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House Building Process and Construction Methods:
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding how we build the houses.
| What is the process for building a new house?
There are a number of stages to building a new home, and these are briefly outlined below:
- Foundations / Sub-structure: We start by clearing the land and preparing to dig for the foundations. The substructure works involves everything below ground level, from laying of services to the property right up to the damp proof course level.
- Superstructure: This follows on from the sub-structure works and involves everything from erecting the timber frame panels, building the outer courses of block-work and tiling the roof. This makes the house weather tight.
- First fix: The plumbing and cabling are installed for the heating, power & lighting. The construction method that First Step Homes use means that this can all be done as soon as the timber frame panels have been erected, and can be carried out at the same time as the works to the external block-work skin, saving valuable time in the process.
- Plastering and dry-lining: The system that First Step Homes employs means that the houses are already boarded with a high density wall board, which is highly resistant to damage. This also means that we only have to smooth the walls in preparation for decoration at this stage.
- Second Fix: At this point, the kitchens are installed along with switches, sockets and light fittings to complete the electrical installation. The plumber will also install the bathrooms and the heating system will be completed. All coving and internal woodwork such as doors and skirting boards are also fitted at this stage along with ceramic tiling in the bathrooms.
- Decoration: The walls and ceilings are all decorated at this point.
- External Works: This involves all works to the outside of the property, including landscaping of the land around, fencing, laying of the driveway and any planting that may be required.
- Quality Control: Although quality control checks are made all the way through the build process by both the site manager and external agents, a final check is made by the site manager to ensure the houses meet our high standards. We will endeavour to resolve any issues noted prior to handover.
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| How long does this process take?
From our initial start date on site, it takes approximately 22 weeks to handover the first block of houses. Subsequent houses are handed over in phases thereon in. You will need to check the anticipated handover date for any particular plot with the agent at the point of reservation. We will endeavour to keep you updated during the process if there are any alterations to the schedule.
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| Your literature mentions sustainable / carbon neutral housing – what is this?
In essence this means that a house does not contribute to global warming. The government has stated that all new build properties must be carbon neutral by 2016. All house builders agree that this will be a very difficult target to hit without cost efficient new innovations being brought in between now and that time. However, we are already utilising sustainable materials with the use of timber framed houses and (generally) exceeding insulation levels that are required as a minimum under building regulations. We are now looking into Geothermals (ground source heat) and grey water (reusing rainwater in w.c. cisterns and other non-potable uses) and something as simple as providing a water butt. All of these things will reduce and/or off-set carbon emissions on houses we shall be building. We still have a long way to go to neutral!
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| Is Timber Frame housing as good quality as traditionally constructed houses?
We believe so. In fact, as a result of the method of construction we use, our houses are eco-friendly, built from sustainable materials and have high u-values (energy efficiency). As the panels are all factory processed, there is a higher level of quality control and a reduction of wet labour on site (e.g. plastering) means fewer problems will be experienced with shrinkage cracks when the house is ‘drying out’.
The external walls of the houses are built in solid brick or block and so will have the same appearance as a traditionally built house. As this method of construction is approved by the CML (Council of Mortgage Lenders), there will be no problems in obtaining a mortgage on one of our houses.
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