Framing is often one of the most exciting stages because the home suddenly starts looking like a house. Exterior and interior walls, the roof structure, windows, and exterior doors are installed, and homeowners can begin to walk through the floor plan and picture how the spaces will feel. It’s also a stage where progress can happen quickly, so the home may look dramatically different from one visit to the next.
Step 3: What Happens Behind the Walls
Once framing is complete, the mechanical work begins. Plumbing lines, electrical wiring, HVAC ductwork, gas lines where applicable, low-voltage wiring, and other systems are installed throughout the home. Framing details and structural connections are also reviewed before the walls are closed. It’s some of the most important work in the home, even though much of it will eventually be hidden.
Before drywall is installed, Prairie View Homes homeowners have a pre-drywall walkthrough. It’s an opportunity to see what is happening behind the walls and better understand how the different parts of the home are coming together. After the rough work and required inspections are complete, insulation and drywall are installed. From there, the home begins another major transformation as cabinets, trim, countertops, tile, flooring, paint, fixtures, appliances, and other finishes are added.
Step 4: Inspections, Quality Checks, and Timing
One of the most common questions during construction is, “When will the house be finished?” It’s an understandable question, especially when homeowners may be coordinating a move, financing, furniture deliveries, utilities, or the sale of another home.
Home construction is very sequential, and several things can affect the schedule. Weather, inspections, utility companies, material availability, trade schedules, homeowner changes, special-order products, engineering requirements, and unexpected site conditions can all play a role. There may also be times when it looks like very little is happening, but that doesn’t always mean progress has stopped.
“Building a home isn’t a perfectly linear process,” Jim says. “We’re taking hundreds of individual components, dozens of trade partners, and thousands of decisions and turning them into one finished home.”
Throughout the build, inspections and quality checks happen at multiple stages. In addition to required local inspections, the Prairie View Homes team is continually reviewing the work, checking against the plans, and addressing items before moving on to the next phase.
Step 5: Final Details, Homeowner Orientation, and Closing
As the home nears completion, the focus shifts to final installations, testing, cleaning, and detail work. Mechanical systems are started and tested, appliances and fixtures are installed, paint and trim are finished and remaining interior and exterior items are completed. The team also works through any final cosmetic or functional items that need attention.
Homeowner orientation is one of the last major steps. Jim views it as more than just a walkthrough; it’s an introduction to your new home. During the orientation, the Prairie View Homes team explains how important systems and features work, answers questions, reviews maintenance information, and discusses warranty procedures so homeowners feel comfortable understanding and caring for their new home.
From there comes the moment everyone has been working toward: closing day.
Building a new home involves a lot of moving pieces, but watching it go from an empty homesite to a finished home is one of the most rewarding parts of the process. At Prairie View Homes, our team is here to guide you through each stage and help you understand what to expect along the way.
For additional information, check out our FAQ page.
