SAMPLES from the Home Building Manual

Table of Contents

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Page

INTRODUCTION

1

COMMUNICATION LOG

5

- -ADMINISTRATION- -

CONSTRUCTION FINANCING

7

CHOOSING A CONTRACTOR

10

GETTING AND COMPARING BIDS

17

CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT    

19

MATERIAL ESTIMATION and TAKE-OFF CHECKLISTS

24

CONSTRUCTION BUDGET (See Sample Below)

34

CONTRACTOR AND JOB SITE MANAGEMENT  

46

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

51

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS        

54

LIABILITY, SAFETY, SDS & OSHA

61

CONTRACTOR SAFETY AND HEALTH RULES

65

- -KEEPING THE HOME ON SCHEDULE- -

TRACKING REPORTS and CHRONOLOGICAL CHECKLISTS

DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

67

100 DAY CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE      

69

85 CRITICAL EVENT COMPLETION SCHEDULE            

72

CONTRACTOR SCHEDULING              

72

CONTRACTOR NOTIFICATION and BACKEND SCHEDULE  

75

MULTIPLE HOME SCHEDULING                  

78

PRE-CONSTRUCTION CHECK LIST (See Sample Below)

81

CHRONOLOGICAL EVENT CHECK LIST (See Sample Below)     

86

--CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT--

 

CONTRACTOR JOB DETAILS AND RELATED CHECKLISTS

 

BUILDING STAKEOUT              

106

EXCAVATION and BACKFILL         

108

CAISSON and FOOTER          

111

FOUNDATION WALL                               

115

WATERPROOFING and PERIMETER DRAIN        

118

SEWER-WATER and UNDERGROUND PLUMBING       

120

INTERIOR FLATWORK                  

123

FRAMING and SIDING              

126

HEATING ROUGH-IN              

135

PLUMBING ROUGH-IN                

137

ELECTRICAL ROUGH-IN (See Sample Below)

139

Table of Contents

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Page

CONTRACTOR JOB DETAILS / RELATED CHECK LISTS

ROOFING          

141

ROUGH FRAME INSPECTION

143

GUTTERS and DOWNSPOUTS..........

148

GARAGE DOORS..........

150

INSULATION..........

152

DRYWALL

154

MASONRY

159

PAINTING.........

161

INTERIOR TRIM

165

COSMETIC FINISHES

169

.....CERAMIC.....VINYL.....OAK.....CARPET.....MIRRORS.....APPLIANCES

MECHANICAL TRIMS........

175

..................PLUMBING..........HEATING..........ELECTRICAL
EXTERIOR

181

....FLATWORK....FINAL GRADE....LANDSCAPE...FENCE...WOOD DECK  

 

FINAL CLEAN

185

MUNICIPAL FINAL INSPECTION CHECK LIST

187

COMMUNICATION AND QUALITY CONTROL

NOTICE TO BUILDER- CONCERN LETTER

190

SUBCONTRACTOR and SUPPLIER DETAIL SHEET

192

DECORATOR and COLOR SPECIFICATIONS (See Sample Below)

192

FINAL WALK THROUGH- QUALITY 12 PAGE CHECK LIST

198

WRAP-UP INSTRUCTIONAL CHECK LIST

213

REQUEST FOR WARRANTY SERVICE

216

HOME STRUCTURAL BUILDING COMPONENTS (See Sample Below)

218

GLOSSARY OF CONSTRUCTION TERMS

224

CONCLUSION

249

NOTES  

250


PRE-CONSTRUCTION CHECK LIST             Page 2 of 4

____ RECEIVE PLOT PLAN

____ CANTILEVERS NOT NEARER THAN 3' TO PROPERTY LINE?

____ HOUSE WILL FIT ON THE LOT ? GARAGE CORRECT SIDE ON LOT?

____ PHOTOGRAPH SITE - CHECK FOR DAMAGE

____ .....BROKEN CONCRETE, STREET ASPHALT DAMAGE

____ .....NEIGHBORS FENCES, PROPERTY

____ .....PEDESTAL, TRANSFORMERS, STREET LIGHTS

____ .....WATER METER PITS

____ BLUE STAKED ELECTRIC/GAS/CABLE TV LOCATES

____ .....WILL EXCAVATION INTERFER/ DAMAGE UNDERGROUND UTILITIES?

____ RECEIVE FOUNDATION PRINTS

____ 8" OR 10" THICK WALLS- HEIGHT OF WALL ?

____ DIAMETER SIZE OF CAISSONS ?

____ 48" OR 52" SPLIT REQUIRED BETWEEN GARAGE AND BASEMENT?

____ HAUNCHES, COUNTERFORTS, BRICK LEDGES

____ GRADE BEAMS AT WALKOUT BASEMENT LOCATION

____ WINDOWS BENEATH BEAM POCKETS OK?

____ REBAR NETS? GRADE AND SIZE OF REBAR

____ CRAWL SPACE ACCESS LOCATIONS

____ HEAT DUCT AND PLUMBING KNOCKOUTS

____ GARAGE DOOR DEPRESSION

____ BOLT LOCATIONS

____ HEIGHT REBAR IS TO STICK OUT OF CAISSONS

____ EXTERIOR PORCH CAISSONS REQUIREMENTS

____ VOID SIZE AND TYPE (CANTILEVERED VOID REQUIRED?)

____ COMPARE WINDOW WELLS WITH FRAMING PRINTS

____ NOT AT STAIR LOCATIONS, CANTILEVERS, PATIO, WALK WAYS

____ HOT WATER HEATER/FURNACE PADS IN CRAWL SPACE

____ WALK OUT BASEMENT FOUNDATION STEP-DOWNS OK WITH GRADE?

____ .....WINDOWS AT STEP-DOWN LOCATIONS?

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Event Schedule- CONSTRUCTION CHECK LIST           Page 2 of 18

____ FOUNDATION WALL SET

____ mmVERIFY BEAM POCKETS LOCATION, WIDTH, AND HEIGHT

____ mmMONOPOST PADS

____ mmWINDOW BUCKS IN RIGHT PLACE

____ mmSTEPS

____ mmBLOCKOUTS

____ mmGARAGE DOOR BLOCK-OUTS (12" DEEP, 16' 4" or 8' 4" WIDE)

____ mmGARAGE SERVICE DOOR LOCATION & BLOCK-OUT (Width/Depth)

____ mmINSURE 6' 8"(MIN.) HEADROOM AT BASEMENT STAIR LANDING

____ mmGARAGE FLOOR ELEVATION ABOVE SIDEWALK (Driveway NOT + 10% Slope)

____ mmHAUNCHES

____ mmBRICK LEDGES

____ mmTOP OF WALL 2'6" ABOVE SIDEWALK (This is an Average Height)

____ mmSCHEDULE ENGINEER AND CITY STEEL INSPECTION

____ mmSCHEDULE SEWER AND WATER

____ mmSCHEDULE PERIMETER DRAIN

____ mmmmmmRADON SYSTEM?

____ mmSCHEDULE WATERPROOF

____ mmSCHEDULE UNDER GROUND PLUMBING

____ CHECK FOUNDATION FOR PLUMB, LEVEL, SQUARE, & PER PRINT

____ STEEL INSPECTION

____ mmCITY AND ENGINEER

____ MEET WITH FRAMER-RUN OUT SCHEDULE

____ HAVE ANCHOR BOLTS? HAVE NUTS AND WASHERS?

____ mmHOLD BOLTS OUT OF TOP OF WALL ABOUT  3"

____ SAVE REBAR SCRAPS FOR PORCH/PATIO CAISSONS

____ VOID INSPECTION REQUIRED? (DONE BEFORE WATERPROOF)

____ PUMP AND POUR WALL

____ mmRECHECK WALL FOR SQUARE, BOWS, BRACE STAIR WALL

____ mmPOUR FURNACE PAD IN CRAWL SPACE

____ mmPOUR SONOTUBE MONOPOST PADS

____ SCHEDULE SEWER AND WATER BLUE STAKE

____ SCHEDULE VOID INSPECTION (BEFORE WATER PROOF)

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 ELECTRICAL ROUGH-IN

When the Heating and Plumbing contractor have finished, the framer should return to the home, and do his "back-out" BEFORE the electrician starts. Framing "back-out" is a term used when the framer installs all drop ceilings, soffits, fire-blocking, stair way walls, basement floating walls, chases around heat and plumbing stacks, furring strips in the garage and elsewhere, and all final framing. The framer also repairs whatever was disturbed or damaged by the heating and plumbing contractors.

Before the electrician can begin work, in most municipalities, the roof covering (shingles, etc.) must also be completed. Check with the municipality before you schedule the electrician! Some municipalities also require a licensed electrician to be on the job site and a separate electrical permit to be "pulled" . Insure this happens if it's required.

The Electrical Contractor will provide all permits, labor, materials, and electrical fixtures and components (meter housings, breaker panels, etc.) to adequately wire and trim out the home to meet all electrical inspections for the home. When the Electrician finally begins, he will normally mark the walls with switch and outlet locations according to the electrical plans you provided him. Let him know of any extras- air conditioning, whole house fans, extra telephone jacks, television outlets, etc. He'll also install the outlet and switch boxes, and may begin to "drill out" the first day. After the home is "drilled out", the electrician will then begin to "pull wire". No other contractor should be in the home when the electrician does his work. (The Plumber and Heating Contractor should be complete with their work) They may accidentally nick or burn wires. This is a big a safety hazard!

The electrician should mount the electric meter housing and service panel as soon as possible. Once this is done, the electric utility company should be called. The electric lateral should be requested to be ran from the pedestal or transformer to the home service. This can take a month or more once the utility company is notified!

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ELECTRIC ROUGH-IN CHECK LIST

____ ELECTRIC BOXES STICK OUT OF WALL PER THICKNESS OF DRYWALL

____ CHECK PLANS AS TO LOCATIONS OF SWITCHES & LIGHT FIXTURES

____ KITCHEN APPLIANCES WIRED (Range, Hood, Disposal, Refrig., Dishwasher)

____ GAS RANGES- RUN 110 volt AND 220 volt LINE

____ COPPER WIRING USED THROUGHOUT (Range and Dryer 220v Aluminum)

____ WINDOW LIGHT RECEPTACLES ARE CENTERED ON THE WINDOWS

____ CHECK LOCATION OF TELEPHONE AND TV RECEPTACLES

____ RECEPTACLES IN THE KITCHEN NOT COVERED BY CABTS/B.SPLASH

____ NAIL PLATES ARE INSTALLED TO PROTECT WIRES IN FRAMING

____ CHECK EXTRA WIRING REQUIREMENTS (CFANS, Intercom, OPTIONS)

____ LIGHT SWITCH BOXES ARE NOT LOCATED ON HINGE SIDE OF DOORS

____ SMOKE DETECTORS INSTALLED IN EVERY BEDROOM & EVERY FLOOR

____ CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) ALARMS/DETECTORS PREWIRED

____ ELECTRIC METER HOUSING INSTALLED ON HOME & WIRES "MADE-UP"

____ WIRE DOES NOT RUN EXPOSED BENEATH JOISTS OR GARAGE CEILING

____ WIRES STAPLED SECURELY

____ CORRECT LOCATION OF DINING ROOM AND HANGING LIGHTS

____ VENTED TYPE BATH FANS INSTALLED AND WIRED

____ BATH OUTLETS NOT IN MIRROR LOCATION OR DOOR CASING

____ DOOR BELL WIRE INSTALLED THROUGH SIDING

____ CHECK TO INSURE THE DISHWASHER IS WIRED SEPARATELY

____ NO WIRES ACROSS ATTIC ACCESSES OR SKY LIGHT OPENINGS

____ ELECTRIC RAN TO RADON, FLOOR VENT FAN AND SUMP PUMP (If reqd)

____ FIREPLACE WIRING COMPLETE

____ WHIRLPOOL TUB WIRED

____ SEPARATE OUTLET IN GARAGE FOR SPRINKLER CLOCK, GARAGE OPENER

____ ELECTRIC REMOTE INSTALLED (If Electric Utility Company requires)

____ WIRE HOLES ARE FIRE-STOPPED WITH FIBERGLASS INSULATION

____ PHOTO CELL AND SECURITY WIRING INSTALLED

____ SECURITY KEY PAD AND ALARM IN CORRECT LOCATION

____ WIRE NOT RAN THROUGH COLD AIR RETURNS

____ NO EXPOSED WIRING IN GARAGE (ARMOR FLEXED)

____ BATHROOM LIGHT ABOVE THE MIRROR AT CORRECT HEIGHT

____ FLOOR OUTLETS AT BRIDGE LOCATIONS

____ WIRES NOT TOUCHING FLUE PIPES

____ GROUND WIRE SECURED TO WATER LINE AND GROUND ROD

____ A/C DISCONNECT INSTALLED WHERE CONDENSER WILL BE LOCATED

____ FURNACE IS WIRED AND READY TO LIGHT OFF

____ ATTIC AND CRAWL SPACES HAVE WALL SWITCH LIGHTING (NO KEYLESS)

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DECORATOR and COLOR SELECTIONS Page 2 of 3

mmItem mmLocationmmmmColor/Style /Number mmmmmmmmmmSupplier mmPhone No.

Counter tops

Laundry __________________________________________________________

Kitchen ___________________________________________________________

Full Bath Down ____________________________________________________

1/2 Bath __________________________________________________________

Hall Bath Up_______________________________________________________

Master Bath_______________________________________________________

Wall Ceramic

Kitchen __________________________________________________________

Full Bath Down____________________________________________________

1/2 Bath __________________________________________________________

Hall Bath Up______________________________________________________

Master Bath______________________________________________________

Interior Trim

Doors ___________________________________________________________

Base & Casing____________________________________________________

Entry Door_______________________________________________________

Crown Molding & Rail______________________________________________

Interior Door Hardware ________________________________________________

Mirrors _____________________________________________________________

Shower Doors ________________________________________________________

Medicine Cabinets ____________________________________________________

Plumbing Fixtures _____________________________________________________

Hot Water Heater _____________________________________________________

Furnace ______________________________________________________________

Air Conditioner ________________________________________________________

Ceiling Fan ___________________________________________________________

192

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