Apr 28, 2024 — Madhavi
House Construction Process Step-by-Step in India
Constructing your own home stands as one of life’s most significant decisions. Your home mirrors your personality and values, serving as your sanctuary. This underscores the importance of comprehending each stage of the construction process thoroughly.
A solid grasp of home construction basics is paramount for a successful project. Through meticulous planning, you can select the appropriate materials of the highest quality and sidestep potential costly errors.
In today’s blog, we delineate the step-by-step house construction process. Here, you’ll discover the essential steps necessary for efficient planning and realization of your dream home.
Understanding the new house construction process
Let’s have a look at all the phases –
House Construction Process: Pre-Construction Phase
There are 4 phases to the pre-construction phase – this includes the building plan, budget estimation, land acquisition, and documentation. We explore each of these in detail.
1. Initial Planning
Planning is the cornerstone of home construction. When undertaking a significant project like building a house, meticulous planning for the space is essential.
Initiation marks the inception of the planning process, where the owner articulates the project’s objectives and vision clearly. This step is pivotal in assessing the project’s feasibility. During this phase, project managers, architects, and the owner engage in initial discussions to outline the project’s action plan.
The owner communicates their expectations to transform a house into their dream home, specifying requirements like the number of bedrooms (2BHK or 3BHK), balconies, parking space, open areas, carpet area, and floors. Additionally, the owner identifies the source of financing and establishes the initial budget.
2. Design and Specification
The architect and their team collaborate to conceptualize the home design on paper. Engineers contribute to ensuring structural integrity during this phase. Once the conceptual design is established, it evolves into a detailed plan incorporating both architectural and structural elements.
In addition to the architectural design, comprehensive material quality specifications are developed. Architects produce drawings showcasing desired textures, colours, and materials, aiding in the assessment of material availability required for construction.
3. Land Survey and Soil Testing
Once the contractor is finalized following the initial step, the next stage involves conducting the initial land survey and soil testing. This crucial step in house construction aims to identify any potential hazards or constraints, thereby averting delays and cost overruns stemming from land-related issues.
The land survey encompasses:
- Determining plot and boundary measurements
- Identifying entry and exit points
- Marking existing amenities such as electric lines, water lines, and sewerage lines
- Assessing levelling requirements
Soil testing involves:
- Analysing grain size
- Determining liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index
- Measuring soil moisture content
- Conducting consolidation and settlement tests
- Performing shear strength tests, such as triaxial or direct shear tests
- Evaluating Soil-Bearing Capacity (SBC) and other relevant parameters.
4. Documentation
Every day, numerous buildings face demolition due to insufficient documentation and lack of proof of ownership. Therefore, before commencing the house construction process, it’s imperative to obtain permission from the relevant authorities. Ensure that your registration documents are current to prevent potential legal complications down the line.
Obtaining a document indicating the purchase of the land, duly approved by legal authorities and signed by the transferor, is essential. Additionally, ensure that you possess all necessary documents, including structural reports, architectural drawings, and certificates of undertaking by a civil engineer, among others.
The following approvals and permits you need from legal authorities-
- Land Title Certificate
- Land Clearance Certificate
- Zonal Clearance Certificate
- Building Approval Certificate
- Completion Certificate
- Services and Utilities Installation Certificate
- Occupancy Certificate
House Construction Process: The Construction Phase
We now take you on a step-by-step process of the house construction phase. There are ten steps to this phase, and we detail them out for you below.
1. Site Clearing and Site Excavation
The land you’ve obtained for constructing your house or any other building is commonly referred to as a “site.” In many instances, particularly where the land has been neglected for an extended period, it may be overgrown with trees, unwanted vegetation, and debris. Therefore, the initial step in the house construction process involves clearing these obstacles to facilitate construction.
You can enlist the assistance of professionals who specialize in operating JCB, bulldozers or land mowers to effectively clear the site and prepare it for construction.
2. Laying the Foundation
The foundation serves as the interface between the building and the soil, constituting the lowest part of any structure. Often unseen, it is the backbone of every building. Undoubtedly, the foundation must possess exceptional strength, especially for supporting tall structures. A weak foundation compromises the structural integrity, risking collapse under the weight of the building.
Construction engineers are acutely aware of this critical aspect and allocate significant resources, both in terms of manpower and materials, to construct a robust foundation. This involves meticulous site levelling and excavation, wherein holes and trenches are dug to accommodate the foundation of the house.
3. Plinth Beam and Slab
The next step in house construction involves enhancing the foundation’s strength by adding a plinth beam and slab atop it. This not only fortifies the foundation against impacts and cracks but also enhances its resilience to earthquakes.
Constructing a home on a foundation susceptible to water seepage isn’t advisable. Hence, waterproofing the plinth is essential. Consulting professionals to install a damp-proof course can effectively manage moisture movement.
Subsequently, the construction progresses to the superstructure. This encompasses the visible portion of the building above ground level, extending from the ground floor to the top. Simply put, the superstructure comprises any structure above the plinth level.
4. Superstructure
In the construction of a house’s superstructure, the installation of columns holds significant importance. These vertical supports play a vital role in transferring the weight of the building from the roof and floors to the foundation. With the aid of the architectural house design plan, the layout and positioning of columns are finalized, simplifying the process of marking their locations on the foundation.
Likewise, beams serve as horizontal supports, facilitating the transfer of load to the columns. The construction of beams and columns demands skilled labour to ensure structural integrity and stability.
5. Bricks laying
When constructing a new home, the next phase involves masonry or bricklaying. Two primary options exist for wall construction: traditional brickwork or concrete blocks, depending on personal preference. Concrete blockwork is favoured by many due to its hollow centre, which makes it significantly lighter to handle.
To bind the bricks or blocks together, a mixture of sand and cement is blended in a cement mortar mixer. As the walls take shape, openings for doors and windows are carefully carved out.
6. The Lintel and Roof Coating
Once the walls are fully erected, the focus shifts to the construction of the lintel. Serving a crucial role akin to a plinth beam, the lintel is strategically positioned above every window and door. Its primary function is to effectively distribute and support the weight of the structure resting above it, ensuring structural integrity and stability. Through meticulous planning and precise installation, the lintel becomes an essential component in the framework of the building, enhancing its resilience and durability.
Following the completion of the lintel, the attention turns towards roofing. The roof, a fundamental aspect of any dwelling, encompasses the entirety of the house, offering shelter and protection from external elements. From rain and snow to harsh sunlight and strong winds, the roof acts as a shield, safeguarding the interior of the home and its occupants. With meticulous attention to detail and skilled craftsmanship, the roofing phase ensures not only functional reliability but also aesthetic appeal, contributing to the overall charm and character of the structure.
7. Plumbing and Electrical work
In modern construction practices, pipes and wires are typically concealed within the structure of newly built homes. This concealment occurs during the building phase, where installation is most effectively carried out before slabs and walls are finalized, effectively hiding them from view. This approach not only ensures the seamless integration of essential utilities but also enhances the visual appeal and aesthetic quality of the entire house.
8. Flooring Work
As the wiring and plumbing near completion, the focus typically shifts to flooring installation. With a multitude of options available in the market, homeowners have the flexibility to select from various flooring materials. Examples include epoxy flooring, wood, clay, marble, Italian marble, granite, ceramic, or vitrified tiles. The choice ultimately depends on personal preferences and budget constraints, allowing individuals to customize their flooring to suit their unique tastes and financial considerations.
House Construction Process: Post Construction Phase
The post-construction phase is the last phase of the construction and consists of finishing works and quality checks to ensure the highest quality of the structure.
1. Interior and Exterior Design Work
Once the construction phase is finalized, the next step involves plastering the walls to achieve a smooth and uniform surface. Plastering is carried out using a mixture of cement and sand known as mortar. Beyond just providing an even finish, plastering serves to reinforce the overall structure and acts as a protective barrier against external elements.
For interior enhancements, seeking assistance from a professional interior designer is advisable. They can lend their expertise to beautify the interior spaces of your home, including selecting suitable furniture and wall decor. Collaborating with an interior designer ensures that your living spaces are curated to reflect your personal style and preferences with finesse.
2. Painting Work
The final stage of the house construction process involves painting. Beyond enhancing aesthetics, painting serves as a protective layer, shielding walls from the sun’s rays and rainfall. With a wide range of paint types available for both interior and exterior walls, homeowners can choose the ideal shade for each room based on personal preferences and interior design themes.
3. Quality Checks
Quality checks constitute a pivotal aspect of the construction process, involving meticulous inspections to verify compliance with requisite standards and specifications. These checks are essential for ensuring the safety and durability of your home construction endeavour. They span the entire construction journey, encompassing scrutiny of building materials, processes, and the final finish. However, post-construction, quality checks assume even greater significance as they evaluate the comprehensive integrity and functionality of the newly erected structure. Therefore, esteemed construction firms like Hyndu Properties conduct over 390 quality checks on each floor of your building, underscoring our commitment to delivering high-quality and enduring construction outcomes.
Conclusion
The journey of constructing a house is a complex and rewarding endeavour that transforms a concept into tangible reality. Every stage of this process requires meticulous attention to detail and specialized knowledge, spanning from initial planning and design to precise construction and final embellishments. Collaborative efforts from architects, builders, engineers, and skilled designers are essential in crafting a secure, inviting, and pleasant living space.
