I am starting this discussion to enable people to ask all the questions from stupid and silly (to which a 10 year old should know the answer) to intelligent and brilliant (which will challenge the best of contractors and architects. After all the dummies will not always be dummies. They will become masters, and all it takes is getting your own house constructed - especially on a tight budget!
Also, any and all corrections, imporvements, replacements will be highly welcomed. Experienced people are requested to chip in with advice, suggestions and assistance.
So assuming that the plot has been bought, i will list the steps involved in order to lay down the platform for discussion!
A. Preliminary steps:
Obtain possession and plot layout;
Soil test (mostly required in the potohaar region including islamabad);
Apply for water, electricity and gas; collect demand note from electricity company;
Procure detailed design;
Prepare budget and bill of quantities;
Do boring if water supply is erratic;
Flood the plot with water for two days;
Hire a road roller for compaction;
Engage contractor and introduce with design architect;
Hire chowkidar and build temporary store room/guard room with loose bricks;
B. Grey structure
(gravity-based load bearing brick masonry walls with cement mortar) or (column based):
Earth work including disposal (keeping for filling foundations)
Procuring and laying compacting material (uniform thickness) in the form of brick aggregate;
Watering and compacting the material laid as described;
Injecting chemical emulsion for anti-termite treatment; afterwards plugging the holes with cement mortar 1(cement):2 (coarse sand); chlorpyriphos/lindane ec 20% with 1% concentration;
Foundations, footings, bases of column for mass concrete; {{{plz advise depth of foundation???}}}
Suspended floors, roofs, landings, scaffolding and access platform;
Laying in place, specified grade of reinforced cement concrete{{{plz advise ratio???}}} 1:1:2 cement, sand, stone aggregate bajri???;
Centring, shuttring, finishingg and reinforcement;
Reinforced cement concrete work in beams, suspended floors, roofs with slope of 15 degree, landings, balconies, shelves, chhajjas, lintels, bands, alain window sills, staircases using ratio of 1:1:5:3 cement, sand, stone aggregate 20mm size;
Mild steel and medium tensile steel bars;
Brick work and walls cement-mortar 1:4;
Steel bars at every third course of half brick masonry.
C. Fittings
Mep works;
Fixing good quality wood in frames of doors, windows, clerestory windows and other frames, wrought framed and fixed in position;
Door shutter and stainless steel butt hinges;
Glazed shutter for windows and doors;
- Grills, frames, guard bar, ladders, railings, brackets, gate etc.
D. Finishing
Granite work;
Mirrors;
Provide openings for bathroom and kitchen fittings such as wash basins, kitchen sinks etc.
Mirror polishing;
Marble stone slabs;
Tile works;
Ceiling works;
Exterior works;
Paint work;
Paint and polish of doors, windows including priming coat, rubbing etc.
E. Final touch
Integral cement based water proofing treatment etc of roofs, balconies, exterior walls using broken bricks, cement mortar 1:5 and water proofing compound;
Flooding with water for 2 weeks to do final testing and commissioning under architect/engineer supervision.
F. Conclusion
Quran recitation and house warming party.
Jazak-Allah
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FORTY-STAGE Construction:-
Stages during construction of a new house:
Soil analysis of the plot tested for any lose fill
Designing and layout
Apply for Water, Electricity and Gas connections
Construction of store for cement and security guard
Underground water boring
Construction of underground water tank (I think if boring is done then no need of UGT as the pump can directly throw the water in over head tank)
Raft drawing by architect
Laying concrete
Purchase of sariya, cement, marble waste and bricks
Construction of raft foundation
11.Brick laying work for foundation walls
Filling the foundation
DPC
Wall construction, and beams filling (no need of next step if a running beam goes all over the structure at 7 feet)
Fabrication of doors and windows beams
Shuttering for the roof
Point for fans and lights in the roof (electrician and plumbers come when sariya work in lanter is finished)
Give 10 days to lanter to solidify and keep its surface dipped in water (esp in summers)
Order chaughats (doors frames of steel or wood according to your liking and budget)
Start walls and beams/columns raising (if building steel frame structure)
Same steps now as for the ground floor roof lanter, electricians and plumbers called for keeping power and pipes holes etc-
If you are building two stories at once, start plaster from above. But before palster starts keep chaughats ready as they are installed with plaster and also plumber and electricians run cutter in the walls for installing pipes for water and wire.
Clear the debris from the floors
Call plumber and electricians to lay underground piping, you will need to buy wires and plumbing stuff like sewerage etc
Put a concrete layer (called Katcha) and pipes go under it.
Call electrician to do the wiring
Buy marble or tiles as you like
Buy covers for water tank, gutters and rain traps. The frames are installed before flooring begins
Order main gate so it is ready when katcha is done if you are going for a sliding gate
When marble, tiles are finished install doors
You can also start work in bathrooms, make your choice of tiles and colour meanwhile to save time when other works are going on
Get kitchen cabinets made or buy ready made according to your choice
Get grills and windows installed
If structure is not damp and the cement is dried up bring the painter
Install fans and lights and air conditioners
Install railings for curtains
Test are electric, gas and water points if there is any leak or seepage
Get water tanks cleaned
Get the floor cleaned (normally they put wood waste on it to protect it)
And move to your new house