Can You Build a House By Yourself?

It’s possible to build a house by yourself. However, it is not recommended. The idea of building a house with your own hands sounds romantic. However, building a house requires skills, dedication, a lot of work and time. In most states, you are also required to have the license of a general contractor to build a home. But, if you think you have what it takes to handle this task, you can do it.

Saving Money

One of the reasons to consider building a house without hiring a contractor is to save money. But, it’s important to know that some parts of the process of building a house are most likely beyond the range of your skills.

These include: 

  • Installing the foundation
  • Installing and building roof trusses
  • Plumbing and electrical work

These are specialized jobs that even contractors subcontract tradespeople. They require specialized tools and expertise.

Site Preparation

Grading and clearing the lot may seem easy. This is the first task to complete before you start any other construction work. But, it’s not as easy as it seems. You have to clear the bush and collect debris. The lot should also be staked out by a surveyor with plot drawings. It should also be graded to change the water flow. Temporary utilities should also be ordered from relevant companies. An electrician should also be invited to the site.

Building Work

From foundation to framing and roofing, there are many tasks that you have to handle when building a home yet you don’t have the necessary skills for handling all of them. You also need the expertise to handle exterior finishes, interior finishes, HVAC, and electrical works.

Although you can purchase plans and materials for building the frame and finishing your home, it’s not recommended to build the house without professional assistance. To ensure the integrity of the structure, work with experienced professionals in every step of the house building process.

Twitter Digg Delicious Stumbleupon Technorati Facebook Email