15 Steps to Building a House

Building a house can be a cost-effective alternative to buying one, offering potential savings when approached strategically.

However, many homebuilders overspend due to insufficient information.

To assist you, here is a 16-step building house process to navigate the complexities and ensure a successful and budget-conscious construction journey.

Pre-construction phase

1. Land acquisition

Quite often, the house-building process begins with the purchase of land.

Careful consideration should be taken when buying land since factors such as the size of the land, location, terrain, etc. determine the type of house to be constructed.

2. Documentation

Many homeowners have lost property due to a lack of proof of ownership. This can be avoided by securing the local authority’s approval before embarking on a project.

This is one of the legal requirements for building a house in Kenya.

Be sure to obtain documents demonstrating that the purchase/transfer of the respective parcel has been done legally with the approval of legal authorities.

3. Building plan

Once documentation has been completed, it is now time to decide on a house plan.  Discuss your brief with the architect and, if possible, make a site visit with him.

This is important because site features may influence the design of your house.

RELATED: 10 Things to Consider in a House Plan

You can choose a ready house plan or you may ask your architect to make a plan for you. In most cases, it is advisable to custom-design your building plan.

4. Financial planning

Financial planning is a critical step in the house-building process, guiding you to determine project costs. As you delve into the details, you may realise the need for a construction loan.

It is advisable to promptly get in touch with lenders to assess how much you qualify for to proceed confidently with your construction plans.

Construction phase

5. Site preparation

This involves getting rid of vegetation and other unwanted stuff that can obstruct construction works on site. Site preparation for small sites can be done using hand tools such as hoes and pangas but you may need an excavator to do the job.

6. Laying foundation

A foundation is the lowest part of a house where the structure meets the soil.

It is prepared by excavating soil around all the walls of a building and filling the trenches with concrete and steel to help it support the weight of the building.

A foundation must be prepared with care to avoid future catastrophes.

7. Reinforcing foundation

After successfully erecting the foundation, a reinforcement known as a “plinth beam and slab” is added to the top. This shields the foundation from dampness and prevents its cracks from reaching the wall.

It also helps to keep the foundation sturdy in the event of an earthquake.

8. Superstructure

This provides support for the beam and slab. Its members include the column designed to reinforce the weight mounted upon the structure’s foundation.

The columns are built up to the slab and frame for further construction. A waterproof coating is placed to keep water from entering the slab and casting.

9. Erecting the walls

Walls are the visible part of a building. Based on personal preferences, walls can be built using stones or materials such as concrete blocks and fly ash bricks.

The structure of openings – doors and windows – is usually carved out by the masons when erecting the walls of the building.

10. The lintel

Once the wall is up, it is time to build a lintel on top of the wall.

This is a beam placed across the window and door openings as support for the weight of the structure placed on top of it – usually the roofing structure.

11. Roofing

This involves framing the topmost layer of the building to offer protection from harsh weather, and decoration and beautification.

Different types of roofing materials are available for this task.

12. Wiring and plumbing

Electrical wires and pipes should be installed at this point to ensure they are hidden away from sight between the walls and slabs.

Only sockets and endpoints of pipes should be visible.

13. Interior and exterior finishes

After wiring and plumbing work are over, it is time to begin plastering work to protect the house from the effects of the weather and to make it appear more attractive.

For exterior finishes, a mixture of cement and sand is plastered on the walls with a thickness of 13mm to 20mm.

Interior décor is done according to the procedure put by the designer.

14. Flooring

Flooring works involve the laying out of tiles, marble, wood, or any other types of flooring materials as per the taste and preferences of the homeowner.

This is done as soon as interior and exterior finishes are over.

15. Painting

Winding down the major steps for building a house, it is important to apply a protective coat of paint for both aesthetic appeal and weather resilience.

For painting the external walls of the house, it is best to settle for latex paints since they are highly resistant to water penetration.

Post-construction phase

16. Occupation certificate

Once your house has been completed, invite city/council officers to approve your house to facilitate the processing of the building’s certificate of occupation.

At this point, you are free to move into your new home. However, you will need to apply for electricity, water, and sewerage connections from the service providers.

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