs to be followed. As a rule, ceilings are finished first and then the walls, with the floors completed last. Keep in mind that workers will drop tools and materials as they work; it does no damage to drop tools on unfinished floors...continue reading
 

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Construction Defects and Foundation
When most of us think about the foundation, we tend to think of the part that we can see that sits above the ground, but there is another part of the foundation that is just as important even though we cant see it and that's the footings. Cracks in the foundations are often caused by poor footings or in some cases, no footings at all. Old brick foundations generally have no footings as a rule and for that reason it will be possible...continue reading
 

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Construction Defects and How They Can Impact Your Home
Although most people assume that the fault of these construction defects lies solely with the builders or even the engineers, more often than not there are a variety of things that can influence them including an improper soil analysis and poor site selection. After a home has been built on an unsuitable site, it's next to impossible to change some of the features that affect the construction unless the owners can considerably change the grading by landscaping...continue reading
 

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Foundation Crack Evaluation
The most common type of foundational defect is a foundational crack. A crack in the foundation can be evaluated based on its size, shape, location, and pattern. Length, width and continuity can all be signs of either insignificant or unstable cracks. Look at the shape and pattern and see if it occurs frequently over the wall or if it is isolated in one location. Foundation cracks occur as horizontal cracks, vertical cracks, diagonal cracks, and shrinkage cracks due to frost heave...continue reading
 

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Selecting The Proper Site For A New Construction
There is a long standing historical precedent for going to great lengths to select the right place to build, as looking at the practices of ancient Rome can attest to. Back in those times, cattle were confined to graze in the area where a home was to be built for a period of time and they were then slaughtered and their innards were taken out to be examined...continue reading
 

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New Construction Inspection
Because a buyer was given a builder's one-year warranty for workmanship or any extended structural warranties, the buyer feels safe and is pacified. The buyer thinks the builder is a professional and has to live up to a certain reputation, which is not always the case. The builder may also reject the notion of another person's involvement with the sale of the new construction...continue reading
 

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Buying a New Construction
Some think that buying a fresh home from a builder does not require a real estate agent, but there are some great reasons to include one in your transaction. At the very heart of the hammer is the experience a real estate agent has with the contracts you will be asked to sign and the negotiating process you will be asked to go through as you consider purchasing a new construction piece of real estate...continue reading
 

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Land Issues
Before European settlers first started building homes in North America, the land was largely inhabited by Native Americans who chose to live in roughly the same areas as we live now. Many tribes chose to bury their dead, and occasionally during the construction of a new home, human remains are unearthed. Usually the remains are relocated, and construction continues on the former burial ground. Often people associate Indian burial grounds with hauntings...continue reading
 

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The Building Blocks: The Foundation and The Footings
Remember that it's the "foundation that rests in the earth" this may not seem like a big deal at first until one considers that there are many different types of soils under every home and all of these soils react differently to the pressures that are placed on them. The best footings and foundations are designed taking into consideration the displacement that they create for the earth. Both these things need to be carefully aligned so that the final home sits properly...continue reading
 

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"I Thought the City Inspected It" ; New Constructions

Building a new home or condo can be a daunting task when confronted with all the details that must be followed in order to keep the construction on schedule, obtaining all the proper permits and ensuring that everything is done according to code. To begin construction, applications are usually filed with the local city building department so that a building permit is obtained. The city of course has its own building codes and zoning codes that require any construction to be built within the community's guidelines.

Each city has building inspectors that check on a building's progress periodically, and at certain milestones they are required to "sign off" on the work being performed with their signature, meaning that the work has met the code requirements of the city.  However, the city inspector is only looking for the items that he is concerned with and might not look at or even care about other things that might make a difference to the new homeowner.  He might check that there are two outlets on that wall because the code required it. In reality the inspector generally spends very little time inside during his "inspection" and then readily moves on to his next assignment after he has signed off on this one.

This means that little things like windows or doors that don't close properly are not discovered by the city inspector because he just saw that there were doors and windows there but didn't try to open or close them. The garage door opener was not connected so when the new homeowner goes to use it, it will not work, however, the city inspector doesn't know that because he didn't actually try it, he probably didn't even look at it. The air conditioner is missing its condensation pump, again the city inspector didn't turn on the air to see if it worked or really inspect the unit to see if it was complete.  Some of these items might be discovered by the homeowner during his walk through inspection but some might not be.

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These items are minor and more visible than others, but what about some things that are not as easily seen or discovered that could have disastrous results? - Such as an improperly installed chimney flue that might cause a fire when you light your fireplace? Or a water pipe that is not sealed properly but is hidden from view until you develop a leak behind a wall or in a ceiling? These are major defects that might go unnoticed if the insulation and walls have already been put up when the inspector comes or if he just saw that the flue or pipe was installed but didn't really "inspect" it. Also, some of the defects might not be code violations or anything that the inspector would necessarily look for to begin with.

Too often everyone is in a hurry to get the work done. The builder wants to get it done to realize his profit on the sale of the property. The contractor wants to get it done because he wants to get onto the next job on his list. The new homeowner wants to get it done because he is anxious to move into his new home and get out of the rental he is in. Everyone is in a hurry, and that is usually when things are not properly done because no one takes the time to do the job properly.

Another real truth in today's world is that many jobs go to the lowest bidder because cost is a major factor for everyone, and everyone wants to save money so sometimes that money is saved by inferior materials or faulty or shoddy workmanship because the person subcontracted to do the work is not qualified or is not making enough money on the job so he does it in a hurry as well. Quality is not always their top priority especially if they are the low bidder on a job.

So what can you as a new homeowner do to ensure that these horror stories don't become your own horror story?  When you purchase a new home there should be a clause in your contract that allows you to have a new construction inspection of your house during critical phases that might reveal some of these defects early on, thereby avoiding problems later on. You should hire a professional inspector with the first inspection after the exterior wall and roof framing is completed. This gives your inspector the chance to see the bare bones of the home and know that it is sound. The next phase would be when the walls are constructed inside but prior to the drywall and insulation. This again gives the inspector a chance to ensure that wiring, plumbing and other areas are properly installed and the opportunity to identify any issues and get them remedied. The last inspection would be the final walk through that is generally done with the homeowner.

All inspections should be documented with details identifying any problems discovered, the way the problem will be rectified and a sign off when the corrections have been completed. This gives the homeowner a complete documentation from beginning to end. Some builders might be reluctant to have prior inspectors review their work, but this should be seen as a red flag to the homeowner and he should insist on it or seek advice from an attorney before proceeding with the purchase of the home if the builder does not want an inspector seeing his work.

Another way a homeowner can protect himself and ensure that the work has all been done properly on his new home is to hire a new construction inspector that will look at the work that has been completed and provide a report as to the condition of the roof, structure, siding and grading of the landscape surrounding the home.  Either of these options will give the homeowner professional documentation that will protect his investment and ensure that his rights are met.







 

 

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