Stages in Construction

Here we have provided you with information on what to expect once you decide to build a home with Granite Ridge.  From drafting your blueprint to closing on your home, here you will find the Stages of Construction you will encounter as you embark on the journey of building your new home!

After you have signed your purchase agreement, our drafting team quickly gets to work on drawing up your blueprints.

A preliminary print will be printed for your revision. Once all changes are made, a final print, called a velum, will be made for you to sign. Signing your blueprint lets our office know that you are ready to go!

During your blueprint development, you will also be working with your personal decorator, selecting colors for your home ( See Decorating Appointment). Before all decorating can be complete, you must first finalize your blueprint.

After  you have signed your purchase agreement, you should be receiving a call from your decorator to set up your first decorating appointment. Most homeowners only need one appointment lasting around two hours. But it is not uncommon that a second appointment will be scheduled.

We recommend our homeowners visit our studio prior to their scheduled decorating appointment to look over their options and see what styles and colors appeal to them.

Helpful Hint: Bring something from your home that you want to have as a part of your decorating scheme (ex: sofa or bed pillow or a snapshot of your current living room). Pull pictures from magazines that reflect your style. It will help you and your personal decorator acheive your ideal look in your new home.

We procss any change you may have for your home witha  form called a “Change Order”, which is a request by you, the homeowner, to alter or change the original building contract, decorating sheet, or blueprint. Changes can range from a minor color change  to something more complex. Please remember that timing is critical, and you should contact Diana Kledzik at our office when you have decided to make any change.

Diane will order a plot plan from one of our licensed surveyors after you have approved and signed off on your blueprint. A plot plan shows how your home will be positioned on your property.

Once you have approved and signed off of your plot plan, Diane will order staking of the exterior dimensions of your home on the property and apply for a building permit.

If you are building in a subdivision, Diane will submit your information to the developer for architectural approval.

The construction of every new house beins with an empty lot. Location, topography, solar access and views can determine the value of a buildable lot.

This empty lot is clear and level, but often times, a lot may need to have trees cleared or dirt moved. Each home creates a different situation depending on the home's variables.

After you have signed off on your plot plan, your house will be staked on your lot, showing where future construction will take place.(The engineers in the picture shown to the left will identify to the construction crew where the foundation will be dug out by surveying the ground and staking the edges of the home.)

The Edges of the foundation are formed first, followed by the installation of your plumbing adn electrical lines that will be roughed in before a foundation will be poured.

A final slab can often feel deceiving. Without walls, it looks a lot smaller than you may expect, but don't worry. Your home will forever stand on this foundation, so Granite Ridge goes the extra mile in providing our homeonwers with quality materials and construction. You can rest assured that your foundation is precise. Once the foundation has dried completely, framing will soon begin.

If your home's foundation will be a full or partial basement, extra steps will take place before framing. To the left, a Granite Ridge homeowner proudly displays his new basement. Once your basement is dug, footers are set in place to help form the basement walls.

In basement construction, foundation walls of concrete or masonry must accomodate vents, beam pockets, and other structural details. The exterior surfaces should be damp-proofed up to surface level with a foundation coating. In this photo, the black coating has already been applied to the walls and stone has been poured around the foundation to help keep water away.

As walls are completed, roof framing can begin. As you can see these framers have begun roof construction on the second level first, then they will move to the garage to the left where they will build the lower level roof.

Interior framing becomes increasingly detailed as construction  continues. THis photo shows the rough framing for a corner fireplace and a large triple window with a 1/2 circle window centered above. You can begin to see the unique ceiling structure take place.

As the framing comes to a completion on your home, you may see different types of materials used. OSB and Super Tuff-R are a few of the sturdy materials used. The black felt on this home's garage notes where brick will soon be placed.

Once the framing is finished, the exterior details will begin to take shape. Your roof, windows, front door, and garage door will soon be installed, and a temporary lock will be put on your front door. We will have a key for you at our office. Please feel free to keep the key until your permanent door and knob are installed just before closing.

With the windows in place, siding can be applied to the house. Siding is usually installed before the brick is applied, but there are times that brick may be installed first.

Flats of brick will be delivered to your home after your home is framed. Brick and siding can be installed before or after the other.

While the exterior componenets are taking shape, the interior of your home will also begin to come together. Once your home is completely closed in, your mechanicals (plumbing, electrical, and heating & air) will all be installed. Here you see where electrical lines and outlets have been set in the wall.

Before Finished wall and ceiling surfaces are set in place, insulation and vapor barriers should be installed.

Insulating the ceiling of your home is just as important as insulating the walls. Above you will see a home in the middle of the insulation process where batts of insulation between the ceiling and wall cavities have been placed.

Once the drywall is in place installers will come back and mud and tape seams and nails, creating a smooth finish.