The Foundation Excavation Footing Foundation Walls Drainage Tile Pier Pad Support Post I-Beam Pea Gravel Floor Joists Wing Wall Water Proofing Backfill
	Framing Sill Plate Wall Framing House Wrapping - Typar Floor Joists Floor Covering Fire Stopping Insulation Stairs Railings Roof Rafters Insulation Drywall Taping & Compound Sanding & Painting
	Mechanicals Electrical Plumbing Hot Water Heater Tubs & Sinks Gas HVAC Ventilation Ducts Chimney Air Conditioner
	Finish Carpentry Cabinets Counter Tops Bathroom Vanity Tops Mirrors Doors Trim Appliance Installation
	Exterior Finish Windows Shutters Doors Vinyl Siding Masonry Roof Sheathing Roof Flashing Gutters & Downspout Roof Shingles Roof Vent Caps Front Stoop Stairs Decking
	Walkways and Driveway Sidewalk Asphalt Driveway Landscaping-Grading Lawn Hydro-Seeding Trees

Foundation Work

Footing With V-Shaped Key and Wall Forms The site has been surveyed, staked and excavated. A footing, which is the base with a v-shaped key upon which the foundation walls are poured, is already in place. The key in the footing holds the wall in position preventing it from moving or shifting. The minimum height of a foundation wall is 42" to put it below the frost line.	Footing This is a close up of the v-shaped groove in the footing. The only way to move a foundation wall off the footing would be to lift it 2" out of the key groove.	Wall Forms Bolted Into Place The wall forms are being supported with 2 x 4s while they are being positioned on the footing. Steel bolts will protrude from the top of the forms. The carpenter will anchor the wall frames to these bolts.	Foundation wall forms are being bolted into position. The concrete will be poured into the wall forms, which have to be secured by ties to keep the forms from pulling apart during the pour. Once the concrete is cured, the wall forms will be removed leaving the ties behind.	Wing Wall Forms Installed On An Angle A triangular wing wall will be formed to create a platform to support the rear patio stoop. Without the wing wall, it would be possible for the stoop to separate from the house.
Drain Tile Drain tile is a perforated corrugated plastic pipe laid at the bottom of the foundation wall to drain excess water away from the foundation. This picture shows the circular opening of the drain tile. The basement floor will be poured above the footing. As the drain tile fills with water, water will run down through the openings in the footing to the sump pump. It is critical to keep the sump pump operational, so install a battery backup.	Front View This home's front steps will be finished with railings, as is the home next to it.	Garage Entrance A concrete floor will be poured to create the garage floor.	Water Proofing The tar coated foundation wall will be hidden when the area is backfilled with the earth removed during excavation.	Completed Wing Wall The triangular shaped wall will support the patio stoop.
Concrete Pier Pad The concrete pad in the center will keep the steel column support from sinking into the ground. A plastic moisture barrier will be placed between the earth and a layer of pea gravel. The basement floor will be poured over the pea gravel and the pier pad.	Steel Column and I-Beam The steel I-beam will support the floor joists.	Backfill Around Basement Window The basement window will be installed at the base of the window well.	I-Beam with 2 Steel Support Columns The foundation has been partially backfilled.	Backfilled Wing Wall

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Framing

First Floor Walls are framed The sill plate was bolted to the foundation wall. The walls for the first floor are secured to the sill plate. Floor joists for the second floor are secured to first floor walls and interior supports.	Second Floor Framed The second floor has been framed.	Roof trusses temporarily held in place On another home, roof trusses are temporarily held in place until they can be permanently secured to the walls.	DuPont Typar Housewrap DuPont Typar is a non-woven fabric composed of thermally bonded, continuous polypropylene filaments, which is resistant to rot, moisture and chemical attack. The structure of Typar is significantly more tear resistant than the competitive brand. It stops 95% of air and moisture penetration allowing insulation to perform at its peak R-Value.	Typar vapor barrier The edges of exterior windows are taped to the Typar moisture barrier. Vinyl siding or brick will be installed over the Typar.
Vapor Barrier - Interior A moisture barrier is installed prior to insulating the exterior walls. The City of Harvard requires exterior walls to have an R-Value of 19.	Solid Floor Joists A solid floor joist system consisting of 2 x 10s and cross bridging to prevent warping or twisting is supported by a steel I-Beam and steel column.	Steel Support Column The steel support column rests on a pier pad and supports the I-Bean and floor joists. The basement stairs have been framed.	Open Floor Joists Mechanical equipment, such as sheet metal ventilation ducts, water pipes, waste water pipes and electrical power lines, can be run through an open floor joist system. Reinforced doorway header is on the right. Fire stop is applied in every crevice to prevent a fire from spreading.	Stairway The stairs are framed.
Second Floor Stairs There will be a partial wall at the top of the stairs. It will be capped by the finish carpenter. A homeowner may choose to put decorative railings in this location instead of the partial wall.	View of staircase The staircase has been drywalled, which will then be taped.	Stairway Drywall The stairs will have decorative railings. A worker is sanding the drywall preparing it for painting.	Drywall and Taping Compound Drywall, tape and taping compound are stacked ready for installation after the walls are insulated.	Flooring and Subflooring Subflooring or underlayment is covered with a layer of smooth flat wood in preparation for vinyl fooring or carpeting.
Insulation Insulation, in this case R-30 attic bats, is installed on all exterior walls and ceilings, including those in the garage that adjoin living areas.	Insulation The square opening in the ceiling is the scuttle that will be fitted with a cover. It allows access to the attic.	Insulation and Drywall The walls have been insulated and drywall is being installed using epoxy and screws to hold it in place against the studs. This method minimizes nail popping and shifting.	Drywall/Taping Compound The drywall has been taped and smoothed out with taping compound. The wall will be sanded ready for painting.	Finished wall The walls of the master bedroom have been painted and carpeting has been installed. The bathroom vanity has been installed in the master bath to the left in the picture.

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Mechanicals

Electrical Power Electricity is installed first to provide power for the construction crew's tools and lighting.	Waste Water Pipe to Sewer A white PVC pipe takes waste water out through the basement wall to the sewer system.	Furnace The furnace has arrrived. It will be hooked up to the black gas pipe behind it. The white PVC pipe in the forground is called a stack. The waste water vent runs vertically up through the roof to allow atmospheric pressure to enter the system and prevent vacuum from building up as the waste water is discharged.	Hot Water Heater and Furnace The hot water heater has been hooked up to the copper water pipes. The furnace is being installed in this picture. The sheet metal ventilation duct will be attached to it.	Sump Pump The sump pit and sump pump is next the the hot water heater. A back-up battery should be installed to power the pump in case of a power failure.
Plumbing Copper pipes are hot and cold water feeds. White PVC pipe drains waste water. Openings made by the pipes are caulked with pink foam fire stop. The sole plate has been reinforced with metal where the pipes pass through it.	Green Board Waterproof green board is installed in wet areas, such as around bathtubs.	Sink and Toilet

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Finish Carpentry

Kitchen Flooring The kitchen will be installed at the distant part of the room. The gas line can been seen on the back wall. A vinyl floor covering will be installed over the smooth wooden surface.	Kitchen Counter The finish carpentry trim is complete and the cabinets and countertops have been installed.	Sink and Stove	Refrigerator All appliances have warranty coverage provided by their manufacturers.

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Exterior Finish  Walkways and Driveway

Front Porch The porch railings, front window and door are installed.	Garage Door The garage door is in. The exterior is ready for vinyl siding.	Vinyl Siding Vinyl siding is being installed.	Roof Sheathing Roof sheathing is applied over the roof rafters. A moisture barrier is then laid over the sheeting.	Roof Shingles Flashing in roof valley keeps directs water off the roof. Roof shingles are nailed over a moisture barrier.
Completed New Home The home is complete with a hydro-seeded lawn, rear decking and stairs that rest on a concrete pad. Capped roof vents allow air flow to keep the roof dry. Gutters and down spout direct water away from the house. A central air conditioning unit is on the side of the home.	Sidewalk Framing The frame will be filled with pea gravel. Then concrete will be poured. The sidewalk is on the edge of the homeowner's lot on the parkway, which is owned by the city.	Front Walk Pea gravel is visible below the concrete. When the lot receives its final grade, the dirt will be leveled off with the top of the walk.

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