Vermont Residential Construction

The most popular method of residential construction in North America is wood-framed construction. Typical construction steps for a single-family or small multi-family house are:

  • Develop floor plans and obtain a materials list for estimations
  • Obtain  building approval if necessary
  • Clear the building site
  • Survey to stake out for the foundation
  • Excavate the foundation and dig footers.
  • Pour a foundation and footers with concrete
  • Build the main load-bearing structure out of  of wood and possibly metal I-beams for large spans with few supports.
  • Add floor and ceiling joists and install subfloor panels
  • Cover outer walls and roof in OSB or plywood and a water-resistive barrier.
  • Install roofing material or other covering for flat roof
  • Cover the walls with siding, typically vinyl, wood, or brick veneer but possibly stone or other materials
  • Install windows

Framing

  • Frame interior walls
  • Add internal plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and  gas utilities
  • Building inspector visits if necessary to approve utilities and framing
  • Install insulation and interior drywall panels (cement board for wet areas) and to complete walls and ceilings
  • Install bathroom fixtures
  • Spackle, prime, and paint interior walls and ceilings
  • Additional tiling on top of cementboard for wet areas, such as the bathroom and kitchen backsplash
  • Install final floor covering, such as floor tile, carpet, or wood flooring
  • Install major appliances

These are just a few examples of the steps in a typical Vermont residential construction jobs.