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Expert Home Building Tips and Advice [Louisville Builder and Remodeler, Carl Baker]

As a reputable Louisville Home Builder, friends and family often ask me questions about home construction and remodeling. If you are considering building a new home or remodeling your home you might wonder what that process is like. What steps are involved? What things should you look out for?  To help answer these questions I decided to start a blog. In the coming months I will follow a current Sterling Development Group project, a new home we are building for a family in Northern Kentucky. As we document the progress I will discuss the process of building a new home and the many decisions clients face along the way. Check back often for updates and feel free to contact me with any questions. - Carl

Posted: December 30, 2016
The final steps for completing your construction project are performing the electrical and technology rough-ins. Here’s a brief overview of these final steps. Electrical rough-in – the electrical rough normally follows the HVAC rough. They do this as they can work around the plumbing and HVAC duct work. The thing to be aware of in the electrical...
Posted: December 20, 2016
The duct work for your home is very important, so after you’ve done your homework regarding which HVAC equipment you want installed, it is vital that the job is done right. The rough-in is mostly concerned with reviewing the duct work. These are the “pipes” that will distribute the air to all areas of the home. The duct work is very important. If...
Posted: December 5, 2016
The HVAC rough-in is an important part of constructing your home, and normally follows the plumbing rough. The HVAC contractor should have stopped by the job when the plumber started to go over his thoughts on how he was planning to run his duct work. This will help the two trades coordinate their work so it’s a win for everyone. Before you start...
Posted: November 21, 2016
Once your home is fully framed, it is ready to have the plumbing, electrical, HVA, technology (audio/visual/computer) and security roughed in. The first of these that needs to be completed is the plumbing rough, as this has the fewest options on where they need to run supplies, waste and venting. The “rough-in” stage of plumbing is the second step...
Posted: November 7, 2016
There are many components that play a role in successfully framing your home. Paying attention to these elements now will greatly impact the quality of your home’s construction. Cornice is the “trim” around the house at the roof edge. There should be a 2x backer board behind any finish material you choose to use to ensure a straight, flat surface...
Posted: October 28, 2016
Roof framing is important! After all, the last thing you want to have is a house with a leaky or unsafe roof. This is why you should be extra attentive when it comes to this important step. Be sure you are using the proper size rafters and spacing to handle the design loads. If the proper material and spacing is not used, your roof may sag under...
Posted: October 11, 2016
Once your floor system has been completed, the next step is to frame the walls on the subfloor. After all, your home won’t be much good without high-quality walls! All plates should be glued to the subfloor. This helps reduce squeaks and again adds strength. Stud spacing should never exceed 16” on center and should be 12” on center on all walls...
Posted: September 27, 2016
Once the engineering has been done, the framer can lay out the T.J.I.’s and start installing the subfloor. After all, you can’t start with the other framing steps before you get the subfloor installed! The T.J.I.’s need to be properly nailed to the sill place and anchored with hurricane straps if applicable to your area. Use of these straps in all...
Posted: September 13, 2016
Once the foundation is complete, framing will start. This is a vital part of the construction process, and should be undertaken with great care, as poor framing will cause serious problems down the road. The first step for good framing is to establish square and level. Once the framer has established the “high” point in the walls he can level the...
Posted: August 29, 2016
After your floor has been treated for termites and the plumbing rough-in has been completed, you’re ready to pour the floor. This is an important step that should be undertaken with great care. The floor needs to be a minimum of 4” thick and be uniform in thickness. If there are going to be load bearing partitions going over the floor, the...