Site preparation or leveling

The site needs to be cleaned and levelled before further processes. Sometimes the site
may not need levelling. All of this depends on the planning of construction.

Excavation and PCC

Excavation is the digging of trenches in the ground for making it ready for the
foundation substructure of the building. After excavating the ground, a layer of PCC
(Plain cement concrete) is laid in the dug portion before placing the reinforcements for
foundation.

Foundation

Foundation is the lowermost part of the building that is contact with the soil. It transfers
the load on the building from the superstructure to the soil and needs to be extremely
strong to handle the load. The reinforcement for the foundation is then prepared after
excavation and concreting is done. The level of base of foundations should be checked
before pouring the concrete. The earth filling is done in the excavated portions after the
concrete foundations stabilize.

Plinth beam and slab

Once the foundation is built, the ground beam reinforcements are prepared and then
concreting is done. Later masonry is done above the ground beam and concreting of
plinth beam is done above that. The void between the foundation and plinth level is
filled with compacted soil.

Superstructure – Column

After the plinth slab is cured then the main structure for the house is started. The
columns are brought up and the frame for further construction is prepared.

Masonry

The walls are later prepared with different materials such as bricks, concrete blocks, fly
ash bricks etc. according to the prepared drawing. Masonry work is carried out with
cement mortar. Cement mortar is a mixture of cement & sand. Then gaps are laid for
doors and windows during the masonry work.

Lintel over door window gaps

Lintels are prepared with reinforcement and concreting to support the masonry work
over the doors and windows.

Upper floor slab with beam or Roof structure

The masonry work is completed. Then the slab for upper floor is prepared with the
beams resting on the concrete columns. The reinforcements for beams and slabs are
assembled and then in a single day the concrete is poured. Later curing is done.

Door window framing and fixations

Once, the covering is prepared with walls and structure, the door and window frames
are installed. Later the doors and window panels are fixed without finishes.

Rough ins

The electric and plumbing cables and pipes are installed in the walls and slabs such that
they are concealed and not visible after the finishing work is done. The cables and pipes
are left out protruding such that later they can be finished with the electric fitting and
plumbing fixtures.

Exterior finishing

The exterior plastering and painting is also started once the superstructure is ready.
Water proofing is also done to prevent weather effect. Cladding can also be done to
enhance the elevation of the house.

Terrace and roof finishing

Water proofing is done on the terrace and usually terrazzo tiles are applied on the slabs
to keep prevent passage of heat.

Internal finishing

The walls are plastered and the flooring is levelled and tiling is done. Later on the walls
are painted and tiled.

Wood work and Fixture fittings

Once the construction process is done. The furniture work is started. Side by side,
electric lights, switch boards and other electric fixtures are fitted. And plumbing fittings
are complete in the bathrooms and kitchen areas too.

Interior decoration is the last step in completing the house with proper furnishing and
fabric use.
1. SHORTLIST BUILDERS
Find builders from yellow pages, newspapers or any other under construction projects
in your town. It would be wise if you discuss it with your colleagues, friends or
relatives. Based on this prepare a shortlist of four or five builders and make sure at
least two to three are from your local area. This will avoid extra travelling costs.

2. REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS

Approve your plans from concerned authorities and define your scope of work with
the help of designer and invite builders to give you a detailed quotation for the work.
Make sure plans are pre-approved otherwise whole this activity is just a wastage of
time and resources.

3. DETAIL STUDY
Now is the time to review builder’s quotation. Go through each builder quotation
separately and check whether he has mentioned drawing reference number for each
particular work or just he copy pasted of some previous quoted works. If he has
mentioned drawing numbers then this mean he has read detailed specs. Also check
whether builder has inspected the site. Check whether he has studied the plans and
highlighted all the details that are not shown on the plans like power points, heaters,
light numbers and fittings and so on. Make sure these petty things are not left later.

4. MEMBERSHIP
Check whether they advertise any trade association membership. If yes, then check
whether the trade association offers a free arbitration service in case you and your
builder enters into dispute. Also check whether they offer any warranty of their work
and how much it will cost.

5. PREVIOUS WORK HISTORY

Ask builders to submit a short list of recently completed contracts. Out of these,
select any two projects and visit the site to check quality of work if possible. If not,
directly contact the owners. Builder will only arrange a visit for you, if they have
satisfied clients.

6. TIME PERIOD TO COMPLETE THE WORK

Check the time every builder is taking for completion of your project. It is important
to get a schedule copy with quotation and timely make it clear that in case work is
given to them, then shared schedule will also be a part of the contract. Check ratio
between delivered on time verses not delivered on time.

7. INSURANCE
Ask builder to show evidence of any public liability insurance and check its validity. It
happened that builders showcased the out dated insurance.

8. SECURITY FEE
Avoid builders who request a deposit for materials or whatever up front. Those that
need are unlikely to have the financial security necessary to carry out the work, and
may already be refused credit at local builders merchants. Builders with active
accounts pay for materials on a monthly credit basis, not on a cash on delivery basis
and shouldn’t require any down payments in advance of starting work.

9. BUILDER CAPACITY
Check builder capacity for such amount of work. Does he deliver any such capacity
projects in recent past? or this is going to be his first one. If not check any other
project of that much capacity.

10. BUILDER COMMITMENT

How builder has fulfilled his previous works commitments. Check ratio between
delivered on time verses not delivered on time.

11. BUILDER CAPACITY

Check builder capacity for such amount of work. Does he deliver any such capacity
projects in recent past? or this is going to be his first one. If not check any other
project of that much capacity.

11. TURNKEY DELIVERING COMPANIES

Some contractors specializing in only execution, but also offer a design and build and
even design, build finance package. Be aware of that adage about putting all your
eggs in one basket. Their design may be more about making it easier for them to do
the work than about your requirements. Their specification may be traded down
during the work to save them money. They are more likely to be jacks of all trades
than experts of any.

Finally they have a reputation for being able to convert anything, regardless of the
shortcomings of the home (like the lack of headroom for example) without advising
the client of those shortcomings. However, they can be extremely quick and well-
organized, particularly if they are trading over a large area or nationality. Their labor
force will be travelling distances, and they won’t want to drag the job out longer than
is necessary.