How to build a house with your own hands

Living in your own home away from the bustle of the city is a conscious choice for many people. This decision is often made because of such striking advantages as: a private garden, an organized barbecue area, a comfortable outdoor playground, an individual parking space. Therefore, to build your own house, but at the same time really cozy and functional, is an important life stage for any family.

Step by step instructions for building a house

Building a house is a complex multi-stage process, which is being worked on by specialists from different fields. If you are confident in your own abilities and have extensive experience in construction, then building a house with your own hands will help save the family budget significantly. The main thing is to adhere to the existing work algorithm, only in this way it will be possible to complete the construction without unnecessary errors.

Analyzing where to start building a house, first do a series of preparatory work, which will later leave its mark on the final appearance of the home. These include: preparation of a plot of land on which the future house will be built, contacting service organizations in order to clarify the future connection to communications, registration of a geodetic study from a specialized company to determine the structure of the soil (this will help to lay the required type of foundation without risk).

Budget

The desire to save money when building a house is not always accepted at the finish line. What to build from depends on financial capabilities and personal preferences. Therefore, the future owner determines the minimum threshold for costs, taking into account current prices for materials and work. It is important to remember that the frame of the building must be strong and able to withstand fairly large loads under different weather conditions. In addition to the exterior decoration of the house, funds will also be required for interior decoration and landscaping.

In order not to increase your expenses in the future, make a visual estimate, which will reflect in detail all stages of construction. The foreman will help to make a competent estimate. The exact budget will depend on the individual characteristics of the house – area, number of storeys, purpose, seasonality of use, etc.

Design

A typical project is by far the most ideal template that will help you start construction and not linger for a long time at the stage of design work. The best solution would be to purchase it from professional architectural and construction companies or bureaus. It is extremely important to receive a complete package of services when purchasing a finished project. It should include:

Many decide to use the downloaded version from the Internet, but this is often more expensive – most of the options available reflect an illiterate layout. To choose the right project for your family to live comfortably, be guided by lifestyle and personal preferences – they will ultimately determine the parameters of the house and affect the final cost.

Choice of materials

Materials, like all work, must be reflected in the estimate. When choosing them, prefer building and finishing materials that have a manufacturer’s certificate. So you will be sure of their quality, avoid disappointments in the exterior or roofing after using the house for a couple of seasons. Explore the modern building materials market, read customer reviews.

The construction of a house in most cases is often delayed or temporarily suspended due to the winter period. Therefore, most of the materials are purchased in reserve and properly stored, otherwise their quality may suffer. This condition primarily applies to wooden structures, bricks, dry mixes.

There are several types of houses.

Wireframe – a prefabricated structure consisting of a wooden frame and insulation, as well as external and internal decoration. This option is considered one of the most budgetary, while having weak characteristics of durability and strength. Such a house does not withstand dynamic loads well, so if you install a washing machine, you will need to build a separate base under it. This type of house is not suitable for operation for decades, because it does not have the proper capital.

Log house – a wooden frame, the walls of which are assembled from processed logs. In turn, each log has a corner joint and a groove, which allows you to conveniently and very quickly build a house. This type is more durable. Both in hot and cold seasons, a favorable microclimate always reigns inside this type of house. It is not difficult to heat it, and you will not need a heavy, buried base device. However, the susceptibility of wood to combustibility and attack by parasites is a significant disadvantage.

Brick, aerated concrete – a stone structure, the enclosing structures (walls) of which are made of ceramic bricks or aerated concrete blocks. Brick is considered environmentally friendly and non-combustible. It also has reliability and durability, good resistance to different weather conditions. However, compared to a log house, it will require a strong foundation. The aerated concrete type of house, in turn, will also be a durable and reliable option, and compared to brick, a shallow strip or column foundation can be erected under its walls (only if a one-story house is planned).

Monolithic, reinforced concrete – a one-piece cast structure, the walls and ceilings of which are concrete, which is initially poured into the formwork. The frame of this type of house is the most durable and able to withstand heavy loads. Also, the advantages of such a structure include the possibility of creating a house of any configuration, the use of free planning, and quick construction. A lightweight type of foundation is suitable for it, all concrete work will be more profitable (since one contractor can perform monolithic work).

Coordination with technical supervision

After you have decided on the type of future home, you must obtain a mandatory approval for a building permit. To do this, contact the local administration, where they will give you a list of documents, it may vary in different regions. After you collect all the documents, the head of administration will decide on granting a building permit. With a positive conclusion, the applicant is issued a special resolution.

If you started building a house without the permission of the administration, then later it is necessary to legalize it as a self-construction, while paying a fine.

What work will need to be done when building a house

Before starting construction work on the site, you need to think about organizing access roads and storing building materials, putting up a fence, supplying water and electricity, as well as installing a temporary toilet and organizing a place for garbage. In accordance with fire and sanitary standards, the axes of the building must be placed on the site. From the boundaries of the site where there is no road, it is necessary to make an indent of at least 3 m on each side where it is – at least 5 m. The process of building a house is quite laborious and consists of successive stages.

Foundation and earthworks

The conclusion of the sewerage and the place of entry of the water supply should be carried out before pouring the foundation itself. For them, trenches are specially dug, then pipes are laid and insulated. Then the foundation is laid, by organizing a pit, on the bottom of which a crushed stone pillow is laid. Formwork is used to fill the foundation under the walls of the future house. A monolithic type of foundation is considered the best and more budget option for the construction of private houses.

There are different types of foundation, each of which has its own differences in pouring technology and nuances. The following factors will help you choose the right type of foundation:

Foundation types

Brick, from a bar – this type of foundation is able to withstand only the load from the lightest buildings, so it is suitable for a gazebo, bathhouse, greenhouse or summer house.

Columnar – this type implies the installation of support pillars under the key nodes of the future house. Also suitable for light buildings, often used in areas where the ground is subject to movement. However, a significant disadvantage of this type of foundation can be called the lack of organization of the basement.

Pile – for private construction, this type of foundation is rarely used, because, having impeccable stability, it is more in demand for the construction of more capital, heavy buildings. The design consists of poles with pointed ends, which are applicable if moving soil or groundwater is located close to the site.

Pile screw – This is a type of pile type, but differs in the material of the pile pillars. In this embodiment, instead of concrete, metal ones are used, which are screwed into the ground, and a grillage is mounted on top. Suitable for areas with uneven terrain and problematic soil.

Tape – one of the most common types of foundation in the construction of private houses. Its base is a closed tape along the contour. Popularity is explained by such advantages as high bearing capacity, simple construction technology, controlled depth of laying, which allows you to evenly distribute the load of the whole house on the soil.

Tape, shallow – a kind of tape type, which also allows you to get a high-quality foundation for the walls of the future house, only this will require less financial investment than if you build a tape one.

Monolithic – of all options, the most expensive in terms of the cost of materials and work, however, it has the proper reliability and durability for decades. The choice in his favor is obvious when the soil on the site is mobile (peat or marsh, heaving or floating soil). This type of foundation is not laid to the depth of freezing, but at the same time it can withstand significant loads due to its unique ability to move along with the soil.

Reinforcement is considered a prerequisite for pouring most types of foundation. Concrete is poured only after installation of reinforcement. Do not forget that the foundation must stand for some time (this condition depends on the type) and gain the necessary strength, only then it will be possible to start building walls.

Walls

It is necessary to build external and internal walls at the same time. Thus, the load on the foundation is evenly distributed. The cost of work on their construction is 40% of the cost of all planned work. Therefore, you need to treat the choice of material wisely so as not to suffer serious expenses in the future. The following factors will help determine the material from which the walls will be built:

There are a lot of types of suitable materials for walls on the modern construction market, in addition, each of them has its own characteristics, which will allow us to judge the advantages and disadvantages.

Ceramic and silicate brick – a fairly heavy material for walls, has good strength and environmental characteristics. It is resistant to different weather conditions and looks aesthetically expensive. Ceramic and silicate bricks can be solid and hollow. Due to well-thought-out holes, its thermal insulation properties only improve.

ceramic block – one of the durable materials for the construction of walls. You can build a house out of it quite cheaply and quickly. The dimensions of the ceramic block can be different, but its height is equal to the size of the brickwork, so you can build according to the design of a brick house. Also, this material has frost resistance and fire resistance. However, it is quite fragile, so it must be carefully transported and stored.

Cellular concrete (aerated concrete and foam concrete) – one of the promising materials for the construction of walls of private houses, which is used for permanent residence. Aerated concrete and foam concrete have in fact the same good characteristics as brick or ceramic block, creating a favorable microclimate in any room. They differ from each other only in manufacturing technology. The advantages also include durability, non-combustibility, environmental friendliness, resistance to low temperatures, ease of installation, low weight. The level of permeability of a house made of cellular concrete can be compared with a house built of wood.

Rounded log (log) – a traditional version of the material for building houses of former Our Country. Environmentally friendly, has good thermal insulation properties, in fact, does not require external and internal decoration, it will require a light foundation. But there are also disadvantages: the tree is a combustible material, it is subject to rotting, fungus and pest attack, therefore it will require regular maintenance, in addition, the shrinkage of such a house is considered problematic.

Glued profiled timber – from the category of wood, as a material for the walls of the future home, the best option. This material was created using other technologies, so it is not subject to shrinkage and, accordingly, will be more expensive. Also, one of the advantages is the absence of the need for external and internal wall decoration, you can only use special paint and a beautiful aesthetic view of the house is provided. However, a house made of this material cannot be considered energy efficient due to insufficient resistance to heat transfer. It is advisable to choose glued profiled timber if main gas is used for heating the house.

Frame house – a more budget option, from which you can build the walls of the house. The basis of this type of construction is a frame made of wood and metal. Such houses are characterized by low weight, the highest assembly speed, and significant thermal insulation properties. Among the shortcomings, one can single out increased labor intensity at the finishing stage of exterior decoration, such a house will last less than a brick one, layouts, as a rule, are the most standard.

Thus, considering the above building materials, be guided by the duration of their service life – for a long-term and comfortable perspective, houses built of cellular concrete (aerated concrete) or brick are ideal. A frame house is an alternative option when financial possibilities are limited, but at the same time you can find a truly warm and modern home.

Roof

When the frame of the house is finally installed, you can proceed to the final stage under construction – the installation of the roof. The roof structure is also one of the main and important parts of any building, so it must be reliably protected from different weather conditions. In accordance with the chosen project of the house and the material, the methods of installing the roof may vary. Different types of roofs, first of all, differ in design features and shapes.

Mono-pitched – the simplest type of roof for its installation, so its construction can be done by hand. Such a roof is most often installed on an outbuilding or garage, when two walls have different heights. The construction of this type on residential buildings is rarely used.

Gable – the most common type of roof, which is ideal for small houses. Despite its simplicity, it is reliable and durable: thanks to the connection of two symmetrical slopes, the distribution of loads on the walls and Mauerlat occurs evenly. In addition, any roofing material is suitable for covering this roof. Among the shortcomings can be attributed the impossibility of creating a full-fledged attic floor.

Chetyrekhskatnaya – folds at a common point with the vertices of four triangles (forming slopes), which can be different in shape. Such a roof is highly resistant to various atmospheric phenomena, it can be used to realize original ideas, thereby giving the appearance of the house an architectural sophistication. The disadvantages include: the complexity of the implementation of this design (professionals will be required), the significant weight of the roof structure (reinforcement of enclosing structures will be required), high consumption of roofing materials.

Mansard – this type of roof is in demand when the question arises of increasing the living space of a private house. The design of the mansard roof is designed in such a way that it allows you to fully use the resulting space as a living space. The advantages of this type of roof can also be attributed to: an adequate cost of its implementation, good insulation of the living space obtained inside, a small load on the foundation, which gives the exterior of the house a special flavor. Of the minuses – the laborious process of installing the truss system due to the broken profile.

Hip – formed with the help of slopes, two of which are trapezoidal, and the other two – triangular. This design allows you to sustainably perceive wind loads, so the hip roof will be a good solution for regions with a difficult climate.

Multi-forceps – a complex design in its execution, often erected on elite-class houses that have a complex configuration. Any roofing materials can be used as a covering for multi-gable roofs.

Based on the finished project of the house, the choice of a suitable type of roof is closely related to the purchase of roofing material for future coverage. Each material has its own nuances and requirements for the truss system. It is important to take into account the load that the roof will have on the walls and foundation, labor costs for work. The following roofing materials have proven themselves in the construction market:

Ceramic tiles – relatively heavy and expensive material, but it will serve faithfully for many decades. It has good noise insulation, water resistance, resistance to various temperatures, low thermal conductivity and elegant appearance.

Asbestos-cement slate – of the advantages of the material can be distinguished ease of installation, resistance to different weather conditions, durability, high water resistance, anti-corrosion. Of the minuses: the appearance, which, in comparison with other materials, does not differ in aesthetics, and also this slate does not belong to ecological materials.

Euroslate (ondulin) – among roofing materials, it is considered a budget option that is easy to install. At the same time, it has a little more disadvantages: it does not breathe, it is fragile, it has a limited service life, and when heated, it evaporates carcinogens.

Metal tile – such a tile will last long enough, because the metal from which it is made is covered with a layer of polymer, which allows it to withstand any weather conditions. The advantages of the material also include: reasonable cost, a wide choice of colors, which will most harmoniously emphasize the appearance of the house, non-flammability. Of the minuses: the material reflects noise during rain, does not breathe, with a complex roof structure, material consumption increases.

Bituminous (soft) tile – a relatively new material that is increasingly being used for roofing. Such a roof can imitate ceramic tiles, slate or wood chips, which gives the roof a natural flavor. Among the advantages can also be distinguished: durability, a variety of shapes and colors. The disadvantages include the high cost of installation work, low strength, the material does not breathe, and is capable of releasing carcinogens.

Cement-sand tiles – natural roofing material, which also has an acceptable cost. In this case, the maintenance of the coating will not become a burdensome moment for the owner of the house, the material allows you to easily wash off the accumulated dirt. Also, the positive nuances include: durability, resistance to different temperatures, a variety of shapes, good sound insulation. Among the disadvantages: the material is quite heavy, so the cost of laying it will be higher than that of other analogues.

Important! At the stage of erection of the roof, the installation of a drainage system is carried out. In most cases, external systems made of plastic or metal are used. But in some cases, the project may require an internal drain.

Building’s facade

After the construction of the roof, it is necessary to proceed to the installation of windows and external doors. Optimal – choose metal-plastic windows and a metal front door. A more budget option is considered a traditional tree.

Next, you can proceed to the insulation of the walls of the house. Warming will be required both outside and inside. The choice of material as a heater is limited only by personal preferences and financial capabilities. For the inside of the walls, materials such as drywall and mineral wool are suitable as thermal insulation. External walls, for example, can be insulated with facade tiles. You will also need to insulate the floor of the first floor and roof (attic floor).

The installation of a balcony and stairs, if they are laid down by the project, is carried out by the next step.

After all that has been done, you can complete the exterior of the house according to the design project. This may include work on the installation of friezes, decorative plumb lines or strips, soffits, hemming of roof overhangs, waterproofing for possible terraces or balconies.

Pipe laying

As soon as the conceived image of the house becomes more and more reliable and similar to your dream, you can move on to interior work. At this stage, the facade and roof are fully completed, so the interior of the house is protected from the effects of weather conditions. Plan to perform the following work: placement of plumbing and sewerage.

Before starting work, draw up a wiring diagram for the drainage system. The main thing to consider when designing: the number of residents, the proposed sewerage treatment technology, the layout of the external drainage lines, as well as the internal collection and disposal of wastewater. These criteria will help to correctly calculate the number of system components and the footage of sewer pipes. Polypropylene pipes are now used as a material, which are distinguished by their light weight, performance properties and affordable price. However, without specialists and knowledge of established standards, it is difficult to build a high-quality sewerage system.

It is necessary to start the construction of a sewer system from an external network. To do this, analyze the distance from the existing manhole to the external network. According to the regulations, if the length is more than 12 meters, an additional well will be required. For laying external sewer pipes, polymer pipes are also used, but taking into account seasonal freezing, insulation is required.

For a one-story house, according to the wiring standards, the plumbing fixtures of the kitchen and the sanitary unit are close to the external point of waste outlet. Therefore, the wall delimiting these premises will be the place to install the riser pipeline. The lower point of the riser pipe is diverted to the external main, and the upper one is brought out to the roof.

For a private house with two or three floors, it is typical to arrange several economic and technical zones. Therefore, sewerage wiring will be more complex compared to a one-story house. According to existing regulations and rules, the placement of a sanitary unit should be at a single vertical level, that is, one above the other. The pipeline-riser, designed for ventilation and sewerage, is passed through all available floors and is brought out to the roof, taking into account the additional lift, if it is formed by slopes. Only at the final stage is the installation and verification of the connection of plumbing fixtures.

Wiring

At this stage, the wires are laid in the walls, but they are not connected to the devices. This will allow in the future, with the interior decoration of the walls, to once again check and correct possible missed nuances.

To work in advance, you will need to draw up a detailed power supply scheme, which will clearly reflect the number of sources and how they are included in the power consumption circuit. Also, based on the future planning solution, you will need a wiring diagram that allows you to calculate the consumables and determine the installation location of the main devices – wires, sockets, switches, lamps, fuses, meters, junction boxes, etc. Do not forget that all household appliances, sources lighting and power equipment to do their job as efficiently and safely as possible, you need to calculate the total power consumption. Their values ​​uXNUMXbuXNUMXbcan be found in the technical data sheets of the devices or use the Internet. In accordance with them, the wires of the required section are selected.

The initial stage of work on the power supply of the house is the installation of an electrical panel. A separate scheme must also be previously developed for it. To increase reliability, consumers are divided into separate groups of connecting points: lighting fixtures, sockets, power elements (boiler, washing machine), household items addressed to the basement or garage. Then cable lines are installed, junction boxes are switched, lines of low-voltage networks (TV, Internet, telephony) are laid, socket boxes are installed. After that, you can carry out the internal assembly of our electrical panel. It is better to entrust these operations to a professional, although if you have the necessary knowledge of electrics, you can do it on your own. Fine electrics – installation of fixtures, installation of socket blocks and switches should be carried out already at the last stage, after completion of all internal finishing work.

It is also necessary to remember that any private house must be equipped with a ground loop, which, together with the grounding system, will protect residents from electric shock, ensure the safe operation of electrical appliances and reduce the level of electrical interference. The circuit is mounted in the ground next to the house. Inside the house, grounding is connected to the grounding bus of the electrical panel.

Connecting communications

Connection of communications is carried out in accordance with the engineering project and the consent of the organization whose networks will be used as a connection. After the connection is agreed upon, the supply organization will conclude an agreement with you.

Connecting water supply is considered one of the most hassle-free and fastest, because central water supply systems are provided almost everywhere. Water supply can be central, and water disposal is autonomous. Also, these two systems can be simultaneously autonomous – this condition will depend on the choice of the owner, according to his personal preferences and financial capabilities. At the same time, it is worth remembering that water supply is closely related to heating, the installation and connection of which requires mandatory approval. At the same time, you can heat water and heat the house using electricity or gas, which is a more rational option. Therefore, initially prepare and find out if it is possible to conduct gas to the house in order to use it as heating in the future.

The difficulty of connecting the power supply arises when the location of the house is sufficiently remote from the main distribution sources. The same applies to connecting the gas supply when the distance from the house to the main gas pipeline is too great.

Interior finish

Having completed the main stages of building a house, you can proceed to the interior decoration of the premises. This work will require an interior design project. Having reached this stage, you can use the services of a designer, or you can do it yourself, having the necessary knowledge and an accurate understanding of the future picture.

Before proceeding with the finishing work, partitions are installed, according to the planning decision. They can be from different materials, but most often they are built from drywall. It is attached to a prefabricated aluminum profile frame. Further, depending on the chosen material from which the partitions are constructed, aesthetic design will be required in the form of sealing seams, leveling the surface of the walls, as well as finishing window and door slopes. The next step will be work on the rough floor screed.

After we proceed to the installation of ceilings. If this is a stretch ceiling, then we restrict ourselves to mortgages, the stretching of the canvas itself will take place at the final stages. In the case of installing a plasterboard ceiling, it is necessary to carry out all the steps before painting it. It is necessary to paint the ceiling from GKL after preparing the walls for painting or wallpaper, but before the finish coating is applied to the walls.

Depending on the preferred wall finish, whether it is wallpaper or paint, it is necessary to make appropriate surface preparation. In no case should you neglect the primer. After that, make the final leveling of the floor for the final laying of the coating, usually a self-leveling floor is used for this. If you do this work in this sequence, you will keep a neat and original appearance of the future floor. After, if necessary, if the ceiling is made of plasterboard, it is worth painting the ceiling, then the walls, or wallpapering. The completed work allows you to proceed to work on laying the floor finish. The technology of the selected laying material may vary, it all depends on personal preferences. The next step is the final installation of electricians, power is connected to switches, sockets and lamps. Plumbing fixtures and other necessary accessories are installed. Heating radiators are mounted, furniture is arranged.

expert Tips

Evgeny Shamin, General Director of Dekostroy:

– Before deciding to build your own house, you need to think about important and inseparable components, such as the main building and finishing materials, the cost of the work performed, the design of the house, which includes architectural, structural and engineering sections, and a visual estimate. In addition, before building a house, it is worth making a study of the land plot, you can order it from a specialized geodetic organization. A geodetic study of the site will help to draw up a detailed analysis of the soil and make the right choice in favor of the desired type of foundation. It is not worth saving when drafting an individual house. It is best to entrust its implementation to a specialist – an architect-designer, so you will get the most elaborate option for your lifestyle and avoid gross mistakes when planning and building a house. For a comfortable stay in the future home, carry out the necessary communications on the site in advance.

Popular questions and answers