THE PROCESS
whether you have a design ready to go or would like to work with us from scratch, watch your vision turn into reality while HTL Builders does the hard work. With our innovative CoConstruct system, you’ll have questions answered quickly and receive regular updates and progress photos through the app.
hover over tab to learn more about each step of the process, not every step may apply to your project:
Permitting
With plans and specifications complete, we submit the plans to the appropriate zoning, building and other authorities to allow work to begin. When needed our pre-construction team designs turnkey permit ready plans. Don't have a design yet? We can help with that. Then we can submit the package to the local municipality for a building permit. Each county is different in how long it takes for permit approval.
Grading
The first major step towards new construction is grading your site and demolishing any structures that are in the way. We also remove any trees that are unlikely to survive after your project is complete.
Foundation
The surveyor uses stakes to lay out exactly where your vision will come alive and sit on site. Then the footing crew digs their trenches and holes, and the concrete footing is poured and leveled. The foundation is built on top of this footing and made level and ready for the framing crew.
Framing
Lumber arrives and the framing crew lays out your projects walls and structure. The team starts by attaching the wood structure to the foundation and then builds up the supporting walls and floor systems. Next they add important structural elements to support the weight of the structure and eventually, the roof.
Roofing
The roofers apply shingles and roofing underlayment to ensure that your home is sealed off from the elements, and that it stays dry for years to come. In recent years a solar shingle has become a to go choice for luxury roofing finishes.
Rough-in Systems
Plumbers come and prepare the drain piping and water supply lines (both hot and cold) throughout the house. Heating and Air technicians arrive and install the duct work and heat exchanger system. Next, Electricians place all their wiring and run it back to the central breaker panel. Consider a water heated home instead of a duct run Hvac system for higher efficiency aka a radiant heated structure.
Insulation
The roughed-in systems and the structure of the home are inspected by the local municipality to ensure everything is properly installed and meets local building codes. We hold a pre-drywall meeting with the client, where we’ll review and explain all the systems before they’re covered up. Then the insulators come and insulate all the exterior walls of the home.
Drywall
After the insulation is approved by the local inspector, drywall is installed on the interior walls. Next all the seams between sheets of drywall are taped off and given several coats of drywall compound to smooth them out. This process takes several days as the house must dry completely between coats. Finally, the walls are sanded down to a nice smooth finish and walls receive a primer coat of paint.
Bath Flooring
Ceramic installers come and put down waterproof membranes and prepare surfaces with a skim coat to level them before installing tiles. Tile and ceramic finishes are installed in place and then grouted to fully seal them.
Carpentry
Finish carpenters install baseboards, doors, and window trim. Cabinetry is installed in the kitchen and bathroom. Final measurements are taken for countertops, and they are fabricated and installed. Paint is applied to the walls and we are ready to finish out the systems of the home.
Finish Systems
Plumbers return and install faucets, toilets and shower fixtures. Heating and Air technicians return and install the condensing units outside, trim out the duct vents throughout the house and install thermostats. Electricians return to trim out switches and install light fixtures.
Flooring
Hardwood and any other remaining flooring is installed and finished. Carpet is installed in rooms selected for that material.
Final walk-through
After some fine tuning, paint touch ups and careful quality checks, the project is ready for you to tour. Your project manager will walk you through the project and explain how all the systems operate. Warranties and structure maintenance recommendations are reviewed as well.
Settlement
The big day has arrived! After completing your paperwork with the attorney if warranted, we turn over the finished work of art to you and you can begin to enjoy your vision turned reality. Our relationship doesn’t end here, however – at HTL Builders, we stand behind our product with a complete structure warranty.
