How to Build a House: The Absolute Basics
By Graham Mann | Published: 4/8/2024
How do you build a house? What are the major steps? What do you need to decide at each step? An introduction for complete beginners.
How to Build a House: The Absolute Basics When I bought my piece of land near Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, I realized I knew embarrassingly little about how houses actually come together. Sure, I knew houses had walls and roofs, but what goes into creating those structures? What decisions need to be made at each stage? If you're like me—curious about building your own home but starting from square one—this guide breaks down the fundamental components of house construction in plain language. The Major Components of a House Let's start with the basics. Every house, regardless of style or size, consists of these essential parts: 1. Foundation The foundation is literally what everything else sits on. It transfers the weight of the entire house to the ground and provides a level surface to build upon. Common Types: - Concrete slab: A flat concrete pad poured directly on the ground - Crawl space: Short foundation walls creating a small space between the ground and the first floor - Full basement:...
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