So You Want to Build a House

Book excerpt: For starters, this book is not a technical manual; it is a guide of what to consider prior to making the first steps towards achieving your goal of a comfortable living space for you and your family. It looks at the issues of the site or location of your home in some detail and provides samples of what to consider for the location, slope, soil type, and other issues that may have an effect on the cost of construction. It describes how to select your architect or home designer and how to prepare a space program. It briefly describes building codes and regulations. It discusses what to look for in preparing your excavation for your foundation and takes a look at various types of floor and wall construction methods. It describes several roofing options and looks at options for windows and doors, electrical, and mechanical installations, plus interior finishes. It also briefly discusses landscaping options and describes what to consider in securing financing for your home and the items that financial institutions may require. It provides a sample schedule of a typical home construction process.